SP 404 vs SP 808 ex

mr keef · Post by **mr keef** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:43 am

Hey guys I'm new here I'm tempted to buy the 404 as I'm finding my old sp 808 ex a pain in the ass(Zip drive loading and such)
What do you guys think??Should I get a 404????

pt3r · Post by **pt3r** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:49 am

My advice: download the manual, so you know what it can do and what not. If these functions suit your needs/style of production then you're good to go.

balazs · Post by **balazs** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:33 pm

i vote yes

pt3r · Post by **pt3r** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:36 pm

Off topic, Hey juxt, with that avatar you better beware of Hand banana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc2ilW4OQAI

balazs · Post by **balazs** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:47 pm

ha ha ha, never seen that episode before.

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:29 pm

Do it, bacardi and cola, do it.

Jim Y · Post by **Jim Y** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:51 am

I wonder if the zip drive in the 808 can be swapped for a flash card reader. I did that with a Roland VS-840 recorder which came out at exactly the same time as the 808 and it gave my machine a new life. There is such a reader sold to replace the zip in an Akai sampler which I know works in the VS840 so might also work in the sp808.
Here's a UK link, but mpcstuff.com also sell them...
http://www.cimplespares.com/product.php ... 61bc1bbf88

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:20 am

Well it depends, it conects with an ide data cable which is the standard for connecting any computer drive but the internal power cable on both those links say they are akai propreitary, it's very possible though that it's a standard cable as well since all these machines use computer components that have been made to work together. I would call Roland and ask if they think this power cable will work with the 808 motherboard before you order it, that $150 bucks could almost buy you a sp-404 on ebay these days, but I've never used an 808 maybe it's worth the trouble, it's not like putting a drive in is at all difficult but I used to build computers when I lived in Seattle.

Dj Frantic · Post by **Dj Frantic** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:21 pm

ive heard the SP-808 has only 4 voices of polyphony even in mono. If thats true... I dont know if I could use that machine...dont get my wrong, im all about limits but my drums usually take up 4 notes of polyphony

blast1 · Post by **blast1** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:27 am

Dj Frantic wrote:ive heard the SP-808 has only 4 voices of polyphony even in mono. If thats true... I dont know if I could use that machine...dont get my wrong, im all about limits but my drums usually take up 4 notes of polyphony

that's were the 4 recordable audio tracks come in to take care of the polyphony...make your loop, record it. edit, then make copies for whatever bars you need, then paste them... you can also keep bouncing tracks... there's no pattern sequencer, unless you hook up a midi sequencer... it's a fun machine imo, it's a deep machine too, the fx's are the ish... just a lot stuff hidden under the menus, it's similar to ableton live but in a box...but like everything there are pros & cons to it or it is what it is....

Dj Frantic · Post by **Dj Frantic** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:45 am

OoH... IC. interesting

Dj Frantic · Post by **Dj Frantic** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:48 am

OoH... IC. interesting

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:52 am

I'd make a beat on that.

iG9 · Post by **iG9** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:18 pm

DR.Sample303 wrote:I'd make a beat on that.

lol! is that like "i'd hit that!"?