404's sequencer vs. external sequencer

caduceus · Post by **caduceus** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:09 am

I'd like to hear if people prefer the 404's internal one track sequencer or using an external sequencer.

Do you find the simplicity of the 404's limited sequencer aids in creativity and workflow?

Do you prefer the flexibility and power of using an external multi-track sequencer?

Do you feel that adding an external sequencer takes away from the unique ways the 404 makes you do things in certain ways due to its limitations?

balazs · Post by **balazs** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:25 am

I try to keep everything inside the 404, it has everything I need. Only time I bring in something else is if I have trouble getting a good mix then I bring in a digital multitrack recorder.

drewzle · Post by **drewzle** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:23 am

i often use my QY-70 to sequence, because i can edit parts more precisely and also replicate patterns easily. the sequences from the QY-70 can be played into the 404 and recorded as it's own internal sequences, which is helpful too

though of course quite often i will just use the 404 alone to tap out ideas

DREWDANK · Post by **DREWDANK** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:40 am

i like the 404 i didntr know they had external...can someone send me a link to one so i can see it....

Huph · Post by **Huph** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:16 pm

^^^ He just means using an external multi-track recording device like a computer program or a 4-track to piece together your full "songs", rather than the 404's pattern sequencer.

I prefer tracking out externally.

dman5000 · Post by **dman5000** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:35 pm

when you guys record out of the sp track by track how do you make sure they sync right, other than recording the drums in first and having good rhytm with the samples. do some programs have an auto sync or do you make a 4 count? any ideas

balazs · Post by **balazs** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:39 am

caduceus · Post by **caduceus** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 2:26 am

Huph wrote:^^^ He just means using an external multi-track recording device like a computer program or a 4-track to piece together your full "songs", rather than the 404's pattern sequencer.

I prefer tracking out externally.

Actually I don't mean tracking out to a multi-track recorder. I'm talking about MIDI sequencers. No audio involved in my question.

So again, do you prefer to use an external midi sequencer with the SP-404 or just the 404 by itself?

Dj Frantic · Post by **Dj Frantic** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:21 pm

I do everything with realtime recording. I dont do much editing. If I mess up I just delete and do it again. I never understood the need for having a bunch of tracks really... its kind of usefull for mutes n stuff but I can do that fine with the FX. So basically the 404/555 sequencer works fine for me.

PHeMoX · Post by **PHeMoX** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 1:14 am

Same here basically. I do use the tracks to mute groups of samples that are playing, but recording goes live and realtime directly into an audio interface. The software I'm using it with uses virtual tracks (up to 32 simultaneously ), so I can later on go in and mute whatever I want. I can add keyboard, guitar, bass, vocals, drums and so on simply as separate tracks in the software and edit, mute or adjust them however I want to.

The SP-606 sequencer is cool if you use it as stand-alone device (no laptop), but in my little home studio it's just one of the devices I'm using rather than my main instrument and the software I'm ultimately recording to is really the best place so far to hook all of my instruments together to make songs.