i tend to fall into the trap of "i don't see people using this to make the music i make" so i'm glad i saw this. the SP is making me change my approach and trying new things.
Bruh! You had me at “Swing”! I’ve literally watched about a 150 videos on the SP 404 and you are the first one to even mention that there is a swing function! I picked up a SP 404A a week ago and remember reading someone say in the comments to one of the vids that there is no swing function. Thanks for the informative video man. Dope beat too!
I've recently buy a PO-33 and I still don't know what this function does. Thanks to point that out. This make a good reason to watch the video even though I don't have a SP-404 ahahah
You keep making me play my 404sx. Thank you. Also good to note for anyone who bought one second hand, Roland has the manual as a PDF on their website. It's not that long to read either!
ive been waiting like 2 years for a well produced sequencer tutorial holy shit. this is awesome dude. thanks a lot. can't wait to put this thing in use again!
One of my favorite things to do is use resample to create microchops that can be sequenced in pattern mode! It’s time consuming but that’s how I use koala too
Wow, what a lovely Tutorial in every aspect, the Video, the Audio and the Presentation... Keep up the good work and thanks for helping me unterstand my OG 404 a bit more
To each his own...once you get the hang of the sequencer, its cake. It really depends on how patient you can be when creating your music and if you like the challenge of working with limited hardware. Although it has its limitations, Roland definitely created one of the most dopest, on the go sampler/sequencers with the SP's
On resampling patterns, this weekend my friend is bringing a tape deck up for me to tinker with. I'll be modifying the dc motor to give it a speed control. This will solve to issues: I'll be able to sample tapes and modify the speed; and, I'll be able to use the tape deck as a resample device (you could imagine the interesting effects I'll get when recording onto the tape at a super slow speed). Should be an interesting experiment at the least.
Awesome intro! Cleared up all the questions I had about the SP404 differences right off the bat. Been thinking about upgrading my OG 404 lately, think I might just go for it already.
I bought a 404a about a month ago. Watching several videos on here helped (a little). This video helped me a lot! I'm subscribed now & will be checking out your other vids. Thanks...
The sp404 A version is indeed different from the SX. Model A has a sub-mixer and processor, and comes with optimized sounds for syncing with the Roland Tr-8. Samples on the A model can be sequenced into the TR-8. Any sounds you create or upload on the SP-404A can be manipulated on the TR-8 in real time. The SP-404A’s interface with the TR-8 is difference between the 404SX and 404A. In addition, its bundled with sounds from Loopmasters. Other than that, they are similar.
sorry, I believe the SX utilizes the same midi implementation. It recieves on Channel 10, coming from triggers 1 thru 11 on on TR8. Most drum machine es use same Channel. It's less proprietary than the AIRA line would want you to believe
In the past you convinced me to buy a Novation Circuit🙏🏽 loved it. Then I bought a Maschine(then I was like ‘Logic’ Who?) that got me re-obsessed with LoFi. Then I convinced myself to sell the Circuit. Considering an SP, and-despite your great demo here, realizing I miss my Circuit. So, you’ve basically convinced me to buy a Circuit twice. I know they’re very different, but I miss my Circuit nevertheless🙏🏽
The sequencer itself really isn’t bad for what it is, rather it’s the two-step logic that Roland implements. With something as basic as transport controls, the 404 comes off as cryptic and counter intuitive. Many get used to it, but I haven’t yet. I feel a lot of Roland gear has an odd workflow attached to it, like the sequencer on the 808. I think you did a good job demystifying the 404.
The sequencer was a bit tricky to get the hang of but now I love it. It's my favorite sequencer to use out of all of my gear. It's very versatile in the way that you can turn quantization on and off and everything in between for each individual note. The only thing that I don't like is that all patterns share BPM across the board. That really sucks but there are workarounds. Other than that it's great.
Roland would sell out if they made a few tweaks to this machine with velocity sensitive pads being first on my wish list lol. Great video man thanks for the tips.
Great video, like you said before know your instruments inside outside to get the most from them. It would be interesting to see the same /similar workflow on the other units. To see how they compare.
Awesome! I just bought one and will have it in a few days. I am excited to pair it with my op1 and opz. I also got a Bose sp1 pro. Basically, my dawless set up can be in a canoe if I want - taking the same sound anywhere I want. Always love your videos. This one was especially timely for me
How did it get “wonky” after you added two more bars? Interesting. I find quantisizing only the first down beat of the first bar (and then turning quantization off) in a sequence to be useful...discovered it in the iOS app world. Tried it on the SP and voila..buttery.
I could never gel with the on board sequencer too much. I usually just use resample and midi sequence the pads with a external sequencer like the Digitakt. Loving the Sp videos
how do you avoid the sequencer from extending the bars? It’s mostly the reason I don’t use it... ex: I’ll set 2 bars, but then it runs to 4 bars and there’s 2 empty bars that I can’t ever play over?
greets Ricki Tinez , thx for this video inspire to go back diggin in this sampler ;actually got the old sp555, the main difference is the acceptable memory size ( something like 2GO max on some old memory flash , seems they got the same options , reason i talk about this because the sp 555 got a "phrase capture option in wich we can rec ext source or ... int source as pad or pattern , also many other options like aditional mono input & stuff, if you can get your hands on one of them sure you'll love it.
@@Silent_StillnessI like Ricky's sound, it's lofi a bit weird and he has the ability to use drum machines and samples outside of the box, no offence but i don't really think you know what you're talking about the guys a G.
I’ve used one obsessively for a couple of months (after wanting one for a while). It can be a lot of fun, you just get lost in it and find musical combos that you did not expect going in, it offers you a very playful palette. But it can also be quite frustrating, I think it depends a lot on what you’re used to as well. In the end I ended up eliminating mine because I also have an old MPC that I want to use more, and, it was distracting me from it. Bottom line: I can totally see why so many people love it, but considering the price (and what you can get for it nowadays) I’d say it’s not for everybody. Pairing it with something like Digitakt would definitely open up many possibilities
@@TheDavidKettle unfortunately i do know what i'm talking about lol, I have a Digitakt to compare this machine to. If you can't hear that the results coming out of this machine in this particular video sounds bland I don't know what you're doing with your Digitakt... His video was supposed to be a showcase of the machine coming from an educated user, but the result really was not convincing at all to me, it has a "dated" vibe that didn't age well, lacks character and the interface is awful.
i've owned the OG sp-404 since 2005 i believe, and just can't find a way to work with it while it feeling like a very tedious way to make beats. Not being able to copy and paste anything (without that famous fly lo trick), i miss it way more than you'd expect. I have so much respect for anyone who's a master on the OG 404, or the 303, which i suspect is just as limited in this regard? I love so much about the 404, and will probably never part with it, but its always an excursion rather than a go to device for me, and can't help thinking i'm still missing key info on how to master this little thing. Also, the SX is so much more popular, hard to find OG info only :) anyway, sorry about this OG 404 rant for no reason lol
can someone chim in if u have say a mpc 2500 or 4000 etc why would this sp404 be necessary. It seems so many people nowadays have this roland in addition to an mpc. thanks yall
@@AnalogFlava i guess so right. well for me i have a fantom-g and it has the same skipback sampling but offers up to 40 sec of it in total and it came out in 2007-2008. It has 1 gb of sampling ram and works really well. I think Roland is so ahead of their time that they can reissue old tech on new machines and it seems fresh.
If I’m trying to connect the SP to a synth (Microkorg) and Synth Looper (Korg Kaoss) thats running through to a Bluetooth speaker . Will I need more speakers or just the correct cables? I use the microkorg on a guitar amp as well. New to music but just hard with tech/wiring side of it. Thanks
Great video!!! I just got one of these and I am wondering how to set it up in Ableton to record with other beats. Is there a configuration to be able to play the SP-404SX into an audio track or midi? In my settings, Ableton doesn't recognize the SP-404SX. Is there a trick to this? Thanks for the great video!! :)
I'm late to sp 404 series. I really want a 404sx. But I've had the sp202 and the feel and sound on that thing was unrivaled. But I definitely want the SX/A
You can transfer sounds to the card using a computer or you can record in with a 1/4 cable or RCA. I’m not sure what sounds they came with out of the factory, but you probably won’t find them on a used unit. In my experience, it just comes with stuff the previous owner made.
if you wanted to lengthen a pattern couldn't you just start recording on to a free pad and just rerecord the original pattern for the new desired length instead of redoing it from scratch? gotta check it when i get home and gonna update here. cheers
Hi, i have an mpc 1000 and i use it with lot of samples wavs, but the internal memory is only 128mb. i´d like to know if i can play more songs lopped buying the sp 404, and can you suggest me how the connection would be. I make the songs first in the computer, then a pute them as loops in the sampler. Thank you!!
Hi Ricky ! can you import a hole song with the SP-404sx ? Like a song with just the drum beat and then playing along with a guitar in a life situation...
The original has a sound though it really does and that’s because it’s working with old Ableton software but that Ableton software defined a generation at one time. The SX is greatly independent but I seriously would own any of the 3 of these 404 devices to use in different ways. I would try out the original retrospectively just like I would use any gear before my time or before I was able to access it. I will bet even every single individual unit sounds different of course not to mention that different human stimulus is an obvious factor.
I have a question. Im having trouble to even get it to record. Everyone presses record and its ready, ill press record and the buttons just flash. Never becomes solid. What am I doing wrong?
i tend to fall into the trap of "i don't see people using this to make the music i make" so i'm glad i saw this. the SP is making me change my approach and trying new things.
Bruh! You had me at “Swing”! I’ve literally watched about a 150 videos on the SP 404 and you are the first one to even mention that there is a swing function! I picked up a SP 404A a week ago and remember reading someone say in the comments to one of the vids that there is no swing function. Thanks for the informative video man. Dope beat too!
I've recently buy a PO-33 and I still don't know what this function does. Thanks to point that out. This make a good reason to watch the video even though I don't have a SP-404 ahahah
True - i've never noticed a tutorial mentioning the swing... Maybe SPVidz has covered it though.
@@echoworldco tons of them have
Maybe the most simple and proper tutorial with 404SX I've ever seen. Respect!
Would love to see more 404 stuff. In a world of screens and waveforms, its still kicking ass.
Much better than using a laptop, although you can translate the SP workflow to Ableton pretty easily.
You keep making me play my 404sx. Thank you. Also good to note for anyone who bought one second hand, Roland has the manual as a PDF on their website. It's not that long to read either!
it's the BEST Roland manual i've ever read.
ive been waiting like 2 years for a well produced sequencer tutorial holy shit. this is awesome dude. thanks a lot. can't wait to put this thing in use again!
people sleep on the sequencer!! the power comes when you know whats a job for resampling, and whats a job for the sequencer! together its unstoppable!
can you elaborate? do you usually sequence drums and resample ur samples? vice versa?
One of my favorite things to do is use resample to create microchops that can be sequenced in pattern mode! It’s time consuming but that’s how I use koala too
my sundays are never complete without your vids. thank you!
I think Dibiase revealed you can overcome that gated choke on the 1 if you turn on quantize when recording and then turn it off.
Wow, what a lovely Tutorial in every aspect, the Video, the Audio and the Presentation... Keep up the good work and thanks for helping me unterstand my OG 404 a bit more
To each his own...once you get the hang of the sequencer, its cake. It really depends on how patient you can be when creating your music and if you like the challenge of working with limited hardware. Although it has its limitations, Roland definitely created one of the most dopest, on the go sampler/sequencers with the SP's
Wow. I was staying away from the sequencer but after seeing this workflow I'm going to give it a shot. Thanks for the vid
On resampling patterns, this weekend my friend is bringing a tape deck up for me to tinker with. I'll be modifying the dc motor to give it a speed control. This will solve to issues: I'll be able to sample tapes and modify the speed; and, I'll be able to use the tape deck as a resample device (you could imagine the interesting effects I'll get when recording onto the tape at a super slow speed). Should be an interesting experiment at the least.
So how did it go?
Awesome intro! Cleared up all the questions I had about the SP404 differences right off the bat. Been thinking about upgrading my OG 404 lately, think I might just go for it already.
AlwYs nice. To have two
Bruh....i needed this video. I almost sold my sp 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I bought a 404a about a month ago. Watching several videos on here helped (a little). This video helped me a lot! I'm subscribed now & will be checking out your other vids. Thanks...
Hey man thanks for this been avoiding the pattern sequencer but going to give it a go .
The sp404 A version is indeed different from the SX. Model A has a sub-mixer and processor, and comes with optimized sounds for syncing with the Roland Tr-8. Samples on the A model can be sequenced into the TR-8. Any sounds you create or upload on the SP-404A can be manipulated on the TR-8 in real time.
The SP-404A’s interface with the TR-8 is difference between the 404SX and 404A.
In addition, its bundled with sounds from Loopmasters. Other than that, they are similar.
sorry, I believe the SX utilizes the same midi implementation. It recieves on Channel 10, coming from triggers 1 thru 11 on on TR8. Most drum machine es use same Channel. It's less proprietary than the AIRA line would want you to believe
In the past you convinced me to buy a Novation Circuit🙏🏽 loved it. Then I bought a Maschine(then I was like ‘Logic’ Who?) that got me re-obsessed with LoFi. Then I convinced myself to sell the Circuit. Considering an SP, and-despite your great demo here, realizing I miss my Circuit. So, you’ve basically convinced me to buy a Circuit twice. I know they’re very different, but I miss my Circuit nevertheless🙏🏽
What attracted you to getting a circuit?
Best beginner Sp-404sx video on youtube
i didn't know for the shuffle & the subpad, thanx
The sequencer itself really isn’t bad for what it is, rather it’s the two-step logic that Roland implements. With something as basic as transport controls, the 404 comes off as cryptic and counter intuitive. Many get used to it, but I haven’t yet. I feel a lot of Roland gear has an odd workflow attached to it, like the sequencer on the 808. I think you did a good job demystifying the 404.
Appreciate the insights into different types of gear for live performance.
Gotta get a sp 303 or 555 to go with it for the sweetest work arounds 🖤 great vid
i'm definitely busting my SP out to mess with the sequencer after watching this.
Ricky we need more SP404 content from you. Love your vids and a newer SP 404 user.
Thanks for this - I just bought an SP-404A and hoping to spend a lot of time with it this weekend.
Same. Enjoy brother
how are y’all liking it
@@willcasket_goycdyg I've been working on completing some other projects before I truly deep dive into it. So far, getting the gist of it.
Damn Ricky, ur videos are always filmic, but you went hard on the vibe today 💜
Super helpful, Ricky. Thanks!!
The sequencer was a bit tricky to get the hang of but now I love it. It's my favorite sequencer to use out of all of my gear. It's very versatile in the way that you can turn quantization on and off and everything in between for each individual note. The only thing that I don't like is that all patterns share BPM across the board. That really sucks but there are workarounds. Other than that it's great.
Yea super sweet. Put the kicks in and take everything else off quantization. Once the muscle memory kicks in it's pretty fast
people often suck more than their tools
Awesome channel! Your sp404sx videos are very clean and helpful.
You...make...it...seem....so....easy.... Bravo Tricky ! 🤩
Roland would sell out if they made a few tweaks to this machine with velocity sensitive pads being first on my wish list lol.
Great video man thanks for the tips.
I"ve seen him mention his "secret setting" on the SP a couple times now. I can't wait to get mine and try to figure out what it is lol.
compressor
It's just a simple compressor on a relatively low setting, with the kick of the beat turned up louder than usual.
Great video, like you said before know your instruments inside outside to get the most from them. It would be interesting to see the same /similar workflow on the other units. To see how they compare.
I also made a track, it was a very fun video because I was interested in sp404! Thank you
The sequencer doesn't suck,y'all just can't keep time.😂💀
Hahahah!
😮
It’s true
😂😂😂
time is just a construct fam
I really look forwards to these Sunday sojourns into the sonic realm. Superb! 🐋
Awesome! I just bought one and will have it in a few days. I am excited to pair it with my op1 and opz. I also got a Bose sp1 pro. Basically, my dawless set up can be in a canoe if I want - taking the same sound anywhere I want. Always love your videos. This one was especially timely for me
Ps what was that secret?
How did it get “wonky” after you added two more bars? Interesting.
I find quantisizing only the first down beat of the first bar (and then turning quantization off) in a sequence to be useful...discovered it in the iOS app world. Tried it on the SP and voila..buttery.
I love the Boss samplers and the Roland Sp555
555 is great!
hell yeah! owner for a few years and def learned a few things! good looking out!
That subpad hack is a life saver 🔥
Hi ricky, im using the sp404 for almost 3 years now and ive diddnt know that you actually can set the swing parameters. Thanks for the tip
Blew my mind when I found that out also
thanks dude, you inspired me to buy a 404. yeah!
Cool video Enrique
Your tutorial is very informative. Thank you brother.
That's a 10-4 on the 96 ppqn. This fact is listed in the specifications page of the owner's manual.
I could never gel with the on board sequencer too much. I usually just use resample and midi sequence the pads with a external sequencer like the Digitakt. Loving the Sp videos
Nice look in the Kitchen of the SP404
In your opinion, is there anything that connected to the midi in of the 404 would really be a game changer? Maschine?
needed this
how do you avoid the sequencer from extending the bars? It’s mostly the reason I don’t use it... ex: I’ll set 2 bars, but then it runs to 4 bars and there’s 2 empty bars that I can’t ever play over?
This is outstanding
Nice.. inspiration for My music.
The sp 404 can do that ? I want use like a step sequencer Midi for my Vermona drum machine, can do that ? Thank you
I see that orgone pyramid, dude. Nice touch.
Thanks for that excellent observation Mathew! Sold.
How do I step sequence on this? Like a Machine? Where the first 4 I put the kick ect...
greets Ricki Tinez , thx for this video inspire to go back diggin in this sampler ;actually got the old sp555, the main difference is the acceptable memory size ( something like 2GO max on some old memory flash , seems they got the same options , reason i talk about this because the sp 555 got a "phrase capture option in wich we can rec ext source or ... int source as pad or pattern , also many other options like aditional mono input & stuff, if you can get your hands on one of them sure you'll love it.
this song is amazing, and best part is that it remembers me of another video i saw with the octatrack. Bassline is not from this planet😍
A bit late to the party but this was great!
But get yourself an SP-555 They're even cheaper used than a 404.
This will solve all your 404 problems.
That secret... compression lol. Can you please do a quick vid on properly compressing on the sp🙌🏾
^^^^
volume up on kicks volume down on every thing else
Dope video as always!
Whoooo. Love your groove. Inspirational for sure. Gotta check you out on ig and soundcloud.
Nice review. ! I got tired of lugging my Mpc live around , needed something light but capable.
You just sold me on one of these. The pattern length alone. I can't do the 4 bars on most sequencers, it frustrates me to no end
Been on the fence about getting one of these for a while now but they got a great sound. Have seen it be paired well with the digitakt though
How does this even remotely sound good... really man... the beat sounds stale.. at least in this video
@@Silent_StillnessI like Ricky's sound, it's lofi a bit weird and he has the ability to use drum machines and samples outside of the box, no offence but i don't really think you know what you're talking about the guys a G.
I’ve used one obsessively for a couple of months (after wanting one for a while). It can be a lot of fun, you just get lost in it and find musical combos that you did not expect going in, it offers you a very playful palette. But it can also be quite frustrating, I think it depends a lot on what you’re used to as well. In the end I ended up eliminating mine because I also have an old MPC that I want to use more, and, it was distracting me from it. Bottom line: I can totally see why so many people love it, but considering the price (and what you can get for it nowadays) I’d say it’s not for everybody. Pairing it with something like Digitakt would definitely open up many possibilities
it's great with the takt, 8 extra sample slots plus all of the effects.
@@TheDavidKettle unfortunately i do know what i'm talking about lol, I have a Digitakt to compare this machine to. If you can't hear that the results coming out of this machine in this particular video sounds bland I don't know what you're doing with your Digitakt... His video was supposed to be a showcase of the machine coming from an educated user, but the result really was not convincing at all to me, it has a "dated" vibe that didn't age well, lacks character and the interface is awful.
is there a better piece of gear that does the same thing as the SP404sx
this is one of the most underrated pieces of gear out there. Trust me, you'd be surprised how much you can do with it!
i've owned the OG sp-404 since 2005 i believe, and just can't find a way to work with it while it feeling like a very tedious way to make beats. Not being able to copy and paste anything (without that famous fly lo trick), i miss it way more than you'd expect. I have so much respect for anyone who's a master on the OG 404, or the 303, which i suspect is just as limited in this regard?
I love so much about the 404, and will probably never part with it, but its always an excursion rather than a go to device for me, and can't help thinking i'm still missing key info on how to master this little thing.
Also, the SX is so much more popular, hard to find OG info only :)
anyway, sorry about this OG 404 rant for no reason lol
Sick tut! Thanks!
can someone chim in if u have say a mpc 2500 or 4000 etc why would this sp404 be necessary. It seems so many people nowadays have this roland in addition to an mpc. thanks yall
Id like to know as well…my best guess is because of the fx section which is nice for lo fi music. Mpc2500 has very limited fx.
@@AnalogFlava i guess so right. well for me i have a fantom-g and it has the same skipback sampling but offers up to 40 sec of it in total and it came out in 2007-2008. It has 1 gb of sampling ram and works really well. I think Roland is so ahead of their time that they can reissue old tech on new machines and it seems fresh.
Good, clear video. Satisfied my curiosity. I'm still stuck on the MPC2000xl.
Yep
I see the Orgonite!!
love your channel !!!! Thanks!
What about if you wanna bit your own sounds in there
If I’m trying to connect the SP to a synth (Microkorg) and Synth Looper (Korg Kaoss) thats running through to a Bluetooth speaker
. Will I need more speakers or just the correct cables? I use the microkorg on a guitar amp as well. New to music but just hard with tech/wiring side of it. Thanks
Great video!!! I just got one of these and I am wondering how to set it up in Ableton to record with other beats. Is there a configuration to be able to play the SP-404SX into an audio track or midi? In my settings, Ableton doesn't recognize the SP-404SX. Is there a trick to this? Thanks for the great video!! :)
Can you maybe "resample" the sequence by connecting the headphone out to the input?
Interesting thought - timing issues perhaps. But doable I suppose. Not a true pattern of course, just the sound of it, but a workaround nonetheless.
I'm late to sp 404 series. I really want a 404sx. But I've had the sp202 and the feel and sound on that thing was unrivaled. But I definitely want the SX/A
How about using a keyboard like the fa-06 to record your different patterns on and resample into the fa-06 midi out of the fa into the sp404sx
How do you get the sounds onto the sd card? I’m a bit confused as to what it all originally comes with?
You can transfer sounds to the card using a computer or you can record in with a 1/4 cable or RCA. I’m not sure what sounds they came with out of the factory, but you probably won’t find them on a used unit. In my experience, it just comes with stuff the previous owner made.
ricky where's your mk2 video
if you wanted to lengthen a pattern couldn't you just start recording on to a free pad and just rerecord the original pattern for the new desired length instead of redoing it from scratch? gotta check it when i get home and gonna update here. cheers
Finally got bit by the SP bug 😝. Excited to bounce OP-Z tracks to it. Soon, soon 🤓🤓
Hi, i have an mpc 1000 and i use it with lot of samples wavs, but the internal memory is only 128mb. i´d like to know if i can play more songs lopped buying the sp 404, and can you suggest me how the connection would be. I make the songs first in the computer, then a pute them as loops in the sampler. Thank you!!
Do a tutorial on using the sp404 synced with the digitakt!!!!!
Torn between grabbing one of these or a Digitakt, or maybe an Octotrakt. Decisions...
Great tips!
$424 new on Amazon for the SX in October 2020 actually. So a bit cheaper than Elektron samplers even if you do get 2 of them
man, such a good vid.. thx
Hi Ricky ! can you import a hole song with the SP-404sx ? Like a song with just the drum beat and then playing along with a guitar in a life situation...
Fauvier yup
@rickytinez what is the difference between the Sp404a and sx?
The original has a sound though it really does and that’s because it’s working with old Ableton software but that Ableton software defined a generation at one time. The SX is greatly independent but I seriously would own any of the 3 of these 404 devices to use in different ways. I would try out the original retrospectively just like I would use any gear before my time or before I was able to access it. I will bet even every single individual unit sounds different of course not to mention that different human stimulus is an obvious factor.
What does the sp404 series have to do with Ableton?
Some of the OG 404 effects were made by Ableton’s DSP engines at the time
what is supercard?
Isn't the Circuit much more usable than this for sequencing? Except maybe for the length limits of the patters?
I have a question. Im having trouble to even get it to record. Everyone presses record and its ready, ill press record and the buttons just flash. Never becomes solid. What am I doing wrong?
What’s the longest sfx you can load on to one button?
Thank You so much man
Great vid
What online on the SP is the compressor. 🤪👍🏽