XL to Roland 404

alright. had the xl for a year,

and now im meeting cats who are making the dopest shyt on 404s, 303s etc... modern equip...

im real sick of the xl and navagating around it... im totally considering an upgrade to a 404... i may not sell the xl... but im sure as hell getting tired of how long it takes me to make beats on it

as well as that im desperate to sample while playing a sequence... not sure if i should get one before a synth... But, what use is a synth if it isnt midi? (old analogue which im after)

now. i have learnt a little on the xl, but not a whole lot, this may be my problem. im a bit ruff. and impatient. i cant sit down for too long without goin insane. but i do enjoy making shyt.

now it may be that ive suddenly come to my senses or just gotten caught up in hearing peoples music made on these. i like 303s too but understand 404s have a little more.

a synth would probably be a better choice... but im just lost as to what to do about this. more and more peoples music who use the XL sounds the same... the same structure.. similar format and style.

i want to loosen up.


anyway. drop me a line telling me your experience etc.

The 404 is geared towards live/DJ environments. If your doing studio production look for a used MV, 3000, or newer MPCs.

check this factory demo out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSUD8faTyr0

im looking for a live environment

I got the xl and the 404. very different machines - the 404 has a nicer work flow, and I like how everything is done by ear. the SPs have an ill forum too
the SPs arnt for a lot of people though.

dam.

alright.

im gona get a 404 or a303

and a synth

Also consider the Korg ESX-1. Depending what kind of sequencer you want, that box is very strong.

I wouldn't trade an XL for a 404. HOWEVER depending how that rest of your setup is, the 404 could work better.

If you usually sample into the MPC, then keep it for sure. If you sequence softsynths or external equip with the mpc, then keep it for sure.

UM

i dont have anything else in my set uP

just tape decks

found things

no amp yet

semi functional turntable









303 may be the way to go

get that grit

it depends on your style. you can make some pretty sick shit with a 404 and found sounds... the 404 is more about sound manipulation in my opinion.
listen to some Odd Nosdam... for his earlier shit he used nothing but an 8-track cassette player and an SP-202 (Dr. Sample)

damn this is more encoragement...

straight up sound manipulation is what i want...

because its so difficult to do that on the mp

and to do it live...



odd nosdam?
sounds dope...

thanks suleric, thats a big help

Honestly bro try and keep what you have now and get a 404 also.


An MPC + a 404 is a killer live setup. The 404 can contain any number of loops that you can run while setting up the MPC. Then when you want to you can track out just one track and run it through the 404 and manipulate it all crazy like.


The 404 is cool, and you CAN make beats on it. Most people don't know this , but if you hook up a Korg Padkontrol or any other midi pad to a 404 then you make it %100 better in terms of pad response. the stock 404 pads suck really. Add a Midi pad controller and you will have great, sensitive pads for making beats.

wax808 wrote:the stock 404 pads suck really.

they aint too bad. just gotta get used to em. Never heard of an SP pad going bad either.

juxt wrote:

wax808 wrote:the stock 404 pads suck really.

they aint too bad. just gotta get used to em. Never heard of an SP pad going bad either.

I just found that their responsiveness was kind of like buttons on a PSP. And they aren't velocity sensitive.


If you want to be able to play an SP404 like an MPC then you need to get a midi controller.

You can still make nice beats with just a 404 though, I really enjoyed mine.