The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Upright · Post by **Upright** » Thu May 16, 2013 1:00 am

Last week I bought the OP-1 from Teenage Engineering (which lead me to buy a SP-404 SX) ... So far I'm using the OP-1 outside of my home studio. Because the OP-1 is such a capable little beast I'm challenging myself to do everything inside the OP-1 for now. This is a different way of working for me because I'm doing everything with earbuds....I'm sure with time I'll get use to it though. Anyhow, My 404 should be here by Monday and from the looks of it I'll be using the 404 in the same way I'm using the OP-1, as device to do complete tracks and I'll more than likely be using earbuds.

I'm curious about you guys-

Because the 404 runs on batteries, how many of you guys do production start to finish and mix down in the SP using headphones? Do you do everything in the SP or do you get a rough and then mix in your DAW?

hseiken · Post by **hseiken** » Thu May 16, 2013 12:04 pm

1.) Get some real cans. You can afford OP1 and 404 in one week and don't have decent headphones?

2.) What's a DAW?

3.) You assume too much...

Upright · Post by **Upright** » Thu May 16, 2013 12:33 pm

hseiken wrote:1.) Get some real cans. You can afford OP1 and 404 in one week and don't have decent headphones?

2.) What's a DAW?

3.) You assume too much...

Thanks for the response...

1. I have a pair of KRK 6400's just don't want to take them them out with me. I'm trying to keep things as lightweight as possible and keep away from unnecessary bulk. It's not the earbuds that are the issue for me, it's mixing in headphones in general.

2. Are you serious or are you just pointing out the fact that I don't need to use a DAW?

3. Not sure what you mean by this.

hseiken · Post by **hseiken** » Thu May 16, 2013 4:53 pm

Upright wrote:It's not the earbuds that are the issue for me, it's mixing in headphones in general.

Listen to what your ears tell you...or learn to mix in the headphones.

2. Are you serious or are you just pointing out the fact that I don't need to use a DAW?

More or less the second...too much plastic 'perfect' computer music out there...

3. Not sure what you mean by this.

Your question seemed to assume that none of us here work completely in the box ever and that we all use DAW's. It also assumed that all of us here have the luxury of being able to mix with something OTHER than headphones. I live in an apartment building with thin walls, so even if I bought speakers, it's still not a safe option if I want to remain a tenant. I've been mixing in headphones for 10 years now...If you know your cans well, you can hear the difference between your monitors/speakers and such and even further, you can have references with you so that you don't over do things. I personally do that and I'll fling copies to people I know with monitors and good ears and ask for opinions. Doesn't always mean I'll fix them, but it's better than nothing.

Basically, out of all that you should get out of this the following PSA:
Your workflow and your style is your own. If you don't trust your ears, then you need to get past that. If you don't trust what you're using, then don't us it. It's all about you and your work. None of us care how you're using your OP1, 404, DAW, DVD player, lawn mower, etc. when we're listening to your music...and by that I mean, if the final output is good, and you satisfied your creative urges, then what more is there? If you want it to sound 'the best', send it to a pro to master and don't worry about your earbuds. If you want to sound like you, keep it raw, real and personal.

Hopefully that clears things up.

I see you have only couple of posts, so I'll say welcome and hope to hear some of your tunes in the future.

Upright · Post by **Upright** » Thu May 16, 2013 5:19 pm

Gotcha. Thanks for the warm welcome.

hseiken · Post by **hseiken** » Thu May 16, 2013 5:34 pm

Hopefully I didn't seem offensive. I wasn't trying to be and if it seems that way, I apologize.

I see many questions about 'should I do this or that' and 9 times out of 10, it's a question that should be directed inward. It's a little different than, say, "Listen to this and tell me if you like it" type thing. No one can make your style or workflow but you.

At any rate, to answer your original question, I personally primarily use 404 if I start with the 404 and tend to not use any sequencers, preferring the 'resample forever' method. I have a tape recorder I bounce to if necessary. When I get to the final step, I'll use a simple limiter to boost up my track a lil along with a smidge of an 8 band EQ if it needs it.

Congrats on your OP1 purchase. I still miss mine...

Upright · Post by **Upright** » Thu May 16, 2013 5:58 pm

No offense taken.

I'm sure it gets old when cats are askin about workflow. I guess I'm just excited about the SP and wanted to see how people are working with it. Thanks for the info hseiken.

hseiken · Post by **hseiken** » Thu May 16, 2013 7:04 pm

404's got completely different style from computers, most other samplers and even op1...

I would even call it liberating to a degree...

Upright · Post by **Upright** » Thu May 16, 2013 7:36 pm

I believe that! I'm looking forward to diggin into it...lots of dope music being made with SP's and a lot of it right here on the forums. I've been enjoying listening what you guys are doing. I had no idea the SP series of samplers (particularly from the 303 forward) were so nice.

jaydeetroit · Post by **jaydeetroit** » Fri May 17, 2013 11:03 pm

WHATUP UPRIGHT!! It's Central Parks......glad to see u gettin on the SP!!! Now you, es-k, and me will be rockin SP's. I'm sellin him my 404sx so i can cop a 606. Lookin forward to seeing what you do with the sx.....PEACE.

earwaxMELTER · Post by **earwaxMELTER** » Sat May 18, 2013 12:19 am

what ups Upright? i've been listening to you for a while you got some dope stuff on your page! glad you're getting a SP

seriously what i've learned so far is DAWs suck and use the SP for everything and the results are magical.

I had no idea the SP series of samplers (particularly from the 303 forward) were so nice.

don't forget about the 202, it has its own soul

Upright · Post by **Upright** » Sat May 18, 2013 3:04 am

jaydeetroit wrote:WHATUP UPRIGHT!! It's Central Parks......glad to see u gettin on the SP!!! Now you, es-k, and me will be rockin SP's. I'm sellin him my 404sx so i can cop a 606. Lookin forward to seeing what you do with the sx.....PEACE.

Yoooooooo Central Parks!! Man,...I'm excited about the 404, I actually just got it today, so it's on and crackin' hahaha!!

earwaxMELTER wrote:what ups Upright? i've been listening to you for a while you got some dope stuff on your page! glad you're getting a SP

seriously what i've learned so far is DAWs suck and use the SP for everything and the results are magical.

I had no idea the SP series of samplers (particularly from the 303 forward) were so nice.

don't forget about the 202, it has its own soul

THanks for the LOVE

Checkin out your tracks now...STRAIGHT GRIMEY HEAT!

Thanks for the advice on the SP...I plan on doing just that,...goin in on just the SP for a while and see what happens.

Peace

SP-FORUMS

The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones

Re: The SP 404, the DAW and Mixing with headphones