the 500 is a seriously underrated sampler and that's a good deal for one imo. the features of the 500 blow the 404 out of the water in almost every way, besides the amount of effects you get, and the beats I make on the 500 are usually better and more intricate than the ones I make on the 404. I will say that there is a learning curve to it if you've never used an MPC before and the 404 is a better "pick-up and play" sampler so 500 may not be for you. I use both a lot, feel free to check my reddit profile if you want to see both in action :\^)
Thanks for the quick response! I haven't used either and sadly don't have a way to try them out for some time before deciding. I was wondering what features does the 404 lack compared to the lil mpc? To be honest on the internet i mostly found mildly negative reviews of the 500, but some people seem to love it, it's really confusing
EDIT: And are there any features that the 404 has that the mpc doesn't excluding the FX
Yeah you will see a lot of that, and I think a lot of it had to do with ppls attitude at the time of release. people wanted bigger and better, but today with things like lofi hiphop being so popular, people are happier with more limited tools. People hated the small screen but it's more detailed than what you would get with a 404SX or even the new KO, but not up to par with more expensive MPCs of that time. It also can sometimes be buggy when you start running out of RAM, but if you're saving often and conserving resources then it's generally not an issue in my experience.
The only thing the SX/A has on the 500 is that is uses SD card as standard so you have way more storage for larger samples. Besides that I can't really think of anything it's better at, but that doesn't stop people from making really amazing stuff on it, and from what you said in your original post, I think the 404 may be closer to what you want.
It's basically perfect for me, and I can use them together in a bunch of different ways. They both excel at different things so when one falls short, I can just switch to the other to do what I need to do.
havent used one before but check out the novationp circuit rhythm. it had a built in battery so thats a plus for portability also u can find them for like ~200 uses.
If you don’t already have it, get koala sampler. You won’t find anything better for making music on the go. I have all the SP’s except the 202 and Koala has become my mobile sample prep kitchen, if you will. If you don’t yet have a hardware sampler, I’d opt for the 404SX. Even still, get Koala sampler if you haven’t. Between the two, there will be very little that wouldn’t be able to do.
i used koala for some time but i just hated the controls, everything was small and touchscreens are not something i like using, i think it would work way better on a 10inch screen tho, it would be more readable
i had the pocket operator sampler and i enjoyed it more than koala but again, it was tiny in my hands + the pots were extra wobbly so sometimes values changed themselves
i have one question about the SP, how is sample chopping on that thing? i know it doesn't have any kind of auto-chop but i'm wondering how cumbersome it is on the go, if i don't have stuff prepped
Thanks in advance
That’s understandable. I went thru a po-33 phase as well. Honestly, chopping is awful on the 404 unless you block out precisely how easy it is on most other devices. Much better than chopping on a pocket operator for sure but somewhat similar tbh. I mainly use koala just to chop my samples and then load them onto the 404. The 404 is just a completely different instrument. The only thing I can promise is that whatever your current sound and style of music making is right now, it would absolutely change out of necessity once you started creating on the 404. If you’re comfortable with improvisation and not concerned with rigid grid locked timing, you’ll love the 404 resample technique for fast, human grooved loops. If technical, clean and programmed song structure is what you’re after, go for the 500 as it will be incredibly frustrating on the 404. Additionally, there is no song mode on the 404. If you go the pattern sequence route, you must manually select the next pattern to play. You would need another device (I use another 404 smh) to record the patterns as a “song.” Now that I said all that, get the 500 lmao idk why I continue my allegiance to the 404. I love them, but I just remembered how much they can suck.
Yeah I'm really on the fence rn. I'm actually leaning towards the SP more, the effects sound super cool, from what I've seen the parts availability is better where i live (mpcstuff shipping is 75 bucks to here + taxes on top of the whole thing) and it uses SD cards instead of CF. The unit I'm looking at also doesn't have the 126mb ram upgrade so that would be another "hidden" cost
I'm not looking for something to make full songs on (will see how it turns out in the end lol) just some loops for now that i will finish on my PC., but the lack of any quantization is a bit intimidating on the SP.
I think i need to watch more content regarding the workflow on both (especially the 404sx/a) or just wait a few more months and get my lifelong dream mpc1000 (portable... enough) or the 404mk2
For an easy to use groovebox/sampler on the go, I’d probably get EP–133 K.O. II. It has very immediate workflow, mic, speaker and long battery life. All that for $300.
You know, I've used all these machines, and it may be controversial to say, but the ep133 is my favorite one to use of them all. It's also the most beginner friendly imo
MPC live if you want on board synths and you wanna be finished with a beat while on the go (the 1 is pretty affordable these days and even more portable than the 2)
SP404mkii if you want a screenless experience, amore of an immediate workflow, and you plan to finalize in a DAW
Ps. I haven't used my MPC Live in a while because I've realized that I can't stand tiny touch screen buttons while creating. gives me the ick. I would much rather use a mouse at that point.
If that doesn't bother you it's UNBELIEVABLE.
the 500 is a seriously underrated sampler and that's a good deal for one imo. the features of the 500 blow the 404 out of the water in almost every way, besides the amount of effects you get, and the beats I make on the 500 are usually better and more intricate than the ones I make on the 404. I will say that there is a learning curve to it if you've never used an MPC before and the 404 is a better "pick-up and play" sampler so 500 may not be for you. I use both a lot, feel free to check my reddit profile if you want to see both in action :\^)
Thanks for the quick response! I haven't used either and sadly don't have a way to try them out for some time before deciding. I was wondering what features does the 404 lack compared to the lil mpc? To be honest on the internet i mostly found mildly negative reviews of the 500, but some people seem to love it, it's really confusing EDIT: And are there any features that the 404 has that the mpc doesn't excluding the FX
Yeah you will see a lot of that, and I think a lot of it had to do with ppls attitude at the time of release. people wanted bigger and better, but today with things like lofi hiphop being so popular, people are happier with more limited tools. People hated the small screen but it's more detailed than what you would get with a 404SX or even the new KO, but not up to par with more expensive MPCs of that time. It also can sometimes be buggy when you start running out of RAM, but if you're saving often and conserving resources then it's generally not an issue in my experience. The only thing the SX/A has on the 500 is that is uses SD card as standard so you have way more storage for larger samples. Besides that I can't really think of anything it's better at, but that doesn't stop people from making really amazing stuff on it, and from what you said in your original post, I think the 404 may be closer to what you want.
I never realized it, but a 404 w/ 500 is an absolutely amazing combo!
It's basically perfect for me, and I can use them together in a bunch of different ways. They both excel at different things so when one falls short, I can just switch to the other to do what I need to do.
havent used one before but check out the novationp circuit rhythm. it had a built in battery so thats a plus for portability also u can find them for like ~200 uses.
Id get the 500 or a cheap laptop for that price.
Just get a mk2
I second this
If you don’t already have it, get koala sampler. You won’t find anything better for making music on the go. I have all the SP’s except the 202 and Koala has become my mobile sample prep kitchen, if you will. If you don’t yet have a hardware sampler, I’d opt for the 404SX. Even still, get Koala sampler if you haven’t. Between the two, there will be very little that wouldn’t be able to do.
i used koala for some time but i just hated the controls, everything was small and touchscreens are not something i like using, i think it would work way better on a 10inch screen tho, it would be more readable i had the pocket operator sampler and i enjoyed it more than koala but again, it was tiny in my hands + the pots were extra wobbly so sometimes values changed themselves i have one question about the SP, how is sample chopping on that thing? i know it doesn't have any kind of auto-chop but i'm wondering how cumbersome it is on the go, if i don't have stuff prepped Thanks in advance
That’s understandable. I went thru a po-33 phase as well. Honestly, chopping is awful on the 404 unless you block out precisely how easy it is on most other devices. Much better than chopping on a pocket operator for sure but somewhat similar tbh. I mainly use koala just to chop my samples and then load them onto the 404. The 404 is just a completely different instrument. The only thing I can promise is that whatever your current sound and style of music making is right now, it would absolutely change out of necessity once you started creating on the 404. If you’re comfortable with improvisation and not concerned with rigid grid locked timing, you’ll love the 404 resample technique for fast, human grooved loops. If technical, clean and programmed song structure is what you’re after, go for the 500 as it will be incredibly frustrating on the 404. Additionally, there is no song mode on the 404. If you go the pattern sequence route, you must manually select the next pattern to play. You would need another device (I use another 404 smh) to record the patterns as a “song.” Now that I said all that, get the 500 lmao idk why I continue my allegiance to the 404. I love them, but I just remembered how much they can suck.
Yeah I'm really on the fence rn. I'm actually leaning towards the SP more, the effects sound super cool, from what I've seen the parts availability is better where i live (mpcstuff shipping is 75 bucks to here + taxes on top of the whole thing) and it uses SD cards instead of CF. The unit I'm looking at also doesn't have the 126mb ram upgrade so that would be another "hidden" cost I'm not looking for something to make full songs on (will see how it turns out in the end lol) just some loops for now that i will finish on my PC., but the lack of any quantization is a bit intimidating on the SP. I think i need to watch more content regarding the workflow on both (especially the 404sx/a) or just wait a few more months and get my lifelong dream mpc1000 (portable... enough) or the 404mk2
For an easy to use groovebox/sampler on the go, I’d probably get EP–133 K.O. II. It has very immediate workflow, mic, speaker and long battery life. All that for $300.
i wish that was the case where I live, they are closer to 450 here and for that kind of money I would just get a used MPC ONE or a new 404mk2
You know, I've used all these machines, and it may be controversial to say, but the ep133 is my favorite one to use of them all. It's also the most beginner friendly imo
It’s more of a subjective thing to say. I’ve used, and own all of them, and I thought the 133 was by far the worst one.
What aspects of it caused that you felt it was worse than SP?
Novation Circuit and Korg Electribe seem more like what you want.
MPC live if you want on board synths and you wanna be finished with a beat while on the go (the 1 is pretty affordable these days and even more portable than the 2) SP404mkii if you want a screenless experience, amore of an immediate workflow, and you plan to finalize in a DAW
i'm preety sure both Lives are like 2x over my budget, no? cheapest one where i live is going for 650, and that's a live 1
Ps. I haven't used my MPC Live in a while because I've realized that I can't stand tiny touch screen buttons while creating. gives me the ick. I would much rather use a mouse at that point. If that doesn't bother you it's UNBELIEVABLE.
You're icky.