So I wish I could actually finish and post youtube videos (I lack motivation because I’d rather make music). BUT I did a not yet edited video about 2 years ago compairing the sp404og(my first sampler) to the KP3 (my favorite sampler). It covers alot of my thoughts. But in a nut shell as a dj turned producer(the market these machines target) the KP3 was the better tool for me!
I sold my Deluge after a few years and got the sp404 mk2. Have been dedicated to it as my center piece since shortly after its release. The mk2 is a awsom tool box, but I’m having the same workflow/learning curve problems I had with Deluge! I’m not claiming to be an incredible producer, but I have been at this for about 10 years and 404mk2 and most Roland gear is a pain to use and not fun. I am a big korg fan boy, because to this day 90% of korg gear is fun, fast, and simple to get started with.
Videos talking about this work flow and korg fandom to come soon on https://youtube.com/@MyLittleSynths?si=XbydwU3rcxLOTCvX
As I said I have been pushing and working to make my music using the 404mk2 for some time now, I don’t want to give up, but if you offered me the trade for this new kaoss pad id take it with out thinking about it.
But there’s my biggest problem… when I saw the extensive list of features of Roland sp404mk2 I expected a price tag closer to $999, so it was a no brainer at $499.
The kaoss pad and Korg in general has always been budget friendly, so at $999, I’m shocked.
I will say the lesson learned from my time with the 404mk2:
Id rather have fewer high quality, well thought out, and implemented features over a long list of hard to use stuff.
And the hardware! Sp404mk2 should have had way more knobs and buttons, the sub menus and button combinations drive me nuts. Touch screen should solve this.
I admire the Korg legacy, and am deeply attached to my OpSix. But wow, it seems like they’ve had far more misses than hits lately, and this seems to continue the trend. No EQ on the pads, RCA connections, a micro USB connection and usb C at the same time, FX that don’t sound particularly great. My expectations were low and it’s still disappointing. Not every product needs to appeal to me or suit my needs, but this just doesn’t seem like a thousand-dollar device to me. I really feel for the engineers and designers at Korg - they obviously have some talented people working for them and their concepts are usually interesting. but the execution frequently seems to be lacking. It can’t feel good to continuously release products that aren’t received well.
Maybe the DJ market will be more amenable to this? I don’t know that space well enough to even begin to speculate.
SP excepts audio and midi from usb c so an iPhone 15 or iPad is a simple but super expansive touchscreen solution. Sample, midi/audio fx, mastering apps, worldclass synths and sound modules you name it. Even a Korg Kaoss app lol.
I have an MpC Live 2 and I hate the touchscreen tbh. So I prefer my maschine or BM3 on iPad for most things I would use it for. Smudgy and responsiveness is laughable compared to iPad/iphone. Much prefer more knobs than touchscreen. So I use a footswitch, MF Twister and just ordered an Intech controller mapped to relevant controls for SP.
looks cool! after my brief half attentive consumption of the loopop video, it seems like a potential neat middle ground between a 404 and an MPC. i’d be interested if it was 404 prices but maybe the DJs are the ones making the big bux out here
i think you may be missing a concise workflow. when you get to know the 404 you really dont need to dive in any menus for more than a couple seconds. depends on what you want to accomplish too but thats the way of the 404.
I guess it could work to track jams into and maybe mix the loops a bit. It seems like it would be an uphill struggle to try and make this a main production tool though.
Yeah, that’s how I work on the 404mk2. Play my synths and such into the pads and assemble them like stems. I also rough mix on the mk2! It is alot better then the OG I used in the past, but holding the encoder down and switching samples, then adjusting volume is still not ideal way of mixing. Tip, the volume per bank is nice for mix groups too. When I would compose on the KP3 the mixer page is super low resolution! Not to mention 3 or 4 tracks of the kp3 sucks, but I overdub to make it work.
Nice, I actually have an SP coming in the post so I will give that a try. Hopefully I gel with it but I guess I won’t know until I have spent some time with it. I know it can be a bit divisive in terms of the UI.
Yeah, its an incredible machine. Hope you enjoy it. Its a massive box of tools. It can do so much and be used in many ways.
At $499 ($450 current sale on tuntable lab) and a resale value of about $350 I will probably keep my mk2 no matter what.
