Also, gotta mention the Midi sequencing with Parameter triggs on this is just as much fun. so many features on this bad boy. total sleeper powerhouse piece of kit.
The first video fully instructive I found about the SP-16. Helps me to decide if I will buy one or not. But as far as I could see here, this machine is really intuitive for a non professional user of grooveboxes. Congratulations!
Great Vid! Yes, Your right... Theirs not a lot of tutorials that go in depth about the specifics like you do. Please keep these vids on the Sp-16 coming! Would like to learn more about the scenes and pattern functions, the routing into ableton, Dj mixer, etc. Thanks again!
Cheers for the vid. Drum and bass isn’t even my thing but found your vid really interesting and informative. I’ve had the SP16 for a few years and after some initial playing around I was just really just using it to slave my rig to my master CDJ for mixing in and out, and taking the occasional easy clap or hi hat etc for jamming. Have had my rig packed up for 2 years as moved country and half my stuff is still on route. Now that I’m just starting to get a half rig bodged back together i’m back to he SP16 with a whole pile of new ideas of things i can do with it. I guess necessity really is the mother of invention.
you haven't used pattern+pad to erase the sequence, or shift+rec to undo the sequencer recording. i use the arranger and then record the sequence on that. It's the best instrument I ever had, you could resample all the pads in one pad just to show off :) also for the second pattern, I use it even as my main sequencer for my instruments and sample them on the sp16. the sp16 is now my main musical instrument. i don't need a computer. what could they add? well, I have some ideas. a click remover end to start, it does remove it in certain conditions using the pads live or I can just use the HALF function on the end of the sample on the sequencer and resample it. a normalize function on the volume of recorded samples( I can use the compressor and resample it) or a noise reduction effect for recordings from cheap devices(I can use the 2 band freq powerful effect), if noise recordings add up, the noise of it becomes louder. before it comes in my sp16 it first goes trough my boss rc202 for additional effect and noise reduction. the sp 16 has no noise, but the analog effect thing on top does but that's because its analog, you don't hear it when the sound goes through it, but its a very good filter the analog filter on top, again resample and use te analog filter, it has so much more i can write a book
Thanks for the video. Love my SP-16, but my Live II is on another level. Pioneer had magic in a bottle and could/should have taken it further. Great hardware, intuitive UI, nice lay out, sounds great, and very well built. Just needs a couple more firmware updates and it would be perfect. Add conditional triggers, pattern mutes vs global, and custom bar length per track (more than 4).
Just found out this exists. I have been on the edge of getting an MPC One+ for a long time now. Just being hesitant due the burried functions and generally being a bit overkill for my use. Such a shame Pioneer has stopped support for this device, seems sick! Yet, priced at still €1000 it is still quite expensive imo. Especially compared to a €750 Mpc One+.
It was a great piece but far too limited for its price imo. The mpc one can be simple but has the power and depth to be intricate if you want it to. Have a look at the digitakt instead as the latest updates for that make it a much more useable sampler. If not that then maybe the octatrack…..but that’s a whole other head fuck hahahaha
@@ThesisOfSyn I have been looking at the Digitakt for almost a year now, but just bought an SP16 at about $600 which I couldn't say no to😀 I'm loving it so far, only downside for me is it doesn't sequence legato midi notes. As I wanted to sequence a 303 clone with it that quite the bummer.
Nice vid. As a tool to supplement a DAW I love it. Perhaps there are better things as a stand-alone sequencer, but I love the intuitive style of it. I just wish they had reverbs as sample effects, not just a mixer 'send' effect. It seems you left the 'shuffle/swing' function on after your garage remix session...? At 174bpm 16th swing can be a bit of a minefield. Also I think you could be missing a trick having your snare on a mono channel - I love layering stereo claps over a nice punchy mono snare ;)
I like the 16th swing on the hats on liquid breaks but I totally hear you. I’ve fucked up nuff breaks by having too much swing. Also on the mono snare, I just record it in mono then do most of my layering in the DAW afterwards. It’s just the main kick and snare parts that I like to keep mono when recording it all in. I also like to send the snares/claps to a chorus bus to get a little sizzle and width in them in some cases. The reverb thing does my head in too but tbf I’m used to just using it as the drum pattern maker and doing the main stuff in the DAW. If I want to make a full track I’ll just use the mpc. A track I released on Soulvent a couple years back was made entirely on the mpc live.
thanks for the video and the insights on workflow, the toraiz skipped my radar and I am in the mpc live universe for sketching around and Ableton for working on finishing tracks. The toraiz has a very appealing interface layout with the Tr style seq and extra filter controls, trackpad, etc. plus the build quality looks far superior than the rubberised plastic on the mpc. What a shame they didn't update and provide more longevity in to the software, missed opportunity. The toraiz could of been an amazing groove box.
The point is precisely that it doesn't try to be a groove box. It's the most straight forward drum programming device I've ever owned (having compared it in use to Elektron Rytm, Machinedrum, DSI Tempest, Akai Force, Ableton Push, Erica Synths LXR-02).
I also have the MPC live and one of the reason I like the idea of the sp16 was the sequencer at the bottom. But I guess the FX are still not up to scratch? (I love a lot of reverb) also as regards the sampling on sp16 can you overdub loops if you play an instrument? EG: Can I leave a pad contiguously sampling from the inputs as a drum beat plays so I can play in my guitar with overdubs until I stop it sampling?
Thanks for the content. I absolutely love my Toraiz. I just wish... reeeeeally wish... you could chain patterns precisely like the Roland units. My Current mission is to find the clever ways to get around that limit of 16 beats (64 steps) and I have some ideas to test. Still, would be much easier to hold down pattern box 5-8 for 2 seconds and have them link up. Come on Pioneer DJ!
What exactly don’t you like about the Digitakt? I have the MPC live, the digitakt and thinking a long time now to get the Toraiz. I also make liquid dnb. By the way, I had the TR8s and also the only thing I liked about it was the Stepsequencer haha ... great Video!
Hey, thanks for the video!! I have the Akai Force and an Octatrack, but for drums I wanted to repurchase the Digitakt I previously owned to free up the Force for other things. Earlier I had also looked at the SP-16 and then decided to buy the Force, but now I wonder what I would like better for drums, a Digitakt or the SP-16. Can you switch scenes while the sequencer is running?
This was great, learnt a lot, including about how to program D n B. The scenes tip for drum kits was good, the ducking seems handy, and something about the way it displays patterns seems more straightforward than on the Digitakt (maybe because it's on the screen). Is it easy to copy things like pages on the Digitakt? Like can you easily copy bar 2 into bar 4 after you've mad changes, for instance? Also, do you have a link to the EP you made on the SP16? Thanks
Copying bars I still haven’t found a way to do it. There is a sequence screen where you can see the individual trigs for each track but I can’t seem to find a way to move bars around. Also I only just signed the EP so it will be out in a couple of months
Just found that you can move the bar information around by going to the sequence section. Works pretty well with a good visual representation. Kind of like the maschine events view
Stellar. Enjoy the new intro vid as well. These LDNB samples from a retail pack? (obv minus the REC000 sample) ...also, agree 1000% the FX are rubbish. Pioneer has such a good fx pool to grab from, I really can't believe they are so bad. Where are the FX from the DJM mixer series? even just a few of them if there are DSP limits... 🤔
I have the SP-16 and I'm only 2 to 3 months in production. Compared to my other gear, the SP-16 is so easy to utilize and so intuitive. I also have a Live II and recently purchased the Elektron RTYM MKII. Any thoughts on the RYTM MKII? It has a layout very similar to the SP-16 with the pads (12 instead of 16) and a 16-step sequencer.
Rytm has no timestretching vs the SP-16 that does. I bet you'd be good to plug the Rytm into the SP16 and record your favorite beats for the ability to move the BPM at will with the Toraiz. The Toraiz can also be slaved to a Pioneer DJ media player like the CDJ2000 or XDJ1000 for live performance along side full tracks DJ'd. Enjoy those magic toys.
@@ScottAdair I have a DJM-V10 and the CDJ3000's in my DJ studio so I understand the strength of the Pioneer ecosystem. Matter of fact, no one has been to persuade me not to... but I'm thinking about purchasing a 2nd SP16 (one for DJing and the other for production). Primarily, because it's so got damn intuitive with its interface. While the SP-16 isn't as deep as the RYTM MKII, I don't have to menu drive and second guess on what I'm doing. Sometimes, complexity can be a deterrent for certain applications. Of the samplers I've used in the market: Eventide H9Max, RYTM MKII, Octatrak, and the SP-16... the SP-16 has one the best interface and is so well built and physically beautiful to work with. Yes, it's not as in depth, as the RYTM MKII but in this last week I've spent a good 30 hours and realized it's potential. I've never contemplated buying two pieces of machinery before but now I am. While the SP-16 is limited to some degree, it's so easy to work with. Pioneer did an incredible job with its ergonomics and interface.
hey man now I really want to get one, but I've read some haters reviews and they say there is some major flaws that Pioneer won't update with the firmware and they have abandoned support for it. thoughts?
This is true, I recently sold it to put money towards a modular setup. As a drum sequencer it’s excellent but I just couldn’t do anything else with it without getting disappointed
@@ThesisOfSyn thanks for the heads up. watching your vid on it was inspiring and I was thinking of getting it, but now, probably not now. keep up the great work!
What brightness setting is your SP set at in this video? I’m hoping it’s at full. I am considering this, but bright white LED flashes mess with my eyes. If you feel like tossing up a video with more sample based hiphop type stuff, that would be cool to see some parameter locks in that scenario.
@@ThesisOfSyn thanks for confirming. I am just concerned about when the pads trigger, they appear to be quite bright. The frame rate camera flicker is no worry. Seems like I could make do with the few levels of dimming available.
Nice to see someone showing producer stuff instead of just jamming with the Sp16. Please keep on !
Also, gotta mention the Midi sequencing with Parameter triggs on this is just as much fun. so many features on this bad boy. total sleeper powerhouse piece of kit.
i absolutely love my SP-16 RIP DAVE SMITH
The first video fully instructive I found about the SP-16. Helps me to decide if I will buy one or not. But as far as I could see here, this machine is really intuitive for a non professional user of grooveboxes. Congratulations!
Great Vid! Yes, Your right... Theirs not a lot of tutorials that go in depth about the specifics like you do. Please keep these vids on the Sp-16 coming! Would like to learn more about the scenes and pattern functions, the routing into ableton, Dj mixer, etc. Thanks again!
Have been looking into this unit and your videos are really helpful. Thanks for putting your time & effort into making these 🙏🔥
the flanger, chorus and phaser are ok when you route the lfo to them to create movement
yes, please to more SP16 videos!
Cheers for the vid. Drum and bass isn’t even my thing but found your vid really interesting and informative. I’ve had the SP16 for a few years and after some initial playing around I was just really just using it to slave my rig to my master CDJ for mixing in and out, and taking the occasional easy clap or hi hat etc for jamming. Have had my rig packed up for 2 years as moved country and half my stuff is still on route. Now that I’m just starting to get a half rig bodged back together i’m back to he SP16 with a whole pile of new ideas of things i can do with it. I guess necessity really is the mother of invention.
you haven't used pattern+pad to erase the sequence, or shift+rec to undo the sequencer recording. i use the arranger and then record the sequence on that. It's the best instrument I ever had, you could resample all the pads in one pad just to show off :) also for the second pattern, I use it even as my main sequencer for my instruments and sample them on the sp16. the sp16 is now my main musical instrument. i don't need a computer. what could they add? well, I have some ideas. a click remover end to start, it does remove it in certain conditions using the pads live or I can just use the HALF function on the end of the sample on the sequencer and resample it. a normalize function on the volume of recorded samples( I can use the compressor and resample it) or a noise reduction effect for recordings from cheap devices(I can use the 2 band freq powerful effect), if noise recordings add up, the noise of it becomes louder. before it comes in my sp16 it first goes trough my boss rc202 for additional effect and noise reduction. the sp 16 has no noise, but the analog effect thing on top does but that's because its analog, you don't hear it when the sound goes through it, but its a very good filter the analog filter on top, again resample and use te analog filter, it has so much more i can write a book
In France it is much criticized.
I love my SP-16, tomorrow I'll buy a DJS-1000 to pair it with. I sold my MPCs ... Thanks your vidéo 👊🏻🔥🔥👊🏻
They are great for people who like simplified music production. MPCs are for more advanced production.
@Lance Lyon Je sais, mais on apprend de ses limitations contraignantes 😉
@@jfphotoandlife8287 I don’t speak French.
You are clever man
Thanks for the video. Love my SP-16, but my Live II is on another level. Pioneer had magic in a bottle and could/should have taken it further. Great hardware, intuitive UI, nice lay out, sounds great, and very well built. Just needs a couple more firmware updates and it would be perfect. Add conditional triggers, pattern mutes vs global, and custom bar length per track (more than 4).
Just found out this exists. I have been on the edge of getting an MPC One+ for a long time now. Just being hesitant due the burried functions and generally being a bit overkill for my use.
Such a shame Pioneer has stopped support for this device, seems sick! Yet, priced at still €1000 it is still quite expensive imo. Especially compared to a €750 Mpc One+.
It was a great piece but far too limited for its price imo.
The mpc one can be simple but has the power and depth to be intricate if you want it to. Have a look at the digitakt instead as the latest updates for that make it a much more useable sampler.
If not that then maybe the octatrack…..but that’s a whole other head fuck hahahaha
@@ThesisOfSyn
I have been looking at the Digitakt for almost a year now, but just bought an SP16 at about $600 which I couldn't say no to😀
I'm loving it so far, only downside for me is it doesn't sequence legato midi notes. As I wanted to sequence a 303 clone with it that quite the bummer.
Excellent video! Thanks a lot. Really inspiring
Nice vid. As a tool to supplement a DAW I love it. Perhaps there are better things as a stand-alone sequencer, but I love the intuitive style of it. I just wish they had reverbs as sample effects, not just a mixer 'send' effect. It seems you left the 'shuffle/swing' function on after your garage remix session...? At 174bpm 16th swing can be a bit of a minefield. Also I think you could be missing a trick having your snare on a mono channel - I love layering stereo claps over a nice punchy mono snare ;)
I like the 16th swing on the hats on liquid breaks but I totally hear you. I’ve fucked up nuff breaks by having too much swing. Also on the mono snare, I just record it in mono then do most of my layering in the DAW afterwards. It’s just the main kick and snare parts that I like to keep mono when recording it all in.
I also like to send the snares/claps to a chorus bus to get a little sizzle and width in them in some cases. The reverb thing does my head in too but tbf I’m used to just using it as the drum pattern maker and doing the main stuff in the DAW. If I want to make a full track I’ll just use the mpc. A track I released on Soulvent a couple years back was made entirely on the mpc live.
@@ThesisOfSyn fair play! :)
thanks for the video and the insights on workflow, the toraiz skipped my radar and I am in the mpc live universe for sketching around and Ableton for working on finishing tracks. The toraiz has a very appealing interface layout with the Tr style seq and extra filter controls, trackpad, etc. plus the build quality looks far superior than the rubberised plastic on the mpc. What a shame they didn't update and provide more longevity in to the software, missed opportunity. The toraiz could of been an amazing groove box.
The point is precisely that it doesn't try to be a groove box. It's the most straight forward drum programming device I've ever owned (having compared it in use to Elektron Rytm, Machinedrum, DSI Tempest, Akai Force, Ableton Push, Erica Synths LXR-02).
I also have the MPC live and one of the reason I like the idea of the sp16 was the sequencer at the bottom.
But I guess the FX are still not up to scratch? (I love a lot of reverb)
also as regards the sampling on sp16 can you overdub loops if you play an instrument? EG: Can I leave a pad contiguously sampling from the inputs as a drum beat plays so I can play in my guitar with overdubs until I stop it sampling?
Thanks for the content. I absolutely love my Toraiz. I just wish... reeeeeally wish... you could chain patterns precisely like the Roland units. My Current mission is to find the clever ways to get around that limit of 16 beats (64 steps) and I have some ideas to test. Still, would be much easier to hold down pattern box 5-8 for 2 seconds and have them link up. Come on Pioneer DJ!
i had the go into the youtube video settings and slow this beat down to 0.5 to get my Hip Hop head nod on.. lol..
What exactly don’t you like about the Digitakt? I have the MPC live, the digitakt and thinking a long time now to get the Toraiz. I also make liquid dnb. By the way, I had the TR8s and also the only thing I liked about it was the Stepsequencer haha ... great Video!
It's "parameter locks" in Elektron speak, versus "trig conditions" :)
But lovely sequencer demonstration, learned a few things.
How many patterns you can do in one song? Exist a song playlist with patterns for a full song?
Hey, thanks for the video!! I have the Akai Force and an Octatrack, but for drums I wanted to repurchase the Digitakt I previously owned to free up the Force for other things. Earlier I had also looked at the SP-16 and then decided to buy the Force, but now I wonder what I would like better for drums, a Digitakt or the SP-16. Can you switch scenes while the sequencer is running?
This was great, learnt a lot, including about how to program D n B. The scenes tip for drum kits was good, the ducking seems handy, and something about the way it displays patterns seems more straightforward than on the Digitakt (maybe because it's on the screen). Is it easy to copy things like pages on the Digitakt? Like can you easily copy bar 2 into bar 4 after you've mad changes, for instance?
Also, do you have a link to the EP you made on the SP16? Thanks
Copying bars I still haven’t found a way to do it. There is a sequence screen where you can see the individual trigs for each track but I can’t seem to find a way to move bars around. Also I only just signed the EP so it will be out in a couple of months
Just found that you can move the bar information around by going to the sequence section. Works pretty well with a good visual representation. Kind of like the maschine events view
Stellar. Enjoy the new intro vid as well. These LDNB samples from a retail pack? (obv minus the REC000 sample) ...also, agree 1000% the FX are rubbish. Pioneer has such a good fx pool to grab from, I really can't believe they are so bad. Where are the FX from the DJM mixer series? even just a few of them if there are DSP limits... 🤔
I have the SP-16 and I'm only 2 to 3 months in production. Compared to my other gear, the SP-16 is so easy to utilize and so intuitive. I also have a Live II and recently purchased the Elektron RTYM MKII. Any thoughts on the RYTM MKII? It has a layout very similar to the SP-16 with the pads (12 instead of 16) and a 16-step sequencer.
Rytm has no timestretching vs the SP-16 that does. I bet you'd be good to plug the Rytm into the SP16 and record your favorite beats for the ability to move the BPM at will with the Toraiz. The Toraiz can also be slaved to a Pioneer DJ media player like the CDJ2000 or XDJ1000 for live performance along side full tracks DJ'd. Enjoy those magic toys.
@@ScottAdair I have a DJM-V10 and the CDJ3000's in my DJ studio so I understand the strength of the Pioneer ecosystem. Matter of fact, no one has been to persuade me not to... but I'm thinking about purchasing a 2nd SP16 (one for DJing and the other for production). Primarily, because it's so got damn intuitive with its interface. While the SP-16 isn't as deep as the RYTM MKII, I don't have to menu drive and second guess on what I'm doing. Sometimes, complexity can be a deterrent for certain applications. Of the samplers I've used in the market: Eventide H9Max, RYTM MKII, Octatrak, and the SP-16... the SP-16 has one the best interface and is so well built and physically beautiful to work with. Yes, it's not as in depth, as the RYTM MKII but in this last week I've spent a good 30 hours and realized it's potential. I've never contemplated buying two pieces of machinery before but now I am. While the SP-16 is limited to some degree, it's so easy to work with. Pioneer did an incredible job with its ergonomics and interface.
how about it's sample mangling capabilities, does it beat the Octatrack?
😎👍🍻
Hi why does it sound like the quantize is off? Its very robotic sounding, it's lacks a nice swing feel.
Good stuff! How is the DAW integration?
How are you getting sounds into DAW for mixing... stereo out or individual outs?
hey man now I really want to get one, but I've read some haters reviews and they say there is some major flaws that Pioneer won't update with the firmware and they have abandoned support for it. thoughts?
This is true, I recently sold it to put money towards a modular setup. As a drum sequencer it’s excellent but I just couldn’t do anything else with it without getting disappointed
@@ThesisOfSyn thanks for the heads up. watching your vid on it was inspiring and I was thinking of getting it, but now, probably not now. keep up the great work!
This should have been the ESX 2!
What you program data with the drum pads, is it automatically quantized based on a preset setting?
Sick beats bro ..
Yeah this has some limitations I wish they'd improve it, but it sounds good, skip the effects. Ballparks the ASR10.
What brightness setting is your SP set at in this video? I’m hoping it’s at full. I am considering this, but bright white LED flashes mess with my eyes. If you feel like tossing up a video with more sample based hiphop type stuff, that would be cool to see some parameter locks in that scenario.
It’s at full, the flashing is because of the filming, it doesn’t do that in real life.
@@ThesisOfSyn thanks for confirming. I am just concerned about when the pads trigger, they appear to be quite bright. The frame rate camera flicker is no worry. Seems like I could make do with the few levels of dimming available.
Roland Verselab is that yoooou bro 😂
Yehhh I think you just sold me one.
be aware that there will be zero further updates for this (ace machine).
Ok so No Trig Conditions at all, thanks for wasting my time - this obviously cant be done..
No probability no but there is still a lot you can do with the manipulation of each trigger.
Is Called p locks.. timewaster
Apologies
Changed thumbnail and title. Hopefully you can now both have productive days
@@ThesisOfSyn Anyway it sounds good ,)