i have an idea to play my sp samples with a keyboard while recording the midi info from the keyboard into my mpc. the sp wouldn't be syncd but i'd have the sp outs going to mpc input thrus, so they would play back in sync anyway. does that make sense? then i could sequence with the sp without having to wait for the tick tick tick tick, and i could even quantize, punch in while playing back, set swing... is this possible?? do some of you do this with other midi sequencers?

Yup I do this with my Roland mc307. I use the xox style step sequencer for the 404 and also the arp for swing/velocity change. Just sucks needing 2 machines to play 1 sequence. As far as using a keyboard controller that would need to go into the midi in on the mpc and then midi out from the mpc to the sp404. Make sure everything is set to send/receive on the same channels and you should be good to go.

thanks formal!

Just something to think about, when using midi in on my sp404 I can only access two banks of sounds. If I change the sending/receiving midi channel it will change banks but still only allow access to two banks. I am not sure if this is due to my specific setup, but I've asked here and got no real answers involving 404s being midi controlled. 24 sounds is enough for me, but still a kick in the nutz when trying to sequence out an entire set.

same here. i think i can only get banks D and E or something. in the midi guide posted by drewzle, it also says that the 404 sequencer will record a performance on a midi controller (with velocity sensitivity), but that doesn't work for me either.

Unless the EX is different from the OG 404, all banks should play from midi given you can send the required midi notes as per the manual (my OG does) Maybe the sequencer has a fixed range and transposes it's own sounds to get higher or lower notes or maybe you just need to transpose the sequencers keyboard?
Velocity sense should work on 404 midi in too. Is it possible the external keyboard (or sequencer in between) is set to fixed velocity?

Jim

the velocity sensitivity works, but you can't resample with it or record with the sequencer, only play it live. if i had another sp to sample it with that would be cool... as far as the channel configuration, maybe i can change it with the controller