Thanks for the video. I bought a second hand and pad 13 triggered whenever i pressed any of the neighboring pads. I opened it up, cleaned everything out, stretched the pads a bit carefully, then put it back together. It responds as new now!!! Superb :) Thanks for the video again, saved me a lot of problems.
@tommyTheCollector I was curious why no one had yet started working on a custom firmware but now it makes sense. A fully custom/proprietary chip. I cry everytime.
Brave tinkering. The reference manual states the internal storage is 16gb, with the maximum sample length being 16 minutes per sample. Roland is using those BMC chips in all they’re current grooveboxes, drum machines, and synths from what I’ve heard. Pretty much anything ACB or ZenCore based. I was in a focus group with Roland folks and they stated that the current flagship Fantom workstation has 5 BMCs vs something like the MC-707 which only has 1.
Also worth noting is that the workflow on the MKII is similar enough, that after I learned how it worked, I also vibed more with the 404A I already had but didn't use much. The MKII basically taught me the A. So yeah, that happened. I also forgot to take the front input/output board out too. For the record, there's not much there, it's just a stack of jacks run to the ribbon cable that connects to the logic board. Sorry.
Nice to see Burr Brown chips. Those MSOP8 chips on the right are likely OPA1662 or some such modern chip, I bet, as opposed to nearly all other gear of any kind are using old NJM4580 chips. IC6 might be the USB interface that enables USB audio and communication judging by the traces I can see. Too bad you didn't set the angle appropriately to read the label on the unknown ISSI chip. IC23 there next to the bigger ESMT chip must be the TPS power supply chip, odd that it had to be placed so far away from the DC input. 24-bit audio chips yet the OS only does 16-bit audio, if I recall correctly, they're doing something similar in JD-Xi as it is 16-bit yet I noticed that its noise floor at its main TS outputs is -120dB, which means 24-bit audio codecs (AKM chips in the JD's case). Seems they want low noise floors in their products. Most other digital gear in music production (ignoring recording interfaces) are likely to sport 16-bit codecs and end up with noise floors between -90dB and -70dB, much more noticeble. Just hitting lower than -90dB with 16-bit chips requires some crazy good engineering (which would drive up the price), if I'm not mistaken, let alone trying to hit the -96dB maximum of 16-bit (which is supposedly impossible in the hardware domain), so to get past -90dB, a 24-bit chip is the more practical answer, I think. We gotta appreciate what Roland is doing with their audio circuitry, lower noise floors are welcome in the grand scheme of things as setups can easily get noisier once you add in mixers, hardware effects (if any), speaker amps, and so forth. So BMC chips are their behavior-modeling stuff? Or maybe that's just the name they went with but underneath the hood the chip is just some proprietary ARM build? SP-404 isn't supposed to sport behavior modeling, as far as I know. That Roland chip is likely just some versatile ARM build with a built-in ROM for their OS.
I couldn’t look away was like a car wreck… I’m one of those guys waiting for theirs since last year thinking about it every day. Watching you take yours apart was like jumping out of an airplane. It was fun. Thanks
Hi Friends…My MK2 Stuck on first screen showing “SP 404” Waited one hour but its not getting on after this screen stuck Do you guys have any solution…will be Appreciable Friends
Dude. Could you fit an Apple AirTag inside this? I know that it will beep if it’s stolen but if it’s screwed inside it’d probably take a while to remove the AirTag and that might be enough for the thief to hopefully abandon it. Especially if I used anti-tamper screws to replace the original screws.
How does working with the 404mk2 compare to the Isla S2400? I know they are very different in specs but I’m curious as to which you would prefer at a live gig
Saw this question wasn't answered so I figured I'd give you my personal opinion. The 404mk2 is an easier and more fun device to use. Both machines have some menus diving but the s2400 does too much as it's trying to be an sp1200, an mpc and a digitakt all in one. (And probably some other machines/maschines). Depending on your work flow you could actually program the same way on both of them if you go a certain route. But out the gate the 404mk2 wins in programming, effects, filters and... making your samples dirty. With that being said the s2400 is still a good joint but for that price you can get 2 404mk2s and have change left for something else to add to the arsenal and you wouldn't miss anything from the s2400.
Thanks for the video. I bought a second hand and pad 13 triggered whenever i pressed any of the neighboring pads. I opened it up, cleaned everything out, stretched the pads a bit carefully, then put it back together. It responds as new now!!! Superb :) Thanks for the video again, saved me a lot of problems.
@tommyTheCollector
I was curious why no one had yet started working on a custom firmware but now it makes sense. A fully custom/proprietary chip. I cry everytime.
The main board looks really beautiful!
Brave tinkering. The reference manual states the internal storage is 16gb, with the maximum sample length being 16 minutes per sample. Roland is using those BMC chips in all they’re current grooveboxes, drum machines, and synths from what I’ve heard. Pretty much anything ACB or ZenCore based. I was in a focus group with Roland folks and they stated that the current flagship Fantom workstation has 5 BMCs vs something like the MC-707 which only has 1.
thank you very much!!
Also worth noting is that the workflow on the MKII is similar enough, that after I learned how it worked, I also vibed more with the 404A I already had but didn't use much. The MKII basically taught me the A. So yeah, that happened.
I also forgot to take the front input/output board out too. For the record, there's not much there, it's just a stack of jacks run to the ribbon cable that connects to the logic board. Sorry.
This was something I never knew I wanted to watch, congrats my dude you’ve earned my interest!
My knobs won’t come off any tips
great vid, thanks!
Nice to see Burr Brown chips. Those MSOP8 chips on the right are likely OPA1662 or some such modern chip, I bet, as opposed to nearly all other gear of any kind are using old NJM4580 chips.
IC6 might be the USB interface that enables USB audio and communication judging by the traces I can see. Too bad you didn't set the angle appropriately to read the label on the unknown ISSI chip. IC23 there next to the bigger ESMT chip must be the TPS power supply chip, odd that it had to be placed so far away from the DC input.
24-bit audio chips yet the OS only does 16-bit audio, if I recall correctly, they're doing something similar in JD-Xi as it is 16-bit yet I noticed that its noise floor at its main TS outputs is -120dB, which means 24-bit audio codecs (AKM chips in the JD's case). Seems they want low noise floors in their products. Most other digital gear in music production (ignoring recording interfaces) are likely to sport 16-bit codecs and end up with noise floors between -90dB and -70dB, much more noticeble. Just hitting lower than -90dB with 16-bit chips requires some crazy good engineering (which would drive up the price), if I'm not mistaken, let alone trying to hit the -96dB maximum of 16-bit (which is supposedly impossible in the hardware domain), so to get past -90dB, a 24-bit chip is the more practical answer, I think. We gotta appreciate what Roland is doing with their audio circuitry, lower noise floors are welcome in the grand scheme of things as setups can easily get noisier once you add in mixers, hardware effects (if any), speaker amps, and so forth.
So BMC chips are their behavior-modeling stuff? Or maybe that's just the name they went with but underneath the hood the chip is just some proprietary ARM build? SP-404 isn't supposed to sport behavior modeling, as far as I know. That Roland chip is likely just some versatile ARM build with a built-in ROM for their OS.
i like the way you look
I am so afraid to do this myself. I'm glad you have the guts and expertise to do this.
I couldn’t look away was like a car wreck… I’m one of those guys waiting for theirs since last year thinking about it every day. Watching you take yours apart was like jumping out of an airplane. It was fun. Thanks
Awesome video. Thanks!!
Nice upload. You think it could be possible to fit a powerbank inside the unit? Does it look like there's room for it?
Doesn't look like it at all. But you can use rechargeable AAs, I recommend Panasonic Eneloops, best stuff out there.
I have been looking at them, how much time do you get out of those?@@Jason75913
Hey I hear a clicking sound when I press my isolator and djfx looper buttons - anything you could think of why ? It’s kinda driving me crazy
There's nothing before 3:40.
I came to watch this mkii get dismantled out of spite for mine taking to long to show up in which I cancelled...
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hi Friends…My MK2 Stuck on first screen showing “SP 404”
Waited one hour but its not getting on after this screen stuck
Do you guys have any solution…will be Appreciable Friends
Do you use the SP404 more or the S2400?
Tom my samples are going on automatic like it's in demo mode how do I make it ✋ stop?
Dude. Could you fit an Apple AirTag inside this? I know that it will beep if it’s stolen but if it’s screwed inside it’d probably take a while to remove the AirTag and that might be enough for the thief to hopefully abandon it.
Especially if I used anti-tamper screws to replace the original screws.
can i fix a sticking or sometimes-responsive pad this way?
How does working with the 404mk2 compare to the Isla S2400? I know they are very different in specs but I’m curious as to which you would prefer at a live gig
Saw this question wasn't answered so I figured I'd give you my personal opinion. The 404mk2 is an easier and more fun device to use. Both machines have some menus diving but the s2400 does too much as it's trying to be an sp1200, an mpc and a digitakt all in one. (And probably some other machines/maschines). Depending on your work flow you could actually program the same way on both of them if you go a certain route. But out the gate the 404mk2 wins in programming, effects, filters and... making your samples dirty. With that being said the s2400 is still a good joint but for that price you can get 2 404mk2s and have change left for something else to add to the arsenal and you wouldn't miss anything from the s2400.
Do you think its going to be easy to repair??
Only if you're good at surface mount soldering.