hi guys. I recently purchased a sp-404sx for portable music making but now im thinking about returning it for an mpc 500 instead. the 500 seems better adapted for just jammin n freestylin on the pads. I dont like the pads on the sp at all and it seems more constructed for looping and sound design. also the usb port on mpc is a huge plus, would be so much smoother to transfer files to the computer. Any1 here owned any of these devices and can give me some input?
peace

i sell the 500 and keep the sp404sx but my main tool is a beat thang

I'll Green's "Grun Reaper Headstones" is all 500 action. Do ya homework.

I had one before but didn't dig that far (first MPC I owned so it was intimidating).
If you're not a total MPC noob like I was then you probably can hit the ground running.

I wouldn't take an MPC 500 but I would go for MPC 1000

I'm still partial to the SP-404 og

the main reason i want any of the machines is for portabilty. i already got a maschine at home. That ill green dude was dope

Mpc500 is great and has lots of features a sampler should have(mute groups, great pad response after upgrading them, midi sequencer..). You can also chop from your computer and use MPCMaid to add parameters if you feel the 500 is too fiddly on the menus. The only thing really thats dissapointing with the 500 is saving and loading. You should create a file/folder system that will work best for you.

I dig both 404 and 500 equally for different reasons... mostly for switching up workflows. Effect selection is better on the 404. If I had to only have one, it would probably be the 500 because of how flexible it is with other gear. I play the drums and I prefer the 500 pads over the 404 for sure.

what mainly bothers me about the 404 is like you said the pads, lack of mute groups, lack of descent sequencer. Also the lack of proper pitch shifting is a big problem for me

I'd go with the 500 if I didn't already have an MPC.
A 404 + 500 in a backpack would be dope.

people need to be more patient with the 404 sequencer, It is as good as it gets. just have to adjust to it. I think it is one of the best strict sequencers. I didn't like programming on the 303 when I first got it, now I set the 303 to double tempo so 1/8 triplets are 16 triplets. shits bananas

Im learning to use my 500 w/ my 404s atm.They really seem to compliment each other...I would say use both if its at all possible.Ive been chopping on my SX,sequencing on the 500,then using my OG 404 for effects...shit is awesome.I used to mainly use Ableton and Reason but this is way more fun imo.

http://sp-forums.com ? NONSENS TOPIC

Im keeping my 404 and got a 500 on the way. I dont understand why u would chop on the SX tho, for me chopin is a nightmare on the SX, one of its greatest downsides in my opinion, however on the 500 chopin seems pretty smooth

It just personal preference and to me its faster although maybe less precise if you have bad timing..now if the 500 had a mark type button it would be a different story:)

i allways fuck up wit the timing haha, i like to chop with knobs

Use em together