Autechre Advice on 808

I've been considering picking up a Roland mc808 for a while now, as i wanted to start writing my own material and wanted some equipment besides my laptop which i spend all day on anyway. I was askin a chap i know about this the other night, he's quite in to his techno djing, and he turned around and said not to get one, that they're stupid pieces of fisher price shit and that i'd regret getting one......I find this pretty hard to believe as every single person i have talked to before him has said they are fantastic and that i'll really enjoy them, and everything i have read on the net says they are great. This lad is a bit of opinionated prick anyway so I wouldn't hold much in what he says, only for the fact that he has got experience in djing frequently.

So anyone out there able to give me some advice?

EDIT: The price is 777 euros for it as well, which seems reasonable enough.

Also, I am not goin to be using this for techno purposes. The recent live autechre material is the kinda stuff I really dig, if that makes any odds.

reviews: http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...and/MC-808/10/1

i believe that autechre use a machinedrum in their live sets

Autechre use a machinedrum.

For sure hardware looks cool in a studio and will always feel more exciting than using software but its more heart than head which will lead you to purchase an MC808.

  Rook said:

Autechre use a machinedrum.

Prior to which they used a *TR*808

MC-808 is not a TR-808

Hence the stars

i know

I wouldn't unless you are ready for some serious troubleshooting sessions. Expect a steep learning curve. With minimal satisfaction. If I bought one it would end up being a sound module, since I am so software based. Most people I know that have bought one just ended up sampling it and then never touching it again. It's really hard to integrate as a sequencer since the midi clock it will generate is pretty erradic. I once used one as a master midi clock and in Logic the BPM was dancing around the whole time. Although that could be kinda cool if you fucked with it a lot.

Be cool to have, but dont expect much for a while. + 777 euro is a big chunk.

  slightlydrybeans said:

Be cool to have, but dont expect much for a while. + 777 euro is a big chunk.

exactly.... everyone (except maybe you, but probably you anyway) knows you would primarily use it as a sample source. in which case, there are a million ways to download the sounds regardless. it is true, you might not gain as many 'l33t' points... but you will be out less money for music that will only be shared/dowloaded anyway as i am guessing you don't have warp or rephlex knocking on your door already.

[ps- just so you don't think i am being cruel... if you don't have warp or rephlex knocking on your door already, getting an 808 won't be the magic wand].

it really seems these days people are so concerned with equipment versus actual musical composition skill.

MC-808 is not a TR-808