Hi, I'm in the market for an SP-404 and I'm collecting what info I can just to see if it's right for me. I've read around that the SP-404 can receive Midi velocity data, but I am absolutely new to this and I just want to be 100% sure that I am perceiving this info in the correct way.

Will I be able to plug up an MPD up to the SP via midi and trigger the samples within the SP while outputting the velocity at which I'm hitting the pads at? Additionally I'd like to know, if you have say, an MPD32, will you also be able to use the features within the MPD32 to trigger samples in the SP? For example, 16 levels, note repeat, etc.

A couple other questions.. I have read people saying you can sample directly from an mp3 player with the SP404. If this is true, will the output level be strong enough without going through some sort of a mixer? When I researched sampling vinyls for example, everyone on the MPC forums was saying it's possible but the volume would be extremely low unless it first went through a mixer. I know it's apples and oranges but I'd like to know how sampling from an mp3 player would work out.

My last question is what is the process of getting all of the tracks separately onto software for mixing or whatnot?

Thanks in advance for the help!

thinking the mpd should work, and if it does, the velocity will be played, note repeat too, don't know about 16 levels, but thats cause i'm assuming it is some sort of pitching function, but somebody more experienced can probably chime in there

the reason you have to run a turntable through a mixer is because the turntable is a phono output, and needs to be powered, which a dj mixer has phono inputs, really you just need a pre amp, which you can find for 20 or 30 bucks, but an mp3 player doesn't need to be powered, so you can use a 1/8th inch to RCA out of the headphone jack of an ipod or whatever into the 404 rca line in and record right in, the most important part is to watch the peak meter on the 404, learn to get it to flash and then back off so it only peaks when there are things like drums hits or horn stabs and stuff, just gotta get used making sure you record all your stuff at around the same level

as for your last question, there is only one main output, so tracking everything out seperately is pretty tough, you can do it by turning down the volumes of all but one thing in a pattern, but then there is the issue of lining up the tracks up after they're all recorded in, you could probably hook up some sort of midi start send to start a pattern as you start recording, but in my opinion your best bet is to mix mainly in the box, and then layer extra stuff on other tracks freehand, cause this box wasn't really built for doing that

If you're using the patter sequencer you can line all your tracks up correctly in your software by adding a one bar sequence with just a kick or something at the start of the first pattern in your track.So then your samples, your bass, and all your separate drum tracks all start off with the same sound in the same place.

Wow, really appreciate the responses. Very helpful information. Yeah, I guess that is one thing that I don't really like about the SP. I had an MPC 1000 for like 2 months before but I had to sell it cuz times were rough, haha. It integrates very well with software and already has some of the functions readily available whereas with the sp it takes more of a jury-rigging to get it to do the same stuff. It's all good though.

Right now I live in Vietnam and there are absolutely no MPCs here. I think I was one of the only people in the entire country with an MPC-1000 and that's not even an exaggeration. Since I had to go through a bunch of hoops to get it into Vietnam I don't want to go through all the bs to get one again. Roland, however, has several dealers in Vietnam and the SP is available. I've kinda grown to like the machine. I've played with it a bit at the shop so I think I'll try one out.

Thanks guys.

I started using the 404 less than a year ago after about 15 years of working with an MPC. It can be frustrating at first but recently I've been finding that it's well worth it. I still use the MPC for a few things but I could easily live without it and for the most part it is collecting dust. No machine will make you better at making music but I do find that the 404 makes me think in different ways which in turn helps me make music in different ways.

Yeah, I'm really trying to shake this MPC bug. Initially the only reason why I bought the MPC was because of the legendary aura behind it and that whole MPC or nothing sorta movement. Really though the best beats I've made were on ableton using just my qwerty.

One thing that really bugged me was I was reading up and I saw a few people asked if there was a simple "Song Mode" or something within the machine that makes it easy to organize patterns in a sequential manner to turn it all into a song. Apparently there isn't anything like this in the 404 and it all has to be recorded on the fly, which sounds almost absurd to me that they wouldn't put some sorta feature for song mode in there! I guess it's all good.

That leads me to another question. When I want to record the tracks into Ableton, do I need to have a special sound card or can I simply use the outputs and put it into the line in of the macbook? How would the sound be? I really don't want to buy a an audio interface, haha.

Yeah a lot of people will tell you that if you want your beats to bang you need an MPC. This is false, you can make dope beats with an MPC, an SP, Ableton, Maschine, or even just a tape loop.

With regards to a song mode, I haven't really found it to be an issue. I make most of my stuff just by resampling loops but even when I'm using the pattern sequencer it's just a case of knowing what is on each pad and switching up patterns when I want to, not much of a problem.

As for sound cards, I don't know what the quality or your internal input is going to be, I have very little experience with computers but I do know that audio is where PC manufacturers try to cut a lot of costs. You can get an external interface for very very little, MOTU, RME, Apogee, etc are extremely expensive because they are basically built for pro studios but there are other options. I'm in the market for one at the moment and Behringer and Numark both have basic interfaces for about the cost of a meal in a restaurant.

i use my macbook line in all the time. my $150 presonus audio box wasn't that much better; i traded it in for an akai LPK 25