SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

Wonder if Roland would be forthcoming with the patch notes.

Hope it added the much requested "automatically pack your bowls" feature.

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.

I was up there reading posts last night, looking for more info. I can't post until they activate my account. If you can ask around, I'd definitely appreciate that. I didn't know Lord Beatjitsu was up on the 404SX. I thought he was rockin the 202 and the 303.

Beatjitzu rocks anything with a sampler in it

No doubt. I saw he bought a 500 recently. The SP and a 500 would make the perfect combo. I've been thinking about buying the 500 for a while (even before buying the SP). I haven't decided if I'm gonna sell the 2k to fund the 500 yet. I'm still weighing out the pros and cons.

I got a tip to share. For using headphones, buy a right-angle adaptor. No need to drill holes and solder, and no warranty issues.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GPP273

Are there any specific things to look/test for when buying an used SP-404?
Like with the mpc2000xl the pad and slider test? (shift+5 & shift+F1)

Thanks in advance!

I don't know about specifics but I have come to understand that the volume pot likes to give out after some time. I'd be keen on checking that. As long as it doesn't look like this one I think you're okay:

The volume pot is notorious, from what I've read. Check the CF reader too.

medearis - where did you find that pic?

That has to be Star One's SP, that My Little Pony loving sparkle sprinkler.

That's what I thought for a second too.

In my quest for the best portable solution over the years, I gotta say this is where it's at for me. I just got my right angle headphone adaptor, and it's perfect. I feel safer knowing I won't damage the headphone jack.

We should compile some of the well known tricks, workarounds, and functions that aren't covered well in the manual.

Help me make a list.

1. Ducking Trick
The OG 404 was good at the heavy ducking heard on a lot Brainfeeders joints and their many copy cats. The 404SX doesn't get results as easily but can still do it. Set one element at full volume, usually the kick is good. Set sample/loop/chops much softer. Resample them together to the same pad. Apply the compressor. Everything will pump around that kick. With either machine you want to set effects limit mode on.

2. Mute Trick
You can't mute individual pads on the fly so get an effect set up to silence a pad and use Remain button to apply that effect to the pad you want to mute. Isolator with all three nobs hard left should do the trick.

3. Air Time
If you use the sequencer instead of all resample all the time, try leaving a little air before a drum hit. Play it into the sequencer quantized, then adjust the start point of the sample as it plays back until you find the pocket.

Good tips. Thanks for sharing!

Damn, you guys make me wanna buy an SP404. I got the 303 and 606 already and once owned the 202 and 505 so it seems redundant plus the MV. Its just that these things are so fun out the box, you'll spend hours in a trance just playing a loop and trying all the effects

All these samplers have that fun factor about them. I can see why it's easy to own a few of them. I love the effects on the 404. I've been looking at the 505 since it first came out back in the day. Guitar Center would always have them in stock, years afterwards for the same price. I was always hoping to catch a price drop. But never had any luck. I still have my 128mb SmartMedia card from when I bought the MC-09 in '02. So I still might buy a 505. I'm trying to avoid redundancy in my setup as well. But it looks like the 505 might not be as redundant as the rest of the SPs.