sp303/404 users

I checked out the 404 at a local shop and i put the compression effect on a kick drum and it sounded real tight. I think this sp404 would be great for grimey drums/ Can anyone who uses one of these (sp303 or 404) let me know if they had success getting hard nice drum sounds out of it? thanks in advance.

aint anything to do with the roland sp303/404, but...

in terms of compression to make kicks sound tight, i run my drums (kicks snares and hats) through my tascam portaone studio (4 track tape deck).
Record all the stuff onto that then just resample it.
pretty cheap way of making drums sound warm and compressed....

i just cancelled my preorder on an sp404...as much fun as it looked i don't think i can justify buying it with the new os coming out.

but damn i would have loved to have one lined up in my live set.

maybe someday.

i got the 303 used, and yes it can do a damn good job at making hard hitting drums. the compressor is very simple and the results are more blatantly audible than other compressors i've tried.

also as far as griming up the drums, the lo-fi effect works well. but the best thing is to actually sample the drums into the 303 on the lo-fi setting. makes the drums knock harder, especially compared to if you just used the lo-fi effect while the signal passes through it. sampling in lo-fi sounds different than using the lo-fi effect just bytself.


the effects on the 303 definitely destroy the effects on the 1000. if you can get a 303 used for like $150 its well worth it. some people i know have a 303 running in between their turntable and their mpc, so they can sample stuff in with the effects at the same time (lo-fi bit rate effect, filters, etc).

the 404 looks crazy but its pricey. but if you can find a 303 cheap you should really give it a chance though. i swear i use it everytime i make a beat now.

punchdrunk wrote:i got the 303 used, and yes it can do a damn good job at making hard hitting drums. the compressor is very simple and the results are more blatantly audible than other compressors i've tried.

also as far as griming up the drums, the lo-fi effect works well. but the best thing is to actually sample the drums into the 303 on the lo-fi setting. makes the drums knock harder, especially compared to if you just used the lo-fi effect while the signal passes through it. sampling in lo-fi sounds different than using the lo-fi effect just bytself.


the effects on the 303 definitely destroy the effects on the 1000. if you can get a 303 used for like $150 its well worth it. some people i know have a 303 running in between their turntable and their mpc, so they can sample stuff in with the effects at the same time (lo-fi bit rate effect, filters, etc).

the 404 looks crazy but its pricey. but if you can find a 303 cheap you should really give it a chance though. i swear i use it everytime i make a beat now.

True dat. I just hooked up the 303 on the FX loop of my TTM56 and I've gotten great results sampling with FX. I love the lo-fi effect, and the compressor is good in an over-the-top kinda way.

Oh, and a Q for 404 users:
Is it any faster? Or is there still a pretty long wait after recording a sample, trimming/deleting a sample or recording a pattern? That's the one thing I hate about the 303.

Another thing I don't like is the wobbly/loose feeling pots. Any improvements there?

... mabybe I should just finde a shop with the 404 on demo...

What do you have to say about the older version, the SP202? Do you think that it can give the same sound as the 303 if sample in lo-fi??

here goes a drum loop that I made on the 303

the drums were clean as hell before I put them in

http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2YQL ... LB6PB21QRY

i want a 404 bad, looks like so much fun

Krase wrote:What do you have to say about the older version, the SP202? Do you think that it can give the same sound as the 303 if sample in lo-fi??

It is even more lo-fi...rediculously lo-fi. Plus, it is alot less versatile that the 303. The 303 can loop, do one hits, and sequence like a drum machine. The 202 can only loop or do one hits.

Capshun wrote:i want a 404 bad, looks like so much fun

Yeah, the addition of a CF Card slot helps big time too.

Well, I have to say that indeed, the SP202 is not very versatile. This was the first phrase sampler I got 6-7 yrs ago, and even back then I believed it had limited capabilities. I haven't used did much due to that fact.
TIMP, the beat you have sounds thick and tight, the 303 did a good job! I'll give my 202 another try!

im still messing with the Zoom sampletrack that machine is like a mini sp

Im using the 303 - and im really happy with it. It has a really nice sound to it and some clever effects as well. The sequencer is not good, but its very charming to work with.

I bought my 303 after I bought my MPC1000 - and now i use it for every beat i make.

My friend has the 404, and its a lot more versatile than the 303 - tho it doesnt have the special 303 sound. He makes rockish beats, and he loves it.

hfinal wrote:My friend has the 404, and its a lot more versatile than the 303 - tho it doesnt have the special 303 sound. He makes rockish beats, and he loves it.

i have the 404 and the 303, and they sound exactly the same. what special 303 sound?