Brutal, they even put the software in the start-up.
I had the same thing. The culprit was a naming issue. Can’t remember exactly what it was but it was something like a hyphen. I removed it and all was good.
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Files are supposed to be 48 KHz, not 44.1. If you use the app, it will convert them for you. If you copy them straight onto the card, you can expect to have problems. Could that be it? I just skimmed what you wrote so I may have missed something.
I will double check if that is the case.
The weird thing is that other samples work and the Finder says they‘re 44.1 kHz as well… and from what I‘ve seen you can only copy samples to the current project via the app which is not what I want.
Yeah, I installed it on my last laptop for something to do with the MC-707, but I won’t be doing it again unless Roland drag me kicking and screaming to the button (or pay me). I’m hoping someone will knock up a third-party app that does away with all the nonsense.
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So the naming is not the issue, there are no odd characters. I thought the bit depth was the issue as some folders have only 24 bit samples in them that aren’t supported while others with 16 Bit are, no matter if 44.1 or 48 kHz. But now I checked a folder that has all kinds of various rates and depths and from this folder I can preview and import files with 24 bit (32 Bit doesn’t work). Very confusing… and from the mentioned library series volumes 4-6 still don’t work even though they’re all 44.1/16. In the SP browser the folder names are even messed up even though they’re all named exactly the same just different numbers at the end. I can’t find a pattern here and the Roland website isn’t really specific in terms of specs for WAV files, it simply states: “Import Format: WAV, AIFF, MP3”. Didn’t find any more details in the manual either.
it’s annoying. i have to close Roland cloud every time i power up my computer. it’s not listed in the start-up operations/login items either
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If you’re talking about the Roland Cloud Manager app on MacOS, I prevent it from starting at boot by un-selecting Account (at the lower left) > Preferences > Run on System Startup.
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Hi, don’t have an SP (yet) but am wondering if the pads can be used as a generic midi controller? Is there a local off type function? If so, can you still sample while controlling an external device? Just thinking it would be great to play ios synths and sample on the fly…
giving this a try! thank you!!
According to the Roland knowledge base all my files should be supported unless they’re 32 bit, so I remain clueless…
FYI for the UK chaps!
I wonder what the actual UK RRP is. I got mine from Rubadub 3 weeks or so ago for £40 cheaper. I know stores flex prices a bit bit but not usually so much on backordered stuff.
Anyway, need to try and make some time to play more with the 404. Been neglected the past week or two!
Yes I think they have to be less than 32 bits. As in 24 or 16.
Got some 32 bit drum samples from a mate the other day and had to be converted to 16 for them to be supported on the SP
Pads send MIDI, though it’s a fairly limited setup in some ways (such as set channels and note ranges). For just playing external gear, you don’t need a sample loaded on a pad (you do for sequencing, however), so you can just set your channels and go for it. If you’re using the chromatic mode, it’s always on channel 16. It works polyphonically.
If you’re playing an external synth that way then as far as I’m aware you need to use resample to capture the sound, but it’s the same principle as sampling. It works fine and lets you mix in the 404’s output and FX, if you want to. If you exclude those, you’re basically just sampling the external signal as usual.
If you’re using an iPad then you can power the 404 and send audio & MIDI over USB, which is really great (this is using USB-C on an iPad Pro, I haven’t tested it with Lightning).
I just set this up to make sure I wasn’t getting anything wrong, and sampling an iPad synth being played on the 404 pads is very straightforward and quick once you know how the channels work.
Edit: your/you’re. I blame Apple.
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Unfortunately I also have issues with 24 and 16 Bit files where I can’t find a pattern. Can anyone recommend a batch file processor/converter for Mac (M1) that let’s me adjust the sample rate and bit depth of WAV files?
I tried connecting my iPhone via a USB-C to Lightning cable but unfortunately that doesn’t work. Sound doesn’t get sent to the 404.
Thanks for the thorough reply!
So… the mk2 does send midi, so you can use it as a midi controller to some extent, but the notes that are sent are hard coded to the pads, and although if you use Chromatic Mode it will send a broader range of notes, it is still only sending about 2 octaves of midi information.
Technically you can send midi notes, but you’d really want something to manage the notes to adjust the pitch or other settings. Definitely stuff like that exists that you could load into AUM or Audiobus 3… but it also can make things a bit more of a hassle.
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You have to use the camera kit connector. The SP expects the connected iPhone / iPad to be the host for it (the SP) to be soundcard. Using the USB-C to lightning cable the iPhone is client. With the camera kit adapter the lightning turns to a USB-A (host) and the SP starts functioning as a soundcard
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@NearTao is quite right, it’s not an optimal way of playing an external synth at all - but it will work and is useful if space / portability is a factor. I expect it’d be quite easy to set up a script in Mozaic to expand the 404’s capabilities with iOS synths, I might take a look into that. But often you’d be better off using an app’s own keyboard than triggering from the 404.