SP-404: Drop knowledge on me please
The-gaffler
2,190 Posts
soooooooo i'm finally coming to realize that it's time to jump into the realm of producing [for fun]. i guess it's time so to speak, since i've been DJ'ing for 9 years, and all those years without any kind of production tool. i've recently gotten some requests from people to do some beats for them based upon what i've let them hear with records, and various loops i've done. my question is this, what's up with new/newer gear? someone's selling an SP-404 for a real good price and i'd like to go pick it up this week if it's legit. i've had a bunch of good deals pass me by on all the classic gear back home and in NYC, but honestly i don't have time to go around hitting every pawn and used music store to haggle on an empty asr10 that may or may not work right. i've got a big vacation planned this summer plus various trips so if i could, i would drop some good money on a nicely taken care of MPC or whatever, but that's just not the case right now. please let me know if the 404 is a good "beginning" venture. i can read manufacturers reviews all day but i wanna hear it from the people. good for laying down a simple drum pattern w/some smooth Farrell-sax overtop?thanks.
Comments
This place should help...
http://sp-forums.com/index.php
That being said if you just need something simple to mess with then that should be fine. I think you can also midi it up to a pc and use it as a midi controller down the road when you want to get into deeper production with DAWs.
One of my homies has the 404 and I would prefer that over a 303. The 404 has a cool built in mic, as well as battery power so you can make beats anywhere. He's actually made some dope beats sampling shit on the subway and making the beats right there with some headphones. Another cool thing about the 404 is it has some more effects than the 303.
If you have a good price on that 404, I'd get it.
Check the MPC-Forums for more info on models that are worth it.
In my opinin if people are selling something really cheap it might just be that it's in bad condition or somethin.
any other input/testimonials would help. i appreciate everyones response!
i tried fruity loops back in '99-00 maybe and hated it. i didn't know that was still around hahaha.
yeah like i said i've passed on two 2000's for $500 from 2 friends last year, but nothing's come up since. i know 500 is only a couple hundreds difference from what i'll get this 404 for, but it is to me right now (going to kobenhavn & norway this summer and would like to "help" out as much as possible with the ladys ticket)
my thing is, i trust those 2 people who were selling it to me. and even though i don't know this guy at least i can test it out on the fly right there before i hand over the [where da] cash [at]. rather than trying to fanagle something off eBay with this missing or that needs replacement whatever-whatevers
RS7000
if you can get one used they run pretty cheap
there was one for around 375 here and i think i sold one for like 350 or so
it's well worth it
better/more forgiving sequencer, better pitch shifting, better feeling pads, midi out so you can use it as a controller, track mute, more polyphony.
404 has more effects, but i dont really use anything out side of delays and light reverb and compression which the 500 has.
50% soulstrut
50% all videos of audible crap people are making with it
i know i shouldn't just go off of the 10 or so videos i saw, but rather what i could do with it...but i just kept shaking my head and said "yeah, lemme hustle some stuffs on ebay for the extra money"
thanks my side hawgs