Roland just announced a new firmware for SP404mk2 and it adds some SUPER USEFUL new features. Watch my video about it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fNm_EUhj29k.html If you want to support the channel check out the SP404 in stores here: EU: www.thomann.de/se/roland_sp_404mkii.htm?offid=1&affid=623 US: imp.i114863.net/ZdKA6X US: bit.ly/PCrolandSP *Affiliate links supports the channel regardless of what you buy
Exactly. Those are awesome boxes to tick. And it sure comes in handy, love the AA battery option. This is one of those things that will really be used a lot i think, like the calculator. And if i could operate this muscally with the same tactile semi-automatic muscle memory flow as i used to with the calculator, then wow.. This could quickly become central i my little home studio, and it would probably join me in bed. Yea I know it. I see a beautiful lovestory about to happen :)
I always liked the SP workflow and I missed my SP 303 since I let it go many years ago. This is a huge step up for the SP’s and the dark layout and oled display are superb. Roland done it right this time.
Me: "Oh cool, a new BoBeats video!" (looking at the timetable) "Okaaaaaaayyyyy" (edit: this device absolutely deserves such a detailed video - great work. This sounds super Hi-Fi, jusst as you'd expect from one of the big three)
Finally got mine after eight months. Prolly have to watch this several times because it seems this vid is one of the best tuts of this device on the net. And I’m still looking.
This is such a high quality video. Tons of information with examples and still getting my attention. Just because its long, don't see it as a problem. 10 minute videos are nice but I'd love to see more videos like this from you. Excited for the 100k
The MKII comes with some PC software (perhaps for Mac/iPad as well?) that makes it super fast & easy to load new samples/beats directly to the MKII pads. Just connect the unit to the PC using a USB-C cable and it's instant sample loading.
Glad this product wasn't a myth. I didn't gel with the 404SX, but I'm hoping the screen and extra pads do it for me. So excited that you were able to check it out early.
Thankyou for a great review. I always find your style has natural rapport. I think that I just enjoy watching you build up the review. Thankyou for giving us that dedication. Great 'creative sampler' punchline and resume for an MC707 / Verselab user here.....but it still turns my head.
I had the older one. We're talking COMPACT FLASH. It was worthless, unless you were making lo-fi beats (and I know plenty who used it super well). But this is about to replace my DJS-1000 because it finally has everything I ever wanted and needed in a sampler!
@@BoBeats Tons of great tricks, hitting roll to play the end of the loop was sick, sample chopping in general is big brain...I could go on about the smart lazy chop, or how exciting it is that it exists at all, and my jaw dropped when you scrolled past the effects for 303 vinyl sim, this is clearly a sequel based on user feedback. **I’m a big fan of tutorials baked into an overview, especially for something like this. The details of a workflow might be what makes it click for someone, what makes it clear that it can be a good fit for them and their setup. More of that gets my vote. ** It’s clear that you spent a lot of time with it, really comes off, well done on all fronts. Great stuff Bo, now I’m thinking about emailing Roland myself. LOL
I use my 404A essentially as a bank and I control it via a MIDI channel from my Elektron devices, essentially giving the 404 the Elektron sequencer! I know it’s a pretty simple idea but the 404/Elektron combination (especially the digitone) is like having superpowers. I am so fired up for the MK2 update all of the additional features are going to make my current setup even better which I really didn’t think was possible
@@BoBeats did they tell you anything about midi cc implementation? Being able to control effect parameters and the envelopes with midi cc would make this the undisputed must have piece of gear for 2021/22
As of right now the SP-404A costs more than preordering this lol. It’s kind of funny but also that is seriously rad of Roland to make this so affordable.
Awesome tutorial and review! I'm amazed. Well done Bo and Roland! It may be quirky but it sure seems brilliantly made. The possibilities, wow.. for what it is, exactly :) Think I'll just have to tacke that learning curve, the land beyond seems to promising... I appreciate the work that went into this. Thank you! I want one :)
I’ve watched some of your long form videos and they have been informative. This one is no exception. Finally getting mine this week, so for sure I will watch again. Thanks for this, and congrats on getting past 100K!
I feel like the Digitakt would be the ideal partner to the SP-404. I often yearn for a separate sampler that’s a little more live-friendly when playing out. The Digitakt, as much as I love it, isn’t the greatest live instrument when it comes to improvisation or resampling. The addition of the SP-404 mkII for longer sample playback would allow the Digitakt to shine as what it is at heart: a drum computer.
So funny you made this video. In your discord I mentioned it and the other members didnt seem so stoked so I kind of assumed you also werent into it so it's a pleasant suprised to see this video
Really good video Bo. You are right to point out the limitations. The SP workflow is new to a lot of us so to highlight the strengths and also point out the limitations with the sequencer is important. For me any products like these exist within the Digitakt universe. I see application for quick sampling and realize at least in its current firmware the sequencer is limited. You obtained very musical results which is inspiring. You take it into instrument territory where the music lives. Always appreciate your take.
To be fair though, the musicality comes from Bo sampling from previously made songs that are already musical. This is in no way meant as a criticism of Bo's musicality, it's a criticism of the SP-404. You can't play chromatically or play chords without a LOT of work/workarounds. It looks like a fun sampler, but it's clearly no MPC or a sample-based groovebox.
@@sinewaymusic you can sample good material all day long but you need an ear to bring it together and the taste to know you've got something worthwhile to pursue. Otherwise your point is well taken.
@@scottharris7222 Absolutely, and I should have been clearer probably. Bo was sampling his own songs, so clearly he already qualified as having both the ears and the taste to create musical results. My point was that it isn't really thanks to the 404, in the same way as a true artist can pick up a cheap Bic pen and draw a masterpiece and no one would point out the quality of the Bic pen.
A great nice way to have upgraded an iconic piece of hardware - feels like they've really delivered on this one! Also like what you're doing with it Bo some cool jams on here and your insta rn
I used to watch your channel a wihle ago back when you had ~10k subscribers. I stopped for a while bc I just haven't been doing a lot of music, then this video came up on my recommended. Man your beat making/producing skills have really improved, the tracks in this video sound really good.
holy sh!t.... that went from "ah yeah, some happy-ish sounding chords being played on a pad" to "really distressed Boards of Canada-esque but somehow attention grabbing and immersive" that's some good resamplin!
Thanks for pointing out the inability to sequence the chromatic mode notes. I think that might be a deal breaker for me. I really like the idea of having a bunch of 1-shot synth sounds and being able to sequence different lines from a single 1-shot. Personally, it seems like the Polyend Tracker is a nice alternative.
Tack för en grym video! Mkii ser ut som om den kan bli en kultklassiker med tiden. Gilla! Nu ska jag se vad Jade Wii tycker. Hon verkar vara expert på originalet. Därefter Loopop. Men din "vidjio" var den första jag kollade. 😁👌🏻
After swinging between the new sp 404 mk 2 and the Circuit Rhythm, I have decided to acquire an sp (as fans of this call it), for a personal, sad reason. 7 years ago attending my Grandmother’s funeral, my younger brother and I were discussing music equipment, and him being a hip hop fan (particularly lofi underground hip hop) loved the MPC. I looked at my younger brother and said “Isaac, you do not need an MPC, there’s a unit called the sp 404, that’s portable, well known artist have used to knock out albums, best example J Dilla” used while he had lupus” (J Dilla used an sp303 to produce “Donuts” but..), he looked at me in amazement, I then replied “you could put this thing in a back pack and make music from a bus station, coffee shop, where ever” my brother looked at me and went “Huh?…” 7 years later my brother then passed away due to tragic events, so my next purchase, will be to honor him, and that conversation we had in December 7 years ago (trying not to cry as I type). Sorry for the long post.
@@BoBeats This is my plan with preordering this guy. I’ve built my eurorack towards the goal of live performance but there are of course always limitations in eurorack that make live gigging difficult. I think with the DJ mode on this, it could be a fantastic companion to a modular system just for live performance, uploading songs made on my modular and mixing between them on the fly.
My imagination is going crazy thinking of ways this can be combined with an mc101 for endless crazy portable fun. Feed mc101 patterns into the sp, chop/effect/resample, chain together; layer synth sounds. I could get lost for eons...
Yes but how would you make the actual song? Back to the MC-101 after the SP? Starts to get messy. I wish for blend of MC-101 and SP in one machine. So...faders and song mode, but also sampling and a screen in small battery-operated device.
@@kerosene6317 I definitely see what you're saying. I'd probably record a live jam from the sp404 chops samples onto an empty pad (also on the sp404) using the resample method. I think each pad holds up to 16 minutes of sample time, which will likely be enough, or split it over 2-3 pads if needed. It's not a true song mode, and doesn't really allow for DAW multi track recording, but if you mix as you go before printing to audio, it will still sound good. Very old school workflow, but I get that it's not for everyone.
@@GeorgeL909 Fair enough. I have an MC-101 but find it a bit frustrating and slow to use. I'm still learning it all. Sometimes I wish I got the MC-707 instead of 101. I will get SP404 for sampling, and try to prepare samples for later use in MC-101 for arranging. It seems the SP404 is good for smaller sections, but not really layers, tracks and whole songs.
I've asked the same question on every demo video of this product. It is seen below. I wonder why no one deals with MIDI implimentaion and how well the unit plays with other gear. I think it is such an importmant subject when someone is considering a purchase. MIDI seems to be a dirty word. Even Roland's US office could not tell me if the midi spec had been improved or changed over previous models. No one in any video I've seen has mentioned that the SP 404 mk 2's banks are addressed on different midi channels meaning if you are using an external sequencer you could potentially tie up 10 midi channels.
