Roland SP-404 MKII Creative Sampler and Effector

The ultimate SP is here.

Roland SP samplers are the bona fide kings of performance-based beatmaking, celebrated for their distinctive sound and ability to create rapid-fire beats anywhere, anytime. Carefully refined through community feedback and extensive research and development, the SP-404MKII is the ultimate SP sampler. It’s faster and better than ever, with a vivid OLED display, expressive new pads, expanded effects, fluid sequencing and sampling, and a massive library of authentic sounds to inspire your music.

Bigger, better, faster, stronger.

The SP-404MKII has everything people love about its predecessor—with some serious upgrades like 17 ultra-expressive pads and updated knobs for smooth, hands-on control. And beatmaking is even quicker with speedy boot time, swift project loading and sample import, and easy project access via 16 GB of internal storage. Longtime users and new beatmakers alike will feel right at home with the intuitive layout and classic SP effects, plus a revamped sampling and sequencing workflow, Skip Back Sampling for quick performance capture, DJ mode to mix beats live, and more.

Guerilla beatmaking.

People who make music with SP samplers love the rapid workflow, portability, and tactile approach they offer. The SP-404MKII takes this experience even further, retaining the lightweight-yet-rugged design while adding features that make it even easier to create in any scenario. Bang out beats anywhere with AA or mobile battery power, capture audio from or stream direct to your mobile device via USB, or collaborate with a partner using the dual headphones outputs and mic/guitar input.

A sampler with soul.

With the SP404MKII’s vivid OLED screen and zoomable waveform view, sample editing is smooth like butter. Chop up samples by tapping out edit points in real time, or use auto chop to slice samples automatically. Then finesse them with envelope and pitch shift, and use the new resampling workflow to re-record patterns and effects layers for detailed sound design. And with Skip Back Sampling, you can instantly grab those golden moments by capturing up to 40 seconds of audio from your last performance.

Features:

• Vivid OLED display for visual waveform editing, full menu access, and more
• 17 velocity-sensitive, RGB pads with no-click design for smooth playability
• Faster workflow with quick startup and load times, 16 GB internal storage, low-latency pads, and rapid sample editing
• Compact, ultra-lightweight design (2.4 lbs. / 1.1 kg) with versatile power options: USB-C, mobile battery (via USB-C port), six AA batteries, or AC adaptor
• Extensive onboard effects, including SP classics like Vinyl Simulator and DJFX Looper, new Lo-fi, Cassette Simulator, and Resonator effects, and dedicated Vocoder, Auto Pitch, Harmony, and Guitar Amp Simulator effects for the mic/guitar input
• 32-voice polyphony, 160 samples per project, and 16 internal projects for expanded programming possibilities
• Blazing onboard sample editing with real-time or auto-chop mode, auto BPM detect, envelope, pitch shift, and resampling for layering sounds and phrases
• Pre-loaded sound library with 144 high-quality, professionally recorded samples and patterns
• Extensive customization options with removable metal faceplate, downloadable outline template, multiple screensavers, and personalized startup logos
• Upgraded I/O includes 1/4-inch line in/out, 1/4-inch mic/guitar input, 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch headphones outputs, and 1/8-inch TRS MIDI in/out
• New resampling workflow for re-recording with various effects for detailed sound design
• Audio capture and streaming supported with mobile devices and computers via USB-C*
• Skip Back Sampling to automatically capture up to 40 seconds of audio from your last performance
• VariPhrase encoder for high-quality timestretching of pitch and speed parameters
• Bus FX for layering multiple effects, with customizable routing for creating intricate sound textures
• Adjustable quantization and shuffle percentage across multiple note resolutions to customize swing
• Pattern sequencer with the ability to create full songs with BPM per bank, ideal for running backing tracks or programming performances
• Sequence patterns with real-time loop recording or TR-REC step input
• Motion recording for capturing dynamic changes to sub step, pitch, and velocity
• Set shuffle and time signature (1/4–7/4) per pattern
• Chain patterns for automatic playback and use Pad Link to trigger up to four samples with a single press
• DJ Mode enables new approaches to live performance by manipulating and mixing two separate audio files or patterns
• SP-404MKII editor software for Mac and Windows provides direct sample access, detailed waveform editing, sample management, pad assignment, and import of MIDI files and legacy SP-404SX and SP-404A projects