404sxis starting to piss me off

[iThinkTooMuch]

1. If i made a beat, i cant resample into a pad while playing a melody from an external synth, so im basically forced to do melody first and then resample.

2. No fucking metronome unless i use pattern mode, pattern mode is shit too+i need audio interface which i dont have./

3. I cant tell what im even uploading to each pad with the software, i have to listen to the .wav, then write down which drums i like on a paper, then import. WTF. seriously.

4. Its so fucking hard to make a perfect loop, if i want to make it perfect i have to resample AGAIN and keep trying, playing the loop over and over again, no matter how long it is.

5. if i want to record something, there is always a bit of time before i hear the melody because i have to walk over to my synth, i kno u can use the mark function butwtf, how am i supposed to kno when the playing will start?

please help me i have been trying this for 6 months im getting mad as fuck cuz i thought it was supposed to be easy.

[timmytoga]

C'mon brooo! The limitations of the 404SX just require some workarounds. It doesn't do everything for you - you gotta do it to the machine. You gotta make love to it.

1. If i made a beat, i cant resample into a pad while playing a melody from an external synth, so im basically forced to do melody first and then resample.

Yeah you gotta . I hear the 303 can resample + record externally but i've never done it. Just record each note you want to record externally onto a pad or pads and replay it on the SX.

2. No fucking metronome unless i use pattern mode, pattern mode is shit too+i need audio interface which i dont have./

You want a metronome when you resample? Why not just use pattern mode then? What's wrong with it? Buy an interface for cheap.

3. I cant tell what im even uploading to each pad with the software, i have to listen to the .wav, then write down which drums i like on a paper, then import. WTF. seriously.

That's strange because mine lets me preview the .wav file when I upload it to the SD card... I think there's a preview button?

4. Its so fucking hard to make a perfect loop, if i want to make it perfect i have to resample AGAIN and keep trying, playing the loop over and over again, no matter how long it is.

Are you not using the mark button? Because the mark button lets you mark the start and end times of any sample... with a little practice you can set a perfect groove no prob.

5. if i want to record something, there is always a bit of time before i hear the melody because i have to walk over to my synth, i kno u can use the mark function butwtf, how am i supposed to kno when the playing will start?

Because you know better than anyone how long it took you to walk over to your synth? Give it a couple tries with the mark button and you'll get it no problem. Also fine tune the start time with the knob bingo bango.

please help me i have been trying this for 6 months im getting mad as fuck cuz i thought it was supposed to be easy.

I promise it's easy - it just takes practice to get accustomed to the work flow and the limitations/capabilities. Once you do man, it's no thought involved, it's like riding a bike. It's like riding the beat bike.

[JadeGodHands]

1. If i made a beat, i cant resample into a pad while playing a melody from an external synth, so im basically forced to do melody first and then resample.

2. No fucking metronome unless i use pattern mode, pattern mode is shit too+i need audio interface which i dont have./

3. I cant tell what im even uploading to each pad with the software, i have to listen to the .wav, then write down which drums i like on a paper, then import. WTF. seriously.

4. Its so fucking hard to make a perfect loop, if i want to make it perfect i have to resample AGAIN and keep trying, playing the loop over and over again, no matter how long it is.

5. if i want to record something, there is always a bit of time before i hear the melody because i have to walk over to my synth, i kno u can use the mark function butwtf, how am i supposed to kno when the playing will start?

please help me i have been trying this for 6 months im getting mad as fuck cuz i thought it was supposed to be easy.

Yeah, ain't no MPC or Maschine here. You're going to be making a lot of art and challenging yourself though. I'm not gonna lie, I've always slacked when it came to learning gear and originally only bought an SP so I can play my tracks without the maintenance of a laptop.

1. You can always plug your SP into your computer (record), let the drum loop run. And play your synth through the ext source.

2. I hate pattern mode too. My timing on it is always crap. There's actually a poll split down the middle on here about whether people prefer the pattern mode or resampling. I chose resampling.

3. Timmy is right. Should let you preview the wavs on the software.

4. Def read up on the mark button or the start/end/level but that lets you snip off the (ctrl 1) beggning and the (ctrl 2) end of a wav by seconds.

5. I can't imagine how your set up is but the SP is portable enough to bring it to where your synth is.

The SP isn't my main source of producing music but when I have writers block it helps. When I just want to be artistic, it's fun. I've also learned about resampling little things. Like making a kick and a snare out of random sounds, stuff you can record on a computer import into a DAW.




Make sure you read that manual multiple times. Surf through the forums and just youtube SP videos. And just experiment as much as possible. There's some pretty dope artist out there using the 404. Trust me I understand the confusion. I almost sold mine twice. But now I'm on it like every day.

[soopington]

couple suggestions;

-learn how to use the mark button effectively, it can take some time to get it down but it helps

-to address your 5th question - on the OG you can hit cancel + rec to set a gate-esque situation so once something gets above a certain db it'll begin recording. I'm sure this is on the sx as well. That should be able to help you out a little

[Rabot]

couple suggestions;

-learn how to use the mark button effectively, it can take some time to get it down but it helps

-to address your 5th question - on the OG you can hit cancel + rec to set a gate-esque situation so once something gets above a certain db it'll begin recording. I'm sure this is on the sx as well. That should be able to help you out a little

THIS. mark button is the key if you wanna use a 404.

FUNC + 4 for auto record

[P00K]

please help me i have been trying this for 6 months im getting mad as fuck cuz i thought it was supposed to be easy.

try for 6 more

[blavatsky]

I think you need to upgrade


1. If i made a beat, i cant resample into a pad while playing a melody from an external synth, so im basically forced to do melody first and then resample.

-Pretty sure the SP555 can do this (or similar) using loop capture first, or resample then playing over it (external in while playing a pad and resampling)

2. No fucking metronome unless i use pattern mode, pattern mode is shit too+i need audio interface which i dont have./

-SP555 works as an audio interface - pattern mode is otherwise about same as 404sx. You can use loop capture with metronome.

3. I cant tell what im even uploading to each pad with the software, i have to listen to the .wav, then write down which drums i like on a paper, then import. WTF. seriously.

-SP555 you can record everything from USB into loop capture or a pad, boom done. Dunno about 404 but on SP555 the pad software you can preview as you load.


4. Its so fucking hard to make a perfect loop, if i want to make it perfect i have to resample AGAIN and keep trying, playing the loop over and over again, no matter how long it is.

-A few points; work on your timing more, and/or don't make it a loop (ie, retrigger it again when it's time rather than using it as a 'perfect' loop, record it into PC then trim/make perfect loop and reload, or don't use resample, make a correct 4-8 bar loop in pattern mode.


5. if i want to record something, there is always a bit of time before i hear the melody because i have to walk over to my synth, i kno u can use the mark function butwtf, how am i supposed to kno when the playing will start?

-Work on your layout/flow


Sounds like you'd be happier with an SP555 - I like the 404sx but I use it different than other folks here (more into pattern mode than resample) and it's rarely used standalone

good luck

[iThinkTooMuch]

thank you guys alot, i didnt kno func+rec = auto record. I saw some really nice work-arounds in this post, i greatly appreciate the help. I have been on 404 after u guys told me these things and i am less mad each beat i try, i will get better , thank u.

[beat around the bush]

in addition to using the mark button and start/end/level buttons and ctrl knobs, i find using the isolator really helps to get loops in time, just focusing on where the beats strongest and theres least noise; a lotta times its the kixks but sometimes its the hats or some mid range perc or w/e, it makes it a little easier to get the start and end of a loop just right

[janglesoul]

in addition to using the mark button and start/end/level buttons and ctrl knobs, i find using the isolator really helps to get loops in time, just focusing on where the beats strongest and theres least noise; a lotta times its the kixks but sometimes its the hats or some mid range perc or w/e, it makes it a little easier to get the start and end of a loop just right

Ah, smart!

[JadeGodHands]

I think you need to upgrade


1. If i made a beat, i cant resample into a pad while playing a melody from an external synth, so im basically forced to do melody first and then resample.

-Pretty sure the SP555 can do this (or similar) using loop capture first, or resample then playing over it (external in while playing a pad and resampling)

2. No fucking metronome unless i use pattern mode, pattern mode is shit too+i need audio interface which i dont have./

-SP555 works as an audio interface - pattern mode is otherwise about same as 404sx. You can use loop capture with metronome.

3. I cant tell what im even uploading to each pad with the software, i have to listen to the .wav, then write down which drums i like on a paper, then import. WTF. seriously.

-SP555 you can record everything from USB into loop capture or a pad, boom done. Dunno about 404 but on SP555 the pad software you can preview as you load.


4. Its so fucking hard to make a perfect loop, if i want to make it perfect i have to resample AGAIN and keep trying, playing the loop over and over again, no matter how long it is.

-A few points; work on your timing more, and/or don't make it a loop (ie, retrigger it again when it's time rather than using it as a 'perfect' loop, record it into PC then trim/make perfect loop and reload, or don't use resample, make a correct 4-8 bar loop in pattern mode.


5. if i want to record something, there is always a bit of time before i hear the melody because i have to walk over to my synth, i kno u can use the mark function butwtf, how am i supposed to kno when the playing will start?

-Work on your layout/flow


Sounds like you'd be happier with an SP555 - I like the 404sx but I use it different than other folks here (more into pattern mode than resample) and it's rarely used standalone

good luck

Hmmm....... Maybe I need an upgrade myself lol. Never seen one in action. I don't know why I neglected to do so.

[booyungg]

I THINK YOU NEED A BEAT THANG BY BEAT KANGZ

[gry.clds]

6 months? 20 minutes with the manual would have answered all your questions/solved your problems. I agree with the beat thang comment tho.

[ellaguru]

2. No fucking metronome unless i use pattern mode, pattern mode is shit too+i need audio interface which i dont have./

sp606 can do metronome also while the seq is stopped or while you resample

[formal]

6 months? 20 minutes with the manual would have answered all your questions/solved your problems.

What is this manual you speak of???



But foreal, the home page for SP-Forums should just be a link to the manuals for all SPs.