SP-404SX Questions

[Lavadisco]

Considering grabbing an SP-404SX but first I have a couple of questions:

- The manual seems to imply that the delay effect is mono. Is it stereo or mono? If it's stereo, are the R/L delay times independently adjustable?
- Can the line and mic inputs both be monitored at the same time or are they mutually exclusive?

Thanks very much!

[THEGREAT]

Delay i think would be Stereo as most FX are by default . however it doesnt have left and right adjustment . but you can add panning to adjust this i guess

by line in .. do you mean via the RCA inputs? . to my knowledge the jack input at the bottom of the 404 is the only adjustable input gain .. which also controls the built in microphone. anything input via the RCA has to be controlled via the source

[Lavadisco]

That's not what I mean.

If you ran a mono sample into the SP and added delay, would the delays be in the center of the stereo field just like the input signal, or are there obvious delays on the left and right?

And on the input question - if I plug a microphone into the jack on the front, and also have audio into the RCA jacks on the back, can I hear them and sample them both at the same time? Or is it a case where if I enable audio/sampling from the RCA jacks, then the mic input is disabled or vice versa?

[THEGREAT]

aha .. i believe the delay will be in the centre but play back as a stereo signal

not owned a 404 for about a year now ..

from what i can remember .. you can only record 1 signal or the other .. msybe another SP head could chime in n test if it will work how you want

[Kegeratorz]

Just tested, you can record both line in and external/internal MIC at the same time. Good to know, didn't think this would be possible.

[THEGREAT]

^ me either

.. kudos

[Lavadisco]

Thanks all for the help. Hey Kegeratorz, would you mind testing the delay to see if it's stereo ping-pong or just a center delay?

[Kegeratorz]

Thanks all for the help. Hey Kegeratorz, would you mind testing the delay to see if it's stereo ping-pong or just a center delay?

Would be happy to help but I’m not that smart, how could I tell?

[Lavadisco]

Put on some headphones, and dial up a dry snare drum. Turn on the delay and play the snare. Do you hear it echoing in the center of the stereo field? Or do you hear it pan back and forth, right/left as it fades out?

I'll be disappointed if it's not stereo - my old SP-808 had a great stereo delay, bizarre that a more modern instrument wouldn't have it.

[Sharris]

The 404sx samples in stereo, it's a stereo sampler, but the delay isn't a ping pong delay, so it wouldn't ping pong (pan left to right).

So delay IS stereo....... it just doesn't pan / ping pong.

You can however resample with the delay, then add tremolo pan & make it pan left to right...... probably a few other work arounds as well. Not sure if it will sound exactly how you want it to tho.

The delay controls allow you to adjust the speed of the delay, feedback of the delay & strength of the delay.

I wouldn't necessarily say that it's bizarre that the sx doesn't have the exact same delay as the 808.......... it's just a different delay, a different effect. I think the 808 is considered more of a "flagship" sp anyways even if older.

That's cool that you can record the mic in & line in at the same time....... didn't know that was possible, but never had a reason to try it. I can see how this would be useful tho.......

[Kegeratorz]

@Sharris Nice explanation!

I attached a stereo snare sampled from the Digitone (all my snare samples are mono) then resampled with Delay from the 404.

[Sharris]

Thanks Kegeratorz

& look at you with the audio example! Nice!