Roland SP-404

The Roland SP-404 is the defining sampler of the modern beat scene. Released in 2005 as the follow-up to the Boss SP-303, it kept the 303’s lo-fi effects and simple pads, added more of both, and could run on batteries, so producers could make beats anywhere.

From the 303 to the 404

The SP-404 arrived just as Stones Throw’s SP-303 records were building a following. Dan Charnas’s Dilla Time says Peanut Butter Wolf brought J Dilla a just-released SP-404 in the hospital while he was finishing Donuts. Reverb points to Jneiro Jarel’s “Get Yuh Own” (2005) as possibly the first release to feature a 404.

How it works

Twelve pads trigger samples, a pattern sequencer strings them together, and a bank of effects, including vinyl simulation, filters, delay and its famous compressor, lets you bend a loop until it sounds like a record. The original stores samples on CompactFlash; the SX and later models use SD cards.

The beat scene

The 404 became a performance instrument. Producers play whole live sets on it, chopping and resampling through its effects in real time, and it became a signature of the instrumental hip hop and beat scene that grew after Donuts. The SP-404SX (2009), SP-404A (2016) and SP-404MKII (2021) kept the format alive for new generations.

Buying one today

Decide which generation you want: the original or SX for the classic sound and workflow, or the MKII for a screen and far deeper editing. Check every pad, knob and the card slot, and whether a power adapter is included.