Okay i got one and i love it (SX), but a few questions...

[nagz]

.. to which i could not find any answers in the manual

Here we go:

- if i decide not to use patterns, is it still possible to quantize the pads to some fixed bpm somehow? This would help a lot

- during a live act, it may happen that i want to make a looped sample just fade in. when i hit the pad, it goes on full volume of course. is it possible to assign a volume knob to the pad so i can just push it at volume 0 and fade it in to some volume? the manual mentioned something like this but didn't work. I assumed I have to assign some fx to it and do it with the gain knob with it, but .. there has to be a simpler way, i guess

- is it possible to make 2 pads extinguish each other? so pad 1 is playing and when i press pad 2, the pad 1 shuts up, playing only 1 at the same time? Now i have to do it by pressing both the buttons to switch between each other which may not be very punctual + sometimes it does not react as it should (but practice makes perfect).

- when i record a pattern while liveplaying, is it possible to make the metronome ticks go, relying only on the blinking lights?

- Moreover: is there a possibility to play around live, so when i find a groove, i just push some button, play along, push that button again and it automatically saves into a free pattern slot and starts playing it? (working kinda like a looper)

Thanks in advance!

n

[nagz]

- during a live act, it may happen that i want to make a looped sample just fade in. when i hit the pad, it goes on full volume of course. is it possible to assign a volume knob to the pad so i can just push it at volume 0 and fade it in to some volume? the manual mentioned something like this but didn't work. I assumed I have to assign some fx to it and do it with the gain knob with it, but .. there has to be a simpler way, i guess

I guess it will be the start/end/level button somehow. i'm not at home to try but any confirmation is welcome on it + looking forward to the solutions to the other questions!

[Rabot]

1 - you can quatize to the bpm of the pattern of course

2- you could set the volume of the loop to zero (start/end/level button, 3rd knob all the way down). if you want to do this ins a live situation you could hit remain then press the sample you would like to use, then click on start/end/level, turn the 3rd knob down, click on sample, turn the 3rd knob up.

3- you got it, it's pressing both pad while on loop mode. or you could put all your chop on gate mode and release/press on time.

4- i think you gotta acritvate pattern mode, press rec, press thee pattern, and now it's it's either the 3rd knob, or start/end/level then 3rd knob down. I don't know if the blink still go tho...

5- you could use the pattern recorder to do so but it's be pretty harsh...

[sharpmotif]

Welcome to the world of Roland...

1) Samples will drift with time. If you're talking loops it does help if they're tight. In case you're sampling/resampling/etc in the box, Sampling+BPM and Mark+BPM should be helpful. Still best to retrigger manually or via Pattern Sequencer.

2) Either what's been mentioned or using Subsonic or any effect that cuts direct signal.

3) Also Pattern Mode (Sub+Pad for instant changes) or Delete Mode (careful with that Del button).

4) Can't remember button presses either, but yes. (That's in the manual somewhere.)

5) Pattern sequencer: Rec mode and Rehearsal mode. (Same as 4.)

[Rabot]

my bad, i was wrong on #1. sharp's answer is right tho.

[nagz]

Thanks all!

It will take time until i get everything straight (heck and i haven't even tossed in the mic question, that just adds an other variable to the equation haha), seems like there are solutions and half-solutions for what i want to achieve here on the 404sx but the worst that can happen is i make bigger run-on loops (or fiddle around a Lot with patterns).

If anything else conjures up and i can't find an answer in the manual or by experience, I will ask here for sure. Been to many forums regarding many things throughout my time but people here are apparently most helpful.

cheers
n

[yo-yo crunch]

3) Also Pattern Mode (Sub+Pad for instant changes) or Delete Mode (careful with that Del button).

oh shit you just came up with a workaround to the ghetto mute group trick...that's not so ghetto anymore! i'm gonna make a new post on this right now

[nagz]

getting there..