SO, I just got my fist samplter. An sp 404sx.

I was looking for an 303, but I couldn't find one in my area.

I really have no idea how to even get started.

I figured out ho to record a vinyl sample last night, but now I don't know how to day anything with it.

How to I cut the sample to make beats?

Something like this
http://youtu.be/PO4eIDn6pi0

Can anyone offer some help to a new guy who desperately wants to make beats?
I turned to the instruction manual, but I couldn't seem to grind any answers.

Could you tell me what to do from start to finish?

Thanks,
-Sleepy

light a joint and your music will sound good before you're sober !
no joke make beats and beats , slice your sample in all way and try to add a beat , only time will tell .
also start with a sample with no drums for beginning .

Check on that my friend haha

But seriously, I'm so lost.

I know how to get the sample I want onto a bank when sampling from vinyl.

But how do I do things like trim the sample?

How do I chop it like in the video I linked?

Also, I don't really know how to do the whole bpm with the tap tempo
Do I do that while I am recording the sample?

I need help with the basics! I am just getting started.

Thanks,
-Sleepy

1. use the Mark button to trim, then truncate as needed
2. use your ears, didn't watch vid but 90% of chopping is tapping out 1/8th or 1/4 notes in time with your sample into pieces.
3. you can I guess, i usually just grab a sample then on play back tap out the tempo....then if you chop it right and use the pattern sequencer at that tempo it should lock up pretty good.

real quick I guess

download copy of audacity (free w/decent effects), sample into a computer then edit, chop, render as WAVs onto your cards. Adds a step to workflow but you can build song folders for your pads/banks m ore easily. Once done you can get right to creating. I generally spend about an hour to two before each session building my song folders (drums, chops, etc...) then I dump into 404 banks.

Beauty of 404 is it forces you to be creative. It's limits are really benefits. Great machine; works well along side a DAW for basic sample editing. I sequence with a MPC500. After 6 years of OCD I'm finally getting to recording some stuff. Have fun dont get to preoccupied with the prep stuff until you are ready to start recording. Things to get if you havent...

Good cans
a filter
multitrack
some pads (MPD etc...)
mixer or preamp

The manual does explain sampling, and trimming start and end points in step by step detail. I'm not really sure what you mean when you say that you have read the manual, but still don't know what to do?

Also, did you happen to get the factory samples and patterns with your SP? That can teach you a lot by itself!