This is an overview of the SP-808ex synth fx engine where I play a few patches and talk about the synthesizer editing capabilities. I think the synth engine itself sounds very good and can add a special touch to your mix even when its only monosynth. When you are using the synth engine, make sure you have your midi controller set to ch. 11 and that effects are turned on. If the patch uses the d-beam, then turn on the appropriate button near the d-beam. Press FX INFO or Shift-FX Info to get into the editing features, and use the appropriate knobs for live tweaking.

The SP-808ex has something for everybody. Check out my tutorial on using its vocoder.

This machine is not always immediate without a manual, but you can get good results. The Vocoder is one of those things that you need to know how to set up. Make sure you don’t have anything connected to input “L” !!! Unplug it (unless your using an externally preamped MIC)

This is not a demonstration of its capabilities, just a tutorial.

To top it off, the plastic side panels have been replaced with nicely figured pieces of quilted maple.

Pictures and auction here.

Comes with original factory and 10 professional disks from midi mark.

Auction Link

Only $1,400!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Roland-JX-8P-Analog-synth-PG800-Programmer-W-HardCase_W0QQitemZ180460635605QQcmdZViewItemQQptZKeyboards_MIDI?hash=item2a044ac5d5#ht_1171wt_1043

Its in like new condition with custom patches already loaded. Asking $900 + ship (U.S. only)

Contact through email on Craigslist: http://nmi.craigslist.org/msg/1529463694.html

LISTEN TO THE DEMO! (MP3, 5.4MB, 4 Minutes)

50+ V-synth 2.0 Patches for $25, paypal & credit cards.

Designed over a period of months, it features:
A better TB-303 recreation w/909 thats fully controllable, and arpeggiated.

Analog Leads

2 Sampled Statocaster Guitars on multiple patches (one with real distortion, 80s style)

Pads, Eery Combinations
FX & Drums
+More!

Link to V-synth Patches in our store http://www.chipcollection.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=51

With Styleflip.com’s flash editor I was able to make a star wars themed vinyl for an Electribe. The tool is pretty advanced, and you can order your creation. A wide selection of boxes are supported, like akai, and other DJ gear. I hope they make some more keyboard templates, beyond their midi controllers sometime!

Ever had trouble timing drums on a keyboard? Use this tip to consolidate your drums onto one key to reduce errors.

How it works: Accents trigger fast snare and bass drum (high velocity), and normal strikes (low to high velocity) just play bass drum and optionally a soft/quiet/blended snare. This allows you to naturally play rock rhythms on the same key and frees up other fingers.

For this to work you’ll need a sampler that supports custom velocity sensitivity and at least two samples per key. I used the V-Synth. I’m sure this will work in Reason or anything remotely modern.

1. Find your drum samples. Bass, Snare etc. Setup zones or make keymappings for drums.

2. Place a Bass Kick – 0-127 Linear Velocity (straight upward graph) on Middle C. This is OSC1 on the V-synth

3. Place a Fast Snare – 100-127 High Velocity (highly peaked graph) also on Middle C. This is OSC2 on the V-synth

Thats it. Now its slightly easier to play rhymthms on a keyboard using a single key.

BONUS TIP: Make a bass drum sound slightly more real! Using a variation of above you can blend a bass drum sample and a soft snare. Why would you want to do this? In real life when you press the bass pedal your resonating the surrounding drums (the snare’s springs). In studios where samples are recorded their goal is to isolate sounds and make sure this doesn’t happen. If your using samples from entirely different kits or electronic drums this method will blend them. If we add a soft snare sample to our kick drum at much lower volume you can blend them like its coming from one drumset. Make sure you use appropriate velocities for this. You don’t want the snare to actually sound like an accent or compete with the real snare.

I hope this helps people make more natural sounding drum rhythyms or inspires someone to do something new with sample layers.