What type of mic can plug straight into the sp-404? (or 303)? Can I use a condenser Mic for instance, or would I need a pre-amp?

Thanks
Jon

Hi,
The sampler does have mic preamp built in. What it doesn't have is phantom powering for any condenser mics that need that.
You can use a Condenser IF it's the kind that has a battery in it. There are plenty of stage condenser mics that have battery compartments in the stem. Audio Technica make some nice ones.


Whatever Mic you have, you'll need a cable ending with a 1/4" mono jack plug as the sampler doesn't have a standard 3pin XLR mic socket.

If you're going to be vocalising loud right into the mic, a Dynamic might be better - like the Shure SM58 that is available everywhere and which there many alternative & cheaper copies made. For sampling everything else, a condenser would be better on average as they should be more sensitive.

On the 404, the built in mic is a condenser and really it isn't too bad. Certainly usable provided the sound you record is moderately loud.

Cheers
Jim

Thanks for that impressive reply, really helped.

Think I'll probably get the Rode M3 condenser, then perhaps a Shure SM57 (dynamic I think, rather than condenser) later on as a companion mic.

Putting together a small budget studio, so will also slowly, as money permits, get these:

Novation X-station 49 synth/midi controller
Korg PadKontrol
Electribe ER-1
Ableton Live 7
Reason, with the Abbey Road refill (Mellotron sound FTW!)

But for now, an SP-404 and a nice mic is a lovely, go anywhere music sandbox and I can do field recordings/interviews all kinds of stuff on it as well as sampling/making loops.

--
Jon

sounds like a cool little studio,

if you're getting an ER-1, make sure you get the mk2 instead of the mk1, cross mod is alot more useful than ring mod - and it looks prettier too haha

Nice find that M3
I wasn't aware of that one.
Found this review...
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov07/a ... rodem3.htm
Looks to be a good all-rounder for the mobile sampler.

Jim

Yeah, it was because of your advice in this thread about condensers with batteries that led me to it. I was initially considering the Rode NT-1a, which is more expensive and no battery so less portable, I think the M3 will be great.

On the Sp-404, haven't received my unit yet but I did buy a SanDisk 1GB EXTREME III cf card, hope it's compatible. I looked on the Roland FAQ page and it did mention SanDisk, but an earlier one.

What's the delay effect like on the SP-404, can you in theory do space echo type stuff like the RE201? As in 70's dub reggae and Lee Perry etc ...
--
Jon