I am well versed in SP series samplers, but just picked up a 404SX.
Couple questions I wanted to ask you all, that are not addressed in the manual, and that differ a lot from my knowledge of the SP-505.

-After I record a drum break loop into my 404sx, is there means to start recording a new PATTERN based on the exact length of the loop?
I am getting annoyed with trying to match BPMs with the tap to the loop and having them be off.

-After recording a new pattern, especially if it is one based on loops with other drums and sounds added on top, where certain layers are quantized and others are not....after I save them and turn off my 404sx, when I turn it back on to listen to them, they are all out of sync and screwed up because they are latching to a universal BPM default. Is there a way to change this, or record a pattern and have it stick with the BPM it was created in?

-I am finding that creating patterns with loops as the predominant layer, the 404sx get's "jittery" with them and tries placing them in weird spots and has trouble erasing them.

I am so used to my 505 that this 404SX might be getting shipped right back because of these issues. I checked the manual front to back to resolve these issues, but they are not addressed. I am hoping some of you have a good heads up on helping me figure this stuff out. I might just have a new learning curve to get used to, but right now, I am not feeling it.

Thanks.

one solution would be to time strech in your computer and then transfer back to your SP. another solution would be to use time strech in the SP with the knobs and then resample to your desired tempo.



resample your loops and samples to desired bpm and they will retain the tempo on boot up. im not shure if the 404 sx defaults to 102.
havnt ecperienced this before as i am not a sx user. but resampling and quantinze soundss about right.

i went from 505 right to 404, it took a while to get the swing of it, but i actually like it better.

Maybe you already worked this out but: The pattern sequencer doesn't like samples with the 'loop' light on. Make sure this is off.

Thanks guys,
I really appreciate the pointers and they definitely solved most of the major issues.
The time stretch is something I may have to adapt to since the pitch function/time stretch in the sp-505 was almost unusable.
I run pro tools le and might start utilizing time stretch and dumping samples to SD cards, but I have always kept it primitive and sampled directly from vinyl or cassette, sometimes even microcassette, hahaha.
I think pairing the 404 with the 505 will work quite nicely in the future for live performances if I midi sync them.

Thanks again.