Roland SPD-S

[danander11]

Does anyone here use this little bugger? And/or can you steer me to somewhere that might have a video or some sound clips on what it can do?

I'm looking to add something to my kit that will allow me to use percussion, sound effects, sampled bits, etc..

Thanks in advance!

[DamoSyzygy]

The SPD-S is perfect for what you wish to do.

You can record samples either via line-in, or with a mic, and sounds are recorded as .wav or.AIFF files, which means they can be created on pc via protools, etc.

Its a very durable unit and very easy to use, but one minor drawback is that the expansion cards used are CompactFlash and only accomodate a maxium memory of 512MB. Why is this a problem? Because CF cards are now all 1GB and more, which means 512MB cards can be difficult to find.

[harryconway]

Johnny Rabb will be glad to show you http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=537&skip=true&page=video&file=spd_s_sampling.flv I've had mine for 3 years (something like that). Wonderful machine. I run mine in stereo. A dry channel and a wet channel. Into two Roland PM-1s. Wet channel runs thry a Electro-Harmonix 16 Sec. loop station and a Ernie Ball Jr. volume pedal, so I can fade my loops in and out of the mix.

[danander11]

Johnny Rabb will be glad to show you http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=537&skip=true&page=video&file=spd_s_sampling.flv I've had mine for 3 years (something like that). Wonderful machine. I run mine in stereo. A dry channel and a wet channel. Into two Roland PM-1s. Wet channel runs thry a Electro-Harmonix 16 Sec. loop station and a Ernie Ball Jr. volume pedal, so I can fade my loops in and out of the mix.

Many thanks Brother...

Exactly what I was hoping to find.. I'll do some more snooping around on youtube and such, but I'm pretty sold that this is what I want.. Now, if I can just find one in my price range LOL..

Peace!

[harryconway]

I picked up mine used for $325. I've got 2 CF cards full of sound effects and samples, including a helicopter flying a search pattern, in stereo.

[danander11]

I picked up mine used for $325. I've got 2 CF cards full of sound effects and samples, including a helicopter flying a search pattern, in stereo.

I'm doing the 'Ebay-Shuffle' to find one as well.. There was only one for sale anywhere near me.. they lowered it from $1600 to $1200 and someone snapped it up.. sigh. They are selling in the states for about $450-500.. and shipping is less than $100.. Sometimes folks amaze me in their desire to waste money.. but as long as people keep on buying at those prices, they'll keep on selling them..

I found a few more videos on youtube doing some nice things.. I think it will do exactly what I want it to.

Thanks for all of your help.. and expect an IM or three when I get one LOL..

Peace!

[Shemp McWhitey]

Actually a fellow employee told me about BPMmusic.com. They are a distributor of Roland products...I just picked it up about a month ago. $399. Pretty sure free shipping if over $200. Excellent customer service.

[danander11]

Actually a fellow employee told me about BPMmusic.com. They are a distributor of Roland products...I just picked it up about a month ago. $399. Pretty sure free shipping if over $200. Excellent customer service.

Thanks, The price is excellent, but shipping to where I live now would be a lot.. however, my last ebay quest is not turning out so good so I may just do it if they will ship here.

Peace!

[DamoSyzygy]

They are selling in the states for about $450-500.. and shipping is less than $100..
Technically speaking, every Roland retailer the world over is under contract not to sell gear outside of its own territory. Basically, A US store selling Roland can only sell to US customers and the same with Australian retailers. If they are caught not abiding by this, they can have their entire account with Roland shut down.

If a store deliberately ignored their contractual obligations for the sake of one SPD-s sale, youd have to wonder whether they are the kind of store you want to be buying from anyway.

[danander11]

Technically speaking, every Roland retailer the world over is under contract not to sell gear outside of its own territory. Basically, A US store selling Roland can only sell to US customers and the same with Australian retailers. If they are caught not abiding by this, they can have their entire account with Roland shut down.

If a store deliberately ignored their contractual obligations for the sake of one SPD-s sale, youd have to wonder whether they are the kind of store you want to be buying from anyway.

That's what they said too.. I can always have my brother pick one up for me.. I probably won't be visiting the states for 6 months or so. They retail here for $1600 and sell, when you can find one, for around $1200.. Some on Ebay, but they go for $600+ and up...

Sigh..

[Fastlane]

i think there wicked a really good add on to any set up

[oops]

Ah the SPD-S.

I bought mine for about $750 AU. You can seriously get it from the US for about that much. Billy Hydes here retails for $1,000.

It's a ridiculously cool idea, the only thing they need to work on is a better way to type in names. You have to scroll through the letters, so if you give your loop a name like "HouseTechnoGroove" it takes you 5 minutes just to get the name in.

Otherwise it does everything I want it to. Just working around to buying a kick trigger for it, and i'll be all over the place.

[DamoSyzygy]

They retail here for $1600 and sell, when you can find one, for around $1200

The retail price has come down. If Im not mistaken, they now retail at either $995 or $1195 in AU (I cant remember!)

Ill check tomorrow and let you know. My work has some going out on special at the moment.

[MykeyInChains]

I have an SPD-S, newly acquired, and lemme tell you, I find myself using it all the time. I recently got a larger memory card so I never run out of sounds I want. I have made my own sounds using Fruity Loops, a rap beat making program. It helps cause I can make long drones in whatever key the songs are in. It helps to make your own sounds. Plus, you can add random sound effects that the SPD-S didn't include in stock form.

[danander11]

The retail price has come down. If Im not mistaken, they now retail at either $995 or $1195 in AU (I cant remember!)

Ill check tomorrow and let you know. My work has some going out on special at the moment.

I regularly swing by the Billy Hydes near where I work.. They seem to be the largest chain in Aus.. (I moved here 3 years ago from the US). That is how I get my info.. The Drum Factory has always been a bit higher on things than BH.

The thing that kills me is the way things are priced here in Aus.. The exact same unit sell new in the states for around $500, (some places less). Shipping via the US post office is around $80.. add in the current exchange rate and you are still under $700 AuD. It sticks in my craw to have to pay the extra $300.

I suppose I should get used to it since this is my home now.. but $300 is a new cymbal or snare or a box of sticks.. (or a weekend away Wifey says).. LOL

When the time is right, I'll find a deal. I've pretty much convinced myself that having one is necessary ;-)

Peace!

[DamoSyzygy]

^ I definitely hear you on that one!


By the way, The correct retail for the SPD-S in Australia is currently $1195.

[davidm64]

Hi i got my roland spds and it worked fine suddenly the pads stop working when you hit them there is no sound, there is no star/stop funtion working (ther is no pad recognition) non lights turn on.

there is some way to reset this machine????

[THE BENELUX]

Take a look at this video to see de spd-s in use:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql6Agc5nXUQ

[rothko]

Hey guys,
I want to connect my Roland SPD-S Drum Sampler via MIDI cable to my MacBook Pro and record performances/drum patterns straight into Logic Express.

Is this possible and what sort of MIDI cable do I need? A MIDI USB cable?
Sorry for the dumb question!

Thanks,
Ed

[MusiQmaN]

Im using a standard midi cable, that goes into my Presonus Firebox (also high end audio interface) In the spd-s I set the midi channel's and numbers connect it to my MBP with Ableton or Logic, set the right samples and matching channels' and numbers and just play.

Works fine.

Or like sample master swiss Chris... use 2 ;)

[rothko]

Thanks MusiQmaN.

So what I was missing from my set up was a recording interface right?
In your case you use a Presonus Firebox.

So I have to use one, I can't go direct from SPD-S to MBP right?

[MusiQmaN]

Well you can use any (cheap) (midi) interface that supports midi in/out (sometimes even trough)

The reason that I use the Firebox is that it also works standalone as a monitor mixer.

[Solaris]

Silly question, but does the TMC-6 work with the SPD-S?

I want to add sampling capability to my kit, but as well as triggering loops, I want to have 2 pads, kd-7 and hihat control with one shot triggers as well. The SPD-S only has the one trigger output and one foot switch output, so instead I was thinking of patch all my trigger pads through the TMC and then linking that to the SPD-S via MIDI.

[Shedboyxx]

Silly question, but does the TMC-6 work with the SPD-S?

I want to add sampling capability to my kit, but as well as triggering loops, I want to have 2 pads, kd-7 and hihat control with one shot triggers as well. The SPD-S only has the one trigger output and one foot switch output, so instead I was thinking of patch all my trigger pads through the TMC and then linking that to the SPD-S via MIDI.

Sure it does.

You've figured it out for the most part. You'll have as many samples to trigger as there are pads on the SPD-S (I have one by the way) By using the TMC unit you are addressing the SPD-S as a pure sound source via MIDI. Unless of course you decide to use the built-in pads/edge triggers as well.

I've considered doing this myself but haven't been able to justify it as my gigs don't call for it. One thing to keep in mind is that although you may be triggering bass drum, snare drum, toms, etc., you will only have Left and Right Stereo Outputs to pan to. Therefore the EQ and levels will have to be dealt with to be effective.

HTH

Jim

[spd-s]

Hey guys,

I have a Clap sampler sound but it has a kinda noisy sound like when you scream in a big empty hall. what is the best way to fix it? which software should i use.


Thanks

[Frank M]

I am having trouble with my spds. the lower mid pad is receiving simpathy hits from the other pads being struck. is anyone else having this problem??

[Shedboyxx]

I am having trouble with my spds. the lower mid pad is receiving simpathy hits from the other pads being struck. is anyone else having this problem??


I haven't had that problem.....yet. :)

However, there is some kind of setting in the manual for adjusting for that. I remember reading about it although I can't remember exactly what it was ("Mask time" setting?). Peruse the back of the manual where they go into depth about settings and features and you'll be able to dial it in better. If you get stumped, call Roland tech support after the weekend.

HTH

Jim

[Frank M]

I tried all the sensativety settings but the problem is that the 6 lower pads adjust as a group, not indivdualy. I guess I will call roland on monday. thanks for the input.

[mcbike]

I just picked one of these up at guitar center, i'm pretty excited. it was on sale for $450 plus I got 15% off with the black friday coupon! I got a 2 gig cf card, I read somewhere that you can partition it and leave a 512 mb partition that the spd-s will read.

[Frank M]

they have the 512 mb cards on amazon.com they are just $13 just make sure they are type 1 cf. BTW, regarding the issue i had with the pads false trigering, i installed rubber wahers between the mount plate and the unit. it seemed to do the trick.

[mcbike]

http://www.amazon.com/GZMC100US-GZMC200-GZMC200US-GZMC500US-DIGITAL/dp/B000WHHBDU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1259357891&sr=8-1

Does that one work? do you have a link for the card your talking about?

[Frank M]

this is the one I purchased and it works fine. if you set your samples to (standard) you can put like 6 hrs of sounds on this card

http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-TS512MCF80-512MB-Compact-Flash/dp/B0009VPFSW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1259369200&sr=8-2

[Shedboyxx]

... BTW, regarding the issue i had with the pads false trigering, i installed rubber wahers between the mount plate and the unit. it seemed to do the trick.


Cool. That's one to remember if I start having issues.

[mcbike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BP8DmbKHOA

I made a short video of my first try messing with the sampler. It is pretty easy to use, and set up. I had a hard time playing the kick drum with my left hand, so I will probably buy an external kickpad to use.

I have a hip-hop gig on the 26th, and I can probably get a few songs together by then for the freestyle parts of the show.

Once I get my cf cards in this week I will be able to trim up those samples on the computer so they loop better.

[Frank M]

well, the rubber washers did not work, i hit the pad for the hellocopter sound for pink floyd and it mixed with the car crash sound for kiss detroit rock city. two sounds that just dont go together. especialy live. :( off to the service center.

[justkeepsmiling?]

I use a Roland SPD-S in my band,*You can see it in my avatar below my mac* triggering various loops, although I tend to set the pads up to play through, rather than having to keep triggering the pads myself. So its much like an on/off for the loop.

I don't tend to use it much for percussion sounds, and frankly in my opinion most of the preset sounds are pretty lame.

I also add a Roland V Drum pad on it for odd snare sounds.

Overall for me , its a really important bit of kit for what I do.
However, its an expensive bit of kit, and I doubt, if I did not need it I would buy it.
Could get a new couple of cymbals with that money!
And if you're looking at it for home use, you'll probably want some kind of monitor....here come the extras! :-)

I think the Roland SPD20 may be more suited to pure percussion sounds rather than the SPDS which is more for triggering?

Has anyone seen the new Yamaha DTX-MULTI12.

Looks quite cool! :-)

[BrooksB]

I just picked up my SPD. I want to incorporate some samples in my shows. Of course it takes a while to read the book but I really want to know how to get samples like the Pink Floyd "Airplane sound" on in the Flesh as well as the scream in alot of their songs. Additionally, the Liverpool sample at the end of Wish you were here. Any suggestions? I need all the help I can get!!

[Frank M]

I loaded the sounds from the original tracks into Pyro audio creator and cut the sections of the tracks i wanted to sample. just play it back from your pc headphone jack to the input jacks on the spds, press the sample button, adjust the level(small nob by the input jack) press the start/stop button and the sound clip together, press start/stop again to stop. follow steps from there to assign.

[AliceD]

One question to everyone who use this SPD-S.. what about the sound???
i read that the SPD-S only has 16bit sound-quallity.. that i think is very less
and far away from a professional drum-kit...

what you think abaut the sound-quallity... ireally wanna know, thx.

[Frank M]

for the amount of time my loops and clips play, plus our pa is not a stereo rig, 98% of the crowd would never know the difference between 16 and 64 bit. also, i dont use the spds in the studio. Live only. so for me it doesn't matter.

[BrooksB]

Hey Thanks alot Frank! I guess I can get the Pyro audio creator online?

[MusiQmaN]

I loaded the sounds from the original tracks into Pyro audio creator and cut the sections of the tracks i wanted to sample. just play it back from your pc headphone jack to the input jacks on the spds, press the sample button, adjust the level(small nob by the input jack) press the start/stop button and the sound clip together, press start/stop again to stop. follow steps from there to assign.

But what about the surrounding/other sounds on the record. You can never filter those a way perfect. I think its better to find sounds from online sound libraries (like freesound.com and soundsnap.com )

It was here where I found my sounds like the ''Bell'' sound from High Hopes.

I also think its better to have 16bit sound (like on the new DTXM12 witich has great percussion, orchestral AND marching sounds to btw) although you will not hear it that good. You will here the differences and broad sound of a higher bitrate imo.

[davchristo]

Bonjour,

Je suis Français, alors je vais écrire en français et en anglais ! ;)

Depuis la semaine dernière, j'ai un problème avec mon pad n°5 qui marche mal : il ne répond pas tout le temps, j'ai remarqué que lorsque je frappe doucement, pas trop vite, il répond, mais dès que je frappe un peu plus fort, ou plus vite, il ne répond plus! Également, après avoir frappé le pad n°5, je passe sur un autre pad qui me déclenche le pad n°5! J'ai également essayer de modifier la vélocité,... rien n'a changer.

Savez-vous à quoi cela est dû et comment faire pour réparer ça S.V.P. ???

J'attends vos réponses c'est urgent!

MERCI

--------------

Hello,

I am French, so I'll write in French and English! ;)

Since last week, I have a problem with my pad # 5 is working badly: he does not answer all the time, I noticed that when I knock gently, not too fast, he plays normaly, but when I hit a little louder, or faster, it doesn't play! Also, after hitting the pad # 5, I switch to another pad that triggers my pad # 5! I also try to change the velocity ... nothing has changed.

Do you know why that is and how to fix it please??

I wait your response is urgent!

THANK YOU

[DrummingIsArt]

SPD-S Rocks!

I have been having this problem for a while now:

I create shorter sounds on my CPU such as delayed snare drum sounds (dub reggae style), hand claps with effects, and other short "shots" that I load with delay, distortion, or reverb using Logic 9.

When I load the sounds to the SPD-S via memory card, the card reads "Not Supported".

They have the .wav extension that it requires. I read in the manual that if some sounds are short (mine are all 10 sec or shorter) that they won't load.

Has anyone else encountered this / found a way around it?

[Shedboyxx]

Not yet.
If you think that the sounds are too short, save them as slightly longer files (silence is OK) and then trim them using the sample editing on the SPD-S. That's definitely not the quickest way to do it but it would work. By the time you get finished it will be the same length as if you did it on your computer.

Is this a card which has worked before? Possibility it's a card incompatibility but if all other sounds have been transferred successfully using this card, then it's a file issue. If the card in general (for any sounds) reads 'Not Supported' or gives other errors, then it's more than likely a card issue.

If it's a file issue:
I would try taking one of the sounds and using different types of software to convert it to WAV. If you have a Mac, you can try Quicktime player, iTunes or Audacity (all free programs). Double check the file settings in Logic when saving (exporting?) to make sure it's the right format of audio. I'm not familiar with Logic but I know DAW's can have different settings for that.
Windows machines have conversion utilities as well including Audacity but I'm unfamiliar with any other.
You can also try saving the file as an AIFF as those should work as well.

I'd review pg. 69 of the manual. If you don't have it, you can download it for free after registering on Roland's website.

HTH

Jim

SPD-S Rocks!

I have been having this problem for a while now:

I create shorter sounds on my CPU such as delayed snare drum sounds (dub reggae style), hand claps with effects, and other short "shots" that I load with delay, distortion, or reverb using Logic 9.

When I load the sounds to the SPD-S via memory card, the card reads "Not Supported".

They have the .wav extension that it requires. I read in the manual that if some sounds are short (mine are all 10 sec or shorter) that they won't load.

Has anyone else encountered this / found a way around it?

[Chonson]

One question to everyone who use this SPD-S.. what about the sound???
i read that the SPD-S only has 16bit sound-quallity.. that i think is very less
and far away from a professional drum-kit...

what you think abaut the sound-quallity... ireally wanna know, thx.

SPD-S uses 16 bit 44.1 kHz files - that's CD quality.

[Shedboyxx]

SPD-S uses 16 bit 44.1 kHz files - that's CD quality.

Good point. I feel the SPD-S has pro sound quality for the tasks it was designed for.
If someone is having issues with the sound quality it's more likely the sample itself or that they are hearing it through less then stellar equipment. In that case, better samples and better monitoring/sound gear should be the main targets. You can bring in your own samples to replace any of the ones on the SPD-S and many do.
If you want to step up the sound quality further, you need to look at software based instruments and a DAW interface with high end outputs.

And the questions should be:
1) - Why am I spending that much more money (to get 48k/24bit or higher sound)?
2) - Who does it matter to and can they hear the difference?

Although the SPD-S can be used as an electronic drum kit, I don't believe that it shines in that capacity - nor has Roland positioned it so. If you want a good electronic drum kit then look at the middle to high end V-drums (TD-12, TD-20, etc.). Yamaha as well.

If you want the best electronic drum kit available, buy a Roland TD-20, don't use the internal sounds and trigger DFH Superior 2.0 (or BFD) software using a computer running Pro Tools, equiiped with a Digi 003 and the outputs run through a good PA or straight (virtually) into a Pro Tools session for recording.

IMO the SPD-S is not a professional drum set replacement tool. IMO, any electronic solution, no matter how high the quality, won't be the same as a great drumset with good heads tuned well and played by a professional in an excellent recording environment (good mikes, good mic pres, good room, etc.).
The SPD-S is a great instrument for so many other things. Just watch live videos of acts using loops, background tracks and homegrown samples and you'll usually see an SPD-S next to the drummer or percussionist. You just have to understand the strengths and limitations to use it properly.

HTH

Jim

[jonutarr]

The SPD-S is perfect for what you wish to do.

You can record samples either via line-in, or with a mic, and sounds are recorded as .wav or.AIFF files, which means they can be created on pc via protools, etc.

Its a very durable unit and very easy to use, but one minor drawback is that the expansion cards used are CompactFlash and only accomodate a maxium memory of 512MB. Why is this a problem? Because CF cards are now all 1GB and more, which means 512MB cards can be difficult to find.

If you know what you are doing you can format a 1 or 2 gb Flashcard to work with a SPD-S, only 512mb will be available though

[OldDrummer55]

If you know what you are doing you can format a 1 or 2 gb Flashcard to work with a SPD-S, only 512mb will be available though


I believe the new 1.20 upgrade allows for higher capacity CF

[blondebimbodrummer]

Ok so I am looking at buying an SPDS specifically to trigger backing tracks live. But, I have read that it isn't so great for this as if you have created the backing track with the click track on 1 side (say left) which is being sent to the headphones, it also bleeds the click onto the right side which is going to the PA. Has anyone else had this problem?
Also how much audio can you store on the 512meg cards if it's wav files at 16bit 44.1? And is there a limmit to the lenght of the samples it can take?
Thanks..

[Shedboyxx]

The 'leakage' issue is discussed on this thread:

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55844

AFAIK the 1.20 firmware upgrade gives you up to the full 4GB on a 4GB CF card.

Don't know the math for the WAV files. In Windows you can just check the 'Properties' of the audio before transferring to the card. On a Mac it's checking 'Get Info'. I don't think there is any limit to the length of the audio file that you store on a CF Card (up to the capacity it can hold.)

HTH

Jim

EDIT 11-9-10~ My words: AFAIK the 1.20 firmware upgrade gives you up to the full 4GB on a 4GB CF card. Boy was I wrong. The real deal is that you get 512mb whether it's a 1GB or 4GB. 512mb is it. The firmware upgrade just frees you up to use what's more available. Sorry about that. - Jim

[dannyroldan]

Dumb question: can I trigger sound from an external module (like an SPD-20) through MIDI and record them with the Phrase Maker without recording the sounds first into the SPD-S and assigning the samples to the pads? I really enjoy the quantizing feature of the Phrase Maker, but it is a pain (and CF memory consuming) to sample and resample again and again. It would be awesome to trigger via MIDI and sample a performance. Can it be done?

[Shedboyxx]

Dumb question: can I trigger sound from an external module (like an SPD-20) through MIDI and record them with the Phrase Maker without recording the sounds first into the SPD-S and assigning the samples to the pads? I really enjoy the quantizing feature of the Phrase Maker, but it is a pain (and CF memory consuming) to sample and resample again and again. It would be awesome to trigger via MIDI and sample a performance. Can it be done?

Not a dumb question at all. The quick answer is no you can't.

The Phrase Maker only works within the audio that is already internally stored in the SPD-S. To do what you want to do would mean using MIDI Sequencing - of which the SPD-S has no capability. It won't generate a MIDI note to trigger an external timed note as part of a pattern. Once the 'phrase' is created, it's just another audio loop available only from the audio outs of the SPD-S.

Jim

[kristo]

A few years ago I bought an SPD-S and didn't use it much because the sounds it came with are not the best.
I did some searching and found a site that sells a 512 meg CF card filled with killer ethnic percussion, drum kits , and loops. That are all super playable.
It has changed the game for me, I decided to buy 2 more SPD-S units since then, the added polyphony and ability to load setups independently is such a bonus.
I play one unit next to my acoustic kit to have a ton of percussion with me at anytime, and some gigs I play 2 SPD-S and a handsonic to make a real portable and powerful electronic kit. the software update for the SPD-S will allow it to use up to 4 gig cards but still can store a max of 512 megs. It just partitions it that way for use.

Heres a link to that site, I think you will like it.
http://www.majesticmusicproductions.com/products.html

[spides666]

Pretty much what I do Shedboy

If you want the best electronic drum kit available, buy a Roland TD-20, don't use the internal sounds and trigger DFH Superior 2.0 (or BFD) software using a computer running Pro Tools, equiiped with a Digi 003 and the outputs run through a good PA or straight (virtually) into a Pro Tools session for recording.


Really depends what pads you like, I got the Yamaha DTXtreme III and trigger Superior 2.0 via Pro Tools for recording. I've owned a TD-8 and TD-10 in the past so not a fan of the rubber pads of Roland

Anyhow you can save a lot of dollars just buying the kit you like rather than the better module..........my Yamaha module is only being used for MIDI in recording.......

But the difference in sounds with Superior Drummer and Roland and Yamaha modules is massive.......

I loved the Yamaha module but man recording with that then Superior drummer is freeways apart

[scorch whammin]

Agree spides!....modules are good for using on gigs..but for recording...VST's (like Superior, BFD, etc...) are the only way to go....

[DrummerBrother]

Anyone know what the SPD-S can do that the new Roland Octapad SPD-30 cant?

[Shedboyxx]

They are slightly different animals.

The main difference to note is that the SPD-S is a sampling instrument.

This is why you will see this unit in so many different situations. You can sample on the fly or you can import samples - that's any sound that exists in digital format - into the SPD-S via Compact Flash card. Samples can be loops or one shot sounds. Pads, backing tracks, etc. That's what attracts most players to it. That's major flexibility.

The sounds that are on board the SPD-S are OK for some things and not OK for others. I've read reviews and posts that seem to point toward the SPD-30 for better on board sounds but I have no experience with that.

HTH

Jim

[DrummerBrother]

but cant you save samplings files on a USB and put it in the Octapad and use that as a sampler? :p

[Shedboyxx]

but cant you save samplings files on a USB and put it in the Octapad and use that as a sampler? :p

If you mean save audio samples on a USB Memory stick or flash drive - I don't think so. I see no custom sample playing capability in any SPD-30 specs or reviews. The manual talks about using USB storage to save parameters like muffling and kit settings. Nothing regarding audio. You can do some customizing of the internal audio with effects and other cool features. But you couldn't say sample your dog barking on the fly or import a sample from another collection via USB memory

I've never used an SPD-30 but I'm pretty sure there's nothing like the SPD-S's ability to use sampled sounds.

Jim

[bassguy]

A few years ago I bought an SPD-S and didn't use it much because the sounds it came with are not the best.
I did some searching and found a site that sells a 512 meg CF card filled with killer ethnic percussion, drum kits , and loops. That are all super playable.
It has changed the game for me, I decided to buy 2 more SPD-S units since then, the added polyphony and ability to load setups independently is such a bonus.
I play one unit next to my acoustic kit to have a ton of percussion with me at anytime, and some gigs I play 2 SPD-S and a handsonic to make a real portable and powerful electronic kit. the software update for the SPD-S will allow it to use up to 4 gig cards but still can store a max of 512 megs. It just partitions it that way for use.

Heres a link to that site, I think you will like it.
http://www.majesticmusicproductions.com/products.html

I am trying to transfer the saved patches & waves from one Compact Flash card to another one. Do you know how this can be done? I am using a small 64MB card and want to put all of the info from it onto a larger 512MB card that I now have. Thanks.

[Shedboyxx]

I would check with Roland for any 'gotchas' but I believe you can use an inexpensive USB card reader/writer to transfer the contents of one card to another

The USB readers are relatively inexpensive and definitely worth buying.

You'll want to format the destination card in the SPD-S first.

I don't have things in front of me but I think you would:

1) Have the USB reader plugged in and showing up on your computer if a card is inserted

2) Format the destination card in the SPD-S

3) Remove the 64mb source card from the SPD-S (powered OFF!)

4) Create a folder on your computer

5) Put the 64mb card into the USB reader

6) When the card shows up, open it to display all of the Roland created folders

7) Copy all of the folders on the 64mb card to the folder you created on the computer.

8) After it all copies over, eject the card from the reader. If possible, you should un-mount it with the computer operating system and not just pull the card out (unless instructed to by the USB reader's manual)

9) Insert the 512mb card into the USB reader

10) After it shows up, copy all of the folders from the folder on your computer to the 512mb card. If it asks whether you want to replace the folders on the card with the folders from the computer - the answer is Yes or OK.

11) Eject/dismount the 512mb card and put it back into the (powered OFF) SPD-S.

12) Turn on the SPD-S and wait for it to boot up.

The card should function identically to the older 64mb card.

HTH

Jim

[Rocky1955]

my spds keepsw telling me its memory is full when it has a new card with only one sound on it. Any one know what i can do/

[Shedboyxx]

my spds keepsw telling me its memory is full when it has a new card with only one sound on it. Any one know what i can do/

My guess is that you are trying to save too many sounds to the internal memory. The SPD-S doesn't automatically direct new samples to the card. You have to choose the card as the destination. The WAVs that are saved on the card should have a 'c' in front of the number. The internal sounds have an 'I' in front of the number. Check out the manual for more details.

Something to keep in mind is that even with the compact flash card, you still have a finite amount of space. If you start bringing in files of large sizes you will run out of room fast,\.

Jim

[Rocky1955]

thanks I will try that

[Rocky1955]

how do you name samples you put on spds?

[Shedboyxx]

You should check the manual. It explains how to do that.

[manuelito]

Hi,
I wanted to ask if it is possible to control the volume of the spd-s with an expression-pedal (roland ev-5) to make fade-in's and fade-out's? The manual explains only the possibilty to control the effects with the pedal, but with an expression-pedal it should be possible to control more parameters.

Thanks!
Manuel