yo whats up, i know with the sp-404 you can't have a sample playing and use the ext source to bring in another sound at the same time, but with the sp-303 you can do this.

what i do is record my synth onto the 404 and then export what i made onto my computer and have it looping and playing out my computer speakers (so i can listen to it and keep proper timing) then i want to make a bass line on top of that, so i play the bass into the sp-404 while listening to the bass out my amplifier...and then i resample both of them together and voila, i now have a synth and bass on one pad....this is very time consuming to keep doing and messes with my workflow

i'm new to all this equipment and just trying to experiment to make it work, but i'm sure there is another way to do this. not sure if a multitrack is what i'm looking for or would my best option be to get the sp-303?

You could sample each individual bass note you use into the 404, instead of the full phrase now play it on the 404 and sequence or resample. Sometimes I'll use a metronome on my phone to record phrases in as loops

Any reason why you're not keen on picking up a multitrack? You should be able to find a decent 4 track tape deck for cheap. Digital's really flexible too (ie- USB, undo/redo/erase, quick editing etc).

i was thinking a multitrack is what i need, i'm just not compltely sure how to use it...from what i understand ill record sounds into my 404, put it on the multitrack and loop it to keep timing, and then record more sounds into my 404, and layer them together on the multitrack. if this is the case then this seems to be all i need to get. the price of a multitrack i could probably get a sp-303 and trying to figure out which one would be a better investment.

I use a tape deck. Plug your keys or bass or whatever into the decks mic input. Play the loop on your 404. Have the input on the 404 set up to monitor the tape deck. Record your parts on the cassette and when you are finished, sample the best parts from the tape deck. Fake multitrack.

Tascam DP-004. Check used guitar center or ebay. I got one for $50.

yeah the only way to make this easier is to have something that is easier to record into and back out of other than your computer, another sampler or simple digital multitrack will definitely do the trick, cassette can work too, but bouncing to cassette and back in definitely will have an effect on the sound and how it mixes with your other loops compared to a nice clean digital take, i'd save the cassette recording for the final product unless you mess with it and find that you like the effect it has on your sounds and mixes.......i have read about premier back in the day having all his drums on tapes and he would sample off of the tapes as opposed to the original wax (tapes were made from the wax though), although part of this might have been because it was an easy way to call up your breaks when making a beat without havin to pull out a million records......

right now i have a 404 running into a 303 which then runs to my speakers, so i could make something on the 404 and sample it right into the 303 and loop it up, then keep it playing while i record more stuff on the 404 cause the 303 is further down the chain, substitute my 303 with another sampler or multitrack and you got the same thing goin

so you have the 404 RCA out to the 303 RCA ins and the 303 is looping what you just created on the 404, then you use the 303 to keep timing and add more sounds to the 404 and then resample everything back together? if that's how it works then i think it's time for me to buy a 303!

i don't actually work like that, i don't usually sample myself playing something (synth, guitar, bass, whatever), but it's totally possible, and any sampler would do the trick, not just a 303......

but the way you described how i have my equipment hooked up is correct, i am always running the 404 through the 303, so it's as simple as hittin record and recording it into the 303, marking it and letting it loop, turning the ext source back on so i can hear the 404 and then sampling into the 404 whatever i would want, then from there i can either sample the new shit to the 303 to mix in there, or sample the original phrase from the 303 back into the 404, or i could just use what i originally had on the 404 before i sampled it into the 303

got it, sounds good thanks!