303 or 404?

Chief · Post by **Chief** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:36 am

So I'm new to the whole sampler/electronic music world. Well I listen to alot of electronic music but I've never made any myself, as I've been playing guitar for the past couple of years. But I'm wanting to do something a little different and I have some money now and I want to buy a sampler. I have a question I want to ask before I buy the sampler, and here it is.

-SP-303 or SP-404? I've heard some debate over whether the 303 is better than the 404 and I want to know peoples opinions to form my own.

ColeRockLee · Post by **ColeRockLee** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:04 am

Get the 404 man. You don't want to bother with those archaic freakin smart media cards.

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 4:53 am

For electronic music I would buy the 404 it has some really nice features and effects that the 303 doesn't, plus he's right sm cards aren't made at all anymore so if you don't have a 64mb sm card you're S.O.L. I'm glad I stocked up.

drewzle · Post by **drewzle** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:28 am

grab the 404

what sort of electronic music are you planning on making?

Chief · Post by **Chief** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:37 pm

In terms of electronic music I listen to that I know uses the SP, artists like Four Tet, Animal Collective, Panda Bear, Jel or pretty much anything on the anticon label.

And I have another question. Is it difficult to sample from vinyls? I'm just wondering because I have a nice record player in good condition and I think it would be really cool if I was able to, but I'm thinking maybe it's something that only more advanced SP users are able to do. And also, when you sample from a vinyl, can you chop the sample or do you have to take the sample whole as is? Like say I sample 5 seconds from an old Cat Stevens vinyl I have, can I just sample his voice itself or do I have to sample the voice and the guitar? Sorry if my questions are stupid or you don't understand them, I just thought I'd put them out there.

balazs · Post by **balazs** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:45 pm

yeah you can sample a record. very basic connection: turntable> mixer(if necessary)> sp404. whatever you record into the 404 you can chop, add fx, filter, reverse, or whatever.

Rob P · Post by **Rob P** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:09 pm

Chief wrote:In terms of electronic music I listen to that I know uses the SP, artists like Four Tet, Animal Collective, Panda Bear, Jel or pretty much anything on the anticon label.

And I have another question. Is it difficult to sample from vinyls? I'm just wondering because I have a nice record player in good condition and I think it would be really cool if I was able to, but I'm thinking maybe it's something that only more advanced SP users are able to do. And also, when you sample from a vinyl, can you chop the sample or do you have to take the sample whole as is? Like say I sample 5 seconds from an old Cat Stevens vinyl I have, can I just sample his voice itself or do I have to sample the voice and the guitar? Sorry if my questions are stupid or you don't understand them, I just thought I'd put them out there.

I love Four Tet btw...

To answer your question about sampling Cat Stevens's voice,you would have to find a part of a song where it's only vocal.And you have an option of using long samples or chop them up,it's really up to you as long as the starting point and end points are trimmed good so that it loops perfectly(meaning that sample should repeat itself seamlessly)
Don't be afraid to ask so-called stupid questions,everyone is nice here and will help you the best that they can.
And go for the 404!!

QuoteunQuote · Post by **QuoteunQuote** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:10 am

Hell yeah, you can sample ANYTHING. Since you know how to play guitar, just plug your guitar hook up in to your sampler and take it from there. Chop it, rearrange it, loop it, whatever your mind tells you.

Chief · Post by **Chief** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:27 am

I just bought my 404 via musiciansfriend. I'm stoked, I'll definately be posting stuff here whenever I get good enough to make stuff I'll feel like sharing.

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:50 am

Sounds good and if you have any questions let us know and the sooner the better on the beats 'cause no one hates on this forum, you'll always get positive feedback.

Nate D. Funkt · Post by **Nate D. Funkt** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:31 pm

Cat Stevens, eh? gotta couple a records by that guy...

Chief, if you're ever in the MD area or not far from there we need to chop it up. I'm in need of some guitar riffs in my catalogue, and I've been using the 404 for quite sometime now...

Chief · Post by **Chief** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:13 pm

MD as in Maryland?

Dj Frantic · Post by **Dj Frantic** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:31 pm

hell yea you can sample and chop like a fiend on the 404. Thats all I do

Ive yet to use a machine thats faster and got a better workflow than an SP for that.

LORD BEATJITZU · Post by **LORD BEATJITZU** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:37 am

Dj Frantic wrote:hell yea you can sample and chop like a fiend on the 404. Thats all I do Ive yet to use a machine thats faster and got a better workflow than an SP for that.

real talk!Also after you get real deep into the 404 it starts revealing even more secrets to you!