Pioneer Toraiz SP-16

The Lounge Other Gear
#686

Yes - in Scale mode

1 Like
#687

I was curious to see if this has been discontinued, since I see a lot of stores are still carrying them. So I emailed Pioneer customer service, and I also asked if there was a possible MKII coming, and this was the response I got:

"Good Afternoon,

There has not been any information that has been posted of the TSP-16 being discontinued and at this time we have not been informed of any replacement. We still have stock and are selling the product at this time and will are still offering customer support. "

#688

These show as being discontinued

*Thanks. Be well and stay safe out there, *

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Middletown, NY 10940

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#689

@hausland and to add on to what @circuitghost said the onboard content is where I started there is really no need to use the manual it is that user friendly. There were 2 instances when I was stuck on stupid due to the file management structure but once again that was on me.

2 Likes
#690

Hey Donovan,

I have to check but I believe SP16 may have to be master in the chain. I think there were sync issues in the earlier firmware versions ( I havent hooked it up to my OT.)

1 Like
#691

Yep. But make sure you save it. Your project auto-saves but your samples do not.

#692

Part of me wants to buy this . Part of me remembers that I can get the much cheaper Maschine MK3 (and even cheaper used of course) that has 16 pads also and all kinds of goodies that the SP-16 doesn’t have. And honestly, with the Maschine MK3 I never felt like I was using a computer because of the nice screen it has and the very well-thought design/features. But there is something so sexy about the SP-16. Plus I like the sixteen steps buttons on the bottom, which machine doesn’t have.

Judging from YouTube videos, SP-16 seems to be used for house/techno like 99% of the time. The Maschine MK3 seems to be much more of a darling of the hip-hop crowd.

The obvious solution is for me to buy the SP-16 and see for myself :slight_smile:

1 Like
#693

Ok still getting to know this thing, first impressions:

  • it’s a fairly “shallow” machine…which is a good thing. What you see is what you get (almost), and I can already see how the limitations and immediacy will carve out a specific purpose for this box in my setup without trying to be everything at once or me lamenting the fact that I’m not using it to “its full potential” (I’m looking at you, MPC Live)

  • the DSI filters and overdrive are AWESOME!!! yeyeyeye. Nuff said.

  • The onboard effects are very good so far. I enjoy the delay, the reverb, the distortion and lo-fi sound decent. Liking it. And after updating the firmware to 1.60, I’m happy with two FX slots per sample

  • in general I appreciate the fact that I can load a max of 16 samples…it’s a degree of complexity and possibility that I can handle in the context of my (already pretty complex) live setup. Something so straight forward about this thing that makes it nice.

Things to still explore:

  • Live Sampling…need to dive deeper here as I barely tried it (just a quick resample), but it seems that I have to save the sample after recording prior to being able to play it back?! Not good, but push come to shove I guess I’d live with that. Will check the manual for this one.

  • Thru Track: I suppose I can layer effects on an incoming signal…cool. And maybe even use the sequencer to “p-lock“ effect parameters to affect the incoming signal? Just speculating at this point, will test this tomorrow :slight_smile:

  • Midi control track: I doubt I’ll actually use this as I have a few nice options (DT, OT, MPC Live, a bunch of midi controllers) but it could make sense to maybe hook this up to one of my Dreadbox synths. Definitely will try it with my newly acquired AS-1 though…also tomorrow, God willing :slight_smile:

So far I’m having fun and making stuff that sounds interesting almost by accident.

In terms of features, it’s not even close to an MPC Live, but I’m enjoying exactly that! And it sounds GOOD so far. Still experimenting with the factory samples, will explore the sound once I load a few of my own creations onto this :slight_smile:

2 Likes
#694

On the other hand, the MPC doesn’t give you access to the step sequencer, mutes, and a tracks FX, parameters, etc at the same time :+1:

2 Likes
#695

didn’t someone say earlier that the sp-16 doesn’t do muting?

#696

how good are the p.locks compared to elektrons?

#697

It doesn’t do the mutes per pattern like the DJS-1000 or MPC

Also, the mutes kill the whole track, not the just the notes. So reverb tails, tail end of cymbals etc are cut off

1 Like
#698

Spinscott’s certainly talented. I’m a big fan. But I’d like to make use of velocity and aftertouch too. Dynamics are nice, sometimes.
Only curious if they’re softer like Maschine or Tempest or harder like MPC or Rytm.
Drum pads are like guitar strings and the neck they’re attached to, everybody has their own preferences, but I’ve never seen or used an SP-16, so that’s why I’m curious.
Thanks.

#699

This review gave poor marks for the pads:

I do not like the pads on the Toraiz SP-16. I don’t know how they compare to other DJ equipment with pads but the pads as they are will not win any awards from any beatmakers that I know. In comparison to MPC pads (MPC X & MPC Live) the Toraiz SP-16 pads are tough-ish and not rubbery / spongy like MPC pads. Maybe that works for some but it certainly was a difficult transition for me. The pads don’t grip the finger tips well and they feel rather cheap. The response not pleasant either. I really had to adjust the sensitivity to get them to a more usable state.

2 Likes
#700

it would be nice if they kept the filters for the DJS - the form factor is great for a DJ setup

1 Like
#701

This thing can get pretty experimental, if one so desires. A few things I’m trying out that takes you to otherland pretty quicky -

Live looping over the running beat - since live looping is instantaneous, you can use this for ambient textures, voice over stuff, drones and similar, that on purpose don’t need to follow the bpm. Just record them and let them live their own life across your sequenced loops.

Loops that repeat without trigs - trig a loop and then switch to pattern where you let it run but don’t retrig it. However long or short it is, it will repeat itself independently of whatever else the sequencer is doing. Take away the time stretch, and it will do so in its original tempo, which can be even more funky.

Pattern switching - each pattern can still have silly lengths, like 5 or 39 steps. While all tracks share this length, if you set up a string of patterns where some of them just mess with the step count, you’ll quickly find yourself in another place.

Resampling with fx - I guess this one goes without saying. Or at least, needs no further explanation. But it’s there, with great on-board effects and resampling, there’s no end to how strange you can be if you like.

Slicing - given that it’s done so straight forward here, just push a goddam button and slicing’s done, just putting something in the Toraiz that isn’t perfectly matched to the beat and slicing it up, can take you to kingdome Aphex quickly, depending on the sample, of course.

Hardwired resampling - which I tried with a Chase Bliss Tonal Recall yesterday. Route any sample to any output which isn’t the 1-2, pull it through whatever funky box you got there and back into Toraiz line in. Suddenly, I got dripping, dusty delays from Chase Bliss style. And I haven’t even tried the Blooper with this thing yet.

Record the touch slider - yep, the Toraiz records whatever you’re doing with the slider, so if you assign some oddball parameters to that one and take it to town with your finger sliding and record, you’ll end up with who knows what kind of I don’t know.

Its structure lends itself very well to floor bangers, but its features really lets you come up with all kinds of weird shit if you’re into that. It’s the anti-Octatrack in that way, since the Octatrack very quickly lets you rip stuff apart and go to other planets in no time, but if you just want to lay down a banger, it’s (still easy but) unnecessarily complicated. Toraiz is the other way around. You’ll have tracks that get the club going after an hour or so with this one, but if you’re pleasing the more adventerous crowd, you’ll have to work harder but it can definitely be done.

8 Likes
#702

Nice idea, working with sample chains and the auto slice of the SP16…could also imagine using this to load more sounds than the 16 sample slots would have you have :slight_smile:

Multisampling on the SP16

3 Likes
#703

I think the pads are actually quite alright. I would compare them to a Maschine Mk1 in terms of feel (softer rubber, bouncy, quite responsive) but smaller (but still very playable).

I def prefer harder pads and LESS responsive such as the MPC Live pads at Pad Curve C, because that allows for more dynamic playing (a tip I learned from David “Fingers” Haynes…seemed counter intuitive at first).

But the SP16 pads are definitely absolutely fine for decent finger drumming performances. @1ticio

After messing around with it all morning long I have to say, this machine is really AWESOME for performance centric work. I can’t wait to tap into the live looping feature, mess around with thru machines, and test it as midi sequencer…will do that this afternoon Inshallah :slight_smile:

1 Like
#704

This is a bit of an issue for sure. I have other tools that I can outsource the muting with tails business, but it would be nice to have the option to do that sort of stuff on the SP16.

#705

Ah, damn…there’s always something!

1 Like