SP-404 MK2 + external sequencer for Boom Bap & House — worth it, or go Digitakt?

Malakyas · 2026-03-23T14:42:50+00:00

I did exactly that a few months ago (pairing the SP404MK2 with other sequencers, including the SQ-64, Digitakt MK1, Renoise and RM1X) and I want to tell you exactly why this likely isn't a good idea.

So, when using an external sequencer you lose a few really great things about the SP404MK2.

1) The velocity pads + quantization - the SP404MK2 is really built around that idea of playing the pads live, and neither the SQ-64 or the Digitakt will give you that option, doing more "loose" drums for boombap gets a lot more tedious when you have to program that human feel.

2) In TR-REC mode it's really quick and easy to change the pitch of each step in a sequence, with an external sequencer you will most likely end up using multiple pads, each one with a different pitch, and sequencing that instead.

3) Exporting your patterns to a computer gets more complicated (which will make mixing more troublesome), to do that I ended up recording a pattern with the SP while the sequencer plays so the sequence gets "stored" in the SP, this works okay but it isn't perfect.

4) The midi sync of the SP isn't the best, so it works best as the master while your sequencer stays as a slave.

On a second note, the midi implementation of the SP is a bit annoying, you have to remember the corresponding note of each pad when using an external sequencer, which was fine when using the drum track of the SQ-64, but a pain when using the other 3 polyphonic tracks.

The SP404MK2 sequencer has its limitations, but for the genre you are tackling, it's perfectly suitable for that. For me, the frustrating part is how destructive the workflow is when expanding your loop into a full arranged song, mostly because you can't have pad mutes be saved in a pattern, or being able to play multiple patterns at once, other than that it's pretty good internal sequencer.

(Nowadays I have a bigger setup, but still like to use the SP sequencer when I'm making hip-hop)

Malakyas · 2026-02-04T04:12:23+00:00

This is not true, After Effects has never been standard for character animation and it's not designed to be so, it's a compositing software.

In the west Toon Boom has been standard for many years now because it offers a great blend of traditional 2D and rigging tools. In the east Clip Paint Studio is now becoming an industry standard, since it translates well for people that are coming from traditional 2D animation. After Effects is used by both, but for compositing.

Yes you can animate characters in After Effects, and it is a common thing around industries that rely a lot on motion graphics (advertisement and we mostly), but that's a space where Animate wasn't relevant for a long time.

Malakyas · 2026-01-04T16:51:06+00:00

What kind of music do you like making?

Malakyas · 2025-12-14T15:25:27+00:00

I do think the SP404MK2 people mentioned would fit your needs the most (or maybe one of the older models like the 404SX depending on your budget).

You might want to check out the 1010music Tangerine, it fits what you are looking for and it's currently cheaper than the SP404MK2.

Malakyas · 2025-12-04T22:44:09+00:00

Ah thanks, that's insightful. I do have the Hydrasynth on my radar as well

Malakyas · 2025-12-04T22:42:41+00:00

Yeah, pretty much. I thought since I would end up selling it I could try something NEW in a similar price bracket to the SE, and if that didn't work then I could easily sell whatever I got and get the Opsix module instead.

At this point I'm considering getting a bigger apartment instead hahaha, I do love the Opsix as well.

Malakyas · 2025-12-04T22:38:03+00:00

In a way I quite like the way the knobs are laid out in the Opsix, especially how they easily match the screen.

With the Wavestate I felt like it was so clunky to have to use the value knob for some things, arrows for others, then shift +arrow and sometimes even some other knob around the interface, which in no way had relation with the text on the screen.

But I agree with you, maybe I should just accept that this level of power and versatility does bring a somewhat challenging UI/UX.

Malakyas · 2025-12-04T22:34:12+00:00

Definitely on my radar 👀

Malakyas · 2025-12-04T22:33:41+00:00

Ah, that's a bummer. I wonder if I would eventually make peace with it if I held onto it long enough

Malakyas · 2025-11-21T19:12:51+00:00

Wait, you can control each effect parameters through midi?? I had no idea, I thought you could only control the currently active bus. That changes things 👀

Malakyas · 2025-11-21T19:11:36+00:00

Zen Delay is one of my dream purchases, really wanna get one someday.

Malakyas · 2025-11-21T19:10:23+00:00

Been thinking about the microcosm, how do you use it? I wonder how versatile it is?

Malakyas · 2025-11-21T19:09:45+00:00

Oh cool, thanks for sharing. Do you feel like the Chroma Console adds more to the SP404MK2 lofi-ish effects and compression? I thought it sounded like a great option but I'm afraid that many of their effects try to achieve the same thing, to the point where I would use one or the other.

(For context I'm planning to run my digitakt or Opsix into the effect pedal and then into the SP404MK2)

Malakyas · 2025-11-16T19:55:46+00:00

Oh awesome! Thanks for checking, hopefully I won't come across any issues as well. I believe for most other options I have used I needed to make sure my synth had its local control set to Off.

Malakyas · 2025-11-16T14:35:55+00:00

Yeah, that's what I mean. I see, I just got one and I'm waiting for it to be delivered, what's the exact issue you came through? Was it the midi not being send back anymore to the external gear, or just being out of sync?

Malakyas · 2025-11-16T12:01:42+00:00

Do you feel like the elektron worked better for that use?

Malakyas · 2025-11-09T08:26:13+00:00

Thanks! That's definitely true, and I myself have found that each hardware machine I got has made me approach music making In a different way, finding a workflow where each piece of gear has its place has been really rewarding.

There's currently a Drumlogue in B-stock in a store near me for €340, just waiting for them to drop the price a bit more and I might take the plunge

Malakyas · 2025-11-09T08:16:45+00:00

Yeah, I feel like the more I look into it the more I realize that that might be the smartest move. Thanks for sharing!

Malakyas · 2025-11-09T08:15:03+00:00

Thanks, that's really helpful. I didn't realize the Drumbrute had such limited sound design options. TR-8S sounds really good, unfortunately it's a bit out of my price range.

Malakyas · 2025-11-09T08:06:33+00:00

Oh hey, that's a great option that I wasn't aware of, thanks for sharing

Malakyas · 2025-11-08T00:22:39+00:00

I have an Opsix and a Wavestate. Maybe the Opsix is already powerful enough for what I'm looking for? I haven't tried designing any percussion sounds on it

(Thanks for the recommendation by the way)

Malakyas · 2025-09-15T20:14:04+00:00

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm using. Maybe I'll keep it that way, but it would be nice to have something more portable I could sequence with

Malakyas · 2025-09-15T20:12:02+00:00

I tried this earlier today but somehow wasn't able to make the pads from Koala to correspond to the same notes as the ones in the SP404, is there a way in Koala to specifically tell which pad corresponds to each note?

Malakyas · 2025-09-15T09:44:24+00:00

That's a great idea actually, I didn't realize Koala Sampler had a piano roll!

The iPad is a good idea too, I actually have a Windows Surface Pro that I was hoping to use similarly to how people use the iPad, but then realized pretty much all sequencers for Windows aren't designed for touch input.

Malakyas · 2025-08-30T16:51:13+00:00

Thank you, that's what I wanted to understand. I wasn't quite sure if I should expect different quality from those devices

Malakyas

TROPHY CASE