Hey guys I'm new here I'm tempted to buy the 404 as I'm finding my old sp 808 ex a pain in the ass(Zip drive loading and such)
What do you guys think??Should I get a 404????

My advice: download the manual, so you know what it can do and what not. If these functions suit your needs/style of production then you're good to go.

i vote yes

Off topic, Hey juxt, with that avatar you better beware of Hand banana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc2ilW4OQAI

ha ha ha, never seen that episode before.

Do it, bacardi and cola, do it.

I wonder if the zip drive in the 808 can be swapped for a flash card reader. I did that with a Roland VS-840 recorder which came out at exactly the same time as the 808 and it gave my machine a new life. There is such a reader sold to replace the zip in an Akai sampler which I know works in the VS840 so might also work in the sp808.
Here's a UK link, but mpcstuff.com also sell them...
http://www.cimplespares.com/product.php ... 61bc1bbf88

Well it depends, it conects with an ide data cable which is the standard for connecting any computer drive but the internal power cable on both those links say they are akai propreitary, it's very possible though that it's a standard cable as well since all these machines use computer components that have been made to work together. I would call Roland and ask if they think this power cable will work with the 808 motherboard before you order it, that $150 bucks could almost buy you a sp-404 on ebay these days, but I've never used an 808 maybe it's worth the trouble, it's not like putting a drive in is at all difficult but I used to build computers when I lived in Seattle.

ive heard the SP-808 has only 4 voices of polyphony even in mono. If thats true... I dont know if I could use that machine...dont get my wrong, im all about limits but my drums usually take up 4 notes of polyphony

that's were the 4 recordable audio tracks come in to take care of the polyphony...make your loop, record it. edit, then make copies for whatever bars you need, then paste them... you can also keep bouncing tracks... there's no pattern sequencer, unless you hook up a midi sequencer... it's a fun machine imo, it's a deep machine too, the fx's are the ish... just a lot stuff hidden under the menus, it's similar to ableton live but in a box...but like everything there are pros & cons to it or it is what it is....

OoH... IC. interesting

OoH... IC. interesting

I'd make a beat on that.

lol! is that like "i'd hit that!"?