The ease of editing samples with a viewable waveform/ the pads on the mpc/ the nice screen.
An upgrade pretty much. I love my 404 but the start/stop truncate to chop a sample is tedious. The effects though…. Chefs kiss.
Not sure if the mpc effects are comparable. I have never used one. All I know up until this point is sp404 and koala in my iPad.
Love the iPad but it’s not the same.
MPC One is a full fledged audio workstation with audio and midi tracks. Much better sequencer, automation, etc. You can also export stems to finish tracks in your DAW, or export as an Ableton set as well. The SP-404MkII is bit limited in this regard. SP-404 MKII is battery powered, so more portable if that is your thing. They both have a slew of FX, which ones are better is subjective, but the 404 definitely has some signature FX that you have probably heard before. The MPC has CV outs if you want to sequence external eurorack or semi-modular synths. The MPC also has built in synths and other instruments you can use.
The MPC One does a lot more, and can almost be seen as a DAW replacement, but due to the limitations of the 404, it is really quick to use, and is great as a scratch pad, or for full tracks. But I should add that I have not used the SP-404 MKII, so I can’t say if that last statement is still 100% accurate as they have added some features. But it seems like it is mostly true in the videos I have watched.
True that about the touch screen. I’m worried that the touch screen isn’t super responsive, compared to a phone or iPad.
I looked at the 1000 but the price compared to the mpc one is crazy. I can’t believe the 1000 cost that much for how old it is.
well the mk2 already has an updated waveform view so it might be enough if you’re looking to stay within reasonable bounds of your current workflow…
imo the mpc one would be far more than just a little bump in capabilities… FX are always subjective so you’d definitely have to listen to those, but the flexibility of the fx is not. comparable between the two, the mpcs fx are far more flexible…
you might want to look at what it is on your current 404 that you would like to change or get more out of most, that might tell you more about what you need out of another instrument… but if the main thing you like on the 404 is the FX and the rest of it is neither here nor there then the mpc one will be a huge upgrade over both your current 404 and the mk2… and will make a great combo with your current 404.
but if in addition to the FX of your current 404 you’re really into the workflow then the upgrade in the workflow of the 404 mk2 might just be all you need… the mk2 looks kind of like a mini mpc now feature wise and in limited fashion…so it might just hit the spot.
My thoughts - get both. They are compliments, not rivals.
Truth - as has been said previously, MPC + SP = the holy mountain.
Touch is responsive, don’t worry I own Live 1, and 2 and MPC one. Its just i prefer chopping samples with the jog wheel and buttons.
I would say get a mpc one over a mk2, only because the sequencer, bigger screen and plus you already have a 404 so the effects aren’t going to be much different.
The MPC One is the more complete offering if you want to fully sequence and arrange a track that can be mixed in a DAW (or on the box if you want) and released. It’s time tested workflow and sequencer is a joy to use for anyone who makes dance music.
That said, the 404 can make complete tracks if you want, it will just be a ton more work unless you are a hardcore lofi hip hop head. Where the 404 shines for me is the effects section, which are the best of any modern sampler, and the extreme ease of use. Its also the funnest and easiest sampler to pick up and play and mangle something into a whole new idea.
Thats why I think they are a compliment. But I also could (and will) throw the OT into that tandem as well. Its worth owning them all over time and using them all together if you make sample based music - imo.
The music store vallen me today, i will try one tomorrow
2 questions
Appreciate all the suggestions. Looking at what I have and what I want having the mk2 might be enough of an upgrade. Although I had seriously considered the mpc one I just want something a little more simple.
I make lofi hear and there but I’m going more for a sound like animal collective. I read they made a lot of there merryweather album on the 404 and now I use the 404 more for looping and effects re-sampling than chopping. I was just really looking for that chop feature before on the mpc but now there’s the mk2.
The new mk2 is starting to really seem like a mini mpc. Which is probably a good Segway for me at a better price point.
Thanks again all for the good tips and insight.
sure thing, and if you make sure that you get it from a place you can return it to if it doesn’t work out you don’t have to worry about losing anything if you feel like you still need more than what the 404 mk2 can provide…
Animal collective also use MPCs and if ever you should decide to pick up an mpc one, you won’t believe what you get for the money and like someone earlier said they will work very well together.
Yeah, I would agree that it basically comes down to how you work and what you want to do. I’m also from an MPC background, but for some reason the new ones don’t really interest me all that much. I’d rather pair the mkii with my DAW. Like docking to the Mothership (with a single cable).
Serato Sample is brilliant and on sale for Black Friday (only $49!). It’s incredibly fast for preparing chops and getting all your samples into the right key. It’s incredibly intuitive to use if you have an MPC background. Maybe my favorite sampler of all time, just because of how fast it is.
I recently came across a video by Cookin Soul, where I realized he has the same workflow of using Serato Sample to meld samples together.
Edit:
Right after I posted that, I came across his Rhythm Roulette, which is all Serato Sample as well.
Serato Studio is fly as hell. Looks like the lifetime license went to $250, but it was $200 for a while, and Sweetwater had it @ $99 on sale. I got lucky.
With a few people reporting receiving one, I’m eager to read more first impressions and hear first loops made with it 
@DimensionsTomorrow not sure if interesting for you two, but Serato Studio is currently on sale for €49 at musicstore.de. I’m looking at it myself, but already own Serato Sample and wondering if it makes sense to get Studio to process multiple samples in parallel…
I had sample, but I love Studio. Maybe because I was using sample w/ Logic, vs. Ableton. But studio makes it almost like cheating, the way it lines matches BPM and key so well. So simply.
To those of you who received this and haven’t used any older SP-404s in the past: is it what you had hoped it would be? What have you done with it so far?
