I have seen one video of this on youtube but the quality is pretty bad

Well, pattern copy is done the same way you do a sample copy. So if you know one you know the other. Hold function, Pad 1, hit the pad you want to copy and then hit the pad you want to paste it to. Simple enough.

okay thanks a lot

Is this the video you saw? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5q90OmW7EQ

If you have a card reader you can do it this way...


So if you want to copy pattern 1 from bank C to pattern 2 bank c. simply copy DCOPTN024.BIN and rename it to DCOPTN025.BIN so when you start 404 if everything was done correctly it should appear next to the first pattern.

real simple. just remember that pattern numbering goes like this:

BANK C: Patterns 24-35
BANK D: Patterns 36-47
BANK E: Patterns 48-59
BANK F: Patterns 60-71
BANK G: Patterns 72-83
BANK H: Patterns 84-95
BANK I: Patterns 96-107
BANK J: Patterns 108-119

Or on the machine you can do it this way.

1. Make sure the samples/sequences you want to copy are located on the internal banks of the 404 (aka bank A & B)

2. Make sure the pattern mode is NOT selected.

3. Backup the internal memory to te cf card (that's why you needed that card ) (manual pg.40)

4. Move all the samples and patterns you want to copy, to pads on the external memory (Banks C-J) (manual pg. 28 and pg.37)

5. Now reload the backup made in step 3 (manual pg. 40) and you have now a copy of your samples and or patterns all in 1 go. If you have a big enough memory card you can copy 24 samples and 24 patterns in one go.

6. You can now delete the backup from the memory card if you want to make space.

Don't forget this works exactly the same on the sp-303

Yup that was the exact video I saw thanks for clearing it up I have a feeling that I am still going to be confused because this will be my first sp404 but I'll get the hang of it eventually thanks once again for your detailed reply

Are you getting the original silver model? Or the newer black 404sx? The SX has pattern/sample copy functions built in. On the original silver 404 you have to do one of the two work arounds mentioned by Jack Burton. It's easy so don't sweat it. Just read the manual and ask questions if you need it. I gave up on using the sequencer on the 404 long ago.

I brought the og 404 original silver ...why did you give up on it??

Easier to make make a song using the resample method or playing it out live. The 404 does not remember the bpm of your patterns. When you turn it off it resets to default. You can get around this by using internal mic and "saying" the tempo you used. Also 404 sequencer only works on whole values. Since there isn't proper pitching it can be difficult sometimes to get a loop to play properly without a gap. When I use a sequencer i will use my sp505. It has a step edit feature in case you want to go back and fix your pattern later. You can name patterns, it has 4 tracks instead of the one on the 404, and it can make a pattern with a decimal. Xxx.x bpm. I've used the 404 sequencer plenty of times, but I find it to be a pain for me to use. Most of the time I do my sampling and chopping on the 404 then I sample that into my 505 or ipad to sequence the tracks.

So for example if I'm watching a movie, ill bust out the 404 to capture the long samples since I don't really need to worry about a sample time limit. Ill chop them up and get an idea going. And then depending how I have it chopped I will either play it out live or record the chops in my 505 or ipad. Sequence out the beat and then play back through 404 for FX.

wow it does sound like a pain with all those limitations but hey I figure if samiyam,madlib,dibia$e..etc can do it then so can I