I'm looking to adapt the music I write in my DAW (Cubase SX3) for live performance, only I don't have a mobile computer, only a desktop PC, so I need something self-contained. I was first considering the MPC1000 but after some discussion on another forum about RAM issues and the fact it would cost me a lot more than the base value of the device for it to be worthwhile (after HDD and RAM purchases), I'm now considering purchasing an SP-404SX to use in tandem with my MPD16. Given this forum's users' experience in the SP range, how suitable is it for this? Are there any drawbacks I should be aware of? Also, is it possible to use the SP-404SX with an MPD16? So, to draw the samples from the 404, but play some of them on the MPD.

I read on the FAQ page something about not getting an SD card larger than 1GB. Why's that, when it takes up to 32GB? Does the machine become less responsive?

I've been reading over the spec. of the 404 as well, and it says that it stores 120 patterns and 120 samples. Is that as literal as it sounds? So, despite having a 32GB SDHC card, you can still only use 120 samples at any one time, or can you switch them out for others on the fly? Also, how much of a problem is the limit of 12 polyphony?

Cheers.

Hey!

You can use larger than 1 gig, I use my 4gig card all the time.
You can have a maximum of 120 sample at a time and backup save/load will interupt playback so you could get 11 x 120 sample but you'd need something to make sound while you laod.

You could totally do live on a SP-404Sx, I do that alot these day. You just need to figure out a way that works for you.

It's possible to control the SP with the MPD, I can see some drawback tho, you don't nessecarly want velocity (but I guess you can disable it on the controller right?) but you could have 16 static sample while you change bank on the SP. there is alot fo thing you can do really.

Drawbacks... I don't know I've never made music on a computer.

Hey. Thanks for the reply.

How inconvenient is switching SD cards? Does it need time to load them or is everything instantaneous?

Also, am I right in thinking that the capacity for a 32GB SD-card is rendered almost pointless unless you're using long as hell samples, due to the fact it only has 120 sample slots?

Yeah, the MPD has a button to turn touch sensitivity on/off.

The backup banks can be on the same card, and are loaded from that card. No need to switch cards. But there is the downtime of loading a backup bank.

Is that loading time present switching between the 10 banks, or just when replacing one of those banks? Also, do you have any idea how long the loading time approximately is?

Wait, now I have to go do some testing? That's not in my contract! LOL...

I have not used that feature, so I'm not sure. When I get some free time, I will try it and report back. If someone else has the answer, let it rip. I suspect it will be relative to the samples being loaded though. I cannot imagine it would be too bad, being on the same physical card.

OK, so I had a moment...I did a "BACKUP SAVE" of an existing set of samples (all pads loaded with samples in 7 of the 10 banks.) I then went through and deleted some of the samples on pads in various banks of my "current" load, in order to render that set of samples/banks corrupt (missing critical samples).

I then did a "BACKUP LOAD" from the SAVE I created earlier, and it took about 60 seconds to load. Note that loading backups, any of 1-12 related to each sample pad, replaces everything in the "current" load. So it seems to confirm that the load time will vary depending on the amount of samples, and their lengths.

If you need more details, let me know.

P.S. 60 seconds can be an eternity in a live situation, so as someone else above mentioned, you would need to fill that gap! Maybe a good joke?