I was wondering if it was possible to load some of the old CD-ROM sample libraries onto the SDHC card utilized by the SP-404SX. My idea is to load some of the classic Orchestral/Piano libraries onto the SDHC card and play it using an external Midi keyboard.

Firstly, I would have to know if the Sp-404SX's software editor allows for storing the required data so that it could be accessed by a midi keyboard. This also poses the question if a Midi keyboard can access more CC# and Notes than is available by the hardware of the Sp-404SX.

If anybody has any ideas or knowledge concerning my request, I'd greatly appreciate it.

-Eau

That's absolutely possible. Why not?

You have to remember a few things though:

1) You need the samples to be in .wav or .aiff format, 16bit, 44.1kHz. If the CDs are audio, you need to rip them first. No problem using the PC. Same counts for sampler formats like AKAI or E-MU.
2) The 10 banks on the SX equal 120 pads which equal 120 successive midi notes, divided into two midi channels (channel 1 and 2 by standard).
3) One bank of 12 pads then, equals one octave on the keyboard. You'll have to place the samples accordingly, the SP wave converter software is fine for that. Page 47 of the manual describes how the notes and channels are layed out.
4) The SX accepts only midi clock and notes with velocity, that's it. And only one sample per pad. No controllers, no velocity layering, no nothing.

So, in essence you can make up two "multisamples" of max 5 octaves each.
If we call the whole a "setup", you can save 12 setups using the backup function. Keep in mind though that if you want to play a sampled piano, you'll need a seperate sample for each and every key/pad because the SX can't play samples chromatically, like most samplers do.

Thank you for your speedy and knowledgeable response, LoneStar.

The process of converting sample libraries to .wav and than assigning them to each pad, via the editor software, sounds fairly straight forward, if tedious.

Utilizing a 4 octave controller, is it possible to spread a piano patch across 4 banks and access them all at once? Playing the pads on the unit itself would require you to access the individual banks one-at-a-time, yes?

I was considering the purchase of a seperate Midi Module for the purpose of playing some accompaniment, however, if the 404SX can load and play some simple sample libraries, keys in particular, I might be satisfied with just that.

The prospect of playing a piano patch to accompany my terminally-ill beatz would be fresh-2-death, yo.

Thanks again for your time.

-Eau

When I think of it, if you have a whole bunch of samples to get on the SX, you better use the import function. Check the manual for how to to prepare the samples so it works flawlessly.

And yes, via midi you can access all pads on all banks at once. If you send on two midi channels at once, that is

Welcome to the forums by the way! You might have noticed there's a bunch of really nice and skilled people here, comfy place to hang around
What's your background? What kind of music are you doing and using what kind of equipment (apart from the 404SX, obviously)? I'm a gearhead and always interested

Thanks for the welcome, and your advice.

I'm one of your typical amateur hobbiests that likes to make noises by pressing, pushing or pulling things. Although the technical aspect of music production is endlessly intriguing to me, my passions lay in the creation and composition of music. My life's cruel irony is that I am a terrible musician, hehe.

I've owned a fair bit of music related equipment as I had a home business as a recording engineer. I've had many compressors, limiters, Eq's, Processors, FX Units and an assortment of Mics, stands and various accessories. I've worked in and out of the box in a variety of genres with many different musicians.

Alas, my studio was sold off, piece by piece due to the agressive and competative nature of the business. Thus, my musical workings are relegated solely to hobby.

In any case, I once again thank you for your time and kind efforts in addressing my queries. Surely, my dope-ass, neck-snappin' hip-knockin' beatz is gonna help me gets dat more better cheddar, for true, word.

-Eau

Oh I can feel the pain! Heh. Practically the same here
I'm also just a hobby musician pushing buttons to make noise. Hellish noise, sometimes.



Oh nice, maybe you can help me out a bit:
I found getting good quality recordings from line level instruments isn't hard at all. Take a good source, proper mixer, proper audio interface, watch your levels, done. Easy going.
What I don't have ANY experience with though, is recording using microphones. I'm looking for a good but affordable all-purpose mic for recording voice, noises, speakers and maybe that simple talkbox I'm planning to build. The purely technical aspects are no problem (cables, phantom power, etc) and my Mackie 1202VLZ mixer's preamps should be good enough for occasional recording. But I don't have any idea what to look for. For inside use and mostly pretty quiet source material, would a large-diaphragm condenser mic be right? As I get it, generally dynamic mics are more suited towards recording loud stuff (and more robust mechanically). Is that correct?
Further, can you recommend any all-purpose mics around, say, 100 euro price tag, maybe some you have good experience with? It'd be kind if you had some advice.

The best all-around microphone I've encountered is the legendary Shure SM57. I've had no less than 8 of these at any given time, they work like a champ on, practically, any material/source. Vocals, Guitars, Amps, etc. They'll also fit your budget. At around 110$USD

If you're looking for a microphone to sing into, the best thing to keep in mind, as a consumer and an artist, is that more money doesn't necesarrily guarentee better results. A good idea is to test out and try as many mics for the voice as you can to find the one that will best complement the throat dynamics/register/intonation/inflection/freq etc. A good place to start is the Studio Projects B1 (large diaphragm cardioid). Again, they'll match your budget.

Aside from the kit list, the priority on the agenda regarding recording is room acoustics. Your sound will only be as good as the room your in.

Toodlepip for now.

-Eau

Back to the sample libraries, avoid stereo ones or you won't be able to play more than six notes at a time - you can have twelve mono ones playing at a time.

The 404 has no envelope shaper - it'll play the note until it ends or you release the key, so you won't get a proper piano decay that follows key release.

Jim

I've downloaded the operations maual for the SP-404SX to review its capabilities. Aside from the baffeling lack of transport controls, it looks like a decent unit for my purposes. I've ditched the idea of loading melodic sample libraries onto the unit in favor of a dedicated Midi sound module such as the SD-20 or the new SD-50.

Cheers.

-Eau

Thanks for your advice Eau, I'll see what I can get hold of along those models. I take it the SM58 is the direct successor, they sell that right now.

The SM58 is not the successor but a different model of microphone. As opposed to the SM57, which is a condensor microphone, the SM58 is an omnidirectional cardioid best suited to vocal performances. Whereas the SM57 would be useful in recording different sources such as acoustic guitars, drums, amps and vocals, the SM58 is designed specifically as a vocal mic.

Fixed.

Found this thread researching something else. Couldn't let this stuff slide.

Both the 57 and 58 can be plugged directly into the 404 mic input w/o a preamp. Whether that is advisable... I'd really like to know in the next 10 hours or so

You can use the mic input with a dynamic mic. If it doesn't work well it's more likely to be something wrong with the XLR to TS jack lead you're using than the mic or the 404.

With sample libraries - you're ok if they're in .wav or .aif format. If they're in a special format for a specific sampler - you have some hoops to jump through.
Akai discs have a format that your computer may not even see without loading a special system driver file.

Jim