The classic E-mu SP-1200 sound continues to attract music producers, particularly those interested in old-school hip-hop, gritty drum samples, and the character of vintage sampling hardware. While Behringer has generated interest with its SP-1200-inspired hardware, there’s already a software alternative worth exploring: the Inphonik RX1200.
In this video, I take a quick look at the RX1200 and some of its features, including its sample banks, sound-shaping controls, factory kits, and record-speed options.
What Is the Inphonik RX1200?
The RX1200 is a software sampler designed to recreate the sound and workflow of the classic E-mu SP-1200. Rather than requiring vintage hardware, it gives you access to an SP-1200-inspired sampling environment directly inside your digital audio workstation.
The original SP-1200 became well known for its role in hip-hop production. Its 12-bit sampling and 26.04 kHz sample rate contributed to a distinctive sound that many producers still associate with classic boom-bap drums and chopped samples.
One technique associated with the SP-1200 involved sampling records at 45 RPM and pitching the samples down during playback. This helped producers work within the machine’s limited sample memory while also changing the pitch and character of the recordings.
The RX1200 recreates aspects of that vintage sampling experience in software, making it an option for producers who want to experiment with this sound without purchasing original hardware.
Exploring the RX1200 Features
The RX1200 interface is organized around four banks of eight sounds, giving you 32 sample slots to work with. This provides a straightforward way to organize drum sounds and other samples into kits.
The main interface includes several sound-shaping controls:
- Tone: Adjust the tonal character of your samples.
- Decay: Shape how quickly sounds fade away.
- Mixer: Adjust the levels of the sounds in your kit.
- Sample banks: Organize and access sounds across four banks.
- Record-speed options: Explore different playback characteristics associated with vintage sampling.
- Sample editing: Work with the sounds in your kit and adjust samples to suit your production.
The RX1200 also provides a collection of factory sounds, giving you a starting point without requiring you to build every kit from scratch.
Factory Sounds and Additional Collections
Alongside the factory collection, Inphonik offers additional sample collections through its website, including Drum and Bass and Ambient collections.
These give producers different starting points depending on the style of music they’re making. You can explore drum-oriented material, experiment with atmospheric sounds, and build kits around your own samples.
The ability to load different kits and work with the available sounds makes the RX1200 useful for experimenting with more than just traditional hip-hop drums.
Is the RX1200 Worth Checking Out?
If you’re interested in the sound of the E-mu SP-1200 but prefer working entirely inside your DAW, the Inphonik RX1200 is worth investigating.
Its combination of vintage-inspired sampling, sample banks, tone and decay controls, and record-speed options offers a practical way to explore classic sampler sounds in a modern production environment.
The plugin was listed at approximately $30 when I recorded the video, although current pricing may vary.
Watch the video above for a quick walkthrough of the interface and its main features.
Product link: Inphonik RX1200 at Plugin Boutique
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. I may earn a commission if you make a qualifying purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Leave a Reply