I’ve never compared the two directly but the SP-16 pads feel great IMO. Way better than, say, the Rytm, similar to modern Akai pads.
1 Like
Out of curiosity. Did you actually test the midi jitter or did you judge it by ear?
Because on my SP16 i can’t get midi in to work properly. I got an Usamo so the incoming clock is rock solid. i also bought a MidiGal for testing purposes. It’s been a while so i don’t have the exact figures on hand. But the issue i’m eperiencing is that regardless DIN or USB midi in my SP-16 basically skips a step.
Now, with USB (which opens up a whole new can of worms as USB never can be sample accurate), i can set a compensation delay, but then the clock becomes unstable (say, 125, 125, 124, 125 bpm).
I even tried ableton link but that’s not ideal as i’m using Bitwig.
The out clock from the SP-16 however is pretty ok, not perfect. But i basically only sync my OT with it and the OT does the rest of the sequencing and syncing.
The only thing i didn’t try yet is a total factory reset and/or reupdating the firmware. It’s not really an issue as i basically built another setup around the SP-16 with the individual outs going to a rack mixer and then to a 8-track tape. This way i can insert fx at each output. And with the OT synced i can use my other hardware for sampling. Works great, only thing i can’t totally integrate my DAW without hassle, but perhaps that’s a good thing.
I’m curious what other drum machines any of you use to supplement the SP-16?
I’ve been thinking about adding something with some more sound sculpting abilities without sacrificing too much immediacy. Something glitchy, bleepy, and weird - the main kick/hats/clap etc will still be SP-16. I’m thinking like a Korg ER-1 or a Model:Cycles. I used to have a DFAM and loved its sound design abilities but the 8 step sequencer was too limiting.
I think the ER-1 or M:C is probably a good bet for those kinds of sounds. I probably would have suggested the M:C if it hadn’t been mentioned. If you can’t find a good price on the ER-1 the iOS is 99% the same sound-wise IMO.
Remember you can layer and resample sounds on the SP-16 too : )
1 Like
i have only a very little experience with music hw, and I own just the SP-16 and Elektron Digitone, but I’m quite happy with how these two devices complement each other
-
doing melodic/harmonic stuff generally sucks with the SP, at least for me. no polyphony, and you dont ever see a note, both in the scale mode, or on the tuning setting of a specific sample, it just shows the offset. I suppose its partially because of the nature of working with samples, but I can still imagine a better handling, setting up the note of the sample, then go from there, not just a general offset. besides that, i think SP-16 is an awesome sampler that sounds great, and is very easy and fun to use. I just spent an hour learning some finger drumming basics
happy i didnt get the MPC, that’d be just too much for me -
doing melodic/harmonic stuff is just great on the DN, very easy and clear whats playing. again, its mainly because its synth, but I think its very well thought through. i know you are asking about drum machine, but I think DN is very nice at this too, and it sure can do some bleeps as well
-
as you are looking for drum machine, MC might be better and cheaper. i initially thought about getting MC as my first device (not counting some keys I already had), but Im happy i did go for the DN. I dont have many devices, and I’d like to keep it that way (time and space is too limited :)). DN covers much more than MC for me. A4 would be another candidate I would look into, although Im not sure how would you rate immediacy on both of these elektrons
DN seems logical and immediate to me, A4 looks quite deep, sure, but both can be used in an immediate, simple, playful way as well, I think
// I have SP-16 as master, controlling DN, although very simply right now. I also have Yamaha Reface DX connected to DN both ways - sequenced by DN and serving as MIDI keybord for DN. I like it
1 Like
Glad to see the SP16 is getting some more love here after pushing it a bit 
I was wondering if anyone else thinks the boot time is quite slow… Maybe over time because my memory is quite full… It takes around 15 seconds to boot…
I haven’t used the SP a lot lately but I have to say it is still a keeper. I also managed to get the other Toraiz machines and the AS1 is one brilliant intuitive fun synth!! The internal sequencer is great and the sound of the synth is quite good. I get really surprising sequences out of it. Very usable stuff. Also the squid is solid if you look for this kind of dawless solution… for me it’s not a must and love the A4 keys for all cv and midi sequencing. Still the squid has some cool features like micro shifting, din sync, cv gate and midi at the same time… I was able to get everything properly in sync at the same time. Even my 808 synced tight! better than a doepfer sync box… I might keep it just to sync the 808 hahaha but the sequencing directions and options are also a lot of fun. Somehow these 3 products were well engineered but badly marketed… The SP16 lacks sophistication but the limitations always stimulate my creativity… And the ease of browsing samples and storing recalling etc is just what makes it so much fun. USB is the way to go… Rhythm vs SP16… apples and pears. The sp16 is far from muddy, it’s very very transparant but in a good way… Also the transients are quite snappy… I love the drive! Non destructive drive.
2 Likes
No? Not at all. And if I recall the SP-16 boots faster than the MPC One which I have as well. Not trying to pick on you (not my intent), but what’s 15 seconds in the big picture? Maybe I’m just getting older at this point, but the power of these boxes we have and their relative price. I’d have absolutely killed for something like this 20+ years ago and wouldn’t have cared if it took a few minutes to boot. Considering how long it took to transfer samples back then even over SCSI nobody would have cared. 
1 Like
A 15 second load time seems reasonable. It boots faster then my raggedy a$$ laptop lol.
1 Like
yes maybe elektron spoiled me
1 Like
this is sick how??? what voltage? did you convert anything?
Not mine (unfortunately😉) - someone posted it on FB. The cable is this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CCX5S96/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NXMDKQKBRQCK8911TAND?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&fbclid=IwAR0_tbtDVVO4SP3XbYGBpoQ4xe-mLXp84Rd1HiLlikWs2wABw5iWLz8G6ns Also comes with the right adaptor to fit the socket on the SP.
And they said any power bank with usb c power delivery will work.
2 Likes
Happy with my Toraiz SP-16
What I think is most important is now to see how I can best route the outs for my tracks, I have 2x pairs of stereo or 4 mono ins on my MC 707, which I now use as my Audio Interface Until I have a bigger interface with more ins. what would you assign with 2x pair of stereo / 4 mono inns and why? Thanks!
1 Like
I noticed that even if I set track volume down to zero, I can still hear it play. This shouldn’t be normal so… what am I doing wrong?
Could it be you are sending the track to a master track FX and are hearing it that way? After a while here maybe I’ll boot mine up and see what else it could be (I’m supposed to be working at home today, not going well so far).
Yes, I am sending it to the master FX (reverb).
So, if it’s on a send I can’t fade in from zero? Is that normal behaviour?
Maybe the master FXs can be set pre or post fader–I think, but am not positive, if they are pre-fader FX the signal hits the master FX before its own track fader. If it is post fader that means the signal has to hit the track’s volume fader first, in that case the gain fader being at zero would stop the signal from hitting the master FX. (Sorry if you knew all that already, point being, I think there is a pre/post option for the master FX on the SP-16)
1 Like
I didn’t know that already, I’m very new to production (and still haven’t printed the SP-16’s manual). Thank you very much!
1 Like
No worries. You are welcome. You may want to look up pre and post fader FX somewhere reliable, I’m not 100% I had a look at the master FX page and didn’t see anything about it–but it could be the difference between making master FX “send” or “master.”
@TransGirlHappyHardcore let us know if you sorted your issue. You got me to bust out my SP-16 and work on a few beats last night so I owe ya a drink : )
So I just bought another SP-16 from a fellow Elektronaut. I forgot how fast the sampling was on this thing. I sampled out 12 tracks of loops I made on the Syntakt in just a couple of minutes, then 10 minutes later I had a full track prepared in the SP-16 arranger. I’m gonna try using this workflow for a while I think.
7 Likes