Engineering:Roland SP-404
 Roland SP-404 Sampling Workstation | |
| Classification | Electronic sampler |
|---|---|
| Developed | Roland 2005 |
The Roland SP-404 Sampling Workstation is a discontinued sampler made by Roland Corporation. Released in 2005,[1] it is part of the SP family and successor to where Boss Corporation’s SP-505 sampler left off. The sampler was succeeded by the SP-555 in 2008, but was later given its own upgrade as the Roland SP-404SX Linear Wave Sampler in 2009.[2] Another upgrade, the Roland SP-404A Linear Wave Sampler was released in 2017. The Roland SP-404 has played a huge role in influencing the sound of popular music genre Lo-Fi Beats. [3]
Features
The following list is a correct order of each installment's release, as an attempt to help musicians avoid any confusion.
- Boss SP-202 (1998)
- Roland SP-808 GrooveSampler (1998)
- Roland SP-808EX E-Mix Studio (2000)
- Boss SP-303 (2001)
- Boss SP-505 (2002)
- Roland SP-606 (2004)
- Roland SP-404 Sampling Workstation (2005)
- Roland SP-555 (2008)
- Roland SP-404SX Linear Wave Sampler (2009)
- Roland SP-404A Linear Wave Sampler (2017)
Having the traditional features of the Roland Grooveboxes, the 404 has the ability to record audio directly via line/mic, or import/export industry-standard WAV and AIF files via CompactFlash card.[4] 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. However, the 404 (along with its own upgrades) lacks the D-Beam feature of the previous SP-808 and SP-606 installments. Although the first bank comes with preset samples that are protected, these samples can be removed by holding "cancel" as you turn it on. This allows you to delete the samples from the protected bank.
In popular culture
A number of musicians have used either the SP-303 and/or the SP-404 as part of their production and performance.
These include Jel, Odd Nosdam, Alias, J Dilla, Madlib, Joji, MF Doom, Jneiro Jarel, Milo, Flying Lotus,[5] James Blake, Samiyam, Ras G, Teebs, Grimes, Pictureplane, 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$e,[6] Jack Medleys Secure Men, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Oneohtrix Point Never (Daniel Lopatin), Matt Mondanile of Ducktails, Devo, Mad Professor, and many others.
Jan Linton was hired by Roland in 2005 to produce a promotional European sound card for the SP404.
See also
References
- ↑ https://www.roland.com/us/products/sp-404/
- ↑ https://www.roland.com/us/products/sp-404sx/
- ↑ https://www.roland.com/us/products/sp-404a/
- ↑ https://rolandus.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201977469-SP-404SX-Exporting-Samples
- ↑ "Flying Lotus: Equipboard". https://equipboard.com/pros/flying-lotus.
- ↑ Sorcinelli, Gino (Jan 15, 2016). "Dibia$e Discusses 303s, 404s, MPCs, and Tape Hiss". https://medium.com/micro-chop/dibia-e-discusses-303s-404s-mpcs-and-tape-hiss-48a2f26a5bb1.
Further reading
- "Roland SP-404SX". Future Music (Future Publishing) (220). ISSN 0967-0378. OCLC 1032779031.
External links
- Roland SP-404 Sampling Workstation, Roland SP-404SX/SP-404A Linear Wave Sampler
- SP-Forums.com - An active forum dedicated to Roland's SP range
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