the mpc1000 will let you record while patterns are playing, and you can resample full sequences. but yeah, nowhere near the mojo of SP's.

but then again, i feel the same way about my asr-x pro.

the SP-505 has a lot going for it. the software is basically the same as the 606, but with the X0X pads rather than a grid.

So they're essentially interchangeable? Other than the storage medium?

I would prefer a grid.

505 and 606 just work similar. They are not the same and can not share files or anything. I think the only machine that can read another SP's files is the 505. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the 505 can read a 303 card, but not the other way around. Ella, I'm lookin at you since I know you own both machines

I wasn't saying use your computer to make beats. I'm saying use it (or any other recording device) as a medium to transform your pattern into a sample, which you can then resample... But I'm guessing your trying to do something different...
I feel your pain, I was researching which sampler to get for a month before deciding on the 404sx. I'm happy with it, but I do find it somewhat challenging to make perfect loops with live drums, and the quantizer has a mechanical, unnatural feel (although I believe most quanitzers probably do).

you can sample the pattern playing on the 555 methinks.

Hey nowaysj

Just picked up a 404sx myself and fucking love it despite the limitations, you're totally right bout the mojo factor and effects bro just so much fun

Anyway I started messing around with the resample feature trying to find a work around to the lack of pattern resampling and came up with a rough solution.
It's not pure pattern resampling, but if you're like me and you're trying to play loose grooves without having them locked to a tempo grid it's actually got an advantage over the pattern sequencer

Anyway heres how to do it:
1. press resample
2. press rec
3. choose a blank pad you want to resample to. this pad has to be in the same bank as your samples
4. hit rec again to start resampling
5. now play your beat, you get a maximum polyphony of 4 voices
6. hit rec again and to stop the resampling, timing it so you end the recording on the first beat of the loop. if you play it in time you don't need to use start/end/level to adjust the start and end points
7. play back your new groove

I ran into a few issues when I'd used MARK to specify start/end points of the drum samples I was using. The samples would trigger late or be generally fucked and annoying, but i think if you use the truncate feature in the manual you can get around this by permanently altering the sample, or just turn off MARK.

Another nice extension to this is that now you've got your groove resampled as a single pad, you can now use it in the pattern sequencer as a foundation then lay more overdubs on top. to do it, just play back your loop that you made using the method above and the 404 will display the tempo. make sure you turn off loop or the pattern sequencer will shit itself. then go to the pattern sequencer, dial in the tempo the 404 had displayed before, record your groove into the pattern sequencer and you're laughing

Good looking out bro.