I am looking for a temporary escape from my DAW, fl studio, so i am thinking about getting hardware. I overthink alot when it comes to music and this has slowed down my progress; along with this i also spent quite alot of money on stuff i dont need. I have a hercules rmx because i was into djing when i was younger, and i also have a 25 key midi controller, along with an mpd26 and lpd 8 from akai. I am selling alot of this stuff and along with my job, i am thinking of getting an sp 404sx. The only problem is that i need to understand if it is appropriately suited for my needs. I am planning on recording skateboard sounds, paper crumples, door knocks, etc with the roland sp 404sx, and then adding the effects from the machine to make it sound really weird. The only thing i am unsure of is if it is possible to use the 404sx to make a WHOLE track. I understand it is intended for live performance and and mpc would be better suited for beatmaking, but i dont have money to get both. I enjoy dibiase a lot, and am into the LA beat scene. I always see "beatmaking" videos on Mpcs and i still dont see a whole song being made, just kicks added to claps added to sample, etc, but no structuring of the song. I cant find any sp 404 beatmaking videos and i am wondering if you can record entire tracks on the sp 404. Are there any problems on the 404sx with transferring to sd card? Is it just plug in computer and place your sounds? Also if u bring for example a bunch of drum sounds, how do u place the kick on pad one, clap on pad 2, hat on pad 3, etc? Can you choose? Sorry for the long post but i am desperate and i came to the best place possible.

also if i want to bring something done onthe 404 to fl studio or ableton do i need a midi/audio interface? Also if i connect my mpd 26 to the 404sx via midi what can i do with that?

you can record into the sp via auxiliary cable or 1/4 inch jack.. alternatively if you have download the sounds you can load them onto an SD card(usually included)

as far as making a whole beat..you can.. but I find( as most sp manz do) that resampling is a more organic process..over the onboard sequencer

however after using the resample method ..I sequence my sp into an external sequencer .. and use the sp as a filter/recorder/multi fix/sample trigger

i layer by playing my sounds( kick n snare for example) live on the sp ..whilst recording into external sequencer .. then record the full sequence ( with drop outs and a structure) back into the sp

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Only advice is ..don't expect to just use the sp .. have a work flow in mind that uses either - other gear with a sequencer , or include the sp into a DAW workflow

.. This is only my personal advice..i'm sure other people will have other ways ( and I'm sure plenty of sick tunes have been made exclusively using an sp - whether its resample or sequencer method)


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Hope you understand.. paragraphs.. I know

.. To answer the second question .. an audio interface is advisable

i went from fl to 404sx

its great if your just sampling. its a bit trickier if your gonna add basslines and synths etc. but it is doable and i have been doing it for a whille. I occasionally make beats in fl if i want to make something super quantised.

sp is way more fun and its portable. meaning that you could take it to the skatepark and record the sounds you want aswell as making a beat while your there haha

Is it possible to use the so without speakers? Say if it has a built in speaker or u can use your headphones? Wanna go in the backyard and stuff

.. you need headphones or could use a portable speaker I guess

@iThinkTooMuch


Here's a visual analogy of DAW/studio setup vs. SP404 in terms of making tracks:


DAW Studio:



SP404:




It's possible to do whatever you want on 404. It's a different style of working.

hseiken, that's the best visual analogy that could ever be delivered to compare Fruity Loops and the SP.

my 2 cents

Hardware is usually inspiring, DAWs never are...

Not many people get an SP and regret it, even if it's not a total solution its a great tool both for sampling and FX for external stuff