Roland SP-404sx Sampler Pairing

SlopingCompanion · Post by **SlopingCompanion** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 2:09 pm

Anyone own the Roland SP404sx sampler and have you tried pairing it with the E2? I've heard nothing but good things about this sampler. FX, basically unlimited sample time, instant re sampling, loads of awesome features.

I've got a gig coming up in a few weeks and it will be my first time trying a solo electronic improv thing. I'm gonna order it today.

I want to know specifically how they sync up as I know I can slave it to the E2's tempo.

Thanks in advance!

wasstof · Post by **wasstof** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 2:35 pm

I'll be following your progress! I've been looking at the 404sx as an alternative to the es2!

tim from texas · Post by **tim from texas** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:36 pm

the sp404 is a beast.. it has midi in but no midi out.. and of course rca ins and rca outs.. the sample time is amazing both internal and external.. it streams from the memory card so be sure to get a higher quality name brand memory card otherwise some people have issues with audio bugging out at times.. the effects section is amazing.. the only thing that has made me sell a 404 and 404sx is the sequencer.. its pretty standard and has different types of quantize or you can turn off quantize all together.. a lot of the guys on the spforums use the "resample method" on the 404.. but i always end up missing tribe style step sequencing.. if i remember right... you cannot use the sequencer while controlling the 404 with another device.. i dont know if that is fact... but i feel like that was something i stumbled on..

I used a 404 to sample myself using other machines.. add in effects.. sometimes resequence.. and export long recordings of jamming to the memory card to upload to the internet.

SlopingCompanion · Post by **SlopingCompanion** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:13 pm

So I got my 404sx yesterday and started loading some samples on to it to see what would happen. I'm having trouble getting the 404 to sync up to the Electribes tempo? I've tripled checked all the settings on both devices and still nothing's playing in time together.

Any thoughts? I'm posting this on the SP forums as well.

SlopingCompanion · Post by **SlopingCompanion** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:22 pm

It's awesome as s**t by the way, definintely have a lot to learn though.

The basically unlimited sample time is insane! Can basically DJ using this thing by itself. The effects are killer too.

Really want to know how to get my samples to play in tempo synced with the tribe though!!!

Blue Monster 65 · Post by **Blue Monster 65** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:24 pm

I don't have one myself, but I've thought about grabbing one, too. Here are a couple of videos that show the 404 in conjunction with the EMX:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgkW6-B_ZxY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUdUUT9WUyU

Keep us posted on your progress, please!

Steinberger · Post by **Steinberger** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:00 pm

SlopingCompanion wrote:So I got my 404sx yesterday and started loading some samples on to it to see what would happen. I'm having trouble getting the 404 to sync up to the Electribes tempo? I've tripled checked all the settings on both devices and still nothing's playing in time together.

Any thoughts? I'm posting this on the SP forums as well.

Is the 404 Sync mode set to "Aut" and the Electribe set to "Internal"?

SlopingCompanion · Post by **SlopingCompanion** » Fri Jun 26, 2015 4:58 pm

Yeah I double checked all that and even tried it with different settings.

Say my Electribe track or beat is 100bpm, should the samples not play at that tempo too? Also what happens if the sample is a different tempo- will the sample be stretched or squished to play in time? It doesn't seem like there is ANY kind of sync happening at all.

I have a gig a week from today, trying to do it with E2,SP-404sx, and a behringer DJ mixer. NO LAPTOP.

ANYONE with an SP-404sx AND/OR an Electribe or anyone that has any insight on how I could do this I'd love a PM or to hear from you. ANY HELP GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

Looking to do a funky glitch hop set with touches of dub and psybient stuff.

tim from texas · Post by **tim from texas** » Fri Jun 26, 2015 8:28 pm

i am not sure it works that way.. i believe youre just triggering the sound on the pad and the clocks stay in time.. i think you can change the BPM of each sample on each pad on the 404.. its in the manual.. i just dont remember exactly how to do it.. at that point when you trigger the sample in time it should stay in time with the tribe..

1_inch_punch · Post by **1_inch_punch** » Fri Jun 26, 2015 9:34 pm

If you are loading phrases then you will need to set the SP404 bpm to the same as the phrase sample as when recorded. It cant tempo match a sample to whatever you set the 404 bpm to.
I believe you can alter the bpm of individual sample as Tim said but that's going to add glitch which most 404 fans love but i wouldnt like to try that in a performance on the fly.
It should pair very well with the E2 - using it as a dum machine of sampled e2 hits will really free up your voices on e2. You could send the 404 out back into the e2 for filtering or send the e2 into the 404 for its line in fx.
These 2 can make a great match. Hope your gig goes well.

SlopingCompanion · Post by **SlopingCompanion** » Sat Jun 27, 2015 12:35 am

When you say the 404 bpm I guess a deeper question would be: does the sp404 have a master tempo? It seems like if it does it only might in pattern mode. I know I can change the bpm of a sample which isn't always consistent when I already the actual tempo and I know how to change the other settings (I've been reading the manual back and forth). I also cut and analyze bpm in audacity on the computer before I load anyway which is strange because I load perfect loop samples of the same track and the SP shows them as having different bpms...?

Another question i have which is very important is how do I go back to a previously selected sample to modify it during preformance without restarting/stopping that sample? This is CRUCIAL.

I realize this forum is for the Electribe but the SP forum is invite only for some stupid reason and I don't have time for that nonsense.

Again I sincerely appreciate all your guys help.

We'll see how it goes!

1_inch_punch · Post by **1_inch_punch** » Sat Jun 27, 2015 8:28 am

Hi sorry i can see where saying the 404 bpm is confusing. I only have had the older version but yes sometimes it recognises imported samples as different. My memory is its display sometimes doubled, tripled or halved. I think it was calculating one measure as two and/or vice versa.

I remember being able to manually correct that but cant remember how

On my version you couldnt adjust sample length while in performance.... When I say performance i mean samples triggered in a PATTERN - it was the internal Pattern mode bpm i was referring to when I said 404 bpm.

But if you are slaving the 404 to e2 I would be surprised if it let you adjust the sample while slaved. But I havent used the 404sx so i am happy to be surprised.

SlopingCompanion · Post by **SlopingCompanion** » Sat Jul 04, 2015 6:11 pm

Happy to report that I somehow managed to crush the show!

For any of those wondering don't bother getting a E2S if you already have an E2. GET AN SP-404sx these things are SICK.

For the gig I used my tribe, the sp-404sx sampler, my microKorg, and mixed it all using a Behringer NOX404 DJ mixer. It all blended together way better than I thought it would.

sonicbaz · Post by **sonicbaz** » Sun Jul 05, 2015 5:42 am

SlopingCompanion wrote:Happy to report that I somehow managed to crush the show!

For any of those wondering don't bother getting a E2S if you already have an E2. GET AN SP-404sx these things are SICK.

For the gig I used my tribe, the sp-404sx sampler, my microKorg, and mixed it all using a Behringer NOX404 DJ mixer. It all blended together way better than I thought it would.

Awesome I'm preparing my live set, out of interest how long do you perform for?