Tried everything! Samp load problems!

Bonati · Post by **Bonati** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:57 pm

First post!

I am having a real problem transferring files from my Mac onto the SP-404. I have read all the other threads on this site and tried to implement all the solutions suggested in them. No luck so far. Seriously, everything is 44.1 kHz/16 bit with no weird edit/loop points, no extra metadata that I can tell. I created the files in Bias Peak and then transferred them to my CF card via a USB CF reader.

I have tried loading samples all at once, one at a time, two at a time, blah blah. Pretty much every permutation possible. No luck.

Also, I just tried updating from firmware 1.02 to 1.04 via the update posted on the Roland site. The update failed! When performing the update, the machine counts down from 100 and instead of reading "000" at the end (meaning successful update) it reads "FE7". Removing the card and turning on the machine makes the display read "FE0". That's all it does now. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm guessing "FEO" means "Fatal Error of Operation".

Any ideas about this? Before the "FEO" crap and sample load problems, everything was fine. I have no problems with live looping, efx, etc. Help!

mostblunted · Post by **mostblunted** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:20 pm

You can't update some OSs on a mac, don't ask me why but I have the same problem with some of the OSs.

For the samples, are you sure you put them in the ROOT of the card? That means NOT IN the roland folder but 'next to it'? That's the most common mistake

For the FOE, try another update from the roland site and format the card with the SP.

http://www.rolandus.com/uploads/CMS/Dow ... y%20BK.zip

plexxsounds · Post by **plexxsounds** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:26 pm

The update patch is not OSX compatible, see this link:

http://www.roland.com/products/en/_supp ... &iCncd=844

As for the problem with loading samples - no idea - but as far as
I know this should work on a Mac too. Try keeping the filenames simple,
like A1, A2, A3 and so on.. but first you've got to get your 404 straight with help from some PC owning friend I guess. Hope it works out that way.

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:23 pm

If you have an intel mac you can get parallels and a copy of windows xp and that should handle all your computing needs. I have a sp-303 and a macbook and was able to update my sampler OS, but that required loading the data with my smart media card.

Bonati · Post by **Bonati** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:04 am

Everyone - thanks for your help so far.

Excellent point, I didn't even think that the update might not be OSX compatible. I use PCs for my pro audio work so I'll hook up the 404 to those and see if I can get "FEO" to go away by implementing the PC patch. Thanks for that.

Maybe I will only be able to load samples using my PC too, which would be a bummer. What the hell.

And yes, I have been storing the samples in the root of the card, outside the Roland folder. And I have been trying to load all samples on the C bank using simple names like C1, C2, etc. I try to keep banks A & B free for samples created _on_ the 404, and for re-sampled audio, since these banks are stored on the 404 internal memory. At least that's what I understand from the manual. I also tried using the _exact_ same naming convention for my samples that the 404 uses when it writes a sample back to the CF card - something similar to A_04.wav if I remember right. As you can probably predict, no luck there either.

I've seen a few bits of discussion on this board about Roland (or perhaps a third party?) creating software for sample management on the 404. Any ETA on when that might arrive, or if its even happening? I would love to see something for the 404 like "MPC Pad" for the Akai MPC1000s. Obv no USB connection on the 404, but anything would help.

I'll see if I can get this brick to work and report back soon. Again thanks for the help.

mostblunted · Post by **mostblunted** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:16 am

Bonati wrote:Everyone - thanks for your help so far.

Maybe I will only be able to load samples using my PC too, which would be a bummer. What the hell.

And yes, I have been storing the samples in the root of the card, outside the Roland folder.

I have a mac and importing samples to the 404 should work (works here and for all the other users). What kind of message does the 404 give you after failing to import? I know that for some reason my 404 wouldn't read wav files created with my MPC. Even though the rate and depth were correct.
I had to load the samples into ableton/or audacity and save them again as wav files. Try that, use audacity since its free and easy to use!

Bonati · Post by **Bonati** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:37 am

Holy shit - I actually have good news to report.

The update worked! I did it on a PC, and it updated as normal, which also got me out of "FEO" mode. And now I can load samples from a memory card! But only when using my CF card reader with a PC, and only when _creating_ the sample on a PC (I used Steinberg Wavelab 6 for this test). How weird is that?

I don't know what I really "fixed" by moving everything over to a PC, or what I was really doing "wrong" on the mac to make the files "Usp" in the eye of the 404. I had used the same applications and procedures on the mac as other forum members who had no problems. I'm pretty baffled.

Thanks for everyone's help! At least the thing works now. Don't know why, but I'll take it.

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:23 am

Wierd it works fine on my macbook and my 303 which is older in terms of the card technology. If you have a pc to use for your sample editing then it's not a big deal, but if you use your mac more you can call Roland and they'll be able to figure it out.

dman5000 · Post by **dman5000** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:53 am

what does the firmware update do?

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:00 am

For me it helped fix a problem I had with my step sequencer.