Sp303 or sp404sx?

aldro · 2016-01-16T22:01:33.000Z

Thats a very interesting thread!

I m considering a lot of time now to get a sampler and was looking to the SP series but it gets really confusing sometimes.

I dont know anything about sampling yet and i m planning to use it basically for anything, from my father’s vast vinyl collection to synth riffs from my volcas or A4, even AR…loops, one shots, ambient sounds etc

Still dont know which SP would be best suited for my case…

There is a lot of debate going on about the best SP in terms of sound/portability/workflow whatever

Which one would you choose?

DL · 2016-01-16T23:38:10.000Z

There is a rumour that Roland will show the new sampler at NAMM 2016, so I would wait and decide later.

Wissam · 2016-01-16T23:49:21.000Z

""aldro"":

Thats a very interesting thread!

I m considering a lot of time now to get a sampler and was looking to the SP series but it gets really confusing sometimes.

I dont know anything about sampling yet and i m planning to use it basically for anything, from my father’s vast vinyl collection to synth riffs from my volcas or A4, even AR…loops, one shots, ambient sounds etc

Still dont know which SP would be best suited for my case…

There is a lot of debate going on about the best SP in terms of sound/portability/workflow whatever

Which one would you choose?

i own a sp-303 since long time,it’s amazing! as sound quality…i don’t really use the pad because it’s slow to add/copy/rec… i guess whatever you find in market for a reasonable price,just buy it…you won’t regret it

Wissam · 2016-01-16T23:52:41.000Z

""DL"":

There is a rumour that Roland will show the new sampler at NAMM 2016, so I would wait and decide later.

everyone is speaking about it,but i’m sure it will be too expensive to buy!

Prints · 2016-01-17T00:26:56.000Z

I’ve had all of them. My favorite one by far is the OG SP404 (silver). This is my fourth time owning one. The Vinyl Sim compressor and beat repeat effect are the main reasons I love this sampler so much. I like how the OG SP404 sounds best.

Prints · 2016-01-17T00:34:28.000Z

Here’s a track I made awhile back on the OG SP404; you can hear the vinyl sim compressor, beat repeat, and lo-fi effects of the SP. I actually plan on getting a Squarp Pyramid to pair with the SP when they’re available again; I think that would be an amazing combo.

https://soundcloud.com/prints/time-machine

Wissam · 2016-01-17T03:13:45.000Z

""Prints"":

Here’s a track I made awhile back on the OG SP404; you can hear the vinyl sim compressor, beat repeat, and lo-fi effects of the SP. I actually plan on getting a Squarp Pyramid to pair with the SP when they’re available again; I think that would be an amazing combo.

https://soundcloud.com/prints/time-machine

Dope!i like the vinyl compressor,sounds really nice on the 404,
actually can’t find any difference between the vinyl sim on the 404vs303
did you own a 404sx?

Prints · 2016-01-17T03:40:36.000Z

[quote=“” Wissam""]

[quote=“Prints”]Here’s a track I made awhile back on the OG SP404; you can hear the vinyl sim compressor, beat repeat, and lo-fi effects of the SP. I actually plan on getting a Squarp Pyramid to pair with the SP when they’re available again; I think that would be an amazing combo.

https://soundcloud.com/prints/time-machine
[/quote]

Dope!i like the vinyl compressor,sounds really nice on the 404,
actually can’t find any difference between the vinyl sim on the 404vs303
did you own a 404sx?[/quote]
Actually, that’s the only one I haven’t owned yet, but I have no interest because it is missing the vinyl sim compressor. The vinyl sim compressor on the 303 and OG 404 are slightly different. The 303 seems just slightly more drastic and less boomy. They’re both way cool. The 404sx stopped using the compressed data format that the OG 404 had. This actually is like an effect in itself, the OG 404 has a very crisp present sound that seems to boost the mid highs a bit. The SP-555 is cool too; it’s missing the vinyl sim compressor as well, but it has a pretty interesting lo-fi compressor. OG 404 is my favorite though.

Wissam · 2016-01-17T18:40:19.000Z

""Prints"":

Actually, that’s the only one I haven’t owned yet, but I have no interest because it is missing the vinyl sim compressor. The vinyl sim compressor on the 303 and OG 404 are slightly different. The 303 seems just slightly more drastic and less boomy. They’re both way cool. The 404sx stopped using the compressed data format that the OG 404 had. This actually is like an effect in itself, the OG 404 has a very crisp present sound that seems to boost the mid highs a bit. The SP-555 is cool too; it’s missing the vinyl sim compressor as well, but it has a pretty interesting lo-fi compressor. OG 404 is my favorite though.

oh! i didn’t know it’s missing the vinyl sim compressor!
ii use the vinyl sim compressor the most,so i’m definitely sticking with my 303…thank for the informations Prints
cheers

LaughingAnimal · 2016-01-17T19:10:54.000Z

I think the main appeal of the 404SX is the fact that you can drag and drop wav files from your computer to the SD card, or just the ability to record or have very long samples on it. And the speed of working with samples. For sound I’d go with one of the older SP.

The 404SX was my first piece of electronic kit and I still have it but still plan on getting a 303. The 303 interests me most (beyond its sound) because you can sample into it while playing back samples, something which was always a huge obstacle (and learning experience) for me with the 404SX.

Great track btw, Prints.

Saltaire · 2017-10-25T13:21:22.258Z

Yes there is! When you’re preparing to resample you just press the stereo button so it turns of

Saltaire · 2017-10-25T13:28:58.550Z

I would say that for me the worst use of the 404 is to drag and drop files into it, its all about directly sampling into it from multiple sources!

The loop capture on the 555 makes it so much more useful, you can resample whole sequences to one pad perfectly in time (just one use)

Also velocity sensitive pads. Doesn’t sound as good as 404 but still really good

Saltaire · 2017-10-25T15:39:38.803Z

Do you have any in mind? Very interested to check this out as a possibility but sceptical of the price tag there

LaughingAnimal · 2017-10-25T17:04:50.619Z

Oh yeah, it’s definitely all about direct sampling with these things, but for instance I have a gig coming up and the fact I can load stems directly from the computer is super convenient. I plan on directly sampling lots of drum loops and other parts to layer in, but I wouldn’t want to have to do that for all the tracks involved in this 45 minute set. I would certainly take a 555!

Saltaire · 2017-10-25T17:47:49.072Z

To be fair you have a point. I did a gig once with just an og 404 and recorded every track in real time and then chopped the start points by ear. Luckily they were all mainly 1 - 2 minutes long max and I just fired through them all

digiwut · 2019-12-04T18:12:23.162Z

How are people liking the Model: Samples?

Sp404sx

I’ve always been intrigued by the SP-404sx. Never owned any SP-404 but the wealth of effects for a sampler makes me want one. I wish the DT or M:S had a lot of effects. I get a little bored with just verb/delay/overdrive. Some of the more DJ’ish effects like on the SP-404 would be nice. The effects seem to make them more “jammable” as samplers. Like, videos of people using SP-404s seem to show them being more engaged as opposed to other sample players that have more of a standback approach as they play the sequence… How do you like the SP-404sx?

nIdaL · 2019-12-04T20:56:07.691Z

Dont get me wrong, I loved the Sp404sx while I had it, which is close to 7 years…

Recently I felt that nowadays people always use its effects to make head nodding glitchy lo-fi Hip-Hop stutters and space delays that make everything sound ‘Low End Theoryish’ (stuff like Dibia$e, Ras G (RIP), etc.)

I enjoyed that for a while, but it feels overdone at this point.

What I used it for, was for sampling, editing, resampling bits with effects, etc. for mostly sound editing.
The sequencer is great but goofy so what I did was mainly playing entire tracks on pads and adding live effects or sound editing that I would record and re-use somewhere else.

I moved away from that lo-fi aesthetic and I want to have a more melodic side now with what I do…

Also having a lot more fun with Elektron’s control-ALL lately…

but the Sp404sx sound and aesthetic isnt going anywhere and its resale price is steady for a reason for a long discontinued product…If you like what it does well, you will love it.

Sharris · 2019-12-04T23:05:35.999Z

I bought a 404sx a little over 3 years ago & still love it. It can be difficult & it can take time to master, but that’s 1 thing I love about it. It doesn’t just do lo-fi sound well, it can really enhance sound with it’s effects. I did a beat for a sp forum battle & we could only use a few sounds from free ipad apps & could only use the sp to make the beat. This was the first time I REALLY used the effects for sound design, to make sounds… sound better & I was blown away with how well it improved & shaped the sounds.

I think the 404sx has a lot of uses as a sampler & effects box. A ton of useable effects (some effects took me time to see the potential, but all effects on it are useable in some way depending on how you use it, what sound you use it on & what other effects you combine it with), not just live effects to perform or mangle the sound, but also for sound design. It has a ton of sample memory (especially with a 32 gb card!). It’s so easy to sample with & move around, I use it multiple different ways in my set up. & I actually like chopping by ear, it got me to really listen to the sound instead of watching a waveform. It improved my skills quite a bit due to it being more like an instrument that needs to be played & mastered.

Only being able to apply 1 effect at a time can be frustrating, especially when layering the effects is where it’s at. So it can take time to find the right combination of effects.

I didn’t use the sequencer the first year or so I had it, but once I got it down I actually really like it. Combining the sequencer with resampled loops is where it’s at.

The sx has a lot of tricks & work arounds too. I’ll never sell it.

Sharris · 2019-12-04T23:10:31.741Z

These beats are simple & microwave but all were made with the 404sx & nothing else & all are battle beats. All were also made using the sequencer on the 404sx combined with resampled loops. I sampled everything directly into the 404sx & chopped everything on it a well.

Battle winner beat -

Didn’t win these battles, but still like the beats

Not a fan of this beat, but it’s the one where I had to use sounds from free ipad apps, so all sounds expect the Busta YO’s are from free apps.

Edit: When I say resampled loops, I mean loops I created by finger drumming & sampling myself. No “already made loops” were used in the above beats. Not saying anything is wrong with that, but the fact that all sounds are 1 shots chopped on the sx & arranged on the sx shows the sx can make decent grooves with it’s sequencer & can chop tight enough.

Kegeratorz · 2019-12-05T00:28:13.653Z

Always dope beats Sharris! Got my head nodding while working late!