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Game changing update for the 404, incredible job Roland!
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The new stretch algorithms and poly mode on the chromatic mode sound really nice in all the vids. Sometimes chromatic mode can sound really artificial, but in that Accurate video it sounds really nice!
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And new effects? Oh, and a longer skipback, too, because apparently they’re not pushing the limits of the hardware yet 
Bunches of sturdy quality of life fixes, too. This is quickly shaping up to be a must-have box.
Before the TR sequencer, it was an “it’s amazing, but try it first to see if you gel with it” box. But now it’s a pretty safe bet for all electronic musicians.
Which, if I’m honest, I’m conflicted about. Not, I hope, in a gatekeeping or “before it was cool” sort of way, but just… this will absolutely change the nature of the music made on the 404. Heck, it’ll change the music I make on it.
I know, I know, it’s optional. The old way is still there. But I’m a shitty drummer, and I’m not going to spend the 23 takes (real number) it just took me to get four unquantized bars on this song when I could punch in steps instead. Even if I like the unquantized ones more, I just can’t justify it. In a way, the TR seq makes it worth the time to make those perfect loops and flawless flips. I imagine a lot of people newly enticed by the 404 after this update will feel the same.
So, you know, bittersweet. But if Roland can manage even a single additional update of this scope, I’m sure I’ll forget all about it. Exciting times! Onwards and upwards!
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I agree, it is limited compared to the DT. But sometimes the perfect storm of limitations comes together and makes for a very fun instrument, and that is where the M:S is for me. It is super fun and quick for me, and that’s all I want sometimes.
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Damn roland! Didnt expect that…
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Many many thanks 
I really liked the Model: Samples when I had it. I sold mine to get my Circuit Rhythm. I don’t regret that. But I miss the thing–especially velocity modulation. Man, if Elektron added that to the Digitakt I’d be pretty dang pleased about it.
Also, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it Elektron wants to just print money then they should add MIDI machines to the Models. Let folks assign ccs to the knobs and just go to town.
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Anyone try the update yet? If you play something in live can you switch over to the step sequencer mode and edit notes or do they exist as two separate things?
Give it some time. Press+Hold on Pad for per Step automation. I am sure it’s next.
So much goodness in this update it’s amazing.
Real odd. Without this capability, doing any kind of live sequencing is a bit limited. 
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This! I ordered the SP-404 to be the sample-player I use with the Hapax when it arrives (any time now 
). Was already happy with just using Hapax as the step sequencer, and otherwise interacting with the SP manually. But slowly adding more CCs is opening up this combo to potentially mind blowing potential.
Now, the next thing on my wishlist was round robin playback within a sample. Say you set markers at various points in the sample, then play them back in order or (pseudo)randomly as you repeatedly trigger the sample.
With this new update, my hopes for something like that to become reality one day, has come a big step closer 
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Yes this works. Live record, then switch to trig mode via SHIFT+REC and edit the live recorded steps on the step sequencer.
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Fantastic update! Cloud Delay is a great shimmer effect, the polyphonic chromatic mode is excellent, recording chromatic mode into the sequencer should have been there from the beginning, glad it is there now, and while I don’t use the step sequencer on this one to input notes, it’s great to edit notes with it. Plus, snap to zero crosspoint is there now, which makes sampling and chopping more convenient.
EDIT: also great: the 303 reverse mode. What’s the difference? In this mode, if you playback a sample normally and hit reverse, it will reverse from the point of playback. In 404 mode, when you hit reverse, it will playback from the end of the sample always.
All that’s missing now for my taste is a value scale mode for the knobs and gain staging / gain envelope per sample (rather than using normalise to up the gain). And maybe sampling by pre-defined loop length would be a nice add on, not a must though.
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Being lazy - for those of you with Lightning equipped iPhones/iPads, do you have a preferred USB-C to USB-A cable?
I actually started learning finger drumming because of the 404 and now they add a step sequencer ;-P.
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Just woke up and scanning through the update list. Wow, they’ve gone to town. New effects too! 
Happy days!
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You can have both!
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I’ve never looked at the SP-404 before as I assumed it was purely for hip hop type producers. All the activity on this thread made me have a look at what it can do and it seems like it’s perfect for me with the new additional features. For the times I want to sit on the sofa with headphones to make tunes (which is usually ALL the time) this looks like a great option. My toddler will also love to bash on the pads, which is always a bonus.
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