SP 404 Newbie (Couple of questions)

[Orphir]

First off, let me say im glad to have found this website today. look forward to getting to know all you guys and of course this dope machine as well . Anyway, so i just got this sp 404 in the mail a couple hours ago. Ive managed to figure out the basics (sampling, recording, deleting etc.) My questions are:
- How do i make it so that when i press a pad the sample plays without having to hold it (I know theres a term for it i jsut cant remember.)
- Is it wise to record from the sp to my DAW using mic/line in jack or will that cause the audio to lose too much quality?
- What are the benfits of a recorder like the Tascam Portastudio in relation to the SP?

Thanks for any and all help.

[kel]

Welcome and congrats on your 404! experiment with the GATE and LOOP keys and you will figure out the answer to your first question. Also there are a ton of useful commands that can be done by pressing specific combos of other buttons. I would suggest sitting down with the manual and your SP and going through it from beginning to end. The manual reads pretty well and you can find it here

http://media.sp-forums.com/manuals/SP-404_OM.pdf

You'll find that the sequencer on the 404 is a bit tedious... this is what made me put my 404 back on the shelf, until i discovered this site and learned that you could make music by resampling!

[Orphir]

Welcome and congrats on your 404! experiment with the GATE and LOOP keys and you will figure out the answer to your first question. Also there are a ton of useful commands that can be done by pressing specific combos of other buttons. I would suggest sitting down with the manual and your SP and going through it from beginning to end. The manual reads pretty well and you can find it here

http://media.sp-forums.com/manuals/SP-404_OM.pdf

You'll find that the sequencer on the 404 is a bit tedious... this is what made me put my 404 back on the shelf, until i discovered this site and learned that you could make music by resampling!

Thanks alot Kel, i just discovered how to do it thanks to that tip and thanks for the manual to, i didnt know you could get it online, thats pretty cool. ill make sure i go through it.