The E-mu SP-12 is the classic drum machine & sampler combo that paved the way for such greats as the E-mu SP-1200 and AKAI MPC series of sampling drum machines. Redesigned from E-mu's original Drumulator drum machine, the SP-12 is a classic drum machine with built in sampling capability. There is a set of preset drum sounds including kick, snare, hihats, toms, cymbals, handclap and rimshot. These sounds can be mixed and edited using the sliders. Then you can add your own beats and drum sounds using the built-in 12-bit sampler. Sampling time is limited to only a few seconds and the quality is very lo-fi (a sound loved by lo-fi and trip hop). Store your patterns and link them into songs, there's room for 100 of each! There are mono and individual outputs (no stereo). It's been used by Madlib, Large Professor, Chicago, and DJ Premiere.

The SP-12 was quickly superceded by the SP-1200 in 1987 which was continuously reissued through 1997. The SP-1200 is undoubtedly the more popular of the two since it has added features and emphasized sampling by eliminating the preset drum sounds. However, for the classic synth collector the SP-12 still makes a great gift!

Sebas Stián

September 12, 2012 @ 2:18 am

This drum machine was used too by Spagna in Call Me, Easy Lady, and more songs in this album, an by Phil Collins in Sussudio!

Steve Payne

September 3, 2012 @ 9:58 am

Here are the default sounds with a tuning demo and a beat demo showing just how easy it is to use this old classic drum machine. http://youtu.be/vMFddHq53D0.

If you want do download and/or use the demo I've put is on soundcloud too. http://soundcloud.com/scifi-funk/emu-sp-12-old-skool-default

VCO8

January 26, 2012 @ 11:09 am

saabgti: You can see an SP-12 on the Invisible Touch Tour from 1987(along with a LinnDrum LM-2)

80srules

November 28, 2011 @ 6:24 am

It seems like Bryan Ferry used this drum machine on "Don't Stop the Dance".

Saabgti

October 17, 2011 @ 9:59 am

Didn't Genesis use one on the Invisible Touch album??

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