there are just so many microphones though… are you looking to record a specific sound, specific size, just works…
I’ve got an ancient AKG D 880 that works great.
I have tried a few of the super small microphones that you’d use on a GoPro or similar and haven’t gotten any to work yet… some day I’ll find something with the right specs/wiring that is low profile to plug into the front 
any dynamic microphone would be ok. you just need XLR to TS cable. not TRS cable. my sennheiser MD441 works fine.
I don’t own a MK2 but if you want a bullet proof life time dynamic mic, Shure SM-57 are great. Love mine.
@cariocarj10 Just a thought as it didn’t dawn on me at first.
You could also use a field recorder as a mic (using the line-out) which could double as a stereo recorder (line-in) to capture SP performances as well.
I use a Zoom H1n with my setup. Sometimes I use it on the line in with my MPC to capture acoustic guitar. Works/sounds good and easy enough. Then I go into the H1n from my mixer/MPC and record tracks down to WAV.
Feild recorders can be so versatile in a rig.
This is probably a newbie question or something which just takes practice, but is there anyway to create perfect Loops on the SP?
I’m still in the deep end learning phase but Seamless/Clean Looping is what i am trying to accomplish at this stage.
Thanks in advance for any insight and input 
™
Wonder if they’d ever bring over any of that great Boss looping logic to the SP.
Yeah, buy a Blackbox 
But yeah man if they added even one looper track the new 404 would
Be in my hands already (well maybe)
But the M8 hath won out as I need a handheld travel synth that sounds HQAF
Nah. I’ve got LoopyPro on the iPad, which is pairing nicely with the 404.
Yeah me too, love the iPad but the BB slays it In ease of workflow and it’s much more tactile than you would expect,imo. No more off topics tho!
Ima get me a 404 mark two once they are more available for sure. Y’all are crankin out some bangers
Is being usb audio host impossible for mk2 technically via firmware? it would be nice to have mk2 doing little 5 channel audio mixer function (2 line inputs, 1 inst input, 2 usb input from other machines that have usb audio other than ipad)
Hi echo_opera, check out the release notes on1.14:
https://static.roland.com/manuals/sp-404mk2_reference_v114/eng/20813844.html
Full disclosue, I am yet to use this feature in anger and you do need to know the sample bpm in advance.
Failing that, you can calculate the accurate sample length and then set it using:
"[SHIFT] button + [VALUE] knob (turn) You can use a numerical value to set the position of each point.
Use the [VALUE] knob to select the point to set, and press pads [1]–[10] to input the position (press pad [10] to input a “0”).
To confirm the inputted position, press the [VALUE] knob"
In the latest update there’s a way to stop a recording on the beat, given that you set the right tempo for the recorded sample.
Else, I found that putting an almost perfect loop in the sequencer makes it a perfect loop 
Yes, that’s the name of the feature. Note that you have to press the button after the last beat you want included in the loop, not before (took me a few attempts to get it)
If using the sequencer make sure loop button is disabled on the pad as well. At least that helps with the SX.
Indeed, otherwise each time the sequence triggers the sample it toggles playback of the loop on and off, just like pressing the pad for the looped sample. With sample unlooped, it just triggers the sample each time.
Awesome…I did notice this button blinking the last time I sampled something…but didn’t realize I needed to match the BPM of the incoming sample…
Thanks for the clarity!
First test looks super promising!!
The new feature makes it easier, what I still do though (because somehow the SNAP END function just is not working right for me :)) is I play my bars and then add one more hit on the 1 of the next (superfluous) bar. I then truncate the end exactly on that hit. it’s not perfect perfect, but it’s sp404 perfect (I think it’s called “human feel” 
)
Is it possible to pan incoming external audio with the SP 404 MK2? or in general pan sounds assigned to each pad?
When looking at input settings (which you get to by holding SHIFT + EXT SOURCE) You can control the “level” with CTRL 3. But if you hold down SHIFT, you’ll see “level” changes to “pan”.
EDIT: forgot about individual pads. Do the same as above, only from the PITCH/SPEED menu (which you get to by pressing the pitch/speed button 
)
Hey, sorry if this has been answered already but is there direct monitoring of the inputs so you can use it as a mixer?
As others have said, lots of flavors of dynamic mics out there, so lots of good choices. That said, if you don’t want to do tons of research, I’d say if you are mainly planning on mic’ing instruments, I’d go with an SM57. If you plan to do more with vocals the SM58 would be my choice. Look for used ones, I got a pair (SM57 and SM58) for about $100. They sound great with the SP and are pretty much indestructible as well. There are videos online of buses 
being driven over them and they still work (not recommended). 
I also got an XLR to TS cable and it works well. Haven’t tried a TRS cable, but others on here have said it didn’t work.
Also, beware of cheap cables on Amazon. I got a cheap cable on Amazon and it didn’t work. Total pain in the a$$ and complete waste of time. I ended up bringing my mic and SP to the music store and asked to try the cable before I bought. FWIW, the guy at the shop also recommended a TS cable.
I’ve been busy at work and had some sudden life drama, but one of the next experiments I want to do is a short track with all of the instruments mic’ed (guitar, bass, percussion, maybe even synths) to see how it sounds on the SP. It might take me a while, but I’ll post up the results if I actually get around to it (I have a list of SP projects I want to try).