Re: P-6, I don’t have small hands by any means and I find it super easy to work with in a production sense. I.e., building a beat, maybe playing in some live granular sampler stuff, getting FX and filtering set up nicely, etc etc. However, I would absolutely not use it in a live situation unless it was basically a press play and occasionally change patterns scenario (or even for occasional one shots in a band setting). The knobs are a bit too small for live filter changes, sudden FX bursts, etc. And it is a bit too menu divey (with no screen either) for live use IMO. So it depends how you want to use it essentially. As a dirt cheap box of inspiration with awesome FX and a much easier sequencer than the 404, it’s great. USB-C to computer is a bonus.
Perfect, since I’m not really keen on the live performance part of music (on my end, props to those who can and do enjoy it though).
For what may be worth, I had a P-6 and gave it to a friend. I recently bought an SP-404 and I will probably return it - couldn’t get anything going in the first half hour, whereas I could do just that on the KO-II with no hassle. The KO has problems with memory and voice stealing though, but as a complementary sampler it is difficult to beat just for the immediacy.
I’ll also consider this but it in a way kinda sucks I don’t have a DT2 if I wanted a proper DAWless setup.
You gave up on the 404 after 30 mins? It’s such a deep and useful sampler. It took me a couple of hours over some days to understand it, but now I can’t imagine not having it.
It took my 7 days and 2 bottles of whiskey to get something going when I first got my SPmk2. Agreed, indispensable and worth the pain.
Yes I don’t have a lot of patience these days, and I do probably have too much gear anyway, and I could see another Roland nightmare coming. The thing is I could sample and arrange something pretty quickly with the KO-II.
To be fair if the KO didn’t have the 20 second sample limit I’d have been very interested myself, that’s something I’d run afoul of due to how I use samples - I don’t agree that it’s form over function, they just care about form!
I’ve watched a number of SP videos now and I think it’s less that it’s complicated and more that it’s quite unusual. Feels similar to the OT - they’re just not immediately intuitive.
The first couple of tracks you make with it will likely be a struggle, but after that it’s mostly downhill. I do remember it totally stressing me out for a track or two.
If it were me, I would probably make my life simple for the first track or two by sampling in a few a things that I know the BPM for, so I could just focus on the basics of arranging, how the effects buses work, resampling with effects, etc.
I recommend learning sample by measure as soon as possible. I love that feature. Also, the looper is incredibly fun and useful.
Once you can do that stuff, everything else is pretty much a bonus.
I know it’s a classic but I think it’s good to repost it from time to time, just to remember what a master can do with the sp404.
Yes it is totally dependent on your use case, and how your mind works vs how the machine wants you to work. Every machine has its quirks, I just couldn’t see myself enjoying the progress and overcoming limitations on the SP, whereas I could envision buying a second KO to have more memory etc. I can see the potential of the SP as an fx machine, but that’s not what I wanted it for.
There is a very primal reaction when you hit a wall - if you like the device otherwise, for whatever reason, it’s more of a “what a pity” than infuriating. It’s all very personal.
I’m on with it for 3 years and I still can’t get this piece shit going! Maybe I just need more whiskey!
I’m going to try and subvert the process and spend 2 days on it with 7 bottles of whiskey
I like this approach! Either way it’s a win!
Be sure to eat some cheese before you sleep that night!
I’ve only had a quick play with the 404 but it’s a lot more straight forward than people give it credit for!
I watched a couple of getting started youtube vids to make sure I had the basics under my belt and the concepts aren’t that wild.
Sampling into the machine is very straight forward and recording and playing back patterns is also dead simple. No mucking about with ‘saving’ samples, managing them, loading them to a ‘pool’ and all of that. In many ways it’s a lot more straight forward than an OT or an MPC - and makes me realise that the arranger on a modern MPC is both a blessing and a curse.
I appreciate there is a lot to dig into and I’m only at the surface level - but so far so good!
Yeah dude! Maybe I’m just a fanboy but I really can’t understand how people have such a hard time with it! On the surface it’s the easiest sampler going!
Glad you’re digging it and look forward to hearing what you do with it!
I have the KO 2, and the SP 404 mk2, digitakt 2, OP-1 Field, a bunch of other boxes and synths, and I’ll say that the KO 2 is much more intuitive and satisfying than the SP 404 Mk2. I also have an MPC One+, but find it difficult. I just got my digi 2 a few weeks ago, and it’s incredible, but I’d def go w any EP series over the SP 404…. Roland makes things as difficult as possible, while TE keeps it pretty straightforward. KO 2 now has song mode, resampling, side chaining in the new update. No brainer for me. The only con i have w KO 2, is that the volume isn’t loud enough w/o headphones. It gets hard to overdub, bc the volume gets low after yr initial loop. KO 2 all the way!!! Def pickup a digitakt 2 when you have the money to get ones you will not be disappointed.
what do you mean by this? i havent noticed any volume changes on mine
I suspect that this person is referring to the built-in speaker.