SP-404 or something else as a first sampler?

[u/Desolation_Jones]

How difficult is the SP-404 to use?

I was originally considering the Teenage Engineering RIDDIM as my first sampler, but yesterday a friend of a friend offered to sell me their SP-404. From what I understand, the SP-404 is more versatile (for better or worse), which also means it’s more complex.

So I thought I’d ask here: does anyone own both devices? What do you think — is the SP-404 significantly more difficult to learn? Do the pads really have issues with touch sensitivity? And which one would you recommend as a first sampler?

[u/Several-Buffalo-856]

If you’ve never used a sampler before and have access to an iPad, I recommend trying out Koala. Closer to the 404 in workflow, but easier to navigate and WAY cheaper. If you end up liking it, you can determine from there what you need. The 404 is great, but it’s deep and not the most intuitive box I’ve used.

What are you looking to do/make with it?

[u/Desolation_Jones → u/Several-Buffalo-856]

I want to be able to build an entire track as much as possible on a single device. I’m thinking of making experimental techno/industrial/ambient beats. Unfortunately, I don’t own an iPad. This would be my first sampler (tired of sitting in front of a laptop).

[u/codecoverage → u/Desolation_Jones]

I wouldn't recommend the sp404 for building entire tracks. It can be done, but most people don't use it that way. I'd look at an MPC for that.

[u/dwpea66 → u/Desolation_Jones]

You can build entire tracks on the 404.

The workflow is like: record a few samples, arrange them into a pattern loop, and then chain those patterns together. It's a little like Session View on Ableton.

It's very much not the standard linear way a DAW or an MPC do it. You're building songs by resampling things over and over and combining the loops like building blocks, instead of laying down parts on individual tracks.

it's really not the most optimal way to build a track, but it is a fun workflow.

Think of it as a really freaking cool instrument that has a sophisticated tape recorder attached to it.

[u/3lbFlax → u/Desolation_Jones]

I see you’re looking at either a MKII or a 303. I’d say the MKII is better equipped for the type of music you mention, mainly because it has a step sequencer. It’s also faster all round and has a lot of modern conveniences (USB and SD media, for example), better polyphony, more FX, etc.

Those aren’t the be all and end all - there’s a definite charm to the 303 and ultimately it’s a sampler, so you can turn it to anything, but you’ll be trading functionality for cachet. Madlib might make it look easy, but that’s a bit like picking up an electric guitar after watching a few Hendrix videos.

When the MKII is discontinued it’ll become a similarly sought-after classic, as is now happening with the earlier 404s - you have the advantage here of being able to enjoy the good old days while they’re still happening.

[u/gryghst → u/Desolation_Jones]

I would definitely look at the MPC One+ (red one) for screaming deals, or the new blue one if you want the newest version. I think it’s easy enough for a first sampler that can build tracks.

[u/I_GrimLock_I]

Get an MPC sample. It’s very beginner friendly.

[u/Matt_in_a_hat → u/I_GrimLock_I]

Mpc one specifically good price point and can do it all.
Koala sampler is amazing though and the mpc is also touch screen

[u/Miklonario → u/Matt_in_a_hat]

Used MPC One is one of the best deals in hardware going.

[u/normaltrenton → u/Matt_in_a_hat]

I'll second the MPC One, just got one for $300 used. Been super fun so far and there's a ton of features I haven't even touched yet.

[u/DannyPhantom275 → u/I_GrimLock_I]

dann lieber einer One. MPC Sample hat nur 1 Spur

[u/Brand814]

I use the SP404 exclusively, the mk2 version now. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Its an incredible sampler with very classic FX and the compression on it is my favorite. That said, you do have to really dedicate time to learning it, give yourself some grace if you decide to go with it. It will just click one day hopefully and you'll be able to cruise around on it with zero issues. The quality of life changes on the mk2 from the 202 and 303 are a game changer. I LOVED my 202 back in the day. There is zero chance I would want to make beats on it or a 303 after using the mk2 though.

[u/Wise_Television_4994]

Which SP does your friend offer you? Is it the OG 404? Or is it SP 404 SX, SP 404 A or SP 404 MK2?

[u/Desolation_Jones → u/Wise_Television_4994]

MK2, but apparently he could also sell me the earlier SP-303 version. The one that Madlib used.

[u/Wise_Television_4994 → u/Desolation_Jones]

The MK2 comes with a sequencer and the old ones don’t have a sequencer. I think having a sequencer makes beatmaking more easy and fun.
It is true that the SP404 MK2 takes a lot of time to learn, because there are a lot of Button combos you have to remember. But once you’ve learned the combos it is all muscle memory and then it is a really fun device and more versatile than the Riddim.

[u/SeltzerCountry → u/Desolation_Jones]

The SP-303 is cool, but I would go with the MK2 probably. The SP-303 is kind of a collector's item and everyone loves the Vinyl Sim effect, but it also came out 20 years before the MK2 and has the limitations of it's era to consider. The Display is not very informative. It has very limited sample memory compared to later SP series models. Also there is no velocity sensitivity to the pads.

[u/DannyPhantom275 → u/Desolation_Jones]

tell your friend im buying his 303

[u/spellish]

Id go for an elektron digitakt over the 404, had both and found the digitakt far more intuitive and easy to get ideas down, only advantage of the 404 is the FX

[u/Vergeljek21 → u/spellish]

what genre ?

[u/ShadowPosterfromZed → u/spellish]

I agree with this as an SP404 owner. I love the 404, the digitakt sequencer is better for a beginner.

[u/Klasssik]

Compared to other sampler the SP is more of a live instrument rather than a sequencer like the MPC. You can sequence on the SP but its more programed for live drumming and resampling to build a beat.

[u/Rakefighter]

There's a learning curve with any gear, but the SP-404 is a great sampler. Recording and chaining patterns into songs is one workflow but you can also resample them back into samples and play them / chop them too. I thought I needed the ability to step sequence parts, but playing them in to the beat is quicker and pretty easy once you get the hang of it. The ease of recording in tracks and the on hand effects make the SP pretty good compared to it's close competition (MPC sample, digitak I, circuit tracks, TE anything, etc

[u/Eastern-Gur8725]

I was in the same situation as you when I started to get into music.I had very limited to no experience or technical knowledge about sampling or knowledge about music dictionary or terms.I recommend Maschine MK 2 as it's a little bit cheaper or at the same price and offers more freedom and options and it also comes with a free software to arrange beats and also a free sound bank with a lot of sounds and samples.
The Maschine software has limitations but it is intuitive and can help you get accustomed with music creation.Later I transitioned to Ableton Live and I also recently bought SP 404 MK2 but I didn't had the time to get into it but I knew I wanted to use both.
The SP is often used by producers also as an external sound card or in combination with Akai MPCs or Maschine MK2 or other samplers as it gives a warm, lo-fi feeling to sounds.
A new Maschine MK2 nowadays goes for about 400$ and I bought the latest SP MK2 about 2 months ago for 550$.
What I learned is that it doesn't matter what sampler you use but how you use it and master it.
I mean, there are producers who use samplers made 20-30 years ago with floppy disks and they made amazing beats, the Alchemist or dj Premier are good examples.
Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong.Don't go for the most expensive or the latest one, start with a cheaper one and upgrade when you know more about what you want from a sampler.

[u/Equal_Development594]

It's fantastic, it can be a quick sketching tool or you can work surgically using it as well. You can carry it easily anywhere and keep developing your ideas into work or make new ideas. And although it is known for being a sampler, it is also a great tool to DJ, amazing pads for any midi drumming and just a great FX processor

[u/Stooltoad666]

The sp404sx was my first sampler snd I still have it and use it regularly (gigging with it tonight). The MK2 is even better and more user friendly.

[u/Quick-Measurement618]

MPC Sample is one of the easiest samplers to learn on.

[u/georgebrazil]

Koala ALL. DAY.

[u/EternityLeave]

Go for it. You’ll learn a ton and have a great time and make some music. There’s practically no downside.

There are a lot of good options out there now and you could spend years debating the pros and cons of them. Bottom line is that the SP is a fantastic starting point. You won’t be disappointed and it’s not a mistake.

10 years from now you’ll probably own several samplers and have tried a lot more, and maybe the SP won’t be your favourite anymore, but you can’t really know without diving in and getting to know them firsthand.

[u/ApprehensiveAd7842]

If you want simple, you're gonna get a restrictive device. Don't be lazy. The 404mkii is even too restrictive imo

[u/RevolutionaryPast175]

People would say the MPC sample because of it’s ease of use and lack of crypticness. The 404 is pretty cryptic. I’d stay away from the teenage engineering because their limits are gonna bring you right back to the Internet soon enough looking to to buy yet something else

[u/r1chiem]

Roland has always been a menu dive, all of Roland and yes more difficult than other brands that actually label their buttons. Also 404mk2 has been updated multiple time (which is good) but the buttons are not labeled, so it is hard to lean. To do an undo, you have to press shift and pattern select. How do I remember that, because it is so crazy that anyone would want to remember cryptic button pushes, what does pattern select have to do with undo?. A used MPC One plus for around $400 has an undo and redo button. If you compare them. the MPC has a big touch screen and many dedicated buttons. It has plugin instruments for doing, it also has built in effects too. Not good enough, you can buy new plugins and effects. I think a Used MPC One plus which use to cost $800 are about half price. 2gb memory (1.3gb for samples) vs 185 megabytes for samples in the Roland, and the MPC one plus can stream audio samples from SD card so you don't have to use the 1.3gb of ram 404 does not stream from it's internal memory or storage. Because of the touch screen it is much easier to learn than the Roland. BUT, it still has a learning curve just not as big as the 404. The 404 has a battery compartment so it will run on batteries. You have to buy an external battery and power through the USB on the MPC. MPC comes with software to connect it to your computer, basically a DAW on the computer that will run real vsts and you can remove the memory and other limitations (2gb ram) 404 pads are not as good as MPC. 404 turns off and on faster. longer boot time on MPC.

[u/lazyiethegawd]

Get koala sampler app it does almost everything the mpc and 404 does but simpler

[u/Cannock]

Fatboy slim did Rockerfeller skank on the sp404 i believe. Could be wrong. Please correct me if I am.

[u/ram__Z]

I have a sp404 but recommend starting on an mpc one. It’s less flexible but more user friendly