User Reviews at zZounds

Boss SP505 Groove Box Customer Review submitted January 31, 2005

Overall

Sound

Features

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: home producer, DJ, and music student

Music Style: hip hop, trip hop, and rock.

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Sound: it can sound down sampled sometimes, even though it says its 16bit 44.1k. i think this is due to the fact that when sampling the peak meater says the signal is louder than it really is, so when played back its much quieter than the preset samples. you can amplify the samples, but still you have a loss of quality in the amount of bits you used to record in the first place. Also stereo samples take up two tracks of polyphony, so 4 stereo samples equals no more polyphony. Feature: i like the fact that one can run a line input through it and use it as an effects box, that's very handy. I've heard people say the effects don't sound good, but i really like them. as for the chopping feature though, i'm kind of dissipointed that one can not record and play back a beat made with the chop bank, you kind of have to copy and past into another sample bank, which takes a lot longer than you would think. I never use the BPM sync or BPM adjust, because it sounds kind of bad. Quality: i think it will probably last quite a while, though the memory card cover peice is already broken some how. Also sometimes when playing back a song thats made up of lots of measure long samples it will occasionally skip, and loose its timing, very annoying but only happens once in a while. I think it has a very slow processor. Value: for three hundred dollers it really doesn't get much better, ecept maybe if the pads were velocity sensitive. Manufacturer Support: i rate eight cause i havn't had to talk to them. The Wow Factor: sex appeal? wtf, umm its a sampler, not a pocket pu$$y. though i do get off on pulling the card in and out. (lol) Overall: i'm going to keep it for a while, i don't have any need for an mpc, though if i had the extra money i'd have opted for the mpc, but this suits my just fine for the time being.

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"... there's something ..." submitted July 1, 2004

By a customer from hotmail.com

Overall

Sound

Features

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Music Style: Electronic (most takes), Death Metal, Classical, 60's & 70's

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Sound: Overall, the machine does do a good job sampling and being true to sound. Although, I feel it lacks a good sub bass frequency. I use this as an add on to a MIDI sequencer that actually costed me less and it puts the bass range of the sp505 to shame. You might not notice this if used alone. I prefer MIDI composition and adding warped sounds using the sampler. The effects are VERY COOL TO PLAY WITH!!! I sometimes use it for just a processor because it's so fun to play with. Feature: I wish the sequencing had a better interface. I find it to be a very long proccess ... too long. The effects are superb! They all have great stereo and clean sound. The delay can be set to match BPM using musical time signature; i.e. half-notes, dotted quarter-notes, etc ... Quality: I'd have to say that even with it's downs, I definitly won't sell this machine. It's perfect for what I want it to do. Value: A better sequencer would make this even more worth the chump change it actually does cost. Manufacturer Support: Never had any issues with needing service/support. The Wow Factor: I didn't buy it for looks and it really isn't that durable. Watch out for those knobs! Overall: Could be a little easier to sequence, but that's ok. I'm planning on getting a MIDI sequencer that incorporates sampling into the sequencing interface simply for ease of use and speed of composition. I'll keep my sp505 as a processor that's MIDI sync'd. Plus, it is fun to play with ...

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"Dont be too hasty to buy one....." submitted November 4, 2004

Overall

Sound

Features

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Basement beat digger/Vinyl Junkaholic

Music Style: Urban Eclectic

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VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: The sound isnt too bad...i keep my levels flat and make use of the little effects that are at hand. Feature: I'd like to have a better effect processor here....though I didnt find it difficult to filter my samples using the isolator. I found that the functioning effects arent what i bought this product for to begin with, but better effects could've added so much more to the unit. Quality: The pads are becoming calloused, they just dont respond to touch anymore...Ive only had mine for about 3 years now. Value: You might as well save the extra 400 for an MPC, but if you live thin like I do, you could make use of it. Manufacturer Support: I gave up after the first 9 calls The Wow Factor: It looks as plastic as a playschool sampler. Overall: Im already looking for a used MPC, because the pads on the 505 seem to not agree with my regular use of the unit....I wish it was a bit more solid.

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Boss SP505 Groove Sampling Workstation

User Ratings

Boss SP505 Groove Box Customer Review submitted January 31, 2005

"... there's something ..." submitted July 1, 2004

"Dont be too hasty to buy one....." submitted November 4, 2004