Update 4.04 has brought the much-requested feature of live looping to the SP404 MK2. While limited, the SP404 MK2 looper can serve as a great sketchpad, live performance tool, and even a sound design tool. First, let’s break down its features and how it works. Then we’ll look at how to "Mix" your layers, and finally, some workflow ideas for incorporating it into your productions. To enable the feature, you must press Shift + Enter and replace Skipback with the looper. You have to choose whether the looper or skipback is set to mark; however, you can swap back and forth by using this same button prompt.
For a breakdown of how to use the looper, watch this video:
Looper Tips & Tricks:
Live Mixing - Creatively use the bus fx when recording each layer. When mix is set to looper, bus fx will only work on what you’re dubbing, e.g., you could apply isolator on the kick, then reverb on the snare, then ko-da-ma on the synth etc. This is your “live” mixer.
Consider layers - You can only undo/mute the latest overdub, but use that to your advantage. You can do drum dropouts first, then bring in the bass, then melody etc.
Bus Routing - While looping, the mix must be set to looper, but you can still use the bus fx on each loop layer. Depending on routing, you can get 4 fx per loop layer if 1 & 2 are set to serial. One issue I’ve found is the looper’s routing for bus 3 & 4 is a bit weird so if you find your layers are getting distorted or clipping, shut off bus 3 & 4 until you’ve finished the layers and then turn it on.
I believe the looper runs through bus 3 & 4 when set to looper routing, so every layer will get baked in with 3 & 4 and then hit again when playing. (Similar to resampling with 3 & 4 on, the resampled pad will have the fx of 3 & 4 baked in and then 3 & 4 will be added to the end sound).
4 Workflow ideas to incorporate it into any setup:
Sketchpad/Quick Ideas:
Get a vibe going and copy to pad to save it. You can also copy every layer to a pad and then build it cleanly in the pattern sequencer. Another option is to recreate the idea in the pattern sequencer once you're happy with an idea.
Turn Your DAW/External Gear Into a Hardware Looper:
Using USB C, you can use VSTs from the DAW as a sound source and loop them, then build other sounds from the SP on top. For more on USB-C, check out this post. This workflow would also work with hardware since they both would come through as “external Instrument” on the SP, for example, you could loop a dawless setup or a guitar into the SP and build ideas with that gear.
Live performance Tool:
While a bit basic, you can build up tracks using the layers. If needing to drop parts out after layering, you could do a combination of layers and triggering sample pads when not in the overdub setting. For example, you could record some guitar, then shut off the "record" and trigger a sample pad of a drum beat. From there you can turn on and off the drum pad (though it would have to be retriggered on time). The Looper is a little limited with how the mutes work (can only undo/redo (or Mute) the latest overdub), so if you're solely using the looper, you'll have to get creative with how you build the layers and muting/unmuting.
Sound Design:
The Play Rate setting is amazing for creating happy accidents from loops. See what happens when you drop or raise loops in the play rate. I typically record in a sound, then drop its play rate, copy the new version and build more from there.
Want to make the most out of the new SP404 Live Looper? Check Out My SP404 MK2 Cheat Sheet for a quick start guide and easy to navigate references for all of the SP's features.