Koala Sampler & SP404 MK2: This Beatmaking Combo Just Got Even Better with Official Integration

[@thelevicole]

This integration is so much deeper than I realized.

[@sunwarper]

Yeah, it's crazy how much you can do. I didn't even cover using side chain in Koala when sequencing on the SP. There's some interesting FX routings and what not. Perhaps for another video?

[@firekeeper09]

I really like the option Koala brings in terms of performance FX, ability to sidechain, and the piano roll to visualize patterns. Now that you broke down how it works, I'd love to see some from scratch deep dives with just this combo and perhaps an external synth input.

[@sunwarper]

Great idea, I just grabbed a few new vinyl for a sample flip, maybe I'll use this combo for it :) I've got a few videos ahead in the queue, but definitely on the list!

[@vznquest]

Opening beat was fire. Looks like I need to get Koala now.

[@sunwarper]

Appreciate it! Koala is a great little sampler, it's nice to have something so intricate right there on the phone to make beats whenever

[@deebaker4671]

A dope update would be, if we could control the start and end points of a sample with the control knobs..

[@sunwarper]

definitely would be a great addition, let's hope they do it!

[@iceteazer8028]

This is actually the most important for me tbh, would love that

[@earthharmony.soundwellness]

holy wtf.. this is so crazy mindblowing exciting, i had no idea this was a thing, i just recently repurchased a sp404mk2 thanks so much for the video

[@sunwarper]

yeah they added it in the latest update in April, makes this combo WAY better for sure. Cheers :)

[@postlex]

Very cool - thank you!

[@sunwarper]

Cheers, hope it helps 😄

[@MarshMakesComics]

Insane! What about performance effects on koala with performance effects on sp?

[@sunwarper]

They both still work, so you can use them together! I don't think there's any button mapping between them, but they definitely still both work. Plus you get all the bus fx on Koala and the master fx

[@MarshMakesComics]

@@sunwarper awesome!!!

[@andystandys]

I need to update and try this.

[@sunwarper]

definitely worth it! there's a lot of other great features added in 4.04/4.05 as well

[@Cartel336]

Thanks. Ill be purchasing thr text version too

[@sunwarper]

Cheers :)

[@tom22333]

The Koala 404mk2 tech is the first thing that's had me consider buying an Ipad 😅. Too much latency on my android devices

[@sunwarper]

That's a bummer to hear there's latency on Android, I've only used iOS but always found it to work great. Is the latency on the 404 integration specifically?

[@tom22333]

@@sunwarper It's not terrible but it's subtle enough to mess up recording midi. My phone/tablets are also about 4 years old though and weren't top of the line. The workflow is so much fun though

[@omegajackson]

Thank you, most of these how to’s are dude trying to play there beats. Coping the sheet now.

[@TheChameleon2008]

their

[@supermcfly100]

@@TheChameleon2008exactly

[@sunwarper]

Cheers! Hope it helps :)

[@johnviera3884]

12:55 can you use the SP-404 encoder knob to adjust the start point?

[@sunwarper]

Unfortunately no, it’s a bummer but hopefully something for a future update

[@johnviera3884]

@@sunwarper would be awesome

[@scattystormborn]

Does USB-C to USB-C work for newer iPads?

[@sunwarper]

Yeah, I did it on today's stream with my iPad Air :) kzbin.infoPq5UzF_7d6c?feature=share

[@scattystormborn]

@ nice! Thank you

[@GarrettDavis-d4z]

How would you convert this into a beat that you export into a song format?

[@sunwarper]

There's a few ways to do it. If you're just using the SP for sound design during the beatmaking process, you could export the beat directly through Koala using it's multiple export options. If you're using the SP for live fx during a jam, you're a bit limited like a normal DAWless workflow, basically just recording the stereo 2 track. If you record that 2 track into a DAW set at the same BPM, you could chop that up and add additional midi as well.

[@Basshigure]

Fantastic tutorial bro thank you very much

[@sunwarper]

Cheers, hope it helps and thanks for watching :)

[@_boof]

Have you had any freezing issues resampling? I actually haven’t updated to 4.04. I don’t necessarily need to since I use an MPC but this could be a good setup on the go.

[@sunwarper]

I haven't encountered any bugs with 4.04 thankfully, but I've gotten a lot of comments on the channel about some bugs around sampling and resampling. Roland recently put out a patch, that sounds like it fixed those issues, but I've yet to DL that one. All of the additions like live looping, sound generator, this and the quality of life improvements are definitely worth it if you use the SP for the beatmaking side of things... but definitely not worth risking bugs if you're good without. But yeah, check if that new update alleviates some of your concerns.

[@najiharfouche8743]

This video is super helpful. Thanks! Is there any way to edit sample start and end points in Koala from the SP??

[@sunwarper]

Cheers, glad it helps! You can get to the start end menu using the SP but the knobs don’t seem to do anything to it

[@chrisswanonline]

Great video! One issue I'm finding is that hitting Rec (or Resample) does not allow me to record the sample and instead switches the Koala app sampling settings. Did this change with an update, and therefore the only way to record samples from Koala into the SP is by exiting Koala mode, and just using it as external in?

[@sunwarper]

You have to have the sp in an sp bank to resample to koala or sample into the SP. check out 1:48 for how it works. They stay connected and integrated but you do have to switch between each samplers designated banks The integration is awesome but there are a few bits of workflow that’s a little clunky

[@chrisswanonline]

Aha, I see what you mean now. Many thanks for that!!

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

Great video!

[@sunwarper]

Appreciate it 😄 Have you been using the integration much?

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

@@sunwarper not as much as I should. I did a video today using it. I like going back and forth. So many options and tricks that you can do I know I never get bored.

[@sunwarper]

I'm with you! I'm going to try doing a vinyl sample flip with this combo and see how it goes. There's so much to this integration, should be fun

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

@@sunwarper endless possibilities

[@SonicVibe]

Very informative

[@sunwarper]

Cheers 🍻

[@bobbylimesmusic]

This is sick! Although, I’ll probably stick to a really simplified workflow. I really just want koala as more of a utility while I’m making beats traveling. Organize samples, stems, rip KZbin.. then unplug and focus on the 404

[@sunwarper]

That’s a great way to do it, I still do that way most of the time haha it’s just nice to have this mode and being able to utilize so many bus fx between koala and SP

[@cyb]

How do you rip youtube with koala(ios/android)

[@bobbylimesmusic]

@@cyb using screen record function on iOS. Then the Import Video, within Koala.

[@cyb]

@@bobbylimesmusic can this be done with youtube videos as well?

[@bobbylimesmusic]

@@cyb ya iPhone screen recording makes a video of anything, along with the high quality audio attached

[@Yahootie]

Newb issue...my koala track/samples are all choppy in playback when connected to my SP404mk2 via usb. Plays fine when connected with audio cables. Seems like it’s a sync issue, though I’m unsure how to remedy this. Um...help?

[@Yahootie]

P.S. what is a Sunwarper?

[@sunwarper]

I'd need a lot more context to help diagnose the issue, like what device you're using, the cable you're using to connect etc. If you're using a USB C to C cable, I'd check you've got one with enough output. If you check the gear link in this videos description, that's the one I use which works perfectly If nothing else works, I'd definitely recommend contacting Koala or Roland about it. Hopefully that helps

[@matthewstrohmaier1647]

Can you remind me. Are you able to change the start and end points of your koala sample on SP404?

[@louie1litk619]

I think if you’re in the sample edit screen the control knobs do control it

[@sunwarper]

I tried using them and they didn’t do anything in the sample screen 💀 You can get to the sample edit screen and control things like volume, pitch, attack etc with the sp knobs but I couldn’t get the knobs to move the sample start end

[@Kejo2]

🫡GREAT VID BRO👊🏾

[@sunwarper]

Cheers 🍻

[@psychrockvinyl]

For some reason when i plug iPad into my mk2, the audio from koala comes from my ipad speakers and my 404 goes out into my mixer/monitors. I can’t figure out how to get the koala audio to pass through The mk2

[@psychrockvinyl]

I’m just using usbc direct from my usbc iPad Pro into the mk2. And mk2 is running audio out from the back to the mixer

[@sunwarper]

Was going to ask about your cables, but that looks solid. Do you have both Koala and SP fully updated/have you purchased the latest feature additions for Koala (the Bus FX)? If all that is good, then I'd probably recommend emailing Elf Audio or Roland. That's a strange bug I've not encountered. When it comes to this new integration, as soon as the usb c is connected, they should integrate and the audio will all come out the SP. Sorry to hear you're dealing with that, lmk what happens

[@psychrockvinyl]

@@sunwarper i finally figured it out! It was strange because koala would send audio out over usb into my TX-6 mixer, but immediately stopped when plugged into the mk2. I had to go into airplay and switch the out to sp404mk2…

[@sunwarper]

That's a new one for me, but I'm glad you figured it out and if anyone else runs into the issue there's a solution :)

[@psychrockvinyl]

@@sunwarper yes! I’m going to try to get this added to the koala manual!

[@GooWorldOrder]

Can you copy samples from one to the others, rather than resample?

[@sunwarper]

Not to my knowledge, would be nice to see though. Something for a future update maybe?

[@lucasleroy3196]

Hey, can you listen to the SP404 on the iPad ?

[@sunwarper]

That’s a great question and honestly, I didn’t even try haha if I get some time in the next few days I’ll see

[@xray2785]

Forgive me, but it seems to me as if one could dispense with the Roland unit completely, and still have a fully functional sampling system and workflow in koala on iPad. Perhaps I’m being cynical, however this looks to me as if Roland is hitching its wagon onto koala in an effort to stay relevant and worthwhile in the face of hugely functional and very cheap apps running on iPadOS. I’d be grateful to hear other people’s views on this. Thanks for this video.

[@sunwarper]

both samplers are fully functional on their own for sure, this workflow just allows for the benefits of both, like Koala Piano Roll and bus fx with SP's tactile hardware and awesome built in fx. The SP here is basically MIDI hardware with added fx & long samples

[@xray2785]

@ thanks for taking the time to reply, much appreciated, and enjoyed and was informed by the video thank you. I think as far as the facts go, if I’m not wrong koala sampler can be used as an AUM instrument (?), If so then there is no end of effects available that can be put into the audio chain inside AUM. I accept your point about the physicality of the SP, and you’re not wrong, however I guess we could also use our existing hardware keyboards and other media controllers. All that said I am still tempted to buy an SP, I’m just not really sure how much it will add. That said, the SP seems to be a lot easier to use than the P6 and it’s tiny screen

[@sunwarper]

Sounds to me like you’re weighing whether you want to add an sp into your workflow? SP’s are great, but koala is awesome on its own and I’m all about not spending money if you don’t have to. This integration is an awesome cooperation between the two companies as a lot of users have both and now it’s easily synced adding the best features of both. I’ve never used AUM, but koala does work with it, the deciding factor I suppose, is whether you want to do everything on a touchscreen or have adedicated machine to do music with as well.

[@xray2785]

@@sunwarper thanks again for taking the time to reply, it really is very much appreciated. You are quite correct I don’t currently own a hardware sampler, other than the one built into my Roland Fantom 7. I think I will invest time into learning koala on iPad and trying to get the very best from it. Once I hit it’s limitations, I’ll be in a better position to know whether I should invest in further hardware. Thanks again for your time and for the videos.

[@ZombieLincoln666]

Man if Koala would just add an actual sequencer it would be perfect

[@sunwarper]

They keep updating, so let's hope!

[@Boujonzu]

Does it not have one?

[@ZombieLincoln666]

@@Boujonzu It can’t sequence the patterns, only individual ones

[@Outstanding.Bill87]

This looks convoluted as fuck

[@sunwarper]

It's a lot to take in, but if you're familiar with one or both of them it seems to click pretty quick. It's nice to have some of the stand out features of each sampler combined into one workflow

[@MK-vi2cm]

It's really not

[@silvianvalcu8433]

Loopy pro is better

[@sunwarper]

Nice, I’m glad you found something that works for you!