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Roland SP-404MKII

126 Customer ratings

4.8 / 5

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66 Reviews

Roland SP-404MKII
$485
The shipping costs are calculated on the checkout page.
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1
TJ
Maybe not just for LoFi, but definitely just for Dusty
The Jwalker 01.10.2024
A lot have been said about this box, these are my two cents that hopefully will be helpful:
Maybe it's just me (although the prominent opinion says otherwise), but for better or worse- I find this sampler to be a tool for a very specific type of productions, i.e ( and you might have already guessed it): BoomBap/LoFi/Trip Hop/ shoegaze?/ "old school anything"... you get the idea. Even with all the great version upgrades, features, mfx. Even if you master all the weird shortcuts and button combinations that you need to remember (and boy if things like that can get in your way, look elsewhere) - the sound and production is still geared towards that "Dusty" result. Yes, you can use it with other gear/tools/daw, yet again - maybe it's just me, but I find that there is a curve that says: The more you utilize it in you production, the "Dustier" the result will get. the fx are great, but more often than not, their sound is inherently distinguished with proclivity to the above mentioned description. This is not a box for meticulous sequencing, precise automation or surgical sound designed. This is not a sampler for pristine sound productions. It's Gritty, Dusty, Raw, demands resampling, chopping and resampling again, repeat.
It's perfect for making amazing imperfections. Yes, you can use it as a sketchbook and finish the track in the daw/elsewhere, but there are better options to do just that and this is not a reason for getting this box IMHO. Yes, limitations breed creativity, but it's a very specific type of creativity with this one. This is all a blessing and curse, because if all of the above is the type of sound you are looking for, then there is no better tool that will give you such immediate (and somewhat addictive) workflow for that hands on smokey creativity.
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Great machine if you know the limitations
Moai 20.09.2024
The SP 404 mk2 is a great machine for what it’s designed to do, but keep your expectations in check - the shortcuts can become quite complex, and at times, it feels more like programming than making music. While each software update introduces new features, they tend to add complexity. I love it as an FX machine, but I find the sequencing features lacking. It's definitely a great buy if you're aware of its limitations and know you'll be using it within those boundaries; otherwise, you might end up feeling frustrated.
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Escargot_69 26.12.2024
First time with a real hands on sampler, I've been producing on a DAW for a long time but have always wanted to get into a more live approach with this kind of hardware.

Overall the features are pretty cool, tho I find it hard and a little mindbending sometimes to figure out how to get certain things done.

For now I mostly use it for live performances; you can make so many sounds wild with the effects on the go. I also think the addition of a looper into the system was a great idea, just what it needed with the new updates to enhance the experience.

All in all pretty sweet.
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Roland SP-404MKII