hey guys!

thought i'd get your expert opinon on a few things becuase im interested into venturing into the SP404.

so i play in a dance band and live we need a way to trigger our tracks. i hate the idea of using an ipod for this.

my questions are...
1. a SP404 would store (with the RAM card) a whole set worth of music yeah?

1a. does any old RAM card fit?

2. do you have press hold after you press the pad to keep it playing? i read this in the manual. i'd want it so i just hit number 1 and track 1 played...

3. noticed a few people from australia bought them overseas from the US where they're considerably cheaper. what's the ebst website and did anyone have any issues with power?

4. and finally, im only really going to use the SP404 for playing backing tracks. would you still recommend it or something else?

you probably get these questions all the time so im sorry - but would love your replies!

cheers,
blahblah

At first I just want to advise you something.
When you start to think about buying SP404, don't hesitate, just get it

I don't think I can consider myself as an expert, but there are some things that I can help with.

1. - As far as I'm concerned, SP404 doesnt support any additional RAM cards. The only "hole" for additional cards which is present in this device is designed to Compact Flash Cards ( Capacity up to 1Gb ), which you can store your samples, or any kind of music in.

1a. - ^ Don't think so

2. - If you press Hold after you press specific pad, the sample will keep playing. But this reffers to the pads set to GATE playback mode. If you turn off GATE playback mode, the triggered samples will play till their end. There is also possibility to set LOOP mode and other things, but I recommend you to read the Owners Manual more carefully

3. - As I don't spend much time with Wallabies, I won't help you with this matter. The only thing about the price I know, is that in Poland, new SP404 costs ~630 USD and I bought mine for ~360 USD ( Used of course ) on local ebay, so I recommend you to check if there is a possibility to buy used one in your country. There is no real difference, used or new.

4. - I don't know much about music hardware world. Actually I know some people who use SP only for triggering samples, but I don't know If there are cheaper devices to do this. Maybe someone else will help.

(5.) - Actually It's the first time I answer someone new to SP-world, so I'm not really tired

Cheers

songs like it will do what you need it to do.

Im from Australia and I payed 589. brand new from a store.

It retailed for 720 i think but i found an internet price of 599 on storedj so i went into a store and they beat it.

about the power from a US 404 i would say that you would definitely need a transformer, because my friend and i both have the same keyboard (the roland juno-g - which has the same power adapter as the sp404) but he go his online from the US and he needs a transformer.