505 FROM MARS

The Simple but Solid Drum Machine The 505 is a charming little drum machine, kind of like a 707 and 727 in one box, with a great little sequencer to boot. But though it may seem basic at first glance, that is the essence of its appeal - a classic, 80s box with both drums and percussion. And with a generally punchy tone that fits easily into any mix it's no wonder there are way more lovers of the 505 than haters - among them producers like Vince Clark, Aphex Twin, and plenty of Chicago House classics.  Modifications and Sampling into the SP 1200  But our 505 is no ordinary drum machine - it's been modified with a bizarre, circuit-bending knob that tunes all of the drums simultaneously - either into totally useable, tuned versions of the original sounds, or mangled into oblivion. And to go a step further, we sampled this modified 505 extensively into our favorite sampler of all time - the SP1200. The Recording Process Before anything else, we decided to capture the OG 505 sounds, witho