The NEW WAY I'm using the SP404-MK2 for beat making! 🥁

[@derived-doom]

Thanks for the insight! Since I've my MKII only for less a week, I am easy to influence :-)

[@spvidz]

Huge thanks for the donation. Much appreciated! I hope my videos are helping you get to grips with it 🙌

[@TheRealAntonHydenick]

This is legit why I got it, to get ahead on beat making. I grab stuff from splice and chop it up or etc. I think using one shots and chops and using it to get ahead, is the best idea

[@remyvegamedia]

Another thing, which I learned from Low Heat Beats, is running the sound in/out of the SP as the interface and you can do all of your performance FX recorded onto a track in Ableton in sync with the beat. This way you can edit in and out segments of performance and even get different takes.

[@billiedoesbeats]

Such a good idea.

[@spvidz]

Someone else has also mentioned that. I definitely need to incorporate that into my workflow then everything is together inside Ableton. Thanks 🙏

[@velanche]

Good to see this. It would be awesome if toy could do an expanded workflow video to show the process between the SP and Ableton. Might be a big ask, but seeing the process could really be both educational and inspiring. Hope you’ll consider it. Many the!

[@Epicfuzz]

You track out your beats to Ableton essentially

[@spvidz]

Yes apologies! I forgot to put the text-over on my video, but I will be doing a separate video about the Ableton part of the workflow. It will be long enough for its own video I think. I will use one of the examples I was playing around with here 👍

[@OKTPZ]

I’ve literally just figured this workflow is best for my own beatmaking too - except using Logic instead. I was a bit hesitant because it felt like I wasn’t gonna be using the MK2 to its full potential, but you’ve assured me that it’s not about using all the bells and whistles, just using the tool the way that helps you be creative and put the “flow” in workflow, so, big up! Think this will become the standard method of creating, also leaves more space to improvise for live shows, win win

[@spvidz]

Yeah thats exactly it. You gotta find the flow that makes you feel 'unlocked' and not being hindered in any way! The SP is capable of making full beats but it does become a workflow killer when you're trying to arrange I think. Its never been its strongest point

[@OKTPZ]

@@spvidz definitely, appreciate your insights, i’m relatively new to the SP community - MK2 was my first SP, so your videos have been super helpful for learning my way around it. I’m definitely gonna be using this workflow as the standard, but i’m literally just coming from a Jonwayne video about his workflow, his knowledge and ability in making beats on an Octatrack is nuts, and kind of contradicting my own thoughts around my own workflow. I guess it’s good to find the path of least resistance, but also keep exploring and experimenting with other workflows for different results

[@nusbeatz]

You should try play the full beat in the ableton, and output to 404, then 404 input to the another track in ableton. You don’t need export the wav file to SD card

[@spvidz]

Good thinking. I can then keep that final waveform in a track in the Ableton project and its all neat and together. I'll give that a try at some point 🙏

[@nusbeatz]

@@spvidz make sure open the loop feature in the ableton for your original full beat audio track, and jam it on the 404 over and over again. You will have so many different version , ,in the end you can choice any different peace of your record thing and merge them together

[@nicolassullivan7746]

Since i got the 404mk2 i been bit by the elektron bug. And this is exactly how i plan to use those boxes with the 404. Can't wait to hear the new music

[@nickk2727]

I have been recording drums with the SP via external MIDI into the DAW. I get the MIDI data in the DAW and also an audio recording of the performance at the same time.

[@spvidz]

Dope!

[@joesirco]

I love the Ableton/404 workflow. I’ve been composing loops with Roland cloud in Ableton, then importing to the 404 for performance/arrangement. Then recording final mix back into Ableton.

[@spvidz]

Nice 👌

[@sonusk]

With ableton you could export separate full drum and melody stems and padlink them so you can use bus FX on different parts with your performance!

[@spvidz]

Dope idea 🙏

[@TheRealAntonHydenick]

Also, so I run my maschine mk3, into the 404 mk2 into ableton. Open both software's and route my audio through the 404. So, I'm always getting it's color. Solo each track to print into ableton to control my mix/arrangement

[@NelGabriel]

that idea around 6' is FIRE !

[@spvidz]

🙏 I'll definitely be making these ideas into full beats at some point

[@MS-1]

I hear ya. Yeah I use it as a tool for quick chopping, resampling, as an effector, and midi controller for vsts or gear. (It`s great for augmenting an already existing hybrid workflow with other samplers and, a Daw).

[@IDONTPLAYENT]

I went through this faze…. And I came to realize that I could do all of this faster and easier in Ableton and a midi controller…. It felt like I was forcing the sp in my workflow so I sold it but now I kinda miss the ease of performing fx while recording to Ableton…so now I’m thinking about buying another one lol

[@spvidz]

The fx are great for performance and for spicing up your samples too 🙌

[@Mantrackaa]

Seems like the natural progression for this channel. You're gonna kill it

[@spvidz]

Thanks for the support!

[@TapeGone]

Great video, thanks a lot! I'm having similar issues with making full beats on SP404mk2, bought it few months ago for "producing music in the forest", but now I see how utopian the idea is, so returned to home studio Ableton workflow. I also think there's nothing bad in pattern sequencer if there's no expectation from it being capable to make full track. So using it just as a sketching tool is nice, especially TR-REC which I found pretty good for constructing drum loops.

[@essp404]

yeah, i think the sp is an amazing tool for sound design, it has really helped me to get more out of my samples and really make them my own... the other thing that im finding amazing is using the signal chain for my bass guitar!

[@spvidz]

Very cool man. There are so many practical ways this box can be used in a workflow, just maybe not actually making full beats lol. I'm really looking forward to using it with this fresh perspective 👍

[@rocknitty8963]

That’s dope. I pretty much do the same thing with my sp. I got my sp set up with my mpc one and Logic Pro

[@rodrigozevallos2758]

This channel is pure gold

[@spvidz]

🙌🙌🙌

[@designatedpiledriver8216]

There’s another way. I’ve been doing for years on SPs. I go midi out from my computer to midi in on the sp. then I use Ableton or logic (doesn’t matter which DAW) to trigger my sounds and make my beat. Basically using it like an external sampler..... like an S950 of something like that

[@spvidz]

I've had a few people mention that in the past. Its definitely something I'd be keen to try in the future!

[@designatedpiledriver8216]

@@spvidz cool! You can even do this using the mpc to do the same job the daw would do in this scenario

[@Eight-Bit-Hustler]

Nice! Glad to see you still putting it to use! These little boxes really do add some nice character to work! I been using mine similarly to this as well. (Just like you were saying as a general “sketch pad”) it’s the perfect tool for crafting and resampling your own drums and ideas and Live FX processor/ performance tool. ❤

[@spvidz]

💯 🙌

[@elchino356]

Love the content! I can tell you put a lot of work in production.

[@spvidz]

Much appreciated. Its been a long process of small improvements along the way!

[@Zen_Mox]

I pulled my studio apart recently and ended using the SX in totally different ways, FX processing and recording because I was too lazy to plug the interface back in..

[@spvidz]

laziest way is sometimes best 😁👍

[@skibaa1]

for exporting samples from sp-404mk2 to Ableton the easiest way should be usin SP-404mkII application by Roland. Every time you export a sample from a pad, you just drag it in GUI and it is copied to a pre-defined folder on your PC (or Mac). So you can add this folder as a User folder in Live and it will be immediately available in exactly the same form as it exists inside SP404

[@spvidz]

Nice I'll look into that. Thanks!

[@adammiller5004]

Been using all sps the same way. 👍

[@spvidz]

Let’s go 🙌

[@oscillated139]

Interesting new workflow. Will try something similar with the Force if I can.

[@spvidz]

Nice 👍

[@djbash914]

Nice workflow man!

[@lmcmulle]

very excited to start unpacking the Hybrid workflow -- there will be a lot of value in the space you're exploring. For example, I had a challenge just getting samples of the 404 to the Akai Force since they're not stored in a format the force recognizes, So I have to sample the sampler instead. which is a PIA... these kinds of little nit-picky integration issues are what frustrate a lot of people, And as you explore this new workflow uncovering and solving these little issues will be hugely valuable.

[@stevepottz111]

That last beat was fire 🔥

[@spvidz]

much appreciated 🙌

[@ketama047]

can you send a link of the video you discuss in the beginning? big fan btw, thanks bro!

[@spvidz]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHnKfnikp5iGjsk

[@musicbyethan]

great video man

[@spvidz]

Thanks bro! 🙌

[@edwardlee8273]

Would love to see you’re ableton workflow bro. You’re beats go hard so be cool to see your usual approach in Ableton.

[@spvidz]

I'll definitely cover that side of the process soon yeah, forgot to mention it in this video. Gonna take an idea I've got sketched on my SP and do all the arrangement side on Ableton

[@realjravage]

Bruh this track is super dope I dig it

[@spvidz]

Much appreciate man! Thanks 🙌

[@kerwinfernandes9583]

This is a super Idea. I will use the Koala Sampler on my Android instead of SP in this chain. I also use Bitwig instead of Ableton. Thank you for the inspiration. I loved the last video as well. God bless you on this new turn in your life.

[@spvidz]

Forgot about Koala in this video yup! That can 100% work in the same way and I'll try that at some point, thanks! 🙌

[@kerwinfernandes9583]

@@spvidz awesome 😁❤️

[@danobravo1]

IMO Koala would actually work far better in this type of scenario because of its export options and easy, wireless transfer of files….Considering the price gap between koala and everything else, it’s kind of funny that koala does many things better.

[@snoooozer]

SPVIDZ 2.0 is live!

[@spvidz]

Lets gooo! 🚀

[@tommy2nes]

I think it depends if you want to go into this heavily produced hiphop route with Ableton or you just want stripped back beats. The former is flashier and make you feel good about yourself cos you're clever and may be more lucrative but im trying to avoid that that's why I like the way the sp404 stops me getting caught up in all the processing side and concentrate on what makes a beat really good, not just dazzling with the sound quality

[@dracul74]

Imo what you nailed is that you have to be happy with making beats (however you do it). I spent several years dawless and now have been hybrid for over 1 year. Imo no right process for everyone.

[@spvidz]

The thing with the SP/Ableton combo though is you can literally do any style you want. You can still make stripped back beats but it will help with those little arrangement parts that are time consuming on the SP like pauses etc. You're right too, you can go mad with production and make very produced sounding music. its all about how someone wants to work with the tools. For me I just want to be able to have a bit more flexibility and space to expand ideas and get them down as full beats. Thats the part of the SP workflow I don't like so I'll be much happier using Ableton for that.

[@bloopbleepnothinghere]

Pretty much how I use the SP, it's a fantastic sketchbook and quick jam stress reliever.

[@spvidz]

💯i think about it in a completely different way now

[@w-h-y-]

I would probably export the finished beat in 3-4 stems and then link the pads to give more flexibility to effects since there are two busses

[@spvidz]

Sounds like that would be fun, cheers! 🙌

[@markr6070]

Sick bro

[@IamUnshore]

I absolutely need to have the track at 8:30! My god does it slap! Is it uploaded anywhere????

[@spvidz]

Appreciate it! I'm working on quite a few beats at the moment and hope to do a release sometime soon. Gonna take a little time though. Hopefully it will be online one day 😂

[@IamUnshore]

@@spvidzstill desperately waiting 😂🔥

[@Sumsayy]

these slap man im so excited to see more i hope you can show me ableton a little because i am also held back by the work flow of the 404 i can never put beats together and that makes me sad, hopefully i can adapt to this because i used to use logic pro but i found it difficult im going to take a look at ableton and see if i can work like this thanks again man, you legend

[@nilespeshay1734]

Garage Band and FL are also options...

[@spvidz]

100% man. I will be doing the Ableton part as its own video. I forgot to mention that in this video. I will take one of the ideas I showed here and arrange it into a full beat 👍

[@ghost_endy]

sample at 6:13 ? please🙏🏾

[@grillmeisterflash]

What a exciting time to be alive, the pentagon confirmed re engineered flying saucers and SPVIDZ is going 2.0 :)

[@spvidz]

😂🛸 lets gooo!

[@dracul74]

Cool stuff. I've used a similar workflow off and on for a bit. It's good. I will say that I own many samplers and drum machines and I do think there is still plenty of space to use them standalone and in the daw. The last few months my Digitak has made most of my drum tracks. It can do a lot more... but for me it excels at a speedy way to make sampled drum tracks (which I still love doing) that sound good with variation both quantized and unquantized. Sure you can do it in the Daw, but for me it produces great results. Not cheap tho... lol

[@spvidz]

Sounds like a fun workflow! I've tinkered with so many samplers now though I'm reluctant to invest in any more. I think moving forward I would be more inclined to invest in some studio gear that complements my workflows, like outboard compressors, rack FX etc. I 100% do not need any more samplers lol

[@dracul74]

@@spvidz i hear ya… but imo the Digitakt has micro timing (ability to move notes off grid), trigger probability and advanced sequencing. These features allow me to do things other samplers just can’t (I own Mpc, sp, mc, etc). Anyway, to each their own. Enjoy!

[@marshallh8594]

I work similarly, logic pro into the mk2. I'll find a good synth sound, add some mfx and record chords to the mk2. Lots of fun

[@spvidz]

Nice!

[@jamisondonald384]

Good job, mate! Here's an idea... When you want to do videos where you're processing the audio with something that isn't an SP, you could make it part of a series called "off brand adventures"

[@spvidz]

haha nice I'll definitely keep that idea on the back-burner! Thanks man!

[@baltimega]

Do you plan to use the mkii as a midi controller in ableton

[@spvidz]

I do yes and already have been! Its nice having the feel of the SP but the power of ableton. For me it was just plug-n-play 👍

[@BeatsAndGuitars]

That was Bangin!

[@spvidz]

🙏

[@borkkorb]

that akira skin is sick

[@spvidz]

Cheers man! Its available in my store if you are interested. spvidz.com 🙌

[@HalfBakedBeats]

Not sure if I missed it, but I'm still curious why not record (live record or step sequencer or live record + quantize/adjust) into a pattern on the SP404? Is there a specific pain point that's drawing you to ableton? Are there some cases where you would record straight on the SP and not in Ableton? Best. (Just some things that frustrate me about using the SP404Mk2 step sequencer coming from using the Digitakt and the MC101's sequencers: 1. Inability to copy specific steps. 2. Inability to adjust recorded step values.)

[@spvidz]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean but i'll try and answer. I find the whole pattern area of the SP very difficult for making full beats with, completely personal, but I've tried for a long long time now and I've never got results I've been happy with. I find the workflow cumbersome and not very enjoyable. I feel much more at home with Ableton for arranging. its faster, easier and allows for the nice finishing tweaks/touches which can be very time consuming on the SP. So yeah thats why I have decided to finally go down this route for all my beats now. I hope thats the answer you were looking for! 👍

[@Epicfuzz]

So the way you are using is the main way a lot of people use it. As an expensive fx box. The SP is way more than an FX box and a pretty formidable machine on its own. You are basically going from a dawless setup to a Daw set up. Of course a Daw setup will open up more doors than going dawless so it’s good you switched over.

[@steveeyers5963]

See what you did there.... A DAW setup will open more doors 😂

[@dracul74]

I think what's cool about the SP is that today it can be one thing (your groovebox) and tomorrow another (your daw plugin). I've used it many ways and that's why I keep it.

[@spvidz]

Essentially yes, but I still want my hardware to be an integral part of the workflow instead of relying on plugins etc. I want that side of it to be done with the SPs and the other lofi samplers I own. Its a hybrid-type workflow that a lot of people seem to already be doing here which has been interesting to see. I agree that the SP is capable of more but for me the beat arrangement side of things isn't fun at all and I'm glad to be now doing that in Ableton. The SPs will still be awesome for sketching ideas, adding FX, chopping, resampling and then performance too!

[@mattlumpkins6130]

I just got my sp.. I can make patterns and resample but the hardest part is going from song mode to pattern mode. Also switching from recording ext audio and internal audio is a doozy. In fact I don't even know how to pause. I saw you press shift but that's all. How do you pause? Anyone mind letting me know? I'll keep reading the manual.

[@Tapepusher]

I plan running a stereo synth into the rear inputs, can I also put another mono signal into the front input and have all three run through it? (going through all the fx and such)

[@yodabe882]

big ups for repping lost art

[@spvidz]

Love Liverpool and Lost Art. I was there yesterday!

[@wiggesobk]

Nice workflow. Do you export the wav file again to the computer after you've added the fx to master it or is it already the mastered version?

[@spvidz]

I do yeah but I've read a few comments hear and moving forward, instead of doing that I'll probably go straight back into an empty track in Ableton instead. It saves time and then I've got all the parts of the project together in one place too.

[@BIGPUN4EVER]

Question... is it possible to resample a pad to the same pad? For example, if i apply some FX to PAD 1 sample, can i resample it and overwrite the new recording onto the same pad?

[@spvidz]

No you cant do that. I'd like to see it in an update at some point though!

[@BIGPUN4EVER]

@@spvidz aww ok, yeah they need to add that. If i have all 16 pads full, it would be nice to resample without having to switch banks for an empty pad

[@I.O.M.]

Don't sleep on the resample function. That is half the fun!

[@designatedpiledriver8216]

He’s done it to death bro

[@spvidz]

100%, thats one of the best parts of the SP and I'll be doing that alot with my samples. Like I briefly mentioned here too I will do some resampled based beat making videos soon. Thats not how I would work but I think it would be interesting to show people how that workflow can be done with the SP 👍

[@lX-NDR]

I use my sp just as a effectunit.

[@ishmaelhart]

DOPE😎

[@tho_m_a_.s._]

i got a request for you, i just got my first sp, did some beats yesterday and this machine is crazy. I saw your video about resampling, because i really love the fact that we can keep the effect on all our pattern and make the full song with them, but i got a problem. When i do all the steps correctly, when it comes to changes to the next pattern, all my mfx goes off. So i need to resample without mfx, and then resample my resample pattern with mfx. Maybe i do something wrong on the first resampling method ? if you could help me i'll be grateful to you aha, because resample the resample is kinda annoying xd thanks for all the good videos on this bad boy

[@thoughtformzmedia2024]

What do you think of using the plugin? To me it has too much latency.

[@MaxSonicUA]

Comment of support 👍

[@spvidz]

🙌

[@VJFranzK]

(But - Ableton makes repitching, FX, and etc. so easy, as well as "non-destructive"!)

[@Smith.TheKid]

“just a notepad” “Difficulty arranging full beats in box” Proceeds to make multiple short beats better than anything sitting on bank a-j on my sp

[@spvidz]

lol aww man. TBH that's as far as I enjoy taking it with the SP now. To actually get the idea down and final I need something more powerful. Keep making beats, you'll get there 🙏

[@haystacksniperr]

It’s almost taboo to say that the sp404 is absolute shit at making full songs 😂 ppl are in denial that it’s just a sample box

[@originstories]

I ended up getting an MPC One for actually sequencing, because the SP is capable but tedious and I don't have the patience anymore

[@skibiditoiletbrainrot_]

Imo, u can make full songs on it. The one hard part might be the vocals, but for the beat it’s perfect

[@skibiditoiletbrainrot_]

But I do agree that finishing a beat can sometimes be a pain in the ass, but for me, sometimes doing it in a DAW was a pain in the ass

[@haystacksniperr]

@@skibiditoiletbrainrot_ I’m using maschine to record samples into from sp and making beats in there and tracking them out using maschine as a vst in ableton and it just unlocks so much more from the sp

[@jamesjr2550]

​@originstories that's becausebthe sp don't use midi it's a phrase sampler the mpc use midi

[@thundersnow819]

Record that stuff you are happy with, into Abe

[@spvidz]

100%. Can't wait to start laying down the ideas I showed in these videos!

[@yatitan1866]

this workflow can't justify buying the device. I just got mine and can't help but think going on the computer. I think this thing makes me feel like im doing more than im actually doing.. like yeah sometimes I throw some drums over a loop...but the sp takes a lil to get it done. soooo I feel better about myself?? im not sure but I was sure I got into this game to get away from the computer.