Upgrading Sample Memory
Program RAM vs. Sample RAM
9-1
Chapter 9
Upgrading Sample Memory
Program RAM vs. Sample RAM
If you’re creating a lot of your own programs, and using samples loaded from disk, here are
some things you should know. First of all, there’s an important distinction between sample RAM
and program RAM. Sample RAM refers to the SIMM (Single In-line Memory Module) installed
in your K2661 specifically for storing sample data. This RAM is reserved exclusively for sample
storage; nothing else is stored there. Sample RAM is volatile; that is, when you power down
your K2661, the data stored there is immediately erased. That’s why you have to load RAM
samples every time you power up.
The amount of sample RAM in your K2661 is indicated in the center of the top line of the
Disk-mode page. If the center of the display’s top line is blank when you’re on this page, it
means that there is no sample RAM installed in your K2661 (or that the K2661 isn’t recognizing
it, in which case you should see your dealer or service center).
Program RAM is where all the other RAM objects you create (programs, setups, QA banks,
songs, keymaps, etc.) are stored. The amount of free program RAM is indicated at the right side
of the top line of the display in Song mode and Disk mode.
Figure 9-1 Disk mode page showing Sample RAM and Program RAM
Program RAM is battery-backed, so anything that’s stored there will be preserved even when
you power down (as long as your battery is functional). A fresh lithium battery should last for
several years, so you’ll have very few worries about losing your RAM program information.
Nonetheless, we recommend that you back up programs, songs, etc. by saving them to disk or
SmartMedia. This offers insurance in the unlikely event that the RAM becomes corrupted.
If you create a program that uses a disk-loaded sample, the program information (number of
layers, keymap assignment, output group, algorithm, etc.) is stored in program RAM. All RAM
samples associated with the program are stored in sample RAM. This means that when you
power down, the RAM samples associated with your programs will disappear. The program
information, however, will remain in program RAM indefinitely. When you power up again,
your RAM programs will still appear in the display as you scroll through the program list, but
they won’t play if they use RAM samples, because the RAM samples are lost when you power
down.
DiskMode||||Samples:64008K|Memory:1502K|
Path|=|\DRUMS\||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Macro|on)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CurrentDisk:SCSI|4||||||||Startup:Off|||
||||||||||||||||||||||||||Library:Off|||
Direct|Access,|121MB||||||Verify|:Off|||
TAXMOR|XL3-1001||||1.07|||||||||||||||||
<more|||Load|||Save||Macro||Delete|more>
Sample RAM (SIMMs) Program RAM