I've noticed that when an effect like pitch is applied on the 202, there is a kind of buzzing sound, also just in the noise floor. I'm not talking about the high pitch noise I know you can get around that with the record level, but when I turn the record level down to avoid the high pitch noise the buzzing of the effect is quite loud. Im thinking it could be the power supply I'm using but would be good to know a workaround for it. I've tried batteries which doesn't make a difference.

Cheers

heres an example of what i mean: https://soundcloud.com/4oh4segz/c-06/s- ... al_sharing

I know this sounds maybe a bit patronising so apologies if it does but have you tried the audio output lead? Id start there, then try into a different power source if you have multiple things plugged in, then I guess I’d take it apart, clean the potentiometers and output jack and see if theres any dodgy solder joints

the audio output lead meaning like an rca cable? yeah ive tried a couple different ones. I also know every 202 is different in what kinda noise it makes so I'm guessing it could just be that to be honest.

Yes i meant like rca cables! Have you tried with just headphones, without the rca’s plugged in, sounds like it could be a ground problem, its just a case of eliminating stuff and figuring out where the problem lies in the first place and then what the problem could be!

thanks for the info man, yeah i'm really hoping its just that as the seller on ebay stated it as perfectly working! I've got a mate who works with electronics so I might open it up with him and see if there are any dodgy wires or anything to be safe. Have you ever opened up any of your sps? I opened up my 404og about a year ago but was too scared to do anything haha

also just thoughd id mention that the noise is actually louder from the headphone jack but idk if that makes a difference or not, and its also louder on certain pads

Not sure then given that it happens with headphones too, maybe a loose solder connection inside. Never opened up an SP but plenty of drum machines, given its age its probably similar to the DR 202 drum machine which I have opened up and its not too fiddly! Id ask your friend to have a look inside for loose solder joints or burnt out components

Hello, I bought another 202 to see if the noise would be gone but it’s EXACTLY THE SAME. I have no idea what’s going on, it’s can’t be the unit because both make the exact same sound with or without batteries. Maybe it’s just 202s, but watching youtube videos where people have multiple effects on with nothing playing and there is little to no noise whatsoever is so weird. Would you have an idea what’s going on?

i’ve tried plugging it in to its own outlet and that makes no difference as well

http://www.bossareaforum.com/Forum/view ... b836ea2ca3

tried asking in this forum?

https://modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 9&start=25

try this too? last post on this thread 2022

apparently banks C/D are quieter too, maybe try that? if youre simply turning the effect on it might be enhancing the internal noise? try applying it to something on banks C/D see if it gets a bit quieter?

yeah I think thats what it is, the noise is always louder when an LED is on, and thanks I will ask on that forum as well. The C/D banks make no difference either which is strange

Have you tried some dust spray in between every button and maybe lifting the face plate and giving a spray too? I’d imagine a lot of dust and gunk has built up in like 100% of 202s that are out of box

keep in mind the sp202 is a BUDGET sampler and was marketed as such, very cheap manufacturing in that lil gameboy lookin thing, and this continued through the whole line of boss/roland sp samplers

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/ground-loops-explained
https://ledlightinginfo.com/led-lights-make-speakers-buzz

basically it's this physical phenomenon, but it's occurring inside of your sampler, within its own circuits. when certain circuits get activated, there are voltage changes, noise is generated. honestly, it's one of my favorite things about these shitty samplers, all the noise!

i got a brand new (NOS) SP-404SX just recently and this was the second song i ever made on it https://soundcloud.com/zendanisdead/spbb363
brand new, right out of the box. if you listen closely at 1:40 ish, right when the first beat stops, you can hear the on and off buzzing sound that comes from the pads lighting up when pattern sequencer isn't playing a pattern and the 404sx came out in 2009, vs ~1998 for the 202