The #SP303 is better than the #sp404mk2

The SP303 in my opinion is just a better machine that the SP404…. Any SP404 for that matter…..

[JustPete]

The vinyl Sim on the 303 might be the greatest effect of all time, birthed a whole genre

[dakodabrant]

Very interesting point of view. Feel like I need to add this comment because I love the the 404 Mkii. I’ve had the 202, 303, 404 sx and A, and I like the 404 Mkii A LOT. To me it sounds good and has all the features I felt were missing on the SX. I think it feels clunky because they wanted to keep it as a 404 in the form factor. So I agree it can feel clunky, BUT it sounds really good and Roland listened to the SP community! Just wanted to even out the comments with another point of view! Respect ✌🏼

[djtrakakadrunkpoet]

Shiiit the 303 birthed a whole friggin movement. I just bought it . I need a step by step tutorial on how to set it up i hardly have time to read the manual.

[jack]

Amen. I feel like this is the great divide. This is the line between a generation of computer, feature-obsessed junkies and cats who just like to slice through and get it in.

I feel like making music in FL Studio is the same jig. It's not immediately creative or fun. It's always an effing chore. The DAW, the menu, the screen, whatever - just doesn't cut it for me anymore.

[thekidflames]

I haven’t dug in on the 404mkII or the 303, but much like the SP1200 versus emulators on the newer machines and plugins, it’s very hard to recreate, at least 1-to-1, that raw, gutter feel of older tech. So, I can see this as not being too far off base. Dope vid, brother, as always.

[DJDigitalJosh]

I understand what your saying. Wish I could afford to have them all at the same time, but alas I can't. Never had a 303, had all the others. I really enjoy my mk2 & mpc1 combo dont see myself ever buying a 303. Too much fun on what I got.

[mikegraham]

If the 303 used SD cards instead of the slow ass compact flash cards, I’d put it above the 404

[Fragaboom]

Might be that familiarity. I draw for a living. I prefer my 2017 iPad Pro over my 2021 iPad Pro just out of the comfort of the tears I put in on the old one.

[jbbrolic]

I don't want an SP for bells and whistles. The 303 has a sound, best resampling (you can resample the sequencer.) BY far the best vinyl sim.

For bells and whistles there are endless better options than the higher end SPs, both hardware (say MPC one for example) and software.

[md]

Agree. The 303 forces imperfections. The imperfections + the limitations lead to accidental discoveries.

Some of my fav shit in beats is stuff that doesn’t loop perfectly or is a bit off.

Imo, it’s like painting a picture vs. using photoshop.

[michaelvasquez]

I've been using the sp505 for over a decade. If you're a guitar player, the effects processor alone is excellent, and I can just plug any instrument in and record it to a pad. I don't really want to fuck with DAW and some app to upload my samples. I hate that about the 404mk2. One thing that got me excited about the 404mk2 was the 1/4" trs inputs and outputs. Because c'mon... musicians and 1/4" everything.

[SkinnyKitchen]

same. i love my 303. it crapped out about 5 years ago (stkll haven't got it fixed) but the distortion, the overdrive, the lpf/overdrive, the pitch, the verb, the phaser, flanger etc!!!! so quality. I had a 32mb card for 16min 44.1/16bit, 32 min 22.025/12 bit. and 10 bit made it 6 times the bit rate and the carbon footprint. awesome machine, when I saw that one issue of Wax Poetics with Doom on the back cover holding the 303? Son, I was in fucking heaven

[SergioMartinez-elkg]

i bought the mk2 and returned it back the next day lol to much menu diving, im good with a 303 and mpc one

[tahajfirst]

I agree 1000%...I just bought a "new" used 303 from Japan....it's my 3rd one after running thru a few...I have 404sx, mpc500, zoom sampletrak, ableton push 2, logic× and various midi controllers...but STILL...sp303, (and sp202 combined) along with good ol garageband, BY FAR give me thee MOST pleasure, most inspiration, and to my ears, the WARMEST sound (they BOTH also edit/loop MUCH smoother, although slower, than ANY of the other sp's, and 303's sequencer is MUCH "tighter" takes less work to get shit right...something i dont hear mentioned often. Takes way less "try's" to get a perfect edit/loop) and given my severe adult adhd, the most comfortability, ease of use, and immediacy of results. This, combined with the "play/record in while sample is playing" function, for adding external instruments, scratches, etc, on beat..makes it IMO..literally one of the top 5 samplers of all time..and by far my favorite. I have borrowed the MK2 from a friend..messed with it, and like you, was uninspired, plus kinda confused, so it sat there until he asked for it back. Now..he is letting it sit there..as he goes crazy on mpc live...lol

[SonicVibe]

All they had to do was improve on the sp 404 sx and A and instead they made the workflow horrible and ruined the legacy of the sp’s I been digging the volca sample 2 great sound on it

[elek-trick]

Jules' old bicycle is way better than aunt Marie's red Ferrari. Hey guys, this is just my opinion, my opinion, right?

[reazallykhan]

Yes it’s definitely better and more stable too…