Also, what was the solution to this?
I believe you can just use the skip back function. If ext. set to Mix it captures everything.
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This is a very fun box. I’ve never owned an SP-404 before, so it’s all new to me. Am I right in thinking that this is more of a ‘prepare stuff beforehand’ machine, than something where it’s easy to improvise live (in terms of recording the samples themselves, that is - I understand that performance of said samples is often a big part of a live set, and definitely the FX)?
If I was to make a few feature requests, it would be to make improvisation a bit slicker - for example, I would make it possible to play live from an External Source over a pattern and record that improvisation to a pad (skip back works but takes a while to do the start/end afterwards, which wouldn’t be doable in a live situation. It would be awesome to have a pattern going and then be able to record from Ext Source straight to a pad). Likewise, being able to resample while a pattern is playing rather than having to stop it beforehand would be great - the ability to configure this to start recording on the next loop of the pattern would be killer.
I understand that I’m coming to this having been used to the likes of Drambo on iPad recently… indeed, many of my feature requests could be covered by building up loops live on an iPad, I suppose! But as a ‘one box’ solution for playing live, the SP-404 MkII seems to be a lot about preparation beforehand rather than being able to build up your set in the moment… at least in terms of the sample material.
So in terms of how I utilise the machine for a potential live set, I’ll probably have to change a few habits! Playing with it is already great fun, though.
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I really wish you could say ‘this is 4 bars’ and it could give you a BPM.
+1 this would be a really nice feature. It’d be easier to trust that loops are locked into the tempo and won’t drift out of sync.
Actually, thinking about it, I’d love an alternate recording mode that’s like Koala. Press Record, then all free pads light up red and you could hold one to record a sample for the duration of the hold. So quick!
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By the way, I experimented in AUM on the iPad with playing synths to the SP-404 MkII’s Ext Source, while simultaneously recording the output of the machine on another channel (where I also removed the output so I wouldn’t get double sound). Worked perfectly!
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Potentially off topic, but given the chance, would you guys trade your SP for a Syntakt?
I know they’d compliment each other very well, but I can only choose one.
Also, I have a Maschine Mk3, which I am very proficient with and wouldn’t ditch.
I would not. Syntakt is very cool, but the SP-404 MkII is special.
Elektron has made many special machines, but I do not think Syntakt is one of them. More like one volume of a greatest hits boxed set.
There are some cases where the Syntakt may be a more practical/useful machine, like if you have no other source of synthesis or need MIDI sequencing abilities. But if you have some other stuff, even an iPad or some soft synths, I would not get rid of the 404 to get a Syntakt.
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I would trade those two, and use Koala instead of SP.
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Totally agree and I an MPC owner.
The MPC Live ii is great but the SP is special, no better way to put it.
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Believe it or not, I’ve now uploaded over 240 videos on the SP404 mk2… at this point I think I’m going to try and reach over a fully year of videos… The first one landed February 14th, and I’m quite sure I can go at least that far.
Anybody who’s been keeping up, any special requests for videos or things you’d like to see? Happy to do my best for you guys 
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Reggae jam please.
I have them both and I’d definitely say SP-404 MKII is better. If it came down to the Digitakt or 404 that would be a tougher call for me. Octatrack is no question I’d pick over the 404. But when you factor in price, feature set, and sound quality/ signature the 404 MK2 is the best sampler on the market in my opinion.
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Thanks for your work!
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Yes, I’ll second that. A big shoutout to @NearTao for all the work you put into this. It was an invaluable resource for me to get started, and I read the first version of the manual (0.24 I believe) from end to end.
Big up 
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I get what you’re saying, I agree that the SP is special, but I already have a sampler (Maschine & Ableton). So the SP is feeling a little redundant. I’m also finding it is lacking a little when it comes to fine tuning samples.
My thoughts are that with the Syntakt, I’ll spend more time fine tuning sounds and less time digging through samples.
Ultimately you have everything you need with what you have already. Maschine and Ableton both have really great drum synth engines so don’t think that Syntakt is gonna change that for you.
The big thing with SP-404 MK2 is it gives a completely different workflow style to that of Maschine or Ableton. It’s more about recording audio and committing than being completely midi based, though the sequencer is quite capable of a little basic.
I wouldn’t look at the Syntakt as a way to simply make your own sounds. You already have that with what you have. If anything look at the Elektron sequencer and workflow as the thing that’s different. Same with the SP-404.
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I am sure I can make it happen… hopefully it’ll be halfway decent
Out of topic, but congrats on the Force and MPC in 5!
Thanks, and yeah, playing around with doing the format for other devices… will do at least one session for the OP-Z, OP-1/F, and PO-33 as well… might try some synthesizers or other samplers as well… but unless I want to mix and match devices things that are fairly well self contained seem to work best so far.
My favorite devices are the MPC Live and Force to work with, but they are both super well covered at this point.