r/sp404mk2

Hey everyone,

I did a small test today with my MPC1000 and SP-404MK2. I took the same drum loop and ran it through the SP-404MK2 with the same effects/settings in two ways:

1. Drum loop through the SP-404MK2, directly recorded into the MPC1000
2. Drum loop recorded/resampled on the SP-404MK2 first, then recorded into the MPC1000

Same loop, same effects, same gain staging as close as possible. Real talk: I honestly can’t hear a difference.

Should I? Or are my ears just trash? I always thought that recording/resampling into the SP-404MK2 itself would maybe add some extra character from the converters or internal recording stage, compared to only using it as an FX box and recording straight into the MPC.

Is the “SP sound” mostly just the effects, compression, resampling workflow, gain staging, and maybe the lo-fi modes, rather than the normal recording converters adding obvious color?

Curious what others think, especially people who use the SP-404MK2 with an MPC or other hardware samplers.

Been considering this unit, reading review and so on. Some reviews criticise it for lack of a step sequencing/editing mode, saying you're reliant on realtime recording (albeit with quant) to create patterns. Other reviews say you can create and edit patterns on a step level.

So, does the SP404MK2 allow this or not? Thanks for clarity!

I have a weird issue.. I can sample audio from my phone to the 404 thru usb and it sounds normal. But any time I record the audio from the 404 to my phone thu usb no matter the app (video recording/open camera/koala/others) the audio comes out distorted like it's in the wrong sample rate/bit crushed

Even if I don't use any effects on the master bus.

I've tried updating firmware and restoring factory settings etc.

Anyone else have this issue?