I stand Corrected: Song Mode does save when you save project.. I was Tripping!😂
@antoineb24092 ай бұрын
Mine will be here tomorrow! I'm gonna figure this out lol I have an MPC X so I dont need it to be or do anything but what it does! I'm gonna have fun wth it though
@bjamminsincebirth34944 ай бұрын
My favorite thing about the SP404 Mkii is working with audio makes me commit and not spend time trying to fix mistakes. I love the human aspect or element of that. It feels like playing a real instrument. Play it until you get it right.
@TheChameleon20084 ай бұрын
yup, and that feeling when you get it right is so awesome! This the thing i hate with all the programming in DAWs.
@noebeyond4 ай бұрын
1. Each sound is basically its own track 2. “Song mode” automatically saves, what are you using? 3. You can add individual effects on sounds but you need to print them aka resample them for it to save without having to recall efx settings, this can also be automated. 4. I agree with the track / song stem out would be nice. Otherwise it is still best to print them out via midi sync to the daw so you can add effects. What I would like to have is an extra octave on chromatic mode and note glides. That’s all this unit needs right now to make every type of beat. Great work Bolo.
@dracul744 ай бұрын
Love your stuff. That said, I feel like you sorta just want it to be a Mpc :) Basically SPs are all about working in audio. So, take a dry loop … bus some fx… make different versions of the loop in audio. You have to lose that track mentality when on the SP and think of it more like painting. Last point… SPs excel at making loops. If you focus on making loops instead of song sections it becomes easier to use with a daw… as now you just drop the loops you made into the daw and arrange there. Just my .02. Great stuff as always.
@tossowain89634 ай бұрын
Yeah- I wouldn’t entertain making a full song on an sp. It’s an ideas machine- quick chopping, looping and then to a DAW
@shawnward31604 ай бұрын
Ordered mine last week .. waiting at the door for it now.
@palimo36533 ай бұрын
Get a life buddy
@bboymac844 ай бұрын
Bolo is right Roland def need these cons addressed!
@bjamminsincebirth34944 ай бұрын
I think the key to remember with the SP404 Mkii works primarily with audio. It’s not midi like in the MPC. I like just recording directly into the daw when I’m ready.
@bigkingshaАй бұрын
PROS: Agree 100% about the sound quality. I am completely blown away. These effects are crazy - matter of fact, the effects on the SP-404 are so good that I am less likely to attempt multiple layers of effects as I do on the MPC. These effects do sound more aggressive and robust, a small amount of tweaking completely changes the personality of a sound - whereas with the MPC they're more subtle...maybe thinner-sounding? However, I also agree about having the option to apply effects to sounds/pads rather than BUS a sound to the same four effects. Love the looper, but that Skipback feature is crazy too! 6 AA batteries, SD expansion and portability are all a plus. I do miss that old SP onboard mic though. CONS: Worlkflow is kinda quirky and I find myself wishing it was more like the MPC Live, but I recognize that the SP-404MKII is just a different, performative animal altogether and learning a new methodology of production breaks me out of my old conditionings and stubborn production curmudgeonry, thus extending the range of creative thought and different processes. It contains unique workflows for various production styles. The pattern sequencer makes you think and strategize, you must plan the beat in every regard. The LOOPER is like painting wet-on-wet oil canvases and the SKIPBACK feature is just the star of the show (for me) as it captures everything right there on the spot. So my CONS are really PROS that are basically developing my technique, even with my every gripe and grumble. WISH LIST: LFO's, LFO's, LFO's!! Imagine the power of a modulation matrix to animate a specific effect parameter....perhaps the amount of distortion in one of the MFX's or the Filter +Drive, while auto-panning L-R, while randomizing a start point of a loop!! That would be sick. All in all, this unit teaches me a different lesson every single time I fire it up. What I love most is the immediacy and the incredible sound quality of it. It's like the NORD of Samplers. The sounds are in the damn room with you, in your face. You really feel the fullness and richness of even the thinnest synth or most basic, boring drum kit. I owned the SP-202 back in the day and it was a nice dirty, lofi sampler with many limits, but Roland has scored big time with this box. I am eager to see what new updates/features will be available for it in the future. Good review!
@thebl8nlyblatantnetwork4 ай бұрын
I was second guessing getting the sp 404 mk2and so glad I did … i learned the basic in a couple hours and was knocking out beats left and right (basic beats lol) still have more to learn but the update made this a so much better experience for me too
@freshkidblaze4 ай бұрын
I just got my unit Saturday and the things you don't like I don't like. Good thing those dislikes aren't deal breakers. I like the app a lot, especially if I'm using a loop and just need a few drums. Also, the learning curve isn't as bad as a lot of people claim it to be imo.
@OsschotUltra4 ай бұрын
Pattern chains (song mode?) DEF do get saved when you save a project.. On top of that you can consider every sample on pad as a separate track. When you edit a pattern in tr-mode you can hold the sub-pad to switch between sounds and edit every "track" seperately. You just don't have a visual representation on screen like you have on mpc's.
@SMEL4 ай бұрын
Great points Bolo! In my opinion the SP is more so made for live play, which lends to its amazing push for beats makers to be creative on the fly. It's not really build to sequence a whole production (but you can). Really no need to even try to tempo match etc. Get your sample plug and play and use skip back (i like what Bolo said on the use of the looper for one shots), assign pad and do that over and over. Practice your performance and tweaks of sampling. Hit record in your daw and watch the magic. OR... just use it as a straight up instrument into your daw. SP has its own sound!!! Once you use it, trut me, you will say from time to time, I need that SP sound for this one!!!!
@DelainoBarris4 ай бұрын
I agree and love my sp404, I use it more than my DAW since I bought it in Oct23
@enzoblessedit27394 ай бұрын
The sound out the sp is amongst the best I’ve heard from hardware! Sequencing is annoying. I agree that fx per sound would be dope , at least a filter or EQ
@fredicagoillanoise13094 ай бұрын
I've come to grips with the fact that we'll have to export beats Madlib style... Just arrange the beats and get the eq and effects how we want it and just dump the entire beat into your DAW or recorder and be done with it.
@ricardomilice24704 ай бұрын
The Sp 404 came a very long way from the early versions I still have Right now . I’m good, plus you can put it with Koala. If they listening to you, And they can add more features…:I’m all for it. lol I’m trying to digest what we got 😂.
@Dcorumbeats4 ай бұрын
Just took mine back after two weeks and the new update. I’m good. Getting the Mpc one and getting back to biz.
@mikemeengs57204 ай бұрын
I feel like doing the same thing...I'm getting tired of trying to figure things out instead of making music.
@Dcorumbeats4 ай бұрын
@@mikemeengs5720 don’t get me wrong bro, I’m not bashing the 404. There are definitely things I like about it, especially the etx. However, if you have to choose between this and an mpc or even maschine, go w the latter bro. I will prob get the 404 later to use in conjunction with the mpc which would be crazy!
@dennystreet24544 ай бұрын
In 2 days I will be an owner of SP 404 mk2 😌 🤙 🤘
@TheChameleon20084 ай бұрын
SAME and i got to blame Marek!!!
@joefather60844 ай бұрын
Got mine today!
@mackie32x484 ай бұрын
When recording a sample in pause they need to move the REC a drop to the left so the level meter has better visibility. Its quashed in the corner.
@N-spireyourbeats4 ай бұрын
If the Bus are parallel in the fx settings you can hold remain and turn the fx per pad off. When you switch to the 2nd but hold remain again and choose the other pads you want use the other fx.
@bjamminsincebirth34944 ай бұрын
You can record to pattern and send the track parts back to pads individually or multipad out each patterns
@firebug18923 ай бұрын
This tool was created for on the go street production, I like that it doesn’t have separate tracks, that’s for house producers, simple is always better
@CaseUltra4 ай бұрын
Bolo the song mode does save with the project.. also you can export song mode into one single wav file onto a pad very easily with a click (a few clicks) of a button.. just go to pattern mode... press copy.. then press hold.. then select the pattern chain you want to export... select what pad to copy it to... and boom. You just easily exported your song onto a pad
@GameRelated4 ай бұрын
How do you then export that pad to the SD Card as the finished song .wav file?
@CaseUltra4 ай бұрын
@@GameRelated shift... pad 14... export to sd card
@uhuhtapes3 ай бұрын
I think each pad is its own track. Perhaps they could make the banks act as group tracks.
@ruffiankick4 ай бұрын
Technically the pads are the tracks. With 32 note polyphony, you basically have 32 tracks. Shift + Reverse is your pad mute basically. Its weird but it works lol. Song mode is Pattern chain, you press hold while in the Pattern sequence mode.. and I couldve swarn its does save on its own.
@THA-REAPER4 ай бұрын
I just wish they had a convert function or expand their specifics on file types it accepts. Its frustrating when you get a whole bunch of packs on the SD just to later get the "Unsupported format" message when you bout to load them up. Sometimes it's like 30% out of the folder works. Then you look at the .wav details and they are all the same.
@DylanParisMusic4 ай бұрын
Great video Bolo! Got one on the way, excited to learn it
@CUEME4 ай бұрын
Roland had a program back in the early 2000 called Kinect with Cakewalk Music making Software, the program had an song arranger in it.
@I.O.M.4 ай бұрын
Great vid. You can assign effects to specific pads but you are limited to bus 1 and 2.
@stysnappin2 ай бұрын
Have you tried the Circuit Rhythm? It doesn’t get much love, the new SP-404 release completely stole its thunder. It’s more limited than the SP-404, but it has 8 monophonic tracks, it’s workflow is much more intuitive and it’s perfect for one shot type beats. If you made a Circuit Rhythm one shots pack I would definitely cop it.
@fredicagoillanoise13094 ай бұрын
If Roland just added the ability to punch in record patterns and not have to wait until the entire length of the pattern to pass before you can record would be great. Also if we could go forward and backward in measures to pinpoint where we want to begin recording or fix a mistake we made would be perfect.
@TwinCitiesOxygen3 ай бұрын
I’m down with this channel. Subscribed
@AprilRoxStudios4 ай бұрын
I don’t like that Roland didn’t release SP404 mkiii with large colorful touchscreen and ease of use.
@towerrunner46754 ай бұрын
That relation is true. Due to the OLED display it works with standard batteries - I prefer that.
@bedonemusic4 ай бұрын
I like when I can take my SP404 to backpack and travel around the world ❤
@TheChameleon20084 ай бұрын
yes and no since koala is also in your pocket 2 :)
@bedonemusic4 ай бұрын
@@TheChameleon2008I often use both at the same time, and now with the integration, it's even better 🔥
@mikemeengs57204 ай бұрын
It makes something hum-drum...like traveling the world...worthwhile, doesn't it? 😉
@TheChameleon20084 ай бұрын
@@bedonemusic word, the koala support was the reason why i picked it up to be honest and sold me pocket operators :)
@bedonemusic4 ай бұрын
@@TheChameleon2008 I will do the same This new integrations is so dope and we can even sampling stems from Koala ❤
@delfiobacco71564 ай бұрын
i dont know if i got you right but in the last update you CAN bounce the whole pattern chain as a unique file
@GA5aLaProd4 ай бұрын
I sold my Sp404 SX just before the mk 2 was announced, in favour of the digitakt - I just bought the MK 2 last couple days, only for the looper and the audio effects - Want to see if I can retire the MK505
@Drrolfski4 ай бұрын
Lots of key combos that you need to memorize with this device. And with every update it gets worse. The MPC is a much more intuitive device in that regard and I don't think the MPC is even all that intuitive.
@durrcodurr4 ай бұрын
I disagree. You don't have to memorize much -- at least I don't, and I do have memory damage (i.e. my short term memory isn't as good as it used to be, I'm 54 now), and I have no trouble recalling any of the workflows of the machine. Sometimes, I have to look a thing up in the manual, but it's mostly only things that I didn't know before. Muscle memory works really well with this machine. But perhaps the machine appeals to me and that's the real reason, IDK.
@fredicagoillanoise13094 ай бұрын
Even Maschine Plus' work flow is easier than the 404 mk2.
@Ink0ne4154 ай бұрын
Your speaking the truth on certain things it should be automatic.But I don't think, they thought a lot more DAW based producers or producers that would not usually use this underground secret would gravitate towards this unit. Cause i know i didn't i thought it was toy compared to what I'm use to using. I grabed it and instantly so the potential saying its all most there. Cause i didn't just see it as just and effects box.
@guneskardes2 ай бұрын
The looper mode is so cool but as I play and build up, every time I wish I could choose an empty pad and assign it for the recording before recording the loop (and the sample length should be preserved from the first loop) , so as I build up the looping beat, different recorded samples stays at different pad and could be isolated, muted or played solo at the assigned pad seamlessly. I know I can copy the what I record to a pad and I can keep on with that, the problem is the need to stop the on going music in order to go that direction and my concern is for the live performances. I know its close but not a loop station but maybe there is a way to do this, if so please enlighten me.
@FlatWHDF4 ай бұрын
Ima actually get it!
@TheChameleon20084 ай бұрын
same
@sumithramachandranwatchyou5045Ай бұрын
Yes. Fx section is very confusing!!
@bboymac844 ай бұрын
Yea they need pad fx! Very true!
@mgd91514 ай бұрын
Resampling the whole song is the same way it is done on the Roland fantom x8 as well. It's a Roland standard, maybe it should change but that is how they have been doing it.
@joegrant4134 ай бұрын
You're not trippin'. Common and frequent tasks like exporting a song should feel like "boom it's done" after some modest learning curve. FWIW, I work on UX for a living.
@towerrunner46754 ай бұрын
If they improve the song mode as you mentioned (storable), then they got me. Those updates made a difference! 🔥
@CaseUltra4 ай бұрын
Go ahead and buy it. Song mode does save with the project. Bolo had me double checking to make sure but he must have missed that. Song mode definitely saves with the project
@andystandys4 ай бұрын
@@CaseUltra Yeah, I was just gonna say that too. I've done projects in song mode and didn't have to re-create them every time I turned on the machine...
@ZetaCarinae4 ай бұрын
Super useful overview thank you!
@CrownLifeTv3 ай бұрын
You also forgot to mention as a "con" how you cant even preview sounds while your pattern is looping. Theres a way to do so, which seems a bit "extra" but you cannot literally go to shift import and preview sounds while your working on something.
@dmks21464 ай бұрын
I'm in a love-hate relationship with mine. A lot of the features it now has are kinda tacked onto a machine that wasn't meant to do all that. It's all a bit messy coupled with some real killer features.
@0072gldnfngr4 ай бұрын
Jokes aside, this was a good video. Very insightful. I’d be curious to know how is the 404 intended to be used and how ppl used the original one. Or is it just that, a thing Roland put together and it kinda is what it is and users can use how they want within whatever limits are available?
@billB1014 ай бұрын
Even my 1988 Roland W30 sampler has filters on it. Why the Sp404 doesn't have it per pad is an absolute mystery really.
@gadgetboy20004 ай бұрын
It does have filters…
@TheChameleon20084 ай бұрын
its called FX and there are plenty
@billB1014 ай бұрын
@@gadgetboy2000 Not per pad it doesn't.
@billB1014 ай бұрын
@@TheChameleon2008 Not per pad.
@TheChameleon20084 ай бұрын
@@billB101 no per bus. if you want it for each sound then resample.
@jarikensenat12824 ай бұрын
After watching this video i think i will pass. Just got an mpc one just need to dive in there. Been out of the game for a while but ready to put in work. Thank you for the video.
@micromonde4 ай бұрын
Excellent overview.
@CryptoLosOne3 ай бұрын
How can this trigger video? For video djs. Visuals and music.
@CryptoLosOne3 ай бұрын
So, you can’t save a project and come back to it?
@Outstanding.Bill874 ай бұрын
Your right exporting sucks, it’s actually so bad that my sp is almost full of beats and I haven’t exported any of them. You can put MFX on individual samples though you just have either resample that pad or add the FX as your sampling it into the unit.
@intricateinc85664 ай бұрын
@Bolo Da Producer, Is the beat review tonight or tomorrow homie? I have not seen notifications on the community page.
@BoloDaProducer4 ай бұрын
4.10.2024 9pm
@intricateinc85664 ай бұрын
@@BoloDaProducer Thank you bro. I have been missing them. KZbin has been deleting my comments and messing with my notifications as well.
@DurtyCardiologist2 ай бұрын
Get the Lofi-12 XT
@stepbro21392 ай бұрын
TO ALL OF YOU PLEASE READ THIS TEXT: "TRY IT WITH THE KOALA SAMPLER APP, INCLUDING INAPP-ADDONS, THEN INSTALL THE LATEST UPDATES, ALSO FOR THE SP-404MKII & ENJOY ESPECIALLY THAT IT'S ALREADY PRECONFIGURED & RECOGNIZED WHEN CONNECTING BOTH TOGETHER". HAVE FUN :)
@CreamOfBeats4 ай бұрын
Loading samples back to pads. Maybe I’m overlooking something, but I can save to the SD card, but when I want to bring samples back, I have to assign them individually. If I have kits of (example) 16 kicks on bank A, 16 snares on bank B, how do I save them so I can load them all back?
@VinylWave114 ай бұрын
The thing I dislike most about the Sp 404 is that it isn't an MPC. Joking kind of...I have had the SP 404 MK2 longer than my MPC X SE, but I connected with the MPC almost immediately. The SP 404, I am still having some reluctance using it instead of my MPC. I have used many hardware samplers. The Polyend Tracker Mini, its easy fun and immediate, but I use it mostly for ideas and field recording augmentation. Chompy, Hella fun. easy and does something different than any other sampler. I have a Teenage Engineering KO 2 coming, if Fed EX can get their act together and deliver it, because its already 3 days late now which is ridiculous. Nothing so far replaces what I love about the MPC. I do like how the SP 404 sounds. And I love the effects and I love using it with the MPC, it just doesn't replace my MPC even for an hour of work. Maybe I'll take a day and just devote it to the SP 404 MK2 and feel different.
@vinylselektaz64754 ай бұрын
I'm surprised you didnt mention the roll function. It sucks. It's always off beat
@billB1014 ай бұрын
It's literally backwards.
@SonicVibe4 ай бұрын
The roll function I wish was ratchet mode
@joshualane17164 ай бұрын
You can’t say “let’s just jump right into it” two minutes in after two ads.
@holden47644 ай бұрын
The skip function on KZbin is a thing I’d investigate. It will help you to no end
@joshualane17164 ай бұрын
@@holden4764I’m talking about his frontloading his video with multiple embedded ads (Zzounds and Analog) not aligning with his scriptwriting.
@willybobo88464 ай бұрын
you can look at the sample as tracks and can separate sounds into there own patterns like tracks... but ya i agree with all that ... i didn't know you can't save song mode that just seems like they released the device still in beta, which could be good to get the publics feedback.... the fx routing can be annoying, should be able to at least just print fx to pad or pattern without having to resample... just EQ or filter per pad would help.
@CaseUltra4 ай бұрын
How do you separate the samples into their own patterns? Also btw song mode definitely does save w the project
@willybobo88464 ай бұрын
@@CaseUltra that's good it saves... i haven't got that far in the SP yet... when you record a sample into a pattern with sequencer in pattern mode you can copy pattern out in stems by pressing copy and i think remain to choose which pads to copy... cant remember have to pick up the sp.
@willybobo88464 ай бұрын
@@CaseUltra kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHazpqmpdp2XaNk
@willybobo88464 ай бұрын
@@CaseUltra kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWbJfph9a5h_e9U
@CaseUltra4 ай бұрын
@@willybobo8846 cool
@Watani_Fahim4 ай бұрын
We need individual track muting
@MrRobot244 ай бұрын
What would you recommend for an absolute beginner? I am researching and have set on either the 404 or Live 2. I also have an iPad Pro with logic on it. Do you think it would be easier for a beginner to get the 404 and use it with Koala and the iPad. Or better to go for the live 2 and have that as my DAW. Maybe you should consider showing that iPad workflow. I haven’t seen really anyone on YT with a 404, koala, iPad logic workflow. What are the pros and cons versus paying more for a live 2? Just an idea. I appreciate your knowledge and video quality.
@towerrunner46754 ай бұрын
To me, the biggest difference is the song mode. If you need a real (track-based) song mode, get the Live 2. 404 has a pattern sequencer as song mode. Choose what feels more natural to you.
@MrRobot244 ай бұрын
@@towerrunner4675 perfect, thanks. It seems that I should def be getting the Live 2.
@SonicVibe4 ай бұрын
Circuit tracks or rhythm is a great beginner device
@aldogo954 ай бұрын
What is song mode?
@supernatural8024 ай бұрын
Fx per pad is a must. like there is no good reason not to have that feature.
@billB1014 ай бұрын
Filter and EQ per pad too.
@gadgetboy20004 ай бұрын
That’s not really the point with the SP… apply effects and then resample is the way to do it. Remember it’s not daw in a box.
@alchemistrpm824 ай бұрын
Nobody should be cooking with MP3s dog
@0072gldnfngr4 ай бұрын
7:04 well. Record it into your computer and the MPC software with STEMS as a work around! 😂😂💀💀💀 jkjk I promise I’m not one of those ppl. I just had to!!!!! 😂😂
@1234DLTS4 ай бұрын
Agreed
@EdwardJanuska2 ай бұрын
The SP404 has too many weird key combinations to get a task done. No you are not tripping
@mgd91514 ай бұрын
I have one and it's cool for an effects unit and effects sampler to compliment other gear. Standalone it is just ok. Not enough outputs, bus system is wack, Poor menu system, bad midi implementation, none of these things makes it unusable just pretty limiting. I only use it for sampling away from my studio and then transferring them to my MPC once back at the lab. The whole workflow on this unit is destructive and poorly thought out.
@whistletom4 ай бұрын
It's actually the destructive workflow that I love about it. The problem with a lot of music software and hardware is that it is permanently open ended. Nothing is ever finished. An SP404 is a bit like using tape. It forces you to commit to your decisions. A different headspace and a different workflow. But it is what it is.
@mgd91514 ай бұрын
@@whistletom I don't agree. Things are done when the artist says plus, destructive is ok when you don't have clients that pay more than $10 thousand a song. The unit is just cool and not much beyond that. I get who it's marketed to but there is a definite difference between hobbyist and pro. A better design and functionality and this box would be a hit, beyond what it is today.
@ayo23154 ай бұрын
I feel like a MK 3 is on the way soon 👀
@__cal294 ай бұрын
What would they even add to a mk3? Only thing I would want is an internal mic again. Other than that, it’s perfect as is.
@__cal294 ай бұрын
Also accepting any sample rate / bit depth for samples would be great too - I get sick of batch converting samples before putting on the sd
@RoneySmithseedoflife4 ай бұрын
I believe that virtually all of your dislikes will appear in future updates because none of them appear impossible. It is both odd and a no brainer how much Roland’s OS keeps the Fantom and other gear such as the MC-707 as close siblings but not Siamese twins when they could be lol 😂😂😂