hey I've been using my sp-404 for a while and I want to backup my files on my 1g cf card, so that the files I have now would still be on the card and dormant while I create new samples for all my banks. I was looking in the manual and saw that there is a backup function, so to test it I did the backup procedure, deleted one file and reloaded the bank and somehow it didn't load up that sound that had been deleted. anyone know how the backup function works? (it's around page 40 of the manual)

i think probably what your missing is that the backing up only backs up the internal banks A and B both samples and patterns, but you can have different sets of back ups for those 2 banks i guess. if you want to back up the data thats stored on the card (banks c-j) i think you need to do that either with some computer copying or with exporting your samples as instructed in the manual

so using that export method it would leave me with a folder containing all my samples, and then to re-load these samples I would have to import them as new samples onto the machine, right? I'm just wondering what other people's experiences are with trying to use the full capacity of a 1 gig compact flash card, I guess, I have a few more cards but I fill up the banks so quickly I'm just trying to figure out the best way to do this whole thing I guess. thanks for your help!

i dont do much exporting but im pretty sure they export in the exact filename you need to reload them into the same pads, so you would just keep it organized by folder and have all these c_01.wav files. when you want to import throw them on the memory card and import.

theres been some tips on here for using 1 gig cards, i remember one was to piggyback drum samples on the same pad and then mark up which one you want to use on the project - only thing is not super practical unless you work on one track till its done and then you dont fuck with it anymore or dont mind switching marks alot

theory: keep a and b blank, 2 banks at a time move the samples into banks A nd B from the card banks, each time do a back up, then delete banks A and B and keep repeating until you filled the save memory, as long as loading older backup data doesnt overwrite newer saved backup data this could provide you with 24 backed up banks of samples (internal mem is small tho so best to keep it shorter samples) im gonna try to do this with a card i have thats got too much drums and no room for samples

thanks for clarity dman,

i was confused about this issue too. they don't make it clear in the manual exactly what is backed up. i figured since banks a/b were the "internal" memory that it was the other banks that were saved to the back-up while a/b remained the same. i guess i'm thinking in sp 303 terms! i couldn't wrap my head around it for some reason. thanks!

no prob bob