Roland SP-404
|
SP-404 | |
| Classification | Electronic sampler |
|---|---|
| Developed | Roland 2005 |
The Roland SP-404 is a discontinued sampling workstation made by Roland Corporation. Part of the SP family and picking up where Roland’s popular SP-303 sampler left off. With the ability to record audio directly via line/mic, or import/export industry-standard WAV and AIF files via CompactFlash card. An onboard pattern sequencer allows up to 8,000 notes to be recorded in real time. Pattern data can be quantized and up to 24 patterns, each 1–99 measures long, can be stored in the internal memory. Using a 1GB CompactFlash card, sampling times can be as long as approximately 772 minutes in Lo-Fi mode, or up to 386 minutes long in Standard mode.
Features
The SP-404 features:
- 12 large pads, three control knobs, a display, similar operation as the Roland SP-303
- 29 effects, including Subsonic, BPM Looper, among others
- Built-in microphone for sampling
- CD-quality sound
- Expanded sampling time
- 12-voice polyphony (resample polyphony: 4 mono voices OR 1 stereo voice and 2 mono voices OR 2 stereo voices)
- Realtime loop recording
- Sample-editing tools
- Import/export WAV/AIF via CF card slot
- Runs on battery or AC power
Quick Operation Guide
| Purpose | Operation |
|---|---|
| Play a sample | Pad [1]–[12] |
| Play an external input sound | [EXT SOURCE] |
| Mono/stereo setting for external input | [EXT SOURCE] –> [STEREO] |
| Sampling | [REC] –> Pad [1]–[12] –> [REC] |
| Specify auto sampling | [CANCEL] + [REC] –> CTRL 3 (LEVEL) knob –> [REC] |
| Defeat auto sampling | [CANCEL] + [REC] –> turn CTRL 3 (LEVEL) knob to the far left –> [REC] |
| Resampling | [RESAMPLE] –> CTRL 3 (LEVEL) knob –> [REC] –> Pads [1]–[12] –> [REC] –> Pads [1]–[12] |
| Delete individual samples | [DEL] –> Pad [1]–[12] –> [DEL] |
| Delete all samples | [CANCEL] + [DEL] –> BANK [A]–[F/J] –> [DEL] |
| Set the volume of a sample | Pad [1]–[12] –> [START/END/LEVEL] –> CTRL 3 (LEVEL) knob |
| Set start point | Pad [1]–[12] –> [MARK] –> press pad [1]–[12] once again to stop sound |
| Set end point | [MARK] + pad [1]–[12] –> [MARK] |
| Set start/end points | Pad [1]–[12] –> [MARK] –> [MARK] |
| Adjust start/end points | Pad [1]–[12] –> [START/END/LEVEL] –> CTRL 1 (START) knob / CTRL 2 (END) knob |
| Time Modify setting | Pad [1]–[12] –> [TIME/BPM] –> CTRL 1 (TIME) knob |
| Exchange samples between pads | [DEL] + [REC] –> specify source pad –> specify destination pad –> [REC] |
| Save backup | [CANCEL] + BANK [C/G]–[F/J] –> press pad [1]–[12] to specify an area –> [REC] |
| Load backup | [CANCEL] + BANK [A] or [B] –> press pad [1]–[12] to specify the area –> [REC] |
| View remaining sampling time | [REMAIN] |
| Select MFX type (knob-method) | Hold down [MFX] and turn CTRL 3/MFX knob (MFX types 1–24) |
| Select MFX type (button-method) | [MFX] + pad [1]–[12] (MFX types 1–12) |
| Select MFX type (button-method) | [MFX] + [VINYL SIM] + pad [1]–[12] (MFX types 13–24) |
| Specify effect send | [REMAIN] + pad [1]–[12] |
| Effect send for all samples | [REMAIN] + effect button |
| Effect grab | [TAP TEMPO] + effect button |
| Play pattern | [PATTERN SELECT] –> pad [1]–[12] |
| Stop pattern (1) | [CANCEL] |
| Stop pattern (2) | [PATTERN SELECT] –> pad of currently playing pattern |
| Record a pattern | [PATTERN SELECT] –> [REC] –> pad [1]–[12] –> [CANCEL] |
| Specify pattern tempo (1) | [PATTERN SELECT] –> [TIME/BPM] –> CTRL 2 (BPM) knob |
| Specify pattern tempo (2) | [PATTERN SELECT] –> press [TAP TEMPO] several times |
| Quantize setting | While recording a pattern or in recording standby, [QUANTIZE] –> CTRL 3 knob |
| Specify pattern length | In standby mode, [LENGTH] –> CTRL 3 knob |
| Metronome volume setting | While recording a pattern or in recording standby, [START/END/LEVEL] –> CTRL 3 (LEVEL) knob |
| Rehearse pattern recording | During pattern recording, [REC] |
| Delete recorded notes | During pattern recording, [DEL] –> pad [1]–[12] |
| Exchange patterns between pads | [PATTERN SELECT] –> [DEL] + [REC] –> pad [1]–[12] –> pad [1]–[12] –> [REC] |
| Delete individual pattern | [PATTERN SELECT] –> [DEL] –> pad [1]–[12] –> [DEL] |
| Delete all patterns | [PATTERN SELECT] –> [CANCEL] + [DEL] –> BANK [A]–[F/J] –> [DEL] |
| Specify MIDI channel |
Pad [1]–[12] + Switch ON power (Ch 1–12) |
| MIDI synchronization mode setting | [TIME/BPM] + Switch ON power –> CTRL 1 (TIME) knob –> [TIME/BPM] |
| Initialize internal memory | [CANCEL] + [DEL] + [REMAIN] + Switch ON power |
| Turn off Protect | [CANCEL] + Switch ON power |
| Protect a bank A–J | [REMAIN] + Switch ON power |
| Protect bank A | [REMAIN] + BANK [A] + Switch ON power |
| Format memory card | [CANCEL] + [REMAIN] –> BANK [C/G]–[F/J] –> [DEL] |
| Effect Limit Mode | [CANCEL] + [MFX] |
| Send/Return Mode | [CANCEL] + [VINYL SIM] |
| Set the internal processing level | [CANCEL] + [START/END/LEVEL] + CTRL 3 knob |
Musicians
A number of musicians have used either the SP-303 or the SP-404 as part of their production and performance.
These include Jel, Odd Nosdam, Alias, J Dilla, Madlib, MF Doom, Jneiro Jarel, Milo, Flying Lotus, James Blake, Samiyam, Ras G, Teebs, Grimes, Four Tet, Beck Hansen, Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound, Radiohead, Animal Collective, Spindrift, Toro y Moi, Broadcast, John Maus, Ellie Goulding, El Guincho, Illmind, Dibia$e, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Oneohtrix Point Never (Daniel Lopatin), Matt Mondanile of Ducktails and many others.
Jan Linton was hired by Roland in 2005 to produce a promotional European sound card for the SP404.[1]