Roland SP-555 Quick Start Manual

Quick Start Guide
Read this fi rst
2
* Once the connections have been completed, turn on power to your
various devices in the order specifi ed. By turning on devices in the
wrong order, you risk causing malfunction and/or damage to speakers
and other devices.
1
Minimize the volume of the
SP-555 and your speakers.
Turn the SP-555's VOLUME knob
all the way to the left.
2
Turn the SP-555's POWER switch ON.
* This unit is
equipped with
a protection
circuit. A brief
interval (a few
seconds) after
power up is re-
quired before the
unit will operate
normally.
3
Turn on the power of your speakers.
4
Adjust the volume.
While striking the pads of the
SP-555 to produce sound, slowly
turn the VOLUME knob toward the
right, and adjust the volume on the
SP-555 and on your speakers.
Turning the power off
1
Minimize the volume of the SP-555 and your speakers.
2
Turn off the power of your speakers.
3
Turn the SP-555's POWER switch OFF.
4
Playing samples
What's a sample?
Samples are pieces of sampled (recorded) sound together with their
loop settings, etc. That are assigned to the sixteen pads. You can play
a sample by pressing the corresponding pad [1]–[16].
P P s to which a sample o w w o w i h h i i o w wh h ich a sample h h h h i i c c c c c c c c h h h h h i i c c c c c c c c h h h h h h h h i i c c c c c c c c h h h h h h h h h h a a s s s s s a sa a a a a s s s s s s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a s s s s s s a a a a m m m m p p m m m m m m m m m m p p p p p p p p m m m m p p p p m m m m p p p p l l l l e e e e e e
is signed will light red. d. d. .
P P s a lit pad to play lit pad to p li t t t t p p p p a a d d d d t t t o to o o p p d play play a a a y ay y
t t sample. a a a a a a m m m m p p e e pl p
What's a sample bank?
A sample bank is a set of sixteen samples assigned to the pads.
The SP-555 has ten sample banks, A–J.
Sa ample banks [A pl pl l l e e e e b b b b a a n an n n k k e e b b b b a a a n an [B B B am m p ba a a ks
[C/G]–[F ] are on th F/ ] are on th F/J] are on the
ar r r e e e in re in te e r r n n internal m nterna nterna mory. ory. ory.
CompactFlash card. To Compac lash card. o Compac Flash card. o
P ress r r e e e e s s s ss s s o o n n n n e e e e e e o o o o o o f f ress one of thes ress ress one of th one of t ne of t but- but but-
to on n n n n s s s s t t t t t o to o o ons to select a b o o o o n o o o n n n n s s s s t t t t o se se e e e e l l e e e e c c c c s s se se e e e e e l el l e le e e e e c c l l nk k elect a k [G], pres ank [G], press a k [G], pres G], p
C/G] w e so it star s w e so it star ice so it starts o it s
blinking blinking blinking. g
Playing patterns
What's a pattern?
The SP-555 lets you successively play several samples by pressing a
pad, and create a song by recording this performance. Such a succes-
sion of samples is called a "pattern. "
P s to which a pattern P o w w o w o w i h h i i wh h ich a pattern h h h h h h i i c c c c c c c c h h h i i c c c c c c c c h h h h h h h h h h i i c c c c c c c c h h h h h h h h a a p p p p p p p p a a a a a a p p p p p p p p a a a a a a a a a a p p p p p p a a p p p p p p p p p p a a t t t t tt t t t t t t t t t t e e e e e e e e t t t t e e e e t t t t t e te e e e e n n n n n n
is signed will blink
r r When you press a h hen you pre en en n n n n y y y o yo o o o u ou u u u u p p p p ess a ess a s s s s s s a
b b king pad, the pattern ki ki i i n n n n g g p p i g p g p p , , t t t t t t t h h h h h h e e e e e e p p h h h h h h e e e e e e p p ern ern
w w play. ay ay
What is a pattern bank?
A "pattern bank" is a set of sixteen patterns assigned to the
pads. The SP-555 has ten pattern banks, A–J.
at t ter banks [C/G]–[F banks [C/G]– F b nks [C/G] F s [C/ ]
Pa attern banks [A r r n n n n n n b b b b a a n n n k nk k k ba a a n n b b b a [B B B
ar re in te e r r n r r e e e in n internal m nterna nterna mory. ory. ory. are on th Compact ash are on th Compact ash he CompactFla
card. To select G, press card. To elect G, pre s card. To lect G, pre s , p
P r r e e e e s s s ss s s o o n n n n e e e e e e o o o o o o f f ress one of thes ress ress one of th ress one of t ne of t but but- but- ut
to o o o o n on n n n n s s s s t t t t t o to o o o o o n n n n s s s s t t t t o sw ons to switch ba sw sw w w w w w w w i wit t t t c c s s sw w w w w w w i i t t t t c c it t it t k k s s C/G] w e so it star s w e so it star ice so it starts o it s
lin n ki . g g
☞
For more about patterns, refer to "Playing samples and recording your performance (Pattern Sequencer)" (p. 33) in the Owner's Manual.
3
CompactFlash cards usable
with the SP-555
The SP-555 supports CompactFlash cards (type I)
ranging from 32 MB up to 2 GB in capacity.
* You can't use Type II cards such as Microdrives.
Next table shows the currently available CompactFlash cards that Roland
has tested for compatibility with the SP-555.
Manufacturer Model
SanDisk SDCFH-2048-903 (2GB), SDCFX3-1024-903 (1GB)
IO Data CF115-256M (256MB), CF115-512M (512MB)
RCF-X128MY (128MB), RCF-X256MY (256MB)
Buff alo
RCF-X512MY (512MB), RCF-X1GY (1GB)
HPC-CF512ZP (512MB), HPC-CF2GZP(2GB)
Hagiwara Sys-Com
HPC-CF1GZ2F (1GB), HPC-CF2GZ2F (2GB)
* All compatibility testing was done in Japan, using CF cards available to the
Japanese market. As such, be advised that the listed CF cards may not be
available outside of Japan.
Available sampling times
Using a higher-capacity CompactFlash card will let you sample for a
longer period of time. The approximate sampling times available for the
internal memory and the supported sizes of CompactFlash cards are
shown below.
Recording Time
Card capacity
STANDARD LO-FI
stereo (mono) stereo (mono)
Internal Memory* 5 (11) 11 (22)
128 MB 24 (48) 48 (96)
256 MB 48 (96) 96 (193)
512 MB 96 (193) 193 (386)
1 GB 193 (386) 386 (772)
2 GB 386 (772) 772 (1544)
* Includes the preloaded samples
When the SP-555 is shipped from the factory, samples are assigned to pads [1]–[16]
of sample bank A. Let's start by listening to these samples.
1
Make sure that [PATTERN SELECT] is extinguished.
f f it t i i s s it i li l he button h h e
to turn t t
2
Press BANK [A].
3
Press a pad to play its sample.
• That d will blink while it will b will b will bl will bl k while t will bl k whil ts ts ts ill k whi k whi k whil wh s
samp p s playing. g p y p p l l a a a y ay y y y y g p y l p p p p p l pl l a la a a y y y y y y i i l a a
• Striki a pad strongly will ill p d d t t t t t t r r r r r o ro o o o o strongly will s s s s s s t t t t t t t r r r r o o o o o o o o o o t n n g g g g g g g g l l l y ly y y y y y y ill ng g g g g l n n n n ng g g g l n n n n g g g g g g g g y y l l w w w w w w w w w w w i i l w w w i i l w w w w w w i i i i l l l l l l
play sample more loudly. amp e e e e o o o o r r r r e e e e e e e e e e amp m m m l l le more loudly. e e e e e e e e m m m m e e e e m m m m m m m m m m m m e e e e m m m m m m m m m m m m o o o o r r r r e e e e e e o o o o o o o o o o r r r r e e e e e e e e o o o o o o o o u u u u o o o o o u u u u u u u d d o o u u u u u u o o o o o o o o y y y y y y y y . y. . . y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y
• You c c press two or more p
pads s pla h h p p p p y y pla a y y th play them simultane- ay y t h h i multa multa u u l l t t lt ane
ously y
Try playing samples using the functions described at the right.
If the sound won't stop
If the sound won't stop, press [CANCEL] four times in rapid
succession. All of the SP-555's sounds will stop.
At the factory settings, patterns are assigned to pads [1]–[16] of pattern bank [A].
Let's start by listening to them.
1
Press [PATTERN SELECT] so it's lit.
The d d is s p p la a y y w p y dicate
" " " Ptn. " Ptn n . Ptn. "
2
Press BANK [A].
3
Press a pad, and the pattern will play.
The pad w w change from blink change rom bl nk hang hang hange rom b k k ing hange an n e e rom b om b om b m m li li king king ng n
to lit, and d e pattern will begin patte patter will be in p patte patter will be in in n patte e will b will b w will b ll b n n
playing.
4
Press another pad to reserve the next pattern.
If you p s another pad while anoth anothe pad w le le e anothe pad w le noth noth pad w h h h h e e pad w pad w w w h h e
a patter r playin playing the pa er er ern playing the pa e playing, the patte playin layin ayi the pa he pa he p e p ern n
If f you h yo o o o u u you h
to play n t will be reserved, will ll w w w w w i wi i i l l l l b b b b l l w w i i l l l l b b will be re be re s s s s e e e r er r r v v serv serv e e se se e e e e r r ed, ed,
[SUB PA SUB PA
and tha a ad will blink. When wil will blink. When i i l b b li blin b b b b l l l l i i n n n n n n n n b b b b blin k W k W k k k k k k k . k. . . W W W W W W W W W W W W W h k W W W h h Wh h en h h h h hen e e e e e e e e n n n n n n n n
p p ress a ress a
the curr r ly playing pattern pla n n n n n n n n pla p p l l a y y i i y y ing pattern y y i i i i i g g g g n n n n n n n n n n g g g g g g g g g g n n n n n n n n n n g g g g g g g g g g p p p p p p a a a a a a a a a t at t t t t p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p a p p p p a a a a a a a a t t t t t t p p p p pa a a a a t t t t e e e e e e e e e e e e r r r r r r e e r r r r r r n n e e r r r r r r n n n n n n n n
p tt
has fi nis s d playing, the i h h h h h h
immed mmed mmed
reserved attern will play attern will play. ern will play n n n n w w w w w w il il l l ll l l p p p p p l pl y. . y.
5
Press [CANCEL] to stop pattern
playback.
Before using this unit, carefully read the sections entitled: "USING THE UNIT SAFELY" and "IMPORTANT NOTES" (Owner's Manual).
These sections provide important information concerning the proper operation of the unit. Additionally, in order to feel assured
that you have gained a good grasp of every feature provided by your new unit, Owner's manual should be read in its entirety. The
manual should be saved and kept on hand as a convenient reference.
1
Make sure that the SP-555 and your amplifi ed speakers (which we
are powered off , and then make connections as shown below.
Audio cables
(sold separately)
INE IN jacks
Amplifi ed speakers
(sold separately)
* To prevent malfunction and/or damage to speakers
or other devices, always turn down the volume, and
turn off the power on all devices before making any
connections.
Inserting a card
* Never insert or remove a CompactFlash card while this unit's power is on. Doing so
may corrupt the unit's data or the data on the CompactFlash card.
1
Remove the card cover from the front panel.
2
Insert the card into the slot, and replace the cover.
*
Removing a card
1
Press the eject button.
unit: minuts
2
Grasp the card and pull it out toward yourself.
Playing the samples at the same volume
If you press [FIXED VELOCITY] so it's lit, the
samples will play at a fi xed volume regardless of
how strongly you strike the pads.
To set the fi xed playback volume, hold down [FIXED VELOCITY]
and turn the CTRL 3 knob to adjust it within the 16–127 range.
Playing a roll
To adjust the note value (interval) of the roll, hold down [ROLL]
and turn the CTRL 3 knob.
The speed of the roll is synchronized with the tempo (described
later).
Holding a sample
While holding down a pad, press [HOLD] to make
the sample continue playing even after you
release the pad. To stop the sample, press the pad
once again.
Repeated strikes
When you press [SUB PAD], the same sample as the
previously pressed pad will play. This makes it easy
to use both hands to play rapid notes in succession.
Check the sample settings
These buttons indicate the sample settings of the pad you pressed most
recently (the "current pad").
Button name When lit When not lit
Sample playback will stop when Sample playback will continue even if
GATE
you release the pad you release the pad
LOOP Play back repeatedly (looped) Play back once (not looped)
REVERSE Play backward Play normally
You can change the sample settings by pressing these buttons. Use the procedure
described on the opposite side of this leafl et to record a sample, and then try chang-
ing the settings.
* At the factory settings, the bank A samples are protected and cannot be modifi ed. For
details on disabling protection, refer to the Owner's Manual (p. 51).
☞
For more about playing samples, refer to "Playing samples" (p. 15) in the Owner's Manual.
Using the D Beam
You can apply a variety of eff ects by positioning your hand above the D Beam sensor.
1
Press a button to select the D Beam eff ect.
This is the D Bea s is the D B m so
nsor
If you press the button to turn it off , the D Beam will turn off .
2
Position your hand above the D Beam sensor,
and slowly move it up and down.
* The sensitivity of the D Beam controller will change depending on
the amount of light in the vicinity of the unit. If it does not function as
you expect, adjust the sensitivity as appropriate for the brightness of
your location. (Owner's Manual p. 38)
D Beam settings
d d d down
Hold down a D Beam button, press a pad [1]–[16] or
a a and
turn a CTRL 1–3 knob to make D Beam settings.
d, , the
l change e
ly y y.
D Beam button Pad CTRL knob
CTRL 1: Key (pitch)
Pad 1–8: Synth sound
SYNTH CTRL 2: Scale (pitch interval)
Pad 9–16: Delay settings
CTRL 3: Synth volume
FILTER Filter type Not used
TRIGGER Select the pad to play CTRL 3: Playback volume
☞
For more about D Beam, refer to "D Beam Controller" (p. 38) in the Owner's Manual.
Copyright ©2007 ROLAND CORPORATION
*
Place the AC adaptor so the side with the indicator
(see illustration) faces upwards and the side with
textual information faces downwards.
* The indicator will light when you plug the AC adaptor
into an AC outlet.
AC adap
LINE OUT jacks
If you connect the SP-555 to
your computer via USB
If you use a USB cable to connect the SP-555 to your
computer, you'll be able to use DAW software such
as SONAR LE to record performances created using
the SP-555, or have sound from your computer be
played by the SP-555.
* Install the driver in your computer before you con-
nect the USB cable. For details, refer to "Connecting
the SP-555 to your computer" (p. 40) in the Owner's
Manual.
f you're using headphones,
connect them here.
If you insert a commercially available CompactFlash card into the SP-555 you'll be able to sample for
longer periods of time
Formatting a card
* Before using a card for the fi rst time, you must format it on the SP-555. The SP-555
will fail to recognize a card that was formatted by a diff erent device.
* Formatting a card will erase all data that was on the card.
1
While holding down [CANCEL], press [REMAIN].
2
Press any one of the BANK [C/G]–[F/J] buttons.
Carefully insert the
CompactFlash card all the
way in—until it is fi rmly
in place.
3
Press [DEL].
* Never turn off the power while the dot is blinking. Doing so may damage the card
and render it unusable.
* Do not modify or delete the fi les and folders that are created when the card is
formatted. Doing so will prevent the SP-555 from recognizing the card correctly.
Applying eff ects
The SP-555 contains 37 types of eff ects. As an example, here's how to
apply the Super Filter to a sample.
1
Press a pad to play its sample.
2
Press [SUPER FILTER].
3
Turn the CTRL 1–3 knobs to adjust the eff ect.
Knob Result
CTRL 1 Adjusts the cutoff frequency of the fi lter.
CTRL 2 Adjusts the resonance of the fi lter.
CTRL 3 Changes the type of fi lter.
Normally, the eff ect will be applied only to the pad you pressed
most recently. However, by making use of [EFFECT ASSIGN], you can
set it so an eff ect is applied to multiple samples.
While holdin n ow w w w w n wn n
[EFFECT ASS S ], press s p p p p p r pr r r e e e e s es s s s s ss s s pres p p r r e e e e s s s s ss p e e
this button t t pply the e ly the ly th h e e e e e e y y y y t t h
eff ect to the c or line or line e e e r lin li i n
input as well
Storing the eff ect settings (EFFECT MEMORY)
The Eff ect Memory function lets you store up to sixteen
eff ect settings and switch between them instantly.
Storing an eff ect setting
[EFFECT MEMORY] [SAMPLING] pad [1]–[16]
Calling up an eff ect setting
[EFFECT MEMORY] pad [1]–[16] to select
☞
For more about eff ects, refer to "Using eff ects" (p. 18) in the Owner's Manual.
Adjusting the tempo
Here's how to change the playback tempo of the pattern.
ifi e e ifi ed ad
1
Hold down [TAP TEMPO] and turn the CTRL 2
knob.
A A fi lter will ap-
li d t th tput The display will in dis dis pl pl l a la a a a y ay y y y a
s s o o u u n n d d .
the tempo in term the te he e e e e t t h h he t h h h e o in te i i i i t t in t i i i n in n n n n t t o o f f of of
the B the BP the BP the BP he e PM, and the and th and th and th pattern and th nd d pattern attern attern tte te
playba playback tempo w playba k tempo ill ill ll playb playb tempo temp temp ll
change. e change. e e e e ha a a
What's BPM?
This stands for Beats Per Minute, which is the number of quarter-note
beats played in one minute.
Ho H H H H o Ho Ho Ho old dow old dow ld do d d d d d d o o d d d d o n n n n w w w w w n w hil h
ma ma a m m m ma k k k k i i n n n n n king i g g g g g g s s g e e e e e e e e e e e e e s s e e e e e e e e e e t t t t s s t t e e e ti i n n n n n g s etting g g g set setting g ting t t t t i i i i n n n n n n n n g ting g g g g g
Matching the tempo of a CD or turntable
You can set the tempo by pressing [TAP TEMPO] at quarter-note
intervals of the music from your CD or turntable.
y
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.
0 4 7 8 3 3 6 7 - 0 2 *
04783367 07-07-2N
USB cable
(sold separately)
ay will indicate a a y y
"FMt "FMt, " "FMt, FM M M M t FMt, M M M d BANK [C/G]–
[F/J] [ [ [ [ F F F F [F/J] [ [F/J] w F/J] F/J] w b b blink.
[ [DEL] [ [ DEL] [ [ [ D [D D D D D D EL] DEL] DEL] E E L b b b blink. If you
decid decid d d ecid ecid e e c c c id t to format the t t t
card, , s s s [CANCEL].
While While W W W hile W W W hile m m matting is in
[DEL] will light [ [ D [
and t and th a a nd t nd d d t nd d d nd t ot in the display o o o
w ill b will b will b will b w w w ill b w When the W W
b b link blink blink blinki tops, format- t t t
ting i ting ting i ting is mpleted. m m
Use these buttons to sw U e these buttons to sw U e these buttons to sw tch e th t e ese s e utt u t n ns s o sw s sw witch t h tch ch h h
the effect (The button's t t t t h h h h h e th the eff ect. (The button's light th he e e e e e e ff t Th b t ff ff t Th b t h e e e e b b ut b b u u u u u b b ut t t t t t t b ' li ht h ' ' li ht
will be off if th eff ect is off .) will be off if the eff ect is off .) will be off if th eff ect is off .)
Fo o r M X, the e ect to b M X, the e ect to b FX, the eff ect to be the t to se e d
is sele is sele ted by holding down is selected by holding down ted by h y olding down g
MF ] and pressing bank ] and pressing bank ] and pres ing bank d p g b A] ] o
B] n a pad [ ] n a pad [ ] d a pad [1] d 16
W Whil Whil W hile holding do W W W W W W W W While holdi Wh h l h di di d d
[EFF [EFF F F F CT T T T A A [EFFECT ASSIGN], [EFF FF ECT ASS ECT AS CT T A A A IGN] SIGN], p ], s s s the
ds he h h h
p e e e d e e e d d d d ed t ed t c c ch
it
[SAMPLING]
Set S S S Set he t Set the te Set t t he t the t h h h o by o o
TEMPO] T
four time f f f f o o o u u fou tim fou fou o r time time ti i m m m m m more at the
des desired t d d des s s s i sir r ed t red t d d t o o o o.