SP303 vs 404 vs 505

Here's the deal:

I have an MPC2000 (classic) and I use it every day. I'm going on a trip for a few months for the summer and want something small to take with me, that I could also be used to compliment my 2k for when I get back. After looking into it for a little bit, I've narrowed it down to the 303, 404 (OG), and 505.

Pros and cons of each machine for me:

303:
+ classic effects
+ solid build (from what I understand)
- no battery
- less internal memory than the others
- the pricier of the three

404:
+ most sampling time of the three
+ decent effects too?
+ battery powered
+ solid build
- worse pads than the other two?

505:
+ auto chop (something my 2k lacks. I'm thinking it would be interesting to mess with)
+ 303 effects
+ the cheapest
+ more features for my money?
+- a sequencer which might be interesting when I only have the 505 available, but when I get back it might feel like it's just clunking up the machine?
- shittier build quality (?)
- looks pretty stupid


Right now I'm leaning towards the 404, mainly because of the battery and the lack of gimmicks (as far as I know...), but the auto chop seems very interesting. When I want to sample something with my 2k, it's sort of a commitment because I'll have to chop everything and then save it and I can't just turn it off mid session, but with the 505 I like the idea that I can just sample anything in sloppily, play around with the auto chop and see what happens.

Is there anything I'm missing? Is there something else you might want to suggest?

Have you considered the SP-404A?

Fre$hBreath wrote:Have you considered the SP-404A?

I thought that was just a regular 404sx with an ugly case and higher price.

Scrawny wrote:

Fre$hBreath wrote:Have you considered the SP-404A?

I thought that was just a regular 404sx with an ugly case and higher price.

I mean let's be real all the Roland SP's are ugly, and I know, I own an SP-808 I never use...

Fre$hBreath wrote:I mean let's be real all the Roland SP's are ugly, and I know, I own an SP-808 I never use...

The 303 looks pretty sexy and the 404OG looks nice too.

https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/ ... galqxp.jpg

They are all going to be a lot closer to functionality than you’re thinking.

Also add the sp-555, it can be used as a sound card too.

For the money you may be better off getting a used live or one. I mean it’s like 200 bucks difference between a 404 used and a one...

They work great for what they do but are very limited in terms of actually production abilities. If you just want to make loops, then yea it’s perfect. Sound design and programming wise the newer mpcs blow that thing out of the water. It’s over 20 year old tech and it shows. I owned a 303, 404, and 555. I have a nostalgic view of them but don’t miss or need them.

Cockdiesel wrote:They are all going to be a lot closer to functionality than you’re thinking.

Also add the sp-555, it can be used as a sound card too.

For the money you may be better off getting a used live or one. I mean it’s like 200 bucks difference between a 404 used and a one...

They work great for what they do but are very limited in terms of actually production abilities. If you just want to make loops, then yea it’s perfect. Sound design and programming wise the newer mpcs blow that thing out of the water. It’s over 20 year old tech and it shows. I owned a 303, 404, and 555. I have a nostalgic view of them but don’t miss or need them.

A 555 is bigger than all the others, costs more than all the others, and adds nothing that I'm going to use...

And the cheapest Live is 680 euro on Ebay, while the cheapest 404 is 215 euro. If I got a live, would I even need my old MPC anymore? I'm not looking to revamp my entire set-up lol.

I was just through it out there. Yea the price difference isn’t as much here from a quick search here in the states. If that’s the case just go with the 404. It’s good for making quick samples and effects but the same as any Mpc by a long shot in terms of programming.

Cockdiesel wrote:I was just through it out there. Yea the price difference isn’t as much here from a quick search here in the states. If that’s the case just go with the 404. It’s good for making quick samples and effects but the same as any Mpc by a long shot in terms of programming.

Yup. I think that's what I'm going to end up with. In that case, I've also got to practice my finger drumming and see how that "sequencer" on the 404 works. Also need to figure out how to use it in conjunction with my MPC.

The MPC Live/X/One just needs better damn looping... <Davie504>pfffft</Davie504>

You won’t be finger drumming much. The one killer feature is the loop start and end points with one button, get some crazy loops going.
They are great for launching loop clips... well 4 of them. Used them for 15 years, if you want a digital tape recorder then it should be perfect. Any more is primitive at best. Not trying to throw shade at it but it may not be what you think it is.

Cockdiesel wrote:They are great for launching loop clips... well 4 of them. Used them for 15 years, if you want a digital tape recorder then it should be perfect. Any more is primitive at best. Not trying to throw shade at it but it may not be what you think it is.

Yeah, I played with a few devices in the line for a while... there are some great ideas there... but it feels like a sonic note pad at best to me. Definitely nothing wrong with it... and I've seen some great track ideas come out of them... but personally I found it to be limiting in a way I didn't really find creative in my workflow.

Cockdiesel wrote:You won’t be finger drumming much. The one killer feature is the loop start and end points with one button, get some crazy loops going.
They are great for launching loop clips... well 4 of them. Used them for 15 years, if you want a digital tape recorder then it should be perfect. Any more is primitive at best. Not trying to throw shade at it but it may not be what you think it is.

Yeah, I understand that I think, and I have no illusions of it being anywhere as complete as my 2k. I just gotta keep in mind that I'm going to use it with the 2k when I get back, so something completely fledged out and won't be necessarily the best for me right now.

I don't know what city you're in, but I just came across this and thought about you... https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/ ... 08400.html

Fre$hBreath wrote:I don't know what city you're in, but I just came across this and thought about you... https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/ ... 08400.html

Haha thanks, I'm in Europe though. eBay prices don't differ much from that one thankfully.