404 v. 606

[nowaysj]

First post!

Was thinking that with the new sx on the market, the price of the old 404 would soon be dropping.

But then started getting sucked into the sx marketing! Like the pattern copying.

But just saw that I can pick up an sp-606 for $250. Seems like the old 404's are about the same price.

Anyone willing to break it down for me. How do the two units stack up?

Thanks all!

[cartesia]

I think the 606 basically kills the 404 unless you want portability..

multiple sequencer tracks, USB, more fx i think...

[ColeRockLee]

The only advantages for the 404 are battery power, larger memory cards. The 606 outclasses it pretty much anywhere else.

[Teewok]

- 404 has higher polyphony the the 606 --> 12 mono vs. 8 mono

- On the 606 u can't just trigger a pattern to come in whenever u want by pushing a button... It will come in automatically when the patten is finished

- 606 does not have a mark button... Which makes setting the END points a lil harder (U kinda have to guess where to chop by looking at the wave and listen through the whole sample again and again to find out where it ends) on the 404 u just press the button where u want it to start and press the same button where u want it to stop.... However, end points don't matter to me because I play with mute groups.

-Output on the 606 is kinda low




...with all that being said... id take the 606 any day, but I think the battery power and compactness of 404 put them both on the same level.

[ColeRockLee]

Code: Select all

404 has higher polyphony the the 606 --> 12 mono vs. 8 mono

Good eye, I missed that one. And to add to the OP, In my opinion the 404's pads kinda suck.

[korakios]

606 doesn't have the vinyl/dj looper effect but it has a unique short delay(tumbling) ,enveloper and oscillator for synth sounds(but you just can't save the f***ing parameters of the effects)...i think 606 with a korg mini-kp would be the best choice!

[DREWDANK]

404. you think that the portability is a small thing until you go somewhere or wanna show off. or anything like that.

hema you dont like the pads? i fucking dig em. all stiff and raw. funner. lol

[ColeRockLee]

hema you dont like the pads? i fucking dig em. all stiff and raw. funner. lol

Too stiff and chunky, they always felt clumsy to me. i like the ones on the 303 and the dr-660 had alright pads too. I like softer, spongy pads. Good point about the portability thing though. The 404 can go anywhere.

[PHeMoX]

The pads on the 606 aren't necessarily more spongier, but they definitely feel more responsive. The 404 pads feel a bit like the 555 pads, as if they're of a lower quality standard.

To be honest, 250$ for a SP-606 is a steal. Grab it!

The 8 voices shouldn't be a problem as you can resample. If you remember to stay creative, that's really not much of a limitation.

Add to that:
- a 4 track sequencer with a pretty darn neat Song mode to stitch together patterns to make entire songs
- great FX
-good pads
- bass synth
- d-beam functionality

and I'd say the 404 pretty much is destroyed.

Two things I miss on my current samplers that the SP-404(sx) has though are the Dj Looper FX and the portability.

It's a crazy tool to take with you on the move and that one FX might be worth grabbing one if you got the cash.

[Backwoods2109]

the 606 is the better deal.had 1 it got stolen. that tells you how good it was.the 404sx/404 is nice I got 1 now but I sure wish I had 606 back. infact, I'm gettin 1 this wkend.

[ellaguru]

i think it's hard to compare the 2.
they're in 2 different fields i think.
anyway:
the 404 doesn't have graphic feature and has live sequencer
the 606 can make that and also build songs.
the 404 has only one fx at once (but the loopers fx are great)
the 606 can apply 2 fx at once
the 404 got only midi in
the 606 got midi in/out and usb
the 404 got "normal" pads
the 606 got sensitive pads (very nice)
the 404 got manual editing
the 606 got that + autochop
the 404 is portable
the 606 is not
(the 606 has also some synths + dbeam inside...)

..you see, they're different...
...i had both, i sold both...

...nowaysj, buy the sp505!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[timfromtexas]

guru what do you mean by live sequencer? the 606 doesnt have a live sequencer? whats that mean?

[ellaguru]

guru what do you mean by live sequencer? the 606 doesnt have a live sequencer? whats that mean?

tim
i only meant "switching patterns live". sorry for my poor english. and, yes the 606 can do that and build songs too (so not only "live switching patterns")...

[timfromtexas]

ahhh i gotcha...

thanks for replying... i may buy the 606 next week... does the usb recording thing work kinda like the sp555? usb to the computer and recording programs (like reaper) can "see" the 606??

[ellaguru]

i didn't use the 606 like that...
i know that the 606 can be used as a midi controller via usb, but maybe also the recording are allowed this way.
ps
for the "switching live patterns" thing: you can do that on the 606 not pressing pads , as on the 404, but rotating the value wheel (or something like that)...