The SP-404MKII is Now a Synth Too! (SP-404MKII 4.04 Firmware Update)

[@Androsynth75]

Roland has really stepped up their update game. All of my Roland devices are drastically more capable than when I bought them now. I was NOT expecting the 404 to get all this though.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah this was a BIG one haha

[@Zeal808]

Happy 404Day🧡

[@FreeBeat]

Thank you!

[@Dork2099]

Thank you for covering this. The sound generator is the single most exciting 404 update for me since this beauty was released!

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah it's super cool!

[@tuesss]

Interesting. I love synthesisers, but I thought that was the least important part of the update, seeing as it wouldn't let me do anything I couldn't already do using either existing FX or going the easy route and importing some single-cycle waveforms. Is there something I'm missing? I have yet to update my 404 as I'm worried about the crashes, even though I'd love to test that looper (definitely something difficult to achieve before the update, although possible to emulate using delays).

[@FreeBeat]

@@tuesss Nothing you're missing! Just that different people have very different needs and uses :) A VERY important thing to always keep in mind.

[@loubang100]

Great video. Using the skip back function for resampling and sound design is genius

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much! I agree, super cool way to work.

[@ReligionAndMaterialismDebunked]

Very cool that the 404 update, with huge features, is on 04/04, and called v40.4.

[@FreeBeat]

Yup!

[@triplenator]

Happy 404 day!

[@FreeBeat]

Thank you!

[@bloopbleepnothinghere]

My only gripe with this device is all the obscure key combos you have to remember. Muscle memory us crucial, stop using it for a month and it's hard to get back into. Now with even more features, there are many more key combos. Makes my brain hurt approaching my unit now.

[@Hakucho64]

This is what scares me off even looking sideways at buying this, also because I have other gear that I don't know as well as I could.

[@stuartdavid8493]

It’s a shit show.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah the SP-404MKII can do SO much now that I don't even bother trying to memorize all of the shortcuts, just the ones that pertain to how I want to use it. It's not bad that way at all.

[@bloopbleepnothinghere]

@@FreeBeat I think there is something in that. I was heading to update mine to 4.04 and then while I was trying to figure out the pain of finding an SD reader; why am I even upgrading? I don't need a looper, I don't need any of the new functionality. Sometimes you need less, not more. I know some people will find the looper so valuable, but I don't. I bought a Deluge in 2017, and it kept getting more and more features, and I felt like I must use them all. End of the day, I don't need a lot of it. Nothing wrong with having a huge amount of functionality and only using what you gel with. I'm stoked Roland is supporting all this stuff, but I don't need it all, so no point in sweating learning all the things. Still, Roland workflow is some of the most obscure, non intuitive stuff I've ever come across. Even my beloved TR8s is a minefield of weird button combos. It's almost a Roland tradition to force creativity through their weird UX.😅 I love my gear. I feel privileged to have so much of it to have an opinion. Keep on making cool shit everyone! Our tools, as weird and awkward as they are, provide creative outlets that we should feel lucky to have❤️

[@christianwheeler8386]

You learn what you use it’s not bad. But there is a learning curve. My first week I hated it and was going to return it. After a month it was more essential to me than my deluge.

[@Densmode3dp]

This thing is so temping, be a nice upgrade from my Sp-202/Dr-202 setup

[@FreeBeat]

It's definitely a huge update for sure!

[@e-dub808]

Great Video!!! Happy 4😮4 Day…!

[@FreeBeat]

Same to you!

[@guitarfriends2163]

Thank you guy. I think you just showed which are possibilities of this tool. Nothing new in the world, but a cool add on for a sampler, and reamplrer, and resampler...

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much!

[@wiggesobk]

Cool update. I have to try it out.

[@FreeBeat]

Do it!

[@dustyaudio]

This looks like a good set of additions! Im stuck on the 404sx & MPC One but every update the mk2 gets has me thinking…

[@FreeBeat]

What would you use it for that you can't already do? Not trying to talk you out of it, I just want to help avoid GAS when possible lol

[@dustyaudio]

@@FreeBeat would be a sell/trade situation for me. A comparison between the 404/mpc looper would help. But the Koala update is where I’m most interested. I get a lot more done with my ipad than tracking to the desktop these days

[@IsshmanGarcia]

As long as your Sound Design works for YOU, F*** everyone else. One tip though: start with the Super Filter instead of Filter and Drive. The Super Filter let's you carve way more out AND it has an LFO built into it.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much!

[@siniquezu]

Now I'm tempted to get one

[@FreeBeat]

It's pretty sweet!

[@thelefthandofcreation1617]

This is what the people need to see

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much!

[@rexcellencemagee6729]

Thank you FB, I didn’t even know about this! I do know there was a leak the t8 would do small samples, I rarely believe leaks but this one will be extremely useful should it happen. I recently pre-ordered the seqtrack, and now I’m looking forward battles between the two! I do use the Volca Sample 2 and the 8 pad akai MPC Ana host of other things. My main technique was using the Blackbox and I do have plans to get the tangerine. The great thing about sd cards is to complete a sample on one sampler, btw I use a AppStore sampler I forget the name, I’ll let you know when I find it, it’s by far the best I’ve seen! Your lucky! When I say what was doing, this video would have been done! lol,peace!looks like I have a lot to work on with this! I didn’t even know it was on 4.04! I’m still on 2.5!

[@FreeBeat]

Definitely time to update your 404!

[@shuasaladbar]

I navigate the screen by taking a rough cut with my start and end points and zoom in after to zero in the length.

[@FreeBeat]

I should probably do it that way haha

[@maikvanrossum]

Yes and use SHIFT + START or END knobs to zoom instead.

[@joegrant413]

Love your vids! Speaking as a GAS musician, the only platforms I haven't tried that my YT influencers seem authentically attached to are the Elekton stuff and the SP-404. I have MPC, DAWS, OP-1, RD-9, and other things that can do what the 404 does. So I'm hoping you can enlighten me on why the SP404 is worth trying.

[@user-rv8wb1nl1b]

if you have any newer mpc , then you are set , unless GAS kicks in . . . . . In fact the mpc's wipe the floor with this .

[@joegrant413]

Thx. My first and only MPC has been the Key 61. @@user-rv8wb1nl1b

[@BDKabrini]

i have similar stuff ... Elektron etc. .... The Sp404 MAY not be necessary since you have ALL that , but I as well as many others use to end the chain bcus of the EFXs and sampling. But mainly EFX for me. I pair my Syntakt wit it and ish comes out nice. I think Nowaday its almost stand alone. BUT really good with particular EXT gear like TR8s or a Jun8a ... It's like Cheese on White Rice. You'd be surprise how much it changes things

[@FreeBeat]

It all comes down to workflow. If you like the MPC workflow, then the Key61 is probably about as good of a device as you can get haha. If you're looking to try a different workflow then for sure give it a shot, but between all of your gear you can do everything that the 404mkII can.

[@user-rv8wb1nl1b]

@@FreeBeat Nah , it is not just workflow , it is also controls , the UI , the power , the options and specifications , . . . .oh and the size .

[@DavidDeLuge]

Great video. I need to get mine updated. What are your thought on the Smpltrek vs the SP404MKII?

[@FreeBeat]

Very different devices for sure, probably too different to compare actually. SmplTrek is the most directly "catered to songwriters" device on the market IMO. The 404mkII is very powerful, but if you're after that specific song structure type workflow the SmplTrek is the answer.

[@Stevali1966]

This or the sampltrek?

[@FreeBeat]

Way too different to pick haha.

[@acaposotta]

Not actually. No one is answering me on a point: frequency changes are not saved. 😢 they just follow the pitch so knob use is just for preview 😢

[@FreeBeat]

You can trigger them with the sub pad

[@acaposotta]

@@FreeBeat yes but the exact tone created is not held. :(

[@Synthokatm]

Same here

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

Can it do keygroups to play samples across a keyboard or just one samples across a limited range

[@FreeBeat]

you can't specifically do keygroups but I've just set up some manually multisampled "patches" :)

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

@@FreeBeat i wonder why they haven’t added that feature

[@cutdafukup]

If we get stems next it's a wrap. It's kind of already a wrap though

[@simonstrash]

what do you mean by stems? i think we did get it in this update

[@Retainedxkept]

You can get stems from koala

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah stems would be insane haha

[@kisho2679]

there are alredy lots of synths available. DJs need live looper with tactile features for creative improvisations.

[@FreeBeat]

Not everyone who uses the 404MKII is a DJ ;)

[@achook9474]

does anyone know if you can change the portamento speed so its slower to be able to make bass glides and west coast wire sounds? i mean whats the point of having portamento if its instant?

[@FreeBeat]

Not sure, sorry!

[@littlehopeleft]

Had it for a while and altough I do miss the pitch feature and effects, I do not miss the feel of the pads, the shortcuts and the size of it. I am a minimalist guy and the Smpltrek sits with me much better for the moment. Still, cool vid.

[@FreeBeat]

Glad you're liking the SmplTrek!

[@robinr22]

Is it actually just playing back samples of single cycles waveforms? Rather than actually synthesising?

[@FreeBeat]

I'm honestly not sure, but I know it's super convenient lol

[@robinr22]

@@FreeBeat 🙂

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

Can you do keygroups?

[@FreeBeat]

Not directly sadly :(

[@vznquest]

Thanks for the video. Do you know if the sounds are actual waveforms generated by the 404, or just samples?

[@DurtyCardiologist]

I believe it's in the name! "Generator"

[@FreeBeat]

I do believe it's generating them!

[@noisetheorem]

So many cool features…but still two 2 things they left off: setting loop length in bar/beat and saving FX. I don’t get why those things don’t exist here.

[@FreeBeat]

What do you mean by setting loop length in bar/beat?

[@Zeal808]

You can do both of those things actually

[@noisetheorem]

@@Zeal808 ok. Tell me how. How can I save the FX with one bank or project so when I change, they change with it. Give me page numbers in the manual

[@noisetheorem]

@@FreeBeat I have a sound…I want its loop length to be exactly 8 bars. I set the loop to 8 bars.

[@FreeBeat]

@@noisetheorem That was added in for this update!

[@derykmoates377]

Could u make a patch that actually sounds good please??? Not sure what that junk was supposed to be lol

[@FreeBeat]

This was just impromptu in a live stream, sorry it wasn't up to your standards lol

[@stuartdavid8493]

Why? If I want a synth, I’d get a synth.

[@FreeBeat]

Nice lol

[@rodneymcintyre8544]

A terrible video regarding this update. He hasn’t learned how to use it so his demonstration/explanation is unhelpful at best. Many of his videos are like this. 1/5 stars for this clown.

[@FreeBeat]

VERY early into the livestream I mention that the sound generator was the only feature I'd gotten to spend any time with, and even that was limited. This was never intended to be a tutorial or anything. 1/5 for your comment lol.

[@rodneymcintyre8544]

@@FreeBeat then why are you making a tutorial about an upgrade you don’t know anything about? 1/5 stars stands.

[@FreeBeat]

@@rodneymcintyre8544 I literally just said that my stream was never intended to be a tutorial lol. My weekly streams are all casual hangouts. Chill.

[@rodneymcintyre8544]

@@FreeBeat you’re a joke. You should chill and stop posting this nonsense.

[@zacharywylie1813]

@@rodneymcintyre8544 rodneymcintyre8544