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From Our Research Team:

A Super-compact, Super-portable Sampler with All the Extras!

Picking up where Roland’s popular SP-303 sampler left off, the new Roland SP-404 Portable Sampler offers more features, more voices, more pads, and more memory. The SP-404 has a sleek silver look, and it adds battery-power compatibility, a CompactFlash slot, and a built-in microphone for quick, stress-free sampling sessions. Just turn it on, aim, and record —no cables and mics to connect. Then get down to the business of making beats and patterns, and add extra color with the great effects built into this little powerhouse. Even with all the bonus features, the Roland SP-404 is still amazingly affordable.

Roland SP-404 Portable Sampler at a Glance:

• Record audio directly or load WAV/AIF files
  
• Create patterns and beats with onboard sequencer
  
• Store dozens of samples and edit with onboard tools
  
• Built-in effects processor with 29 editable effects
  
• Onboard microphone for easy recording
  
• Writes to inexpensive CompactFlash cards

Record audio directly or load WAV/AIF files
The name Roland is synonymous with “great sound,” and the SP-404 Portable Sampler doesn’t disappoint. The sampling and playback quality of this instrument, affordable as it is, is crystal-clear 16-bit/44.1kHz. You can record audio directly into the SP-404, or import/export industry-standard WAV and AIFF files via CompactFlash card. Fear not, lo-fi lovers — the Roland SP-404 Portable Sampler also provides a Lo-Fi sampling mode, so you can scorch, roast, and crunch your audio if desired.

Create patterns and beats with onboard sequencer
After the SP-404 Portable Sampler is loaded with the audio of your choice, the fun begins by creating custom beats and tracks via onboard pattern sequencer. This easy-to-use sequencer allows up to 8000 notes to be recorded in real time at a resolution of 96 PPQN. For perfect playback, your pattern data can be quantized to the note value of your choice. Up to 24 patterns, each 1–99 measures long, can be stored in the internal memory simultaneously. The SP-404 Portable Sampler uses CompactFlash cards so you can save 96 additional patterns with 8,000 notes of recording capacity per card. Use the 12 pads to play individual samples or trigger patterns.

Store dozens of samples and edit with onboard tools
If you need to capture audio fast, the SP-404 Portable Sampler provides an easy, efficient sampling engine; just connect an audio source or external microphone — or use the built-in mic. The SP-404 can house up to 24 samples in memory simultaneously. On CompactFlash cards, you can store up to 96 samples. The SP-404 provides sample-editing tools for setting start and end points, adjusting levels, and more.

Built-in effects processor with 29 editable effects
Roland is also famous for quality effects, and with the SP-404 Portable Sampler you can twist, bend, and animate your audio with the 29 expressive effects, and manipulate them in real time using the front-panel control knobs. Shake the walls with Subsonic. Drive the dance floor wild with the BPM Looper (grab a region on the fly and loop it) and DJFX Looper (change speed and reverse audio to get a turntable scratch-like sound). Also offered: reverb, flanger, delay, voice transformer, distortion, filter, slicer, isolator, vinyl simulator, and more. Best of all, the SP-404’s effects can be applied to multiple samples simultaneously or live input signals. You can also select the multi-effects directly by pressing the MFX button and the corresponding pad at the same time.

Onboard microphone for easy recording
An external microphone can be plugged into the SP-404’s mic input and used to capture audio, but if you want to sample fast and spontaneously you'll love the built-in microphone. Just arm, point, and record! If you want to sample pre-recorded sounds, simply connect your CD player or sound source to the SP-404’s line input jacks (L, R) and sample away. For playback, the SP-404 offers line outputs (L, R) as well as a headphone output for privacy. A MIDI input connector is provided for controlling the SP-404 externally.

Writes to inexpensive CompactFlash cards
The Roland SP-404 comes equipped with an industry-standard CompactFlash slot that accepts cards of up to 1GB capacity. You can even import WAV and AIFF files into the SP-404 via CompactFlash, and vice versa. CF cards are handy, reliable, and readily available on the mass market.


Roland SP-404 Portable Sampler Features:

• 12 large pads, three control knobs, jumbo display, same friendly operation as SP-303
  
• 29 effects, including new Subsonic, BPM Looper, and more
  
• Built-in microphone for quick sampling
  
• CD-quality sound
  
• Up to 772 minutes sampling time with 1GB CompactFlash card!
  
• 12-voice polyphony
  
• Realtime loop recording
  
• Sample-editing tools
  
• Import/export .WAV/AIFF via CompactFlash card slot; supports up to 1GB card
  
• Runs on battery or AC power

Sample up a storm with the Roland SP-404 Portable Sampler!

Specification Detail Manufacturer Part Number SP-404