What’s everyone think of Koala and Roland SP404 mkii joining forces?

MrSmileZ

I was quite surprised to see Koala partnered up to SP404 mkii. What does everyone think about this. Who is using this duo? How is the workflow? What new use does this bring you?

Tarekith

I was surprised too, as Koala is often referred to as a direct competitor to the 404.

robosardine

Is there a link to the story?

Pierre118

https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/60297/sp404-mk2-koala-integration#latest

BiancaNeve

Also on CDM

https://cdm.link/2024/04/roland-sp-404mkii-404/

echoopera

I think it’s awesome. Shows how awesome an iPad is when combined with a hardware controller.

auxmux

Yeah, this is great for both Koala and Roland, esp for Koala. It's making me want a sp404 now.

The exposure is positive for Koala, and from other groups/forums, it's probably the most recognized and used app on iOS already.

wahnfrieden

wouldn't work with the auv3 mode I'm guessing

as a koala user and not sp404, I guess this makes sp404 attractive now over something like a launchpad

SicksentZ

I think it’s a pretty big deal. I’m really excited to see how folks approach the pairing.

It’s nice to see Roland listens to their community when it comes to this product. The team has rolled out a ton of the niche things that are clearly the results of beta testing / user feedback. I’ve owned the 404 MK II since the earliest days and have been blown away by every update.

I’ve only had a bit of time to play around so far, but the stem separation in Koala addresses a big gap that’s showing up in other hardware/software samplers.

I also really like that so many buttons / shortcuts are similar to their Koala equivalent features. And having a dedicated piano roll is nice. The sequencer in the SP is impressive considering it doesn’t use the screen. But now you can play ideas in Koala, easily edit the midi, and then use Skipback sampling to just drop it into the SP. I’m verrrry excited

dendy

@Tarekith said:
I was surprised too, as Koala is often referred to as a direct competitor to the 404.

Well, when you can't beat somebody, join your forces with them :-) I would say it's excellent idea from marketing point of view ..

MrSmileZ

So does the stem separation feature being in koala officially beat Akai to the punch? Hmmm.

thatguysmitty

Been playing around with it…it’s a pretty cool combo for sure!

supadom

@dendy said:

@Tarekith said:
I was surprised too, as Koala is often referred to as a direct competitor to the 404.

Well, when you can't beat somebody, join your forces with them :-) I would say it's excellent idea from marketing point of view ..

Absolutely. I came here to say exactly this. It shows that hardware makers do pay attention to iOS developments. Allowing this Roland embraced the problem and possibly ends up selling some units to Koala users. Genius!

Dham

@supadom said:

@dendy said:

@Tarekith said:
I was surprised too, as Koala is often referred to as a direct competitor to the 404.

Well, when you can't beat somebody, join your forces with them :-) I would say it's excellent idea from marketing point of view ..

Absolutely. I came here to say exactly this. It shows that hardware makers do pay attention to iOS developments. Allowing this Roland embraced the problem and possibly ends up selling some units to Koala users. Genius!

I'm so old I remember when a lot of us thought N.I. was going to do that with iMaschine or that Akai was heading in that direction with iMPC Pro:) Thanks Roland for delivering!

Crano

I guess its a smart business move. Also kinda cool. But I hope they are planning more functionality in the future, like copying data over usb from and to koala. Cause most (if not all) you could already set up yourself before their collab.

Ps. Im wondering if there is a difference in the quality of sound when playing files from koala vs the ‘same’ files from the SP when you got this all hooked up. I think before there was, but not sure if this still was the case when using the SP as the audio interface. But i know the SP has a problem with clipping incoming audio as an interface, because you cant adjust it on the unit.

israelite

@Tarekith said:
I was surprised too, as Koala is often referred to as a direct competitor to the 404.

They are rather doing the same but in two different environments: hardware and software. Its quite logical for them to cooperate. (just ignore YouTube movies teaching you to replace sp404 with a 10$ app

Dham

@Crano said:
I guess its a smart business move. Also kinda cool. But I hope they are planning more functionality in the future, like copying data over usb from and to koala. Cause most (if not all) you could already set up yourself before their collab.

Yeah that's true. It is essentially just a midi controller template at this point. Beatmaker 3 has had this functionality for some time. I also was hoping that the integration would include ways of exchanging kits and projects between Koala and the SP-404 and also IOS Files integration.

BroCoast

So for the people that own the Sp404, does it bring much to the iPad?

Somehow the marketing got me and I am about to buy a 404 but thought I’d just check first.

Fruitbat1919

@BroCoast said:
So for the people that own the Sp404, does it bring much to the iPad?

Somehow the marketing got me and I am about to buy a 404 but thought I’d just check first.

I haven't used Koala much personally, but love to see more hardware companies recognise iOS music making. I simply use my 404 mk2 as my iPads audio interface.

The fact that the iPad can power the 404 mk2 is great for convenience. The iPad is a great companion for feeding sound into the 404 as well. Sample those old touch centric app sounds into the 404 and mess with them until unrecognisable

BroCoast

@Fruitbat1919 said:

@BroCoast said:
So for the people that own the Sp404, does it bring much to the iPad?

Somehow the marketing got me and I am about to buy a 404 but thought I’d just check first.

I haven't used Koala much personally, but love to see more hardware companies recognise iOS music making. I simply use my 404 mk2 as my iPads audio interface.

The fact that the iPad can power the 404 mk2 is great for convenience. The iPad is a great companion for feeding sound into the 404 as well. Sample those old touch centric app sounds into the 404 and mess with them until unrecognisable

Thanks, sounds great. 👍

rs2000

@BroCoast said:
So for the people that own the Sp404, does it bring much to the iPad?

Somehow the marketing got me and I am about to buy a 404 but thought I’d just check first.

It won't add any features that we don't already have in our apps but it will definitely feel different using it 😊
I'm hardly using mine anymore because an iPad in my hands wherever I'm sitting is so much more convenient than being tied to one physical location where all my hardware gear is connected.
Which is not to say that I don't enjoy exactly that sometimes.

Fingolfinzz

Heck yeah, I don’t have a 404 but more attention to iOS music making is always a plus

Dham

@BroCoast said:
So for the people that own the Sp404, does it bring much to the iPad?

Somehow the marketing got me and I am about to buy a 404 but thought I’d just check first.

I also got caught up in the marketing, lol. I had always considered the 404 as an ideal portable companion to the Ipad. The Koala "integration" seemed like the extra touch to make it perfect. But as others have pointed out it really doesn't add anything that couldn't already be done via midi mapping. My other justification was that I would use it to replace my portable audio interface and midi pad controllers. However instead of simplifying my setup it overcomplicated it because of the menu/button diving required to access the functions on the 404. It is sooooooo much nicer being able to navigate samples, kits, projects, etc. on the large Ipad screen instead of the tiny SP404 screen. I ended up returning the 404 and repurchasing the IK Multimedia iRig Pro I/O. Much sleeker, more efficient setup when combined with my bluetooth controllers.

bibenu

@Dham Interested to know your preferred bluetooth controllers ?

Dham

@bibenu said:
@Dham Interested to know your preferred bluetooth controllers ?

Currently I have a Korg Nanokontrol Studio, Nanokey Studio and an X-key Air 25.

BroCoast

@Dham said:

@BroCoast said:
So for the people that own the Sp404, does it bring much to the iPad?

Somehow the marketing got me and I am about to buy a 404 but thought I’d just check first.

I also got caught up in the marketing, lol. I had always considered the 404 as an ideal portable companion to the Ipad. The Koala "integration" seemed like the extra touch to make it perfect. But as others have pointed out it really doesn't add anything that couldn't already be done via midi mapping. My other justification was that I would use it to replace my portable audio interface and midi pad controllers. However instead of simplifying my setup it overcomplicated it because of the menu/button diving required to access the functions on the 404. It is sooooooo much nicer being able to navigate samples, kits, projects, etc. on the large Ipad screen instead of the tiny SP404 screen. I ended up returning the 404 and repurchasing the IK Multimedia iRig Pro I/O. Much sleeker, more efficient setup when combined with my bluetooth controllers.

I see. Typically Roland loses me with their menu diving and having to remember all the button combinations.

You’ve helped me resist for now and I spent that cash on a Volcano Hybrid instead. 😂

Dham

@BroCoast said:

@Dham said:

@BroCoast said:
So for the people that own the Sp404, does it bring much to the iPad?

Somehow the marketing got me and I am about to buy a 404 but thought I’d just check first.

I also got caught up in the marketing, lol. I had always considered the 404 as an ideal portable companion to the Ipad. The Koala "integration" seemed like the extra touch to make it perfect. But as others have pointed out it really doesn't add anything that couldn't already be done via midi mapping. My other justification was that I would use it to replace my portable audio interface and midi pad controllers. However instead of simplifying my setup it overcomplicated it because of the menu/button diving required to access the functions on the 404. It is sooooooo much nicer being able to navigate samples, kits, projects, etc. on the large Ipad screen instead of the tiny SP404 screen. I ended up returning the 404 and repurchasing the IK Multimedia iRig Pro I/O. Much sleeker, more efficient setup when combined with my bluetooth controllers.

I see. Typically Roland loses me with their menu diving and having to remember all the button combinations.

You’ve helped me resist for now and I spent that cash on a Volcano Hybrid instead. 😂

Lol! with the cash I have left over from switching to the iRig interface I'm going to invest in some apps that I have been postponing:) Mariana, Nerd Synth, Loopy Pro and add KingB!