So I just bought one of these things a couple weeks ago and its been a blast. My only gripe is the standard rec mode seems to be kind of ass. That or Im just not understanding something. I find myself using the looper and tr rec mode to sequence my drum loops because anytime I try to play it against the actual rec mode either the quantize fucks up my sample or drum track or if I turn the quantize off I can't get a tight loop that actually repeats. One workaround ive found is to just set it to like 20 tracks and record live and not worrk about looping since Ill change the pattern out before it gets to the end its just timing. Also usually I make my drum lattern in the looper, resample to a pad, then play that pad back in rec mode but even then rec mode seems to fuck it all up. What tips do you have? Am I the only one struggling with this?

Hey I just bought the SP and while making a beat I got completely lost in the effects. I wanted to finish the beat but I sat there and manipulated every sound with effects. It's so fun! I love the workflow because its simple it does not feel like a laptop or phone like the mpc live series does. It feels like a machine designed to make music and have fun.

Does anyone have any tips for me (workflow wise)?

My biggest issue is that idk how to stack effects and idk if its even possible but i like how theres alot of limitations, it makes me be more creative

FULL BEAT MAKING VID HERE... https://youtu.be/Emtm_UqDIDE

Hey guys, our guitarist bought the SP404MK2 a while back. He doesn’t just play samples through it—we also want to use the 404 for recording. We’re just talking about simple demos here. Our problem is that we currently have a loop in our recording setup that we don’t want.

The setup: We have a digital mixing console from which we send a sum of the instruments to the 404. To do this, we use the lower input on the 404. Since the 404 sends the sounds right back to the mixing console, we have a loop.

Is there a way to prevent the incoming signal from being sent back out, while simultaneously sending samples from the 404 to the mixing console?

Thank you for your help

I'm completely new to finger drumming and looking to pick up my first hardware sampler mainly for learning and practicing finger drumming (hip-hop/grooves/breakbeats).

My ultimate goal is to be able to finger drum a clean 170 BPM Amen beat live.

I'm currently deciding between the Roland SP-404 MKII and the Akai MPC series

I tried to install it without realizing I was only on firmware version 5.50.

Wouldn‘t power back on and thought I’d bricked it.

Tried to update to 5.52 via SD card and that wouldn’t work either.

Tried 5.50 via SD and that gave me a flicker before dying again.

Found and was eventually successful going back to the original 4.04 firmware.

So it’s back up and running.

Will try and upgrade again tomorrow but hopefully this will be over some use to someone and save a few hours of heartburn and stress!

Edit: Bounced down to version 4.04 and up from that to 5.52. First Doom OS update attempt didn’t work but repeated these steps again and back in business.

I’m new to the sp404mkii and I’ve been practicing chopping the same samples as practice. Last night I chopped one and assigned to pads, everything sounded fine. Today, chopping the same exact sample, assign to pads, and the assigned chops all sound warped. All settings seem to be the same (bpm etc). I cant figure out what’s going on with the warped second version. Any insight would be great.

Update: Finally figured out issue. During chopping, I had vinyl mode off (ensemble), but after sending to pads, that setting was reset back to vinyl mode on. Once I changed each pad back to vinyl off (ensemble), things sounded “normal” again.

omg bad product

IG @svmribeats

Just finished this beat when I noticed the storm, so I rushed to set up and caught this on the first take. The sample almost sounds like it’s saying “afraid of thunder.”

Sample: “I Really Got a Thing for You” by Milton Hamilton.

Part of my series making beats around DC. Instagram: alex.makes.dirt

I’m getting a bit tangled up in my lousy English,

but I hope you’ll share in my naivety and my enthusiasm regarding these possibilities.

I wanted to show those who are just starting out (as I was, not so long ago) a feature intentionally included by Roland:

the ability to switch from Pattern mode to Sample mode in order to jam over the top.

The two modes are inseparable—much like the relationship between standard recording (Rec) and TR-REC (step-sequencing, where the rhythm pattern scrolls by) or real-time recording. Using them together within a single sequence is truly incredible.

I wanted to highlight this flexibility—the way you can move fluidly between the "live" aspect (using sample and pattern modes) and the recording process (where both modes can be used for a single pattern).

I haven’t discovered or invented anything, okay ? It’s for egg inner like me

I recently saw a video of someone making a snare with the sp404 sound generator. I was curious if anyone has made an entire drum kit using this tool including ride, open hi hat, and crash symbols.

In this tutorial, we explore Graphic Motion Rec in Doom OS for the SP404 mk2: a powerful feature for recording and automating effect parameters in a visual, precise, and much more comprehensive way than the original firmware.

You’ll see how to create movement, transitions, and FX variations, perfect for live sets, resampling, techno, house, and sound design.

How would you use this feature in your SP-404 workflow?

Enjoy!

with love .noir. ❤️

Hi!

I bought a used sp404 mk2 about a couple years ago now, rarely used.

When using recently, I noticed this issue and assumed it was just not enough power (it was running off of battery pack). Tried plugging it in using original power supply. Ive tried factory reset, firmware refresh.

Is there any fix? All the threads and post Ive seen so far assume burn in, but a) it is rarely on one setting for a period of time and b) it updates based on last menu. Not to mention, I have screensaver on.

Is this worth sending out for a repair? I dont know how much a realistic estimate would be, as I am outside warranty.

I wouldnt even be too upset if it didnt appear to dim every time I have used it since the original issue.

IG @svmribeats

love how the SP compression glues things together. Resampled fingerdrumming on the 404 for the drums