SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By medearis Fri Aug 01, 2014 5:33 pm
Apparently there is a gal who is part of a program that teaches kids (or maybe just other girls) about all sorts of random things... music/sampling are both part of the program and she uses the SP's. That is about all I know!

@DirtyDistortedTekno - Is that AniMoog running on your phone? I've had a copy sitting in my itunes account (only purchase ever made :lol:) and I have not had a chance to use it since I don't have an iphone/ipad/ipod. Is that an Android phone I see? Hmmmm!
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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By medearis Sat Aug 02, 2014 8:26 pm
@SquishedCrabz - There are a few ways to save your music inside the 404.

Using pattern sequencer - Your beats are saved as you make each pattern, like most gear. Your patterns are selectable between A1-J12.

Using resample method - Your music is saved as a "long a$$" sample (instead of a pattern in the sequencer) so you would play it back just like any other sample. This is done by enabling resampling mode and then playing your pieces in real-time into an empty pad, creating a longer chunk of music.

You can combine the two methods described here by using Ill Green's flow that he describes a few posts above/back/whatever.
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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By distortedtekno Sun Aug 03, 2014 1:58 am
medearis wrote:Apparently there is a gal who is part of a program that teaches kids (or maybe just other girls) about all sorts of random things... music/sampling are both part of the program and she uses the SP's. That is about all I know!

@DirtyDistortedTekno - Is that AniMoog running on your phone? I've had a copy sitting in my itunes account (only purchase ever made :lol:) and I have not had a chance to use it since I don't have an iphone/ipad/ipod. Is that an Android phone I see? Hmmmm!


That's cool with the girl with the SP, teaching with it and all.

That's the Animoog on my iPod Touch. The iPhone is in an Otter Box, so it's good to have the iPod handy, even though the battery drains quick. I'd really like to get an iPad eventually. Synths like Animoog and PPG Wave Mapper really turn the iPad into a very playable instrument. The iPhone/iPod Touch are cool. But the size limits the fun when compared to the iPad. So I may take the plunge eventually.
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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By ziekefons Wed Aug 06, 2014 10:23 am
medearis wrote: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:

Image :lol: :lol:


Wow that's horrible haha :lol:

Picked mine up last week, works perfectly but has some scratches on the casing.
Got it for a good price though so thats ok. :smoker:
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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By Lampdog Fri Aug 08, 2014 11:27 am
distortedtekno wrote:Synths like Animoog and PPG Wave Mapper, Magellan, Sunrizer and iPolysix really turn the iPad into a very playable instrument.


I can't stress enough how much these apps have caressed my mental, added more life and enjoyment into shit I do. Bro hug to DT for puttingme on to Animoog a while back.

As for the 404sx, I stopped myself from getting it a few times. I am not quite sure I wanna jump into it. I really hate phrase samplers but I hear so many good things about that it's tugging at my heartstrings and the small inner greed inside me even though I don't need it.
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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By medearis Fri Aug 08, 2014 7:06 pm
I think my favorite "feature" on the 404 so far is that I have never felt like I'm programming the music.

No matter what's going on - I feel like I'm playing the instrument instead of playing the ringleader in a circus!

She ain't funny, she ain't smart, she ain't fat (lord knows the ain't skinny either), but she's easy as pie and that is why I love her. :lol:
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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By distortedtekno Wed Aug 13, 2014 3:48 am
Lampdog wrote:
distortedtekno wrote:Synths like Animoog and PPG Wave Mapper, Magellan, Sunrizer and iPolysix really turn the iPad into a very playable instrument.


I can't stress enough how much these apps have caressed my mental, added more life and enjoyment into shit I do. Bro hug to DT for puttingme on to Animoog a while back.

As for the 404sx, I stopped myself from getting it a few times. I am not quite sure I wanna jump into it. I really hate phrase samplers but I hear so many good things about that it's tugging at my heartstrings and the small inner greed inside me even though I don't need it.


I knew you'd really like the Animoog. It's the next best thing to owning hardware. I've played around with some MiniMoog VSTs before. The Arturia emulations are cool. But the Animoog is on a whole different level. Bob Moog would've been proud.

If you like using effects when you sample/resample and enjoy experimenting, you'd enjoy the 404SX. The limitations of the sampler and the sequencer add to the creativity. It's very capable right out of the box. But it's also a great tool to use with another sampler or a DAW. Using it with Reason is really awesome. You'd have to watch a few videos to get a better idea of whether you'd wanna buy one or not. I haven't seen anything too exciting on youtube. But from all Ive read beforehand, I knew it would bring a lot of new ideas for me to experiment with. It's very easy for me to get in that zone with this sampler.
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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By distortedtekno Wed Aug 13, 2014 3:54 am
medearis wrote:I think my favorite "feature" on the 404 so far is that I have never felt like I'm programming the music.

No matter what's going on - I feel like I'm playing the instrument instead of playing the ringleader in a circus!

She ain't funny, she ain't smart, she ain't fat (lord knows the ain't skinny either), but she's easy as pie and that is why I love her. :lol:

You hit the nail right on the head. I couldn't agree more.
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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By distortedtekno Wed Aug 13, 2014 3:57 am
medearis wrote:Just in case anyone was wondering you can buy knobs for your 404 @ a square price.

Thinking about picking up a few blues & purples. Maybe one blue for the volume and the purples for the three 'effect's knobs. Hmmmmm

DJ Tech Tools.
https://store.djtechtools.com/products/ ... and-faders


They got a nice variety there. I like the design of these knobs. Not sure about replacing mine on the SX. But maybe on my x0xb0x or something.
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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By medearis Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:11 pm
I feel that, Tek. If I had me an X0X, I'd be all over that too. :lol:

My first imagined setup was just a Machinedrum UW + a X0X (the MD was my first ever synthesizer... eeesh. My setup now couldn't be any further away from that and I love it.
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Re: SP-404 - tricks 'n tips thread

By medearis Tue Aug 26, 2014 12:02 am
(for some reason I could not add this to my above post, does the "edit" option disappear after a certain amount of time?)

Scored a Panasonic RQ-A170 to go in my bag with the 404. Tapes around here are f*cking CHEEEEEEEAP. I pretty much almost exclusively dig for cassettes now because of the price.... at less than a quarter/per it's hard to say no!

Now I have 100% portable pitch/speed control on the way in the 404! Yusssss.

Not only that I also get 99% less static hiss/radio interruptions as my other walkman. Thing was damn near free at a GoodWill. Made my day. :mrgreen:
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