Roland SP-404 User Manual

Owner’s Manual
Thank you, and congratulations on your choice of the Roland Sampler SP-404.
Before using this unit, carefully read the sections entitled: “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT
NOTES” (pp. 3–4; pp. 5–6). These sections provide important information concerning the proper operation
of the unit. Additionally, in order to feel assured that you have gained a good grasp of every feature
provided by your new unit, Owner’s manual should be read in its entirety. The manual should be saved
and kept on hand as a convenient reference.
Main Features
Quick and Easy Sampling!
Sample via Line/Mic input or use the onboard mic. Also operates on batteries.
Pro Quality Effects Onboard!
29 DSP effects including Filter, Lo-Fi, Isolator and unique effects such as Subsonic and new looper FX.
Realtime Performance!
3 rubber control knobs, 12 trigger pads, and an extra Sub Pad for realtime action.
Create Your Own Tracks!
Record patterns in real time with the Pattern Sequencer, complete with quantize. Perform with smooth triggering
from pattern to pattern.
More Samples on Memory Card!
Store up to 1 GB of samples on optional CompactFlash cards. Also reads WAV/AIFF files from CF cards.
Copyright © 2005 ROLAND CORPORATION
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written
permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.
Conventions Used in This Manual
Operating buttons are enclosed by square brackets [ ]; e.g., [REC].
Reference pages are indicated by (p. **).
The following symbols are used.
This indicates an important note; be sure to read it.
This indicates a memo regarding the setting or function; read it as desired.
This indicates a useful hint for operation; read it as necessary.
This indicates information for your reference; read it as necessary.
This indicates an explanation of a term; read it as necessary.
SP-404_e.book 1 ページ ２００６年３月３日 金曜日 午後２時４６分

Roland SP-404 Specifications

Materials

main materials	polyester, polyethylene resin, polyurethane

Weight and Dimensions

dimensions	340 (W) x 170 (D) x 310 (H) mm, 13-7/16 (W) x 6-3/4 (D) x 12-1/4 (H) inches
weight	650 g, 1 lb 7 oz

Summary

USING THE UNIT SAFELY

WARNING and CAUTION Notices

WARNING

Detailed warnings about potential hazards during operation and handling.

About the Symbols

CAUTION

Details precautions to prevent damage or injury during operation and handling.

ALWAYS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING

Provides essential safety instructions for operation.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Power Supply: Use of Batteries

Placement

Maintenance

Repairs and Data

Additional Precautions

Before You Start

Names of Things and What They Do

Identifies and explains the functions of the top panel controls.

Front Panel

Connecting Other Equipment

Illustrates and explains how to connect external audio devices and microphones.

Inserting/Removing a Memory Card

Detailed instructions for inserting and removing memory cards.

Rear Panel

Installing the Batteries

Turning the Power On/Off

Step-by-step guide for safely powering the unit on and off.

Quick Start

Listen to the Samples

Apply Effects to the Samples

Changing the Tempo at Which a Pattern Plays

If You're Not Happy with the Sound You Sampled

Play the Patterns

Sample Your Own Sounds

Guide to sampling audio from an external source into the SP-404.

Chapter 1. Playing Samples

How Samples Are Organized

Playing an External Input Sound (External Source)

How to control and apply effects to external audio sources.

Switching Sample Banks

Using a CD Player

Adjusting the Volume of the External Audio Input

Chapter 2. Using Effects

Applying an Effect to a Sample

Step-by-step guide to applying effects to individual samples.

Applying an Effect to All Samples

Effect List

Details effects selectable by direct button press and their parameters (continued).

MFX

Details MFX effects, their types, and controllable parameters.

Switching the Effect Selected by MFX

Applying an Effect to Multiple Samples

Chapter 3. Sampling

About the Sampling Time

Sampling from a CD

Continued steps for sampling from a CD.

Sampling at a Specific Tempo

Using a Count When You Sample

Applying an Effect to a Sample and Sampling It Again (Resampling)

Detailed steps for resampling with effects.

Choosing High Quality or Lo-Fi Sampling (Sampling Grade)

Sampling from a Mic

Step-by-step guide for sampling audio using a microphone.

Sampling to a Memory Card Bank

Instructions for sampling directly to a memory card bank.

Initiating Sampling Automatically (Auto Sampling)

Deleting a Sample

Procedure for deleting individual samples from memory.

Checking the Remaining Sampling Time

Selecting Stereo or Monaural Sampling

Deleting All Samples

How to delete all samples from internal memory or memory card.

Chapter 4. Changing the Settings of a Sample

Specifying the Volume of a Sample

Playing a Sample Backward (Reverse Playback)

Changing Both the Start Point and the End Point

Procedure to set both Start and End Points for a sample.

Making Fine Adjustments to the Start Point or End Point

Changing a Sample's BPM

How to adjust the BPM (tempo) of a sample.

Playing a Phrase Repeatedly (Loop Playback) or Only Once (One-shot Playback)

Omitting Unwanted Portions of the Sample (Marker/Start Point/End Point)

How to set Start and End Points to omit parts of samples.

Changing Only the End Point

Deleting an Unwanted Portion (Truncate)

How to delete unwanted waveform data using Truncate.

Changing the Length of a Sample without Affecting the Pitch (Time Modify)

How to change sample length and tempo using Time Modify.

Making a Sample Play Only While You Hold Down the Pad (Gate Playback) or Continue Even If You Release the Pad (Trigger Playback)

Changing Only the Start Point (the End Point Is the End of the Sample)

Chapter 5. Recording a Performance of Samples (Pattern Sequencer)

How Patterns Are Organized

Recording a Pattern

Detailed steps for recording patterns with overdubbing and quantization.

Erasing Mistakes from the Recorded Data

Deleting All Patterns

How to delete all patterns from memory or card.

Changing the Tempo of a Pattern

Deleting a Pattern

How to delete individual patterns.

Changing the Assignments of Patterns to Pads

Matching the Tempo of a CD or Turntable

Switching Patterns During Playback

Chapter 6. Using a Memory Card

Formatting (Initializing) a Memory Card

Steps to format a memory card for use with the SP-404.

Importing Audio Files

Steps for selecting the import destination and executing the import.

Saving Backup Data (Backup Save)

How to save all SP-404 data (samples, patterns) to a memory card.

Exporting Audio Files

How to convert and export samples to WAV/AIFF files.

Loading Backup Data (Backup Load)

How to load saved backup data from a memory card.

Note When Importing Audio Files (WAV/AIFF)

Deleting Backup Data (Backup Delete)

How to delete unwanted backup data from a memory card.

Chapter 7. Other Functions

Using the SP-404 with Other MIDI Equipment

Guide to connecting and using the SP-404 with MIDI devices.

Synchronizing the Pattern Tempo and Playback Start/Stop with an External MIDI Sequencer

How to sync pattern tempo and playback with a MIDI sequencer.

Using the Protect Setting

How to enable Protect to prevent accidental overwriting or erasure.

Initializing the SP-404's Internal Memory

Procedure to erase all samples and patterns from internal memory.

MIDI on the SP-404

Checking the Remaining Battery Level

Changing the MIDI Channel (Pad Base Ch)

Setting the Internal Processing Level of the SP-404

Synchronizing to an External MIDI Device

How to synchronize the SP-404 with external MIDI devices.

Chapter 8. Examples of Using the SP-404

Using the Pattern Sequencer to Create a Rhythm Pattern

Example of creating a rhythm pattern using the Pattern Sequencer.

Using the SP-404 with a Turntable

How to play samples with turntable performance.

Applying Effects to the Sound of a Turntable

How to apply SP-404 effects to turntable audio routed through a DJ mixer.

Appendices

Quick Reference to Operations

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting tips for sampling issues and memory card detection.

Problems with MIDI or Synchronization

Troubleshooting common issues with MIDI and synchronization.

MIDI Implementation Chart

Specifications

Technical specifications for the SP-404, including polyphony, memory, and dimensions.

Message List

MIDI Implementation