I made a lot of back ups back in the days, now I want to check 'em out but everytime I try to load a back-up, I end up just filling the A and B bank with the samples I had back then. The other banks don't load any sounds.

I've had all kinds of weird shit happen making pattern copies which is why I usually I don't do them. There might be meta data somewhere on the card, try deleting all patterns on all banks and then delete all samples on all banks and then initialize the card with the machine, then put the card in the computer and load your samples you backed up and try it now.

the backup function only backs up banks A and B as far as i can tell.

i plan on just copying the whole roland folder on the CF card into a folder on my computer then adding the date like so:
Roland-06052008

if i have any songs tracked out on my computer that use the samples from a particular CF dump i'll keep a txt file that lists the dump date and the track names.

at least that's my plan so far, i just got my 404 and the only thing i have on the CF currently is the battle 20 samples and the beat i didn't finish.

i've got to fix up either of the turntables i have laying around so i can get to sampling.

You'll have to export every sample used at BANK C-J cause they aren't involved in that backup disaster. Import them (at the right place) before you load your backup and you're fine.

Well, whether you recorded or imported them, the A&B samples are in the 404 while the other card samples are already on the card.

The 404 backup function is only there to move A&B on and off the card for you. If like aleady said, you do a 404 backup then put the card in the pc and copy the entire contents of the card into a single folder on your computer (and don't put anything else in that folder) then when you want to restore...

Format a card in the 404
Put in the pc
Open the folder of the backup, select all (ctrl + A), copy (ctrl +c).
Open the card, Paste (ctrl + V) & to the message that some files already exist and do you want to replace them, click on "yes to all".
You should then get a perfect copy of the original card.
Put it in the 404, restore the backups to put the A&B banks back in the 404.

There are always little information files on the 404 card that tells it what the card samples and patterns are. When you format the 404 card, it puts basic default versions of these files on it. So when you restore the old card files to the card on the pc, the "yes to all" replaces the default files with the ones the 404 made to cover the card samples (and patterns too).

I'd guess you missed the "yes to all" part and got a card with no information about the samples - so the 404 thinks there arn't any.

Jim

thanks y'all. I always thought that the backup would be for the whole card, not for the internal shit.

Fortunately it works like that otherwise there would be no way to do the flying lotus sample and pattern copy trick.