SP-404 MKII: Tips and Tricks

[Balor/SS1535]

I recently acquired a SP-404 MKII, and I have been spending the last few days experimenting with it.

While I will be reading up more on how it works, flow of components, etc., I was wondering whether anyone has come across any unique capabilities that might be easily missed/not immediately obvious?

(Any particularly helpful tutorials would also be appreciated!)

[Balor/SS1535]

This is very helpful to me: https://neartao.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/neartaos-sp-404-mk2-guide-0.36.pdf

[Penon]

XNB tutorials in general are very good, I was watching MS-20 one back in days while waiting for it to arrive, and when it was finally delivered, I felt like an advanced user already!

Here is his tutorial on SP404mk2. From memory there are other sp404 tutorials on that channel diving into specific topics like samples but this is the main all round tutorial:

[Ivan Rex]

I recently acquired a SP-404 MKII, and I have been spending the last few days experimenting with it.

While I will be reading up more on how it works, flow of components, etc., I was wondering whether anyone has come across any unique capabilities that might be easily missed/not immediately obvious?

(Any particularly helpful tutorials would also be appreciated!)

What are your overall impressions of working with this model? I had been planning to buy it for a long time, but in the end, my priorities changed. Do you feel that it has too many features, or, on the contrary, has it made your work easier and more interesting? I watched some videos about the MKII, and I find the multicolored lighting very annoying. I wonder if it's possible to reduce the variety of colors in the palette?

[Balor/SS1535]

I recently acquired a SP-404 MKII, and I have been spending the last few days experimenting with it.

While I will be reading up more on how it works, flow of components, etc., I was wondering whether anyone has come across any unique capabilities that might be easily missed/not immediately obvious?

(Any particularly helpful tutorials would also be appreciated!)

What are your overall impressions of working with this model? I had been planning to buy it for a long time, but in the end, my priorities changed. Do you feel that it has too many features, or, on the contrary, has it made your work easier and more interesting? I watched some videos about the MKII, and I find the multicolored lighting very annoying. I wonder if it's possible to reduce the variety of colors in the palette?

To be honest, I have up to this point been experimenting with it as a digital effects unit---which it does beautifully (it even works with my Trogotronic!).  While I have spent some time learning about the sampling features, there is still much more to go before I really "get it."

From the tutorials that I have been watching, however, I don't think it has too many features, as it really just seems to have the same set of features multiplied a ton of times.  i.e. I think it's analogous to a first impression of a studio mixer---so many buttons, etc.---but easily mastered once you realize that there are a ton of buttons simply because there are a ton of channels that all need individual controls.

I think the lighting actually aids in this, as the unit will change color in accordance with the "layer" of sampling you are working with---i.e. whether you are switching the banks containing lots of samples, or working in the interior of those banks between individual samples.  The lighting might also trigger for other things, but that's been the main one I have encountered so far.

[Atrophist]

What are your overall impressions of working with this model? I had been planning to buy it for a long time, but in the end, my priorities changed. Do you feel that it has too many features, or, on the contrary, has it made your work easier and more interesting? I watched some videos about the MKII, and I find the multicolored lighting very annoying. I wonder if it's possible to reduce the variety of colors in the palette?

Yes, it's possible to adjust the different colors, and from what I remember from trying it, it was rather easy to do. The default colors of Bus 1 (orange) and 2 (teal) are ugly and I was going to change them, but in the end ended just sucking it up, I guess.

There are dozens of different button combos that you need to remember, or more likely look up, in order to access the functions behind them. This is not a unit you can use casually now and then.

There are lots of positives about it, practically unlimited length for a single sample (I think actual max length is 11 minutes per sample), zero cross point eliminates annoying snaps or pops in loops, and the effects are pretty decent, if not great.

The sequencer is a bloody nightmare, but thankfully I don't really need it much anyway.