SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

Definitely interesting to see how some of the older models have better features that don't exist in the 404SX. I don't miss the lack of any of these features, being that I never owned any of the previous models. But it's still good to learn about them.

I'm not sure what's taking the admin of the SP forums so long to accept new members. But I still hope this thread stays alive.

They basically took one step backward and two steps forward with each new machine in the line.

dantana wrote:They basically took one step backward and two steps forward with each new machine in the line.

You hit the nail on the head. I'm not sure why some features got excluded, other than to think they had to make room for new features. I wonder how many people have a few different models in their studios to make up for what's missing. I've seen a lot of people with different MPCs. But I don't know of many SP owners aside from these forums.

I firmly stand by my belief that every sampler shooooould be able to sample while listening to a pattern/other sample. Huge feature that I take advantage of all the time on my MPC (recording live audio in the audio tracks, etc). To be able to do this while fully mobile on batteries would be f*cking sexy - that alone would make it one of the best I think (not that it already isn't from my experience so far ).

Aside from that... still falling more and more in lub every time I turn the damn thing on!

medearis wrote:

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.

Yeah I jam along the metronome, no way to turn that shit off so I sync it with the beat so it becomes a rhythm. Most times the metronome sounds dope

Exactly yeah I resample sections of a song and put them on the pads. Still putting in work because you actually build with each section. But the end result is fun as you mix and match hooks and verses and your hands are free to add more stuff if you like. Usually I have the verses bareboned to just drums and bass and maybe the main sample and add touches later when recording a 99 bar pattern.

distortedtekno wrote:Definitely interesting to see how some of the older models have better features that don't exist in the 404SX. I don't miss the lack of any of these features, being that I never owned any of the previous models. But it's still good to learn about them.

I'm not sure what's taking the admin of the SP forums so long to accept new members. But I still hope this thread stays alive.

The sx apparently does not suffer the same drawbacks i mentioned previously.They fix the real time reverse and mark to not always start back at 0 point when done,in a later os.Its just the standard 404.I do think it sounds really good tho.Got a thick ,lush sound.

distortedtekno wrote:

dantana wrote:They basically took one step backward and two steps forward with each new machine in the line.

You hit the nail on the head. I'm not sure why some features got excluded, other than to think they had to make room for new features. I wonder how many people have a few different models in their studios to make up for what's missing. I've seen a lot of people with different MPCs. But I don't know of many SP owners aside from these forums.

As soon as I got my new SX home the first thing I determined to do was make a beat standalone as an exercise to see if it was up to the task but within an hour when I realized it couldn't do normal pitching, just pitch shifting with length of the sample preserved, I went and dug up my old 202 as a companion.

The other workaround would be to pitch the sample on the turntable when sampling but I see my self dividing my time between sample capture and actual beat making. Part of the appeal of the sp to me was with its big memory via sd card I imagined I would sit down with a stack of records and just fill it up with samples in advance and then have a beat making session later...

Not so easy when you cant pitch anything. I mean you can but you will get gnarly artifacts and degradation. Could be cool for some applications but 99% of the time I just want true turntable style pitching.

The mark button took some getting used to as well. Not just how the sample restarts when change the start and end times, but the responsiveness is different. On the 202 I can just really jab at the mark button and I will get a seamless loop on my first attempt, or if isolating a chop via mark buttons I will be satisfied that I "punched in" right on a nice transient that gets the attack of the chop right, first try... Not on the 404sx, it takes a more delicate touch to get close and even then I usually need to adjust start and end with the nobs.

I ended up bouncing samples back n forth like mad between the 404sx and the 202 to get my first beat done. On the plus side everything did get some nice lofi coloration from all the resampling.

dryad-66 wrote:

distortedtekno wrote:Definitely interesting to see how some of the older models have better features that don't exist in the 404SX. I don't miss the lack of any of these features, being that I never owned any of the previous models. But it's still good to learn about them.

I'm not sure what's taking the admin of the SP forums so long to accept new members. But I still hope this thread stays alive.

The sx apparently does not suffer the same drawbacks i mentioned previously.They fix the real time reverse and mark to not always start back at 0 point when done,in a later os.Its just the standard 404.I do think it sounds really good tho.Got a thick ,lush sound.

Good news, I guess I need to figure out how to upgrade my OS?

I have a brand new 404sx purchased from GC recently and it sure enough restarts the sample when hitting mark or reverse. At least I think so, I don't have it with me to check but like I said I remember that being something that annoyed me when I got it. Also, even when I'm adjusting start and end with the nobs it is retriggering from the start with every adjustment I believe.

It should be easy to upgrade to OS, from what I read in the manual. But what I found which is strange is that my OS is 1.08 when I checked. Roland's website only has 1.07 up. I've been meaning to learn more, especially what's included in 1.08.

Mine also has this v1.08 thing going on. Saw that the current version is v1.07... scratched my head and then went to the park to sample sh*t.

Wonder what's up with the .08 version.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I tried looking around on the SP forums at the time, and found no info... nothing at Roland's site, or anywhere else on the web.... it's still a mystery.

Wait. Is the OG 404 that is 1.08 or you mean the SX?

Ill-Green wrote:Wait. Is the OG 404 that is 1.08 or you mean the SX?

The SX bro. I bought it new back in May, and it has 1.08 installed. No info to be found. Strange shit. I haven't contacted anyone at Roland yet. But if I can't find any info, I'll have to email someone over there.

Ok, yeah. Checked it out. Last support update for the OG was 1.04 and for the SX; 1.07!! That is weird.

Gonna have to check with the masters at sp-forums. Lord Beatjitzu is a member here now, you can pm him. I'll see whats up.

Ill-Green wrote:Ok, yeah. Checked it out. Last support update for the OG was 1.04 and for the SX; 1.07!! That is weird.

Gonna have to check with the masters at sp-forums. Lord Beatjitzu is a member here now, you can pm him. I'll see whats up.

Just checked and theres a 1.5 available(OG)