The Annoying & Addictive SP-404 Mk2: Making a Beat // Compact Creations

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Equipment I use for filming:

00:00 Hey What's Up?!
00:58 Sequencing Drums on the SP-404 MkII
03:48 What Makes The SP-404 Workflow Special
05:19 The Samples I'm Using
06:18 Sample Chopping on SP-404 Mk2
08:38 Sequencing a Sample Chop
10:14 Copy Pattern To Sample is SO SICK!
11:55 Tracklib Promo Sponsor
14:34 I Saved So Much Time Using Skip Back Instead..
16:08 Tons Of ReSampling The Sample To Layer FX
19:46 One Final Pattern Before My Brain Explodes

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#sp404mk2 #beatmaker #lofihouse

[brianrainsfordmarshall]

Got my MKII in January after feeling really burnt out from music and I've made more music since getting it than I did in the previous 2-3 years. Amazing machine.

[nkglion]

I love you man! You've really influenced my life in such a positive way for more than 5 years. I'm now performing my electronic stuff at clubs and bars multiple times a month with my SP & Ableton Push and even getting paid for it. Releasing albums myself online. And it all started with watching videos of you performing live on your MPC and tutorials like compact creations, and your ableton tutorials. I'll be a fan of you forever dude.

[XLIImusic]

I’ve owned the mk2 for over a year now. Made like 50 tracks on it. Still hate it. Not selling it, cos I love it. Except for when I wanna throw it off a building, but don’t cos I wanna hug it.

[joaquin]

“Are you still with me.” 😂 damn I felt that .

[delt]

Yo Ricky, while in start/end menu, you can press the resample button thats blinking, to turn SNAP ON and help trim cleanly your sample while chopping them. It will set the start point anywhere where the soundwave is at 0 to avoid clipping. Might as well want to have the envelope start at 1 if the sample have tight transients. Peace

[sinewaymusic]

I appreciate how diplomatic you are about stating the obvious, which is that the workflow is SO convoluted! I mean, why can't you just jump between pattern select and pattern edit? Why can't you exchange two samples while playing back a pattern? Why can't you apply a sample filter envelope on a per-pad basis? Why can't you flatten a pad with effects rather than having to resample to a new pad, save, exchange pads and remove the original pad? Why can't you edit existing steps in a tr sequence instead of having to remove and re-add then? Why can't you toggle between the two bus fx when playing a sample in chromatic mode? Why can't you start record while in chromatic mode? Why can't you toggle between tr-rec and live rec at all times? Why do you have to think deeply about why the pitch adjustment of a sample doesn't translate into what's being played in a pattern sequence? Why can't you set a fixed length of a resample in bars/beats and adjust the start OR endpoint to create the perfect loop? Why couldn't it just support a pseudo per-sample effect feature by remembering the per-sample effects via resampling it internally and adding a simple layer of meta info to retain the instructions about how the effects were applied to that resample? Why can't you hold down multiple steps or samples and press copy to copy them all at once? Why can't you nudge an existing step in the step sequencer? Why isn't the amp envelope a proper envelope? Why is entering tr-rec sometimes a shift+rec command and other times a rec and then remain command? Why can't you exchange a sample when a pattern is playing?

I mean, are we suppose to just love this workflow for the unique flavor it gives you - or should we point out the elephant in the room and demand that Roland steps up their UX game like Elektron and others have done for a decade? 🙏

[Foolscard]

I know you said you're not perfect at this in the video, but it's actually so much more valuable learning by seeing you make a mistake and fixing it.
Love your narrating through it all, too. Thank you!

[sclr]

Explaining the different parts of the sampler and having to maneuver out of them to get back to an area so you can navigate is super helpful. Most of my thinking of how this sampler is difficult comes from getting a little lost in the various “areas”. I wish there was just a simple overview tutorial that is just like remember if you are in chopping you can only get out via blah blah blah… lots of “don’t forget” type things with this machine. But it’s really a dope sampler.

[isolabeats]

I've finally got around to learning the 404. A couple of weeks in and I'm really understanding the hype. It took a while to get my head back around destructive edits, but between learning how to use the sends properly and some of the new features it's super fun.

[daisheyaku]

I've had the sp404 mk2 for a while now and while I love it, it can be a real pain in the ass. It offers so much though, so you really can't complain. I'm committed to mastering it. Your video is inspiring.

[water_with_lemons]

Hey Ricky, I recently bought one of these as part of holding myself to a hobby resolution to learn something I’ve always been interested in by the end of this summer. I cannot undersell just how useful watching your workflows are. I’ve been having a lot of fun with this thing and just watching you work has taught me so much. Thanks man, I greatly appreciate it.

[richardwhite]

Loved that video. Had me smiling so much by the end. It’s great to see the mis-steps and mistakes too as that helps viewers understand the errors they make themselves better.
I also love the rapport you are able to maintain with a camera! We can see you but you can’t see us, just a camera - so professional 😊

[shuasaladbar]

Yes someone calling the needless annoyances out.

When resampling or creating samples out of pads it's also very helpful to bypass bus 3 and 4, that way the pad doesn't need to be bypassed when using in a track. Unless you're going for ultra lofi/303/saturated and compression (usually what my 3 and 4 are defaulted on).

[kerosene]

That's deep. Embracing the slow-down to encourage more thinking as a creative process strategy. And I like the tip about skip-back, it never occurred to me to use it that way.

[benklive]

I have watched so many videos and I can say you explained everything I wanted to know to make my workflow better with my new SP404mk2. Thanks Man! You’re awesome!

[Studio_to]

The mother of all reviews. Thanks a bunch

[velanche]

This groove is definitely my vibe....and Chip Wickham! I have the SP404 MK2, but I am juggling quite a bit so it sits on my studio desk most of the time. I plan to dig into it this summer, but the kind of beats you do is what I hope to create. Been a DJ on radio and bars/lounge/venues for over 20 years....one thing to play other people's music, another to do my own. Keep crafting; you are inspiring.

[KrazieBeatzLLC]

Bro that skip back just changed my life. I was turning on the record walking over to my synths playing some notes then coming back to the SP and trying to loop and truncate what I just recorded.

Def a game

[timrobertson]

More SP404mk2 content 🎉🎉🎉 Ricky

Love it

[lpn]

Dam bro you can start your own UNIVERSITY with just about anything involving creativity, rhythm machines, exploring and teachings. So articulated at the same time 💯🔥🫡🫡🫡