Hey, I got my SP-404SX a couple weeks back and am having a lot of fun with it. I run into problems when I load samples onto the machine and they're a little too quiet, even at the highest sample volume. How do you guys 'boost' your samples higher when you need it? Otherwise, is there a more convenient way of turning the other sample's volumes down than doing this one by one?

Also what do you find is the best way to change your samples from stereo to mono when accounting for the polyphony limit? I resample to another pad, but this takes some time, and means I need to re-mark the end points very precisely, especially if it's something that is looping at a certain BPM.

Thanks a lot!

Import samples louder or turn other samples down
You can also turn up the gain on the sp but idk how on the sx
Good luck

Just use Audacity to level every sample to -1 (or -2) dB. Same tool for the stereo to mono 'problem'.

Audacity is overkill
easier to just import samples in mono and import samples louder by turning up the sample source

Thanks for your reply!

I understand how to turn the sample volumes up on a computer, I was just wondering if there was a way to do this inside the box quickly and easily to save me having to spend a lot of time altering the volume in a program, saving it, turning the sampler off and sticking the SD into my computer, etc. Was just messing around, and it seems that the compressor effect seems to increase the volume when certain settings are used, though it still compresses the sample to some degree too, obviously.

Handy for boosting the volume to some degree, I guess!



I think what he's referring to are samples that are already pre-recorded, in which turning up the sample source would be impossible, since they're already files with set volumes that are being imported.

Audacity would certainly work for me, but it's a lot of fuss, when I'm in the swing of things, to be tracking down the sample on my SD card and changing volumes outside of the sampler

Oh well then i'm out of my element since i only use rca

I use the Equalizer effect most often to boost. I adjust the 3 bands to taste and resample. I miss not having a normalize function (and tuning function as well...)
As for stereo to mono I don't know of any way around having to resample. it would be nice if the auto record would also stop recording once there was silence but it does not. I feel your pain. I often wish my RS7000 could fit in my backpack and ran on batteries...

Om

You can knock out strereo->mono and boost volume with a single resample.

Use the compressor effect on your sample, turn the 1st and 2nd knobs all the way to the left. Adjust the SAMPLE VOLUME (push start/end/level button and use the right most knob) until it doesn't sound too squashed. Hit the button again, then use the right most knob to adjust the level to maximum.

Shift+REC->hit the stereo button until it's not lit, select your recording pad->mash the pad you were just editing the volume on.

Both done in one pass.

Also, ISOLATOR or EQUALIZER can do this too. Check if you're clipping on the record as soon as you hit shift+rec to resample. THe blue light will turn red if you're clipping. Use the right most knob while in this mode to adjust the volume so it's not red lighting a lot or at all.

Shift?

Sorry, been on my ESX lately...meant RESAMPLE...lol

Man, I LOVE my ES-1, broke it out after your post. Such a great machine. I have always wanted the newer one but have not wanted to pay $500 for one. If it did 7/8, 5/4 etc i would get it in a heartbeat. I think pairing it with my 404SX will be super fun!

I always wanted an ES1 after hearing some super dope productions on the machine by DJ Pound. Still just rocking the ESX, though.

Oh I thought you had the ES1X newer version of the ES-1, what is the ESX you use?
O

ESX is in the same family as ES1, but it's...it's not the same. It's like the difference between an SP 505 and SP 404. They're in the same family, but they're not the same.

Here's the ESX (since we've kinda hijacked this thread...)

Ya that's the one!
http://www.korg.com/ESX1
I want.