I'm go and cop one of them in a week or so.
I can affort the 404, the 303 is kinda' hard to get now-a-days.

But my question is, is the sound of the 303 better then the sound of the 404?
Some people say that, but their specs are the same. I love the effects and shit on the 404.
I have to admit that I can't decide because madlib says that he loves his 303.
Could I achieve the same sound with the 404, or will it sound like plastic shit?

Thanks in advance!

Just make sure you get the model with "Madlib mode" and you will sound exactly like him. Forget about the years of digging and banging out track after track its all about the equipment you use, nothing else matters.

i wanna know this too. i looked at some vids on youtube and it was cool. i just need to add effects to samples and dump them back into the mpc2k. i have a 202 but that shit has no good effects makes the samples sound worse ahah. so im lookin at the 505 and 404. guitar center doestn have them so i cant try them out either. someone elaborate like does it have reverb, what filters? .thnx.

Welcome, Tag. 303 is said to sound more "grimy" than the 404, yet like I told you on mpc-forums, you can make however you want it to sound with a 404, hence all the effects. And think about the long run.... its hard as hell to find 64MB Smart Media cards for the 303, and it costs quite a few dollars. Meanwhile, saving with the 404's 1GB CF Card is so much less of a hassle. Easy to find and they run cheaper. Yeah Madlib says he loves his 303, but he never talked about a 404 has he? Maybe he hasn't tried one out, I know if he switched to the 404 we'd see even more 303's on ebay, and the 404's will be selling for $800.


303 = dirty. 404 = dirty.


maybe if blast1 or dj frantic sees this thread, they can answer better. i think they owned both models.

@ rocfresh

You know, that's exactly why I added that part. Of course I do my own thing, but that's the same as the discussion of the mpcs. If you want a certain sound you have to go for a certain piece. You also you the same scratch techniques like other DJs don't you? Yet your cuts can be way different.

I forgot to thank soopa thanks



Oh, and another good argument, if you've watched deep crates 2,
about 5 of todays top notch producers say that they bought the sp-12 because they loved the sound of it and the sound pete rock got outta it.

oh yeah i forgot to add, 404 has 4 more pads than the 303


and yeah every machine has it's own sound. try playing with a 404 at a Guitar Center or Sam Ash, try seeing if you like it first, all that. you can probably make the same sound that comes out the 303 and make it sound even more better to your liking.

if money isnt tight get the 404. Its the same as the 303 with a couple extra goodies.

there are plenty of fx in the 404 and 303 to achieve the sound you want. listen to 5th element ninja-his shit sounds more grimy than anything i heard from a sp12.

Stop buying the hype, no machine is gonna work miracles. too many cats spend more time obsessing about their tools insded of using them.

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Thanks for the qreat respond. I'll get the 404 next week. I've just been concerned because when I switched from the 60 to the 2500 I really felt and missed the sound I got out of the old machine.

P.S madlib is also high on shrooms 24/7.

If only we were all so fortunate

And getting paid for it

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^^plus it stores a hell of alot more samples, inbuilt mic/preamp and stronger build.

If you think about, the 404 is like owning 4 303's with all that storage.