Hi there,
I just picked up an SP404 recently and have read the manual front to back. I'm fairly positive what I am trying to do is not possible but who knows. Is there any way to create a sample (lets say record vocals on the mic) while I play back another sample (or pattern)?

Thanks in advance!

I don't believe it's possible, but if so I'd like to know as well. I used to have the og 404 but got the new sx recently. I know you could do it on the mpc 1000-bk, which was a nice feature for sure. especially pitching your sample to the track that was already written, so you didnt have to re pitch after it was recorded.

No, you can't do it.

What you could do, though, is record your sample on another device (multi-track, computer, etc.) and play it on that while you record your new sample onto the 404.

For this Reason i bought an soundbite micro looper....

I sometimes record into my mobile phone and then listen to that while playing overdubs stright into the 404.

If I'm recording a synth part for example, sometimes I'll use a BPM counter to play a click in time with my pattern and then record just to the metronome.

The things we have to do!

thanks for all the replies everyone.

I guess recording the samples onto the computer is the easiest solution for my set up.

How do you record signal in with metronome playing?

Say it ain't so! I have an sp-404sx on its way in the mail as we speak! I bought it 90% for the purpose of using the samples as live looper banks similar to those on the kp3 and kaossilator pro! Looks like I may have to resell the damn thing.

Is there any hope for what I want to do? Is it at all possible to do live overdubs while other patterns/samples play? If so, I could create a few silent samples of various bar lengths and just overdub live audio onto them. I really hope I dont have to resell this. It's a pain but it's even worse because I though I FINALLY found the device I've been searching for!

Red Sound loopers seem pretty cool too:
http://www.redsound.com/products/SoundBITEmicro
http://www.redsound.com/products

...and a great alternative to integrate in a SP-centric system.

The SPs are great phrase samplers but loopers they are not (the SP-555's Loop Capture kinda fails as a live looper) and resampling is not their forte.

I've had all forms of boss loop pedals. They all fall short. I need 8-12 banks. I used to have 2 kp3s, which was nice, but not ideal. I have a novation launch pad setup as a massive looper but I hate software stuff other than recording a so as a whole. So even with overdubs there's no way to record the inputs while other samples are playing?

Korg needs to make the KPLooper. Just 4x4 grid of sample/loop banks. With or without inboard effects I'd buy it.

Dual SP setup is the closest thing I can think of, which might come close to MPC price range and lacks some of the sample editing. iTouch apps may offer better solutions perhaps.

Korg is missing the boat on the looper thing though, something like a looper version of the Kaoss Quad with USB would be great. The new Mini line might work, but I don't know how many slots they have (Mini Kaossilator 2 has 2 loops per slot).

Something like an used GNX4 might work, it has a JamMan mode where you can record loops. Might wanna check the specs for how many independent loops it can store on looper mode, recorder mode has 8 tracks. It beats the current Loop Station/JamMan line in terms of features.

Zoom stuff (R24; R16; R8) could work but it's probably less immediate than the SP/KP workflow.

IIRC some of the elder SPs have that feature, but it'll be hard to get memory cards for those.

Edit: Forgot about the microsampler.