Hello,

Pretty new to the sp-404sx. I have searched for an answer for this question in other posts, it's pretty basic, so I apologize if the topic has already been up.

So...

I wanna use my sp-404sx for live shows where I wanna manually build up the songs using loops. How do I get the samples to loop in perfect sync with each other? Let's say I have a simple drum-loop for example. I start the loop, sounds good, and then I wanna add the bass-loop. I want the bass-loop to start EXCACTLY at the right time, at the beginning of the drum-loop.

Right now when I trigger a sample, it starts immediately when I press the pad, and I need to be extremely well timed to get the samples in sync. If I'm just a few ms off it doesn't sound good.

So, what I need is for the sample not to start excactly when I press the pad, but wait until the drum-loop has finished one round, and then start at the same time.

This must be possible to achieve, right?

resample the drum loop and the bass loop so they're on one pad. trigger the pad with just the drums on it, then when you want, bring in the other pad with both loops on it and kill the first pad

or use the sequencer? quantize will "help" you line up the samples better.. if you would rather play pads live than use the sequencer you could always record bits of stuff off the sequencer and record it to tape then resample off the tape back into the sp.

Resampling or using the sequencer would do the job in one way... But I want to be able to have full control over each loop at any given time (being able to start and stop each individual sample, as in sample mode). If I use the sequencer I am limited to 12 combinations per bank and the interactive part is also more limited. I want every loop that starts or stops to be triggered by me (not 4-5 loops triggered at once, as in pattern mode)

closest thing can think of right now:

record a pattern with all the pads looping the whole time.

then trigger the pattern and do the muting trick:
apply the isolator effect to the pads you want to mute at different times (w/ all parameter knobs down so the pads are muted)

this will at least give some of that interactive feel

These are all great suggestions. Or you can practice with the loops on one shot(drum, loop off) until u get it just right. I did that with my first and only show, tbh some were loop on. But I also had some recorded patterns for when I wanted to throw in some distorted bass sounds or some vocals. The 404 will not start the sample on beat unless it's programed to in the pattern player.