Hey, I have a 505 and basically I'm trying to record myself playing on the 505 in Ableton Suite 8.3, through a USB MIDI adapter. I don't know all the ins and outs (no pun intended) of the SP's MIDI configuration and only just downloaded Ableton yesterday (for this sole purpose) so try to be specific in what to do.

I have a track with Ext In set to 1/2, monitor at auto, armed and the I/O button checked. I get very small levels on the track but not from my SP. I think the issue lies with my SP. How would I set the MIDI settings to be able to record out through MIDI to USB? I'm not trying to use my SP as a controller I just want to record it like you would any other instrument. Anyone tried to do something similar?

normally volume has nothing to do with midi...what's your connection exactly? i mean, could you tell step by step what's your midi setting on the 505?

I'm not saying its picking up the SP really quietly it just is picking up some signal that spikes when I plug or unplug the SP but it's just like a low static, even when it's unplugged.

my current MIDI settings are

Pads Ch=16
Part 1 Ch=Off
Part 2 Ch=Off
Part 3 Ch=Off
Part 4 Ch=off
Prog Chg SW=On
Sync Mode=Auto

Even after reading the MIDI section of the manual I still don't really know what any of that means. As you can tell I'm no experienced producer.

it's strange.
i got an emu midi adapter myself and i never encoutered that kind of troubles...
however, have you tried other midi settings changing the sync mode? (that contradict what i said before ahah) or have you tried to dislocate the pc and the 505 in another room or just change the acdc connections? (also separete pc from 505 acdc connection) who knows...

unless im misunderstanding this, youre trying to record your 505's audio in ableton.

you dont need midi to do this. just record the 505's audio outs to your computer's soundcard. you might need a phono to 1/4" adapter.

Oh, if it's just this, sorry in advance...but maybe he want to try to record in sync to ableton....

I just want to be able to record my patterns into the computer and then arrange and mix them in Ableton. I'd prefer a DAW to the sequencer on the 505. How would I go about recording straight to the card? If I could just drag those recordings into Ableton after that would be perfect.

ok
audio and midi are different things.
with midi you can control machines with other machines (send/receive notes, play in sync etc)...
the sp505 doen't save in .wave format, it saves in a shitty format made by boss/roland wich is just to backup files...
so what you need is just the audio out (line out) of the 505 into the in of the pc...if you got a soundcard is better for you.
ps
i hope this answer is ok; if you want to do midi recording, well, it's another thing...