SP404sx - 5 things I wish I'd known from day 1

In this video I talk through 5 things that I wish I would have known about the Roland SP404sx since day one. I think this one will be really useful to those of you who are just picking up this unit and hopefully it helps out some of the more experienced users as well in some way!

This is a scary sampler when you first pick it up but with these tips hopefully you will be off to a flying start and making lofi beats fast!

As usual if you have any questions HMU in the comments!

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0:00 - Intro
1:10 - Samples
2:39 - Resampling
3:50 - Button Wear
5:30 - Sample Import
6:44 - FX Unit
8:48 - Summary

You can also find me on the following websites:

#sp404sx #lofi #beatmaking

[macbermpohl]

I wish from day one i knew: 1. That the remain button toggles your selected effect from either all samples or the last sample triggered. 2. If you want to select a sample to edit without triggering it hold remain select. 3: Effect #12, compression, is your best freind.

[ukjamaican]

That Aiwa Walkman is bringing back some serious childhood 90s memories

[Randuski]

I use audioshare on my iPad, plugged into the sp. My whole sample library is managed that way, and i can quickly zoom through all my samples and quickly record them in. I usually have "kits" prebuilt on the sp. I'll spend time matching kicks snares hats and such together, and each bank will have the drums already on it. And whatever music sample I'm using, I'll put it in the bank with the drums that fit with it the best. Workflow is pretty damn fast. But i always separate sound design and music creation. Creating drum kits and finding samples is separate from when I'm actually making beats. Keeps the left and right brain from steppin on each other

[ronia]

It’s been cool to see your progression not just with how knowledgeable you are but also how you explore different avenues- especially cool to see you getting into a DAW workflow. I used to hit up the SPs for simplicity but as I’ve been learning ableton and maschine more I’ve realized that DAWs are the most intuitive/streamlined way to do most things

[MattGreerMusic]

Good tips. I definitely was frustrated by my first SP when I got it. I had to get through a painful learning curve and now I love it but I nearly sold it right after getting it. Glad I stuck with it.

[Pat]

How to mute samples - use the fx 22 and put that fx to the sample or sampled and turn the 2-3 knobs the opposing ways and then use knob 4 to mute volume in and out

[frooshante]

apropos of SD Card file transfer action: I recommend Audacity for editing samples beforehand. Simple DAW with lots of features and effects. ANDDD it's FREE. (mac, windows, and linux, too!)

[altugask]

That's one of the best videos for SP-404 beginners. Respect

[Kevinschart]

Roland originally marketed the 404 as an entry level, portable sampler with basic sequencing capabilities. It's a sampler 1st. A DJ performance unit for fx, loops, and one shots 2nd. A beat making device 3rd.

If you are trying to do any level of mixing, complex sound design, or sophisticated beatmaking you're making your life difficult for no reason. I have one but I don't try to make it be something that it isn't.

[ajplays-gamesandmusic]

I just picked up one of these used today... because I got a Polyend Tracker... and then found out it doesn't playback stereo samples. So... I'm just going to load the SP404 with all the Samples that I feel work better in Stereo (pads, strings, drones etc...), and I'll have my Mono Samples on the Tracker... and I'll just trigger the SP via Midi.

[alanpfeiffer]

Man! How easy my life would have been if i had your videos seven years ago

[obscuresoundz]

great tips just picked this up japan import last year; already got the mpc live but liked to change thing up but this is good

[culturemax]

Thanks got the 202 & 303 my 404 should be here in a few days I fell in love with these

[Caunstruct]

These videos are excellent. I just watched this after your most recent 202 upload. Thank you for the information, it's helpful.

[MrBangen]

Just got mine yesterday. Super excited

[grunntalll]

hey thank for the video, i didnt quite catch the reason why one shouldnt record from ableton into the SP

[fosfxn]

awesome content as usual! can't wait for the next episodes

[BarnabasJB]

Hey mate. Greetings from Canada. First video of yours I'm watching. I recently picked up one of these units used so im looking forward to watching your tutorials. I'm watching this video now and my wife heard your accent and said she thinks you're from solihull... she's originally from Birmingham 🙂

[AlexDevineMusic]

Great tips! :)
I've been loving my 404A so far and these tips will help me get the most out of it

[tomlawyer]

Great video! Thx for the advices.
Could you do a video on how to use the SP inside ableton? If been trying so many driffrent ways to integrate the sp effects but I always had problems with feedback or with the work flow/ resampling.
Probably it’s just some routing issue I didn’t figure out yet but I’m sure there must be a way to join these forces..
Btw I’m using your drum sounds for a while now and still not getting tired of them. Cool stuff 🤘