Helo there!
May Be someone here can help me .

i can't figure out why i can't import more than 3 mb of samples from compact flash .If i wan't to add next sample, it says memory full, when samples reach 3 mb .
First when i started ,i delited all paterns songs and pads
CF card was formated .
all samples are 44100hz 16bit , they aal are one shot MONO and WAV .
Samples and small average size is about 100KB. And sampling grade is SANDART.

system info :
____memory__________
Internal:13.0/16.0MB Free
Card : 480.7/488.9 Free
Patern : 18000 note Free
Song : 25 Song Free

firmware version 1.11


What the problem can be ?...

Should I need to initialize the system ?
And if i will initialize , need i prepare factory defolt file in memory card?
Previous user told me, that everything was fully working. He had no problems with this mashine.

ANd other thing..! can i prelisten samples while in file import mode?


.. sorry for my bad english .

99% you import the samples on an internal bank ,so choose a card bank!
Also always format the card on the sp606 and not in the computer

It's the same when i import in [card pad bank].

now i downloaded the factor reset backup , i will try it tomorow .

i'm having the same problem. any luck yet?

PS. where can you download the factory reset backup?

i have to perform a show the next week
so i loaded the 606 of .wav samples about 450mb circa...the message "meory full" appeared also for me.
now i'm deleting samples in order to make room, to see what happens. maybe the 606 needs some more space in order to operate correctly, so the "512mb virtual space" is not really 512mb in reality...

EDIT

i deleted some songs (.wav) from the card and i loaded until 400mb into it; when i imported from the card to the 606 it lt let me load some of them until a max of 164mb and then that "memory full!" senteced again appeared, damn...
i noticed a folder called "sp606" (inside the Roland one, with the backup folders) that became more full after loading samples: inside it there are anly .spd files but they however weight around 64bm -after i loaded those .wav songs-...also this folder takes room ...

for the istance i converted the .wav sample from stereo to mono so i gained much more space on the 606 and it's ok like that.

still this "memory full" problem rests anyway for the future...

I've also had this problem, but to a much lesser extent that what everyone's described here. Been meaning to speak up sooner about it though.

The cause seems to be the number of patterns the 606 uses (in my experience). The more patterns, the more likely the error. So Ellaguru you're probably right that it uses virtual memory (which makes sense seeing the 606 would need to do some cacheing to allow the card to autoload at start up unlike in an MPC, ESX etc). By using fewer individual patterns (ie- relying more on the 4 track sequencer to build layers & progressions) I haven't had this happen for a long time. Also it pops up from time to time if I leave the 606 on for more than 12 hours. A reset always sorts it out.

Are all of you also using the card to back up old sets? This would also reduce the potential memory cache.

@Chulukinat- you can get the factory reset data here. Its 3rd from the bottom in the downloads tab. Not sure why you'd really want it, after all its the original four pad banks & B-grade demo patterns. You can erase all patterns & songs on your 606 by going Menu > F3 to reconfigure.

I've had this problem too-

I just did what's been described above- deleted some patterns, etc..

These days I do not ever use the card to upload to the SP, I just sample* straight in- even if it's a 3 minute beat screw it- the card thing takes to long and is user unfriendly. Haven't seen the "full" message since.

* always through the SPDIF input

I know this is an old post but I had this issue the other day and felt I had to share what I found.
I sampled a 2 min sample to bank 6 chopped and then tried to make a pattern which resulted in the same error.
I Deleted all patterns and no luck. Then I remembered that the first pad banks from 5 to 9 have a very small sample time compared to the rest so I went back and deleted the long sample on bank 6 and the problem was solved.
Looks like the internal memory must be stored on the first 9 pad banks on the 606 so any samples stored from 5 to 9 would take up space for patterns and songs.
It's a strange buggy machine but I like it.
Only had a 606 for about a month now and I'm torn between keeping it or selling it. If it doesn't go the 404 has to and I can't decide between the two.

Dude that's no bug, it's the way the 606's designed. It's in the manual etc. Just switching between pad banks the screen tells you that you're on the card from bank 9 onwards...

You get 24 banks of pads saved to the card. Nothing wrong with that!

Keep the 606. Only downside is it isn't battery powered & has a slower workflow than the 404. Otherwise it's waaay more flexible than the 404 in terms of sequencing & sound design. Plus you'll be starting at square one relearning the 404's workflow (admittedly its pretty simple).

I hear you on the points you make regarding the 606. I don't even find the work flow that slow compared to the 404. If you set your sample up correctly you can manually chop breaks so quickly. Sometimes finding zero point on the 404 is a nightmare which is where the 606 helps. I also like the resample function wher you select the pads you want to play and then press resample. It's really nice for layering drums.
I got my 606 in Germany so I haven't actually read the manual, I just sat down and learned the 606 as it's very similar to the 505 which I used to own.
I have decided to keep the 606 and the 404 and get rid of some other stuff after all. I just can't bring myself to part with them. I really need to learn about midi so I can get my 808, 606 and 404 working together if that's possible.