SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

dantana wrote:This little box is so fun, I want to talk about first impressions and workflows.

sp-forums seems like the place, vexed I can't post. Came here and found this thread. I was an mpc-forums member back in '03-'04, different username. I recognize some of the names around here, still goin strong.

I was looking for threads like that here and only found this one. I could split the topic in order to maintain the tips & tricks here, and all the rest in another topic... maybe a 404/404SX Appreciation Thread, or something like that. It's a nice little machine that deserves it's own topic especially for anyone that's considering buying one.

Not sure what's going on with the SP-Forums. I keep forgetting to ask around. But I'll look into that and try to organize a few things around here, since we got a good amount of SP users.

Sounds good dt!

Think I know what's going on at spf though, check this out.

They had a spam problem, efforts to stop spam accounts are now also stopping sincere members from joining.

I signed up over at SP-forums a little less than a week ago and I still cannot log in over there. I guess I'll post here until then.

My 404 should be in my clutches come Friday! Pretty f*cking excited about it, I guess I should go grab that manual, eh?

No luck here still. But it's all good. At least I can read the forums. I haven't had any questions, and I haven't had much time with the 404SX. I'm just catching up again, hoping to finish up the manual tonight. I got most of it down.

dantana - thanks for the heads up.

medearis - good to see you're getting the 404 on friday. Roland manuals suck at times. But you'll definitely need it. Sometimes the Japanese to English translation gets confusing grammatically. I've always found that to be the case with every piece of Roland gear I've owned. If Tutor made SP tutorials, I'm sure it would be worth the money. But the SP is even more of a niche market than the MPC.

T-minus... (hopefully) one hour!

Curious how y'all like to build patterns inside the 404. Still feeling out the pattern sequencer. Definitely a little weak feeling after playing an MPC for a few years. Guess I should check into this resampling technique I've read about a LOT on the SP forums.

This box is pretty fuggin' funky though! Trying to learn it solo as best as I can. I have a feeling the duo (MPC + SP) is going to be the bee's knees.

i have no idea how to use the sp sequencer and dont care too
i got 32 GB so i just resample resample resample

There is no way to overdub after you resample, huh? It'd be nice to be able to play things in layers without using the pattern sequencer since I seem to be diggin' the resample method as well.

This thing is too much fun


edit: As soon as I posted this I thought about what I had said. I could resample with kick drum + snare played to it's own pad - then resample to another while playing this one AND some melodic stuff - then add hats the same way. Might be a PITA but I think this will get me close to what I envision.

What are your resample and/or pattern sequencer workflows?

medearis thats the whole workflow, what you said in your last edit. that's what cats are doin.

but I also like the pattern sequence, I seem to be the only one

Noice. Made a few lil' foot-tappers yesterday outside while a healthy storm blew in. 100% sealed the deal! Battree opprayshun - y u so gud?

I'm going to play 'round with the pattern sequencer today for a while. Resampling is legit but I see no reason why I should limit myself.

Pattern sequencer is just a looping 1 track sequencer. You overdub as it loops again during recording. I use it all the time to save memory than resample on the 303. I usually set the bars to 99 and lay the main work first then overdub in the next loop.

I use the resample method to use more mfx or record my drum patterns to a pad (you can't resample patterns, only the 555 does that) live. I also resample parts to 3 or 4 pads like I'll have an intro on pad 1, verse on pad 2, chorus on pad 3 and an alternate verse on pad 4, then I record in the Pattern Sequencer. I don't like chaining patterns.

Ill-Green wrote:Pattern sequencer is just a looping 1 track sequencer...
...I usually set the bars to 99 and lay the main work first then overdub in the next loop.

Jamming along with the metronome clickin' or what? Not sure if you mean what I am thinking you do... building up your musical sections by resampling first then playing your resampled pads as whole sections (intro/verse/chorus/etc) into the pattern sequencer setup to how ever many bars/what ever BPM? Word. Might be 100% wrong on that but if not then hail yeeeuh.



Earlier I was diggin' around for some batteries and wondered about using a rechargeable battery pack (like the ones found in RC cars). Searched on the SP-forums and found a thread where a user made a pack for their 303. I'm curious if anyone has tried this on the 404. Don't see why it wouldn't work. Here are some links I've found that relate:

viewtopic.php?t=19078&highlight=sp303
http://sp-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=1& ... y&start=30

From the looks of everything... I think this should work for the 404 - giving me longer battery life than the 6 AA's you can slap in there. Really trying to avoid having to charge/buy batteries all the effing time. If you've done this for any of your SP's... holler back. Think I'm going to give it a shot and see what's up.

Why did they fook up the 404 with the best features.Like when you reverse and back it then starts again at the start of the sample.And the mark sample points the same!!!!The 303 used to work like a dream.a dream...and this 404 does not.Apart from this it seems preety nice.Good sound and all.

Q-Say ive got a sample and i want to make it fit into something ive got looping on the mpc,what is the best way to easily do this.Lock the sample to an external bpm/sample???thanx if youve got a good answer especially.M

I am pretty sure that the 404 can stretch a sample to fit the parameters of a pattern... not sure if you can slave it to stretch to an external source though (could be wrong on that).

You could bust out that manual and look in the section that explains how to set the BPM of a sample. It will also tell you how to lock the BPM to the length/BPM of a pattern.

You could either just make a pattern with the BPM & length to match your MPC's and get the sample to stretch to the pattern OR you could sample your stems from the MPC into the 404 and set it all up on one box... either way, you need to use the pattern mode to stretch a sample to fit I'm pretty sure.

Cool to see this thread alive. Wonder when the SP-forums will be ready for new heads to join.

dryad-66 wrote:Why did they fook up the 404 with the best features.Like when you reverse and back it then starts again at the start of the sample.And the mark sample points the same!!!!The 303 used to work like a dream.a dream...and this 404 does not.Apart from this it seems preety nice.Good sound and all.

Agree I would want reverse and mark to work like 303 again. Also 303 vinyl sim was superior. Give me those 3 features and the true pitch from the 202 and I would be happy and use this thing standalone.

Oh, and resample patterns, and listen to external source while resampling.