Today i turned on the 404 and the sound is playing back in the left channel only (from both the headphone jack and the rca outs). however when i record onto a pad, then export to card, the exported sound plays fine in both ears in my itunes. What the heck is going on?

I am assuming you tried different cables? Also what happens if you sample to internal Banks instead of on the card? Are you on battery power or AC? I know the SPs can have wonky RCAs, but it seems weird that your headphone jack would break on the same day too.

Thanks Formal. I'm not using batteries and i tried sampling to both internal and a few cards.
I can hear mostly the left channel, but depending where i turn the volume knob i can hear the right channel faintly leak in a little. seems kind of random. sampling in mono still only gives me playback in the left ear.

but after exporting and listening with the computer the sample sounds just fine and in stereo, so i guess it can't be the cables. hmmm

Another stupid question.... If you shake the SP does it make any noises from the inside like something is broken or loose? If not I would suggest maybe taking that bitch apart and having a visual inspection. If something is burnt out or broken you should be able to tell. Beyond that I'm just as lost as you are. Just seems super weird that both outputs would break on the same day unless it was something internally damaged.

..so you say when you move the volume knob the right channel comes back randomly? ...so then it's all about the volume poti... doesn't effect sampling and controls main out+headphone out... try to push it down a little and expect some action on the right... I bet 50bugs on the volume poti!

...they are the most fucked up ones on my machines too and they are easy to change by yourself... good chance to replace the poti and get some new caps as well... the 303 type of potis are my favs...

Good luck man!

thanks guys... it works better w the volume about midway... turning up the output to +12 makes it loud enough. I will prob replace the pot as you said

Your absolutely right Wax, it's the volume knob. When I push down on it the signal is in stereo loud and clear. so i don't have to open up the 404, just yank it off and put a new cap on the knob? (not near my lab right now)

easy 50 bugs...

...but seriously taking off the cap doesn't help at all...
One of the 4 (?) solder bubbles of the poti just broke so you need to re-solder(?) it...
real easy... maybe do do some wires or stuff before but there is enough space around the bubbles to NOT fuck up the soldering!
The opening of the machine is real easy as well, but keep in mind that the 2 "mainboards" are connected with a real thin cable if i'm right...

Soldering is fun! Get on it! Maybe it's the smell/headache that I like...

yo my volume knob is causing some problems too when i turn up or down i hear static

don't worry we all got hissing volume potis...

I am having the same problem. Unfortunately, knocked my 404 off the bed yesterday (idiot!). I was using it this morning with no problems. However, this evening when I was playing with it I noticed I am not getting any output from the right output (the left works perfectly). I guess I'll have to "operate" tomorrow.

I didn't see any cracks in the boards... only the red plastic around the RCA right broke on the part that connects it through the green board. I don't know it that is causing it.. sucks I'm down to one channel for recording

ok, i got a soldering pencil and some solder... i know nothing about this so i'm gonna ask,

it's the 'bubbles' on the back of the board that i need to apply it, where the volume pot is, right? not the 'metal legs' connected to the actual knob that faces me?

usually the bubble sticks to the pin and you only need to resolder the existing bubble to the board (upper side). just reheat (?) them! only thing you need to watch out that the bubbles don't touch each other, but there enough space to NOT fuck up!
oh and it's the bubbles on the front board, remember pushing the poti down to get signal...? too bad i didn't took pics of the process... if you can make some,. do it.. maybe even before you do the job; i know you're impatient (black faceplates i'm looking at you) but "keep cool"!


*oh... the bubbles are on the back?! hmmm... pix please!!!

thanks wax! i shall for sure post pix soon!