Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - SP-404 or KP3?

wax808 · 13th February 2011

I had the original SP404 for a time, took it back and got my MPC1000 instead. Then I had a SP555 which I sold to get an SP404sx.

The SX has better sound quality and easier management than the original 404 did. You can now easily copy and move samples around from bank to bank. It's fast and I find the effects sound good.

The remains though that the SP404sx is a niche machine. It could never replace my MPC obviously, and I wouldn't have one as my only sampler.

For what I use it for though it works VERY well. I use mine as a compliment to the rest of my setup. I currently have mine going right into a Kaossilator Pro. I can play pads on the SP404sx and sample what I'm doing real time into the Kpro. It works perfectly for live looping that way.

I also use it to make different beats while mobile. If I make a beat in the SP404sx in pattern mode, then bring it home and slave it to my MPC, the beat will kick off once I press play on the MPC, synced up perfectly to the MPC's clock. The pads that are being played light up, and I can mangle each sound individually or as a whole if I want, pretty powerful stuff really. I like having the MPC and the SP404sx on different sides of a DJ mixer and fade between the beats.

The next step I'm working on now is to use it for one shot samples, lyrical phrases, dubstep wobs, whatever. It should add a lot to my live show if I do it right.

If someone were to ask my advice on having the sp404 as their only beat making machine I would tell them they better be ready to think outside the box and be ready to work within the limitations of that machine. It actually can have a pretty nice Ableton like workflow with each pad having a different progression on it. It's great to compliment an existing setup.

13th February 2011	#8
wax808 Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,444	I had the original SP404 for a time, took it back and got my MPC1000 instead. Then I had a SP555 which I sold to get an SP404sx. The SX has better sound quality and easier management than the original 404 did. You can now easily copy and move samples around from bank to bank. It's fast and I find the effects sound good. The remains though that the SP404sx is a niche machine. It could never replace my MPC obviously, and I wouldn't have one as my only sampler. For what I use it for though it works VERY well. I use mine as a compliment to the rest of my setup. I currently have mine going right into a Kaossilator Pro. I can play pads on the SP404sx and sample what I'm doing real time into the Kpro. It works perfectly for live looping that way. I also use it to make different beats while mobile. If I make a beat in the SP404sx in pattern mode, then bring it home and slave it to my MPC, the beat will kick off once I press play on the MPC, synced up perfectly to the MPC's clock. The pads that are being played light up, and I can mangle each sound individually or as a whole if I want, pretty powerful stuff really. I like having the MPC and the SP404sx on different sides of a DJ mixer and fade between the beats. The next step I'm working on now is to use it for one shot samples, lyrical phrases, dubstep wobs, whatever. It should add a lot to my live show if I do it right. If someone were to ask my advice on having the sp404 as their only beat making machine I would tell them they better be ready to think outside the box and be ready to work within the limitations of that machine. It actually can have a pretty nice Ableton like workflow with each pad having a different progression on it. It's great to compliment an existing setup.