So I just picked up a 404sx for a steal. I absolutely love this machine. I've had many 303s in the past and this thing is taking shit to a whole new level. There's really only one question I have though (and I'm pretty sure I know the answer through searching this and other forums) but can the delay's tempo be changed? no matter what I try I can't get it to change from 120. This isn't a HUGE hinderance to me by any means, but it seems like this is a simple feature. I've tried to change sample bpms to lower than the desired bpm and applying the delay to all pads, I've tried setting the pattern seq. bpm, and even connected it via midi to a computer and sync it to the bpm in my DAW. Am I missing something? If someone knows of a solution it would be appreciated. This may just be more of a rant of my frustration at the moment.

From the manual

"it is specified as a note value relative to the tempo of the longest sample of the samples to which the effect is being applied"

Unless you are in pattern mode, it will then apply to the pattern tempo.

I haven't played with it, but your question explains why I've had trouble with the delay effect myself!

I need to experiment - but basically, the sample BPM is driving the delay tempo - unless you apply across a set of samples, in which case it chooses the tempo of the longest sample.

Max delay length is 2,000 ms.

EDIT: confirmed on the sample BPM with delay applied - I had a sample at 121 and another at 96, and the delay tempo went to the longer sample when I applied to both pads.

I've tried that though... The highest bpm I have on any of my pads is 90 bpm (in fact I recorded dead air in exactly 90 so I could try it out with a tempo) then you apply the delay to the pad that you want to re sample and the pad with the higher desired bpm correct? It stays at 120 though. I've even tried applying the delay to the pad with the highest bpm first and then applying it to other pads. Also Im using a fresh card just for this experiment and I'm keeping it simple by only having 3 samples on the machine so I know it's not a pad in a later bank.

Hmmm...I'm not an expert on this. I just took a simple snare drum that had a sample BPM of 61, and if I press the TIME/BPM button, I can tweak the BPM setting using Ctrl 2 for the sample to 122 (double the 61 BPM). Doing that will double the speed of the delay once applied to that pad. The book say's to be careful with the Ctrl 1 button, as that is dedicated to the TIME modify function and has an effect on the quality of the sample if you move it too far in either direction.

Now, when I use the Ctrl 1 to tweak the sample BPM (TIME modify), the delay will change to match that new BPM as well. So, I'm not sure what's happening on your end when you do this.

Gots a new 404 straight from tokyo japan, straight up shiney and 1 gig memory.

yo when the time strectcher for the sample is on then it sometimes makes the sample play all garbley . but for the fx to sync with the sequencer you have to set the time strech if you want to resample it with sync FX.

then it will sync, so setting the start and end right helps a bit, but if you gotta go back and change the start point it will throw the bpm off and you gotta do it again, sometimes i never even bother with what it tells me about the tempos of samples, I just snap to 8ths then set the start points sometimes throw down highhats strict 8, and then set the tempo of the sequencer to get the chops snug to the hats, usually with the sample tapped and pitched externally. so i have a rough idea the tempo already,

say you luck out and find a perfect loop and it reads 92 on the sample bpm display. set sequencer to 92 bpm , and then engage the sample time strech and set it to 92 bpm. the sample wont glitch out because it is in its native pitch . ok now change the bpm of the sequencer and the sample will also change to the new sequencer tempo. i heard anty evil talking about this a while ago, as long as you dont go to crazy out of tempo the sample wont glitch much, but i found that isolator can clean up the time strech 'glitching' then maybe some reverb if you resample it all.

i never set my end points , so i never really care about the bpm it is telling you on the 3 digit led display pulsating blue orb crystal ball.