i have the manual, and i thought i knew how to read, but....

the manual talks like files on the CF card are going to be transferred back to the CF card...i dont get it.

clearly there is no digital output from the unit, so sure i can play a sample and take the unit analog outs into my computer....ok

i have a USB card reader and the MacBook 'reads' the card...but the sample files come out as "XXX.SPD" files on the MacBook directory listing and if i click on one it says something to the effect that it doesnt have any application that can open such a file name.

i havent figured out GarageBand yet (mew to Mac)...so i am stymied here.

Any suggestions on how to digitally get my SP-404 samples into the Mac?

you gotta do the export function in the machine and then they will be on the top layer in your memory card when you plug that into the computer

thank you 'dman5000'


So while my samples are in some 'native' or proprieitary form on the CF when originally sampled by the sp-404, to export them, first i need to convert them to WAV or AIFF (i see there is a choice) on that same CF card while it is in the SP-404. correct?

Does the CF card then carry two images of every sample on it? or just one (now whatever format i converted it to)
How do i know it will have room on it? (i suppose i answered my own question if only the compressed file remains on the card:)

I ask this because if i am to Import a wav or aiff file onto the card from a computer or CD disk, then is the process essentially the reverse? i import the wav or aiff to the card, stick the card in the sp-404 and then tell the sp-404 to convert it to its native flat format?

or is the sp-404 able to play an Aiff, or Wav, OR its native flat file format, and it just records natively in the flattened mode because perhaps that is a higher quality being a non-compressed format? and if one imports an Aiff or Wav...it never converts it to flat and just plays it like it is?

i kinda like to really know how stuff works:)


Thank you for helping !!!

if it supported playing directly from wav / aif files,
they wouldnt have needed to invent their own format in the first place..!

so unfortunately i think you can't play the wavs or aifs straight back. . although im sure you could import them again into the sp if you wanted haha. . reconvert them back again.

thanks dman5000...i have a better understanding now so i will go experiment with converting in the sp-404, dumping into the mac, and taking some purchased wavs and importing them into the sp-404 and getting them to play.

i bit klugey but its ok:) (i didnt pay a fortune for this box)

thank you again.

yeah the 404 is all about work-arounds
read through that section in the manual about importing and exporting files

just to know: are you building some patterns in the 404 and then exporting the loops to rebuild the song in garageband?

thanks dman5000

yes i create loops with my synths and yamaha sequencer and record into the SP-404

i have been using those with my 8-track digital recorder, but thought i'd like to start using garageband now that i have a mac.

i really need to buy Logic for the Mac as i want to sync between my copmputer, beat box, and synth sequencer:)

It looks like this might have just answered my question but here's my similar problem...
had my 404 for the last year with no problems using the same 1GB San Disk card.However about a week after backing up my samples {WAV} to my computer via a card reader,I turned on my 404 {it worked fine the day before}
and banks c/f would not light up...
I checked the formating on the 404,tried WAV and AIFF to make sure it was the correct format for the files...the weird thing is now If I take out the card and put it in the reader and then immediately take it out and put it back in the sampler it works again{but only until it's turned off}...
Super frustrating...
So I do need to re-import all the wav. samples on the card back onto the sampler to get c/f to work again?

thanks in advance,

jon

im only answering cuz no one else did, im not really sure i can 100% answer this correctly cuz i havent gone thru a whole lot of memory card problems myself, but from what ive read on here about them and from what you said:
did you export every sample on your mem card in question?
if you did, do you have them or can you save them on your computer?
if you can/have them all, maybe try erasing and reformating the card in the sp, then re-importing them back onto the fresh card and see what happens

Thanks man,yeah I think I'm just gonna try the new card/formatting thing and see If that works.

Hi
Just note that you have to careful with the cards. After doing an export - give at least a few seconds before you take the card out. Although the 404 may indicate that it's finished - the card may still be writing internally for a little while. Ideally you should switch off before exchanging cards - it isn't really hot-swappable.

In the computer - you can hot-swap, but you should use the computers eject or remove command before removing a card. Again, it might not actually have finished writing the data inside and the command will tell you if it's safe to remove.

This is probably more important with CF cards rather than the newer SD. A CF card actually behaves like a complete drive - not just the disc, and you can't just unplug a drive whenever.

Jim