Roland Corporation SP-555 Quick Start

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Before using this unit, carefully read the sections entitled: “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (Owner’s Manual).

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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.

*04783367 - 02 *

04783367 07-07-2N

Quick Start Guide

Read this  rst

ake sure that the SP-555 and your ampli ed speakers (which we

re powered o , and then make connections as shown below.

INE IN jacks

(sold separate

To prevent malfunction and/or damage to speakers

or other devices, always turn down the volume, and turn o the power on all devices before making any connections.

Audio cable

(sold separatel

INE OUT jac

AC ada

ou’re using headphones,

onnect them here

(see illustration) faces upwards and the side with

l information

The indicator will light when you plug the AC adaptor

into an AC outlet.

wnwar

If you connect the SP-555 to your computer via USB

you use a USB cable to connect the SP-555 to your

computer, you’ll be able to use DAW software such

s 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.

SB cable

sold separately

Once the connections have been completed, turn on power to your

various devices in the order speci ed. By turning on devices in the wrong order, you risk causing malfunction and/or damage to speakers and other devices.

inimize the volume of the

SP-555 and your speakers

urn the SP-555’s VOLUME knob ll the way to the left.

urn on the power of your speakers

just the volume.

While striking the pads of the

P-555 to produce sound, slow

urn the VOLUME knob toward the

right, and adjust the volume on the

P-555 and on your speakers

Turning the power o

inimize the volume of the SP-555 and your speakers.

urn o the power of your speakers.

rn the SP-

WER switch OFF

This unit is

equipped with a protection circuit. A brief interval (a few seconds) after power up is required before the unit will operate normally.

CompactFlash cards usable with the SP-555

The SP-555 supports CompactFlash cards (type I) ranging from 32 MB up to 2 GB in capacit

You can’t use Type II cards such as Microdrives.

as tested for compatibility with the SP-555.

Manuf

r M

nDi

u al

agiwara Sys-Co

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.

SDCFH-2048-903 (2GB), SDCFX3-1024-903 (1GB

CF115-256M (256MB), CF115-512M (512MB

RCF-X128MY (128MB), RCF-X256MY (256MB) RCF-X512MY (512MB), RCF-X1GY (1GB)

HPC-CF512ZP (512MB), HPC-CF2GZP(2GB HPC-CF1GZ2F (1GB), HPC-CF2GZ2F (2GB

Available sampling times

sing a higher-capacity CompactFlash card will let you sample for a

longer period of time. The approximate sampling times available for the

nternal memory and the supported sizes of CompactFlash cards are

Card capacit

nternal Memor

28 MB 24 (48

256 M

12 M

2 G

STANDAR stereo (mono

5 (11

48 (96

96 (193) 193 (386)

193 (386) 386 (772)

386 (772) 772 (1544)

ecording Tim

LO-F I stereo (mono

11 (22

48 (96

96 (193

Includes the preloaded sample

unit: minuts

If you insert a commercially available CompactFlash card into the SP-555 you’ll be able to sample for

longer periods of time

Inserting a card Formatting 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.

emove the card cover from the front panel.

nsert the card into the slot, and replace the cover.

Carefully insert the

CompactFlash card all the way in—until it is  rmly in place.

Before using a card for the  rst time, you must format it on the SP-555. The SP-555 will fail to recognize a card that was formatted by a di erent device.

Formatting a card will erase all data that was on the card.

While holding down [CANCEL], press [REMAIN]

Press any one of the BANK [C/G]–[F/J] buttons.

Press [DEL].

Removing a card

ress the eject button.

Never turn o the power while the dot is blinking. Doing so may damage the card

and render it unusable.

Do not modify or delete the  les and folders that are created when the card is

rasp the card and pull it out toward yoursel

formatted. Doing so will prevent the SP-555 from recognizing the card correctly.

Playing samples

What’s a sample?

amples 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]

What’s a sample bank?

A sample bank is a set of sixteen samples assigned to the pads.

he SP-555 has ten sample banks, A–J.

[

Playing patterns

What’s a pattern?

e SP-555 lets you successively play several samples by pressing a

ad, and create a song by recording this performance. Such a succes-

sion of samples is called a “pattern.”

isigned will blink

hen 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.

Make sure that [PATTERN SELECT] is extinguished.

ress BANK [A]

ress a pad to play its sample.

hat

sam

trik

play

You pa

Check the sample settings

Playing the samples at the same volume

you press [FIXED VELOCITY] so it’s lit, the

amples will play at a  xed volume regardless of

how strongly you strike the pads.

To set the  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

hile holding down a pad, press [HOLD] to make the sample continue playing even after you release the pad. To stop the sample, press the pa

nce again.

Repeated strikes

hen 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

ecently (the “current pad”)

Button name When lit

ry 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 sto

At the factory settings, patterns are assigned to pads [1]–[16] of pattern bank [A]. Let’s start by listening to them.

Press [PATTERN SELECT] so it’s lit

icate

ress BANK [A

ATE

LOOP

REVER

You can change the sample settings by pressing these buttons. Use the procedure described on the opposite side of this lea et to record a sample, and then try changing the settings

At the factory settings, the bank A samples are protected and cannot be modi 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

ou can apply a variety of e ects by positioning your hand above the D Beam sensor.

Sample playback will stop when

ou release the pa

ay back repeatedly (looped) Play back once (not looped)

ay backwar

hen not lit

ample playback will continue even if ou release the pa

Play norma

D Beam e

Applying e ects

The SP-555 contains 37 types of e ects. As an example, here’s how to apply the Super Filter to a sample.

Press a pad to play its sample

Press [SUPER FILTER].

Kno

CTRL 1

most recently. However, by making use of [EFFECT ASSIGN], you can

ile holdi

EFFECT AS

his button



input as we

Storing the e ect settings (EFFECT MEMORY)

he E ect Memory function lets you store up to sixteen

e ect settings and switch between them instantly

toring an e ect setting

EFFECT MEMORY] [SAMPLING] pad [1]–[16] [SAMPLING]

alling up an e ect settin

EFFECT MEMORY] pad [1]–[16] to sel

For more about e ects, refer to “Using e ects” (p. 18) in the Owner’s Manual.

☞

esu

djusts the cuto frequency of the  lter

TRL 2djusts the resonance of the  lter.

TRL 3hanges the type of  lter

ormally, the e ect will be applied only to the pad you pressed

et it so an e ect is applied to multiple samples

Adjusting the tempo

Here’s how to change the playback tempo of the pattern

own [TAP TEMPO] and turn the CTRL 2

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.

For more about patterns, refer to “Playing samples and recording your performance (Pattern Sequencer)” (p. 33) in the Owner’s Manual.

☞

ress a pad, and the pattern will play.

he pad

o lit, an

aying.

ress another pad to reserve the next pattern

If you p

patte

to play

nd th

the cur

as  ni

eserve

ress [CANCEL] to stop pattern layback.

osition 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

Hold down a D Beam button, press a pad [1]–[16] or

urn a CTRL 1–3 knob to make D Beam settings

Beam button

YNTH

TRIGGE

For more about D Beam, refer to “D Beam Controller” (p. 38) in the Owner’s Manual.

☞

ad 1–8: Synth sound ad 9–16: Delay settings

ilter typ

Select the pad to play CTRL 3: Playback volume

CTRL kno

CTRL 1: Key (pitch) CTRL 2: Scale (pitch interva CTRL 3: Synth volume Not

What’s BPM?

This stands for Beats Per Minute, which is the number of quarter-note beats played in one minute

Matching the tempo of a CD or turntable

You can set the tempo by pressing [TAP TEMPO] at quarter-note

ntervals of the music from your CD or turntable.

555 Wave Converte

es.

and double-click

and double-clic

stereo’s

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ced

cable

)

oduce sound on the device that’s

t the MIC LEVEL knob if your

MIC LEVEL knob if

noo

ddj

connect

connec

connect

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lding

N], press one

ttv

oduce sound on the device that’s connected to the

will be

will sto

nls

py p

op.

ll light

nt to save

the card

to s

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m a mic

etc.a m

e CTRL 3 knob to adju

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ad 1

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will ligh

to s

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etc.am

oduce sound on the device that’s connected to the

lly

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ot occ

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play as a lo

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The selected

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ds that can be

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555

the

the SP-555.

Connecting a stereo or portable audio player

you’re connecting your stereo, CD player, or portable audio player, use audio cables to connect your device’s utput jacks (LINE OUT jacks, AUX OUT jacks, etc.) to the SP-555’s LINE IN

Connecting a guitar or bass

If you’re connecting a guitar or bass directly, connect it to the MIC jack.

To prevent malfunction and/or damage to speakers or other devices, always turn down the volume, and turn o the power on all devices before making any connections.

Howling could be produced depending on the location of microphones relative to speakers. This can be remedied by:

1. Changing the orientation of the microphone(s). 2. Relocating microphone(s) at a greater distance from speakers. 3. Lowering volume levels.

Connecting a mic

This instrument is equipped with balanced (XLR/TRS) type

acks. Wiring diagrams for these jacks are shown below. Make

onnections after  rst checking the wiring diagrams of other

quipment you intend to connect.

Using the SP-555’s built-in mic

et to “NORMAL.”

T jac

our portable audio player’s output jac

ress [LINE IN] so it’s lit.

A record player (turntable) cannot be connected directly to the

SP-555. If you want to connect a record player, you must use an audio amp that will accept a connection from a record player, or use a phono equalizer between the record player and the SP-555.

When connection cables with resistors are used, the volume level

of equipment connected to the inputs (LINE IN) may be low. If this happens, use connection cables that do not contain resistors.

LINE

onnected a guitar t this to “Hi-Z.”

Mic with balan

XLR) connector

Either type can be con-

ected to this MIC jac

ress [MIC] so it’s lit.

ic with

If you’ve connected a balanced

XLR) plug and are using a con-

denser mic that requires phantom

ower, select “PHANTOM ON.

If you’ve connected a phone plug or

dynamic mic, select “NORMAL.”

You must turn phantom power o unless you’ve connected

a condenser mic that requires phantom power. Supplying phantom power to a dynamic mic or audio playback device will cause malfunctions. For details on the speci cations of your mic, refer to the Owner’s Manual of the mic you’re using. (The SP-555’s phantom power supply is DC 48V, 10 mA maximum.)

ress [MIC] so it’s lit.

Sampling the sound from your computer

you use a USB cable to connect the SP-555 to your computer,

ou’ll be able to sample sound from your computer via USB

into the SP-555.

Install the driver in your computer before you connect the

USB cable. For details, refer to “Connecting the SP-555 to your computer” (p. 40) in the Owner’s Manual.

(sold separately

Two ways to record

The SP-555 gives you two ways to record. Use the method that’s best for your situation.

Loop Capture

his is a new method of recording featured on the SP-555. It’s a convenient way to

ecord a loop phrase of one to four measures from a CD or portable audio player. You

an also use overdubbing to continue layering your performance on the pads.

oop Capture lets you record up to a maximum of approximately 15 seconds of sound.

(If you need to record longer than 15 seconds, use the “Sampling” method.

Sampling

is is the conventional recording method in which you record directly to a pad.

Using Loop Capture

Press [MEASURE] enough times to get “FREE” to light.

If you know the tempo

f you know the tempo of the phrase you’ll be recording,

ou can specify the tempo and the number of measures

Set the tempo as described in “Adjusting the tempo” on

the other side of this lea et.

Press [MEASURE] enough times to get the desired

umber of measures to light (1, 2, or 4)

SP-555, and press [REC] when you want to start record

ng.

Adjust the recording

level

onnected to the SP-555 (if you’re using a

mic, vocalize into the mic)

Here we’ll explain how to use Loop Capture to record a phrase and save it to pad 14

of bank B (or bank C-F if you’re using a card).

Saving the phrase to a pad

Press [SAVE TO PAD

Press BANK [B] so the button is lit.

Press pad [14].

If you decide not to save the phrase,

ress [CANCEL].

just the SP-555’s knob

Sampling

ake sure that [PATTERN SELECT] is extinguished.

o that the PEAK indica

Here we’ll explain how to use Sampling to record to pad 13 of bank B (bank C–F if you want to sample to the card).

Adjust the level with care!

If the recording level is

oo low, the sound will be

acking in dynamic range

nd the audio quality will be poor. If the recording level is too high, the recorde

nd will be di

crac

). Adjust the record-

ing level with care.

Applying e ects to the input sound

[EFFECT ASSIGN] can be used to apply e ects to the

ic or line input as well.

ine input as well.

SP-555, and press [SAMPLING] when you want to start

ampling.

Press [SAMPLING] so the button is lit

Never turn o the power while sampling is in progress. If you turn o the

Press BANK [B] so the button is lit.

power, not only the sample being recorded but also other samples may also be destroyed.

When you want to stop sampling, press the

[SAMPLING].

hen you want to stop recording, press [PLAY].

Press [PLAY] to stop the loop playback.

If you decide to re-record

elete the phrase as follows, and then re-record.

GN] and

utton will go out

For more about Loop Capture, refer to “Loop Capture” (p. 25) in the Owner’s

☞

Manual.

If the display indicates “FuL”

If the available sampling time is exceeded, the display

Press pad [13].

Make LO-FI and STEREO settings

ress pad 13 to play back the sound you just sampled.

will indicate “FuL,” and sampling will end automatica

If the sample included an unwanted portion

Press [PLAY] to begin loop playbac

Use the CTRL 3 knob to adjust the level.

ake LO-FI and STEREO settings

If there is unwanted sound or silence at the beginning or end of the sample, you can make settings so that only the desired portion will be hear

For details, refer to “Adjusting the playback region of a sample”

☞

(p. 28) in the Owner’s Manual.

If you want to re-record the sample

Delete the sample as described below in “Deleting a sample,” and then sample again.

Press [SAVE TO PAD] to save the sound.

The display will change from “rdY” to “rEC.” When the

ound has been saved, “rEC” will disappear.

Never turn o the power while data is being saved. Doing so may destroy not

only the sample being saved, but other samples as well.

How this a ects the sampling time

Sampling at LO-FI (low  delity) will produce lower audio quality, but will give you approximately twice as much

ampling time. Sampling in monaural will give you approximately twice as much sampling time as stereo

For more about sampling, refer to “Sampling (recording)” (p. 21) in the

☞

Owner’s Manual.

able sample CD-RO

You will need a CompactFlash card and a CompactFlash card reader that works with your computer.*

Overdubbing

ake sure that [SOURCE SELECT] is extinguished.

, the

ill also be

to the

recorded above will play as a loop.

Here we’re going to overdub your performance using the pads onto the phrase you recorded using Loop Capture.

ress [REC] to begin recording (overdubbing)

Strike pads [9] and [10] in rhythm with the sound.

o stop recording, press [REC] once again

elect BANK [A], and strike pads [9] and [10] along with

the rhythm

Record this po

ractic

Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Windows® is known o cially as: “Microsoft® Windows® operating system.” Mac OS is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. All product names mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Windows) or AIFF format  les from your computer into the SP-555. This is a convenient way

o import material from commercially available sample CD-ROM collections into the SP-555.

omputer to copy the data to CompactFlas

lash into the SP-

In addition to overdubbing using the pads, you can also overdub using an external input source (bass or guitar) or

ocal percussion from a mic.

Installing Wave Converter.

Windows users

Navigate to the Wave Converte

TILITY CD-R

Mac OS X users

Navigate to the Wave Converte

TILITY CD-R

SP-555 Wave Converter Installer.pk

onnect your card reader to your computer, and

older on the SP-555

Setup.exe

older on the

insert a CompactFlash card.

You must  rst format the CompactFlash

ard on the SP-555.

un .

P-555

Deleting a sample

Press [DEL].

If you are not satis ed with the sound you sampled, use the following procedure to delete it, and then sample the sound again.

The display will indicate “dEL,” and the pads that can

e deleted will blink.

Start up Wave Conver ter.

Windows users

tart All Programs P-

Mac OS X users

Finder Applications Roland

P-

se Wave Converter to load WAVE

Using the procedure described at the right, assign WAVE  les (or AIFF  les) to the pads of the SP-555. When you’re  nished, click [Exit] to exit the software

Select the CompactFlas

Press the pad that you want to delete

Press [DEL] to delete the sample

Never turn o the power before the deletion is complete.

nsert the CompactFlash card into the

ick the pad to

hich you want to

assign the WAVE

le. The border of

e selected pad

ill turn green.

ialog box. Select the

import

xit

ftwar

SP-555, and switch on its power

You’ll be able to play the imported WAVE  les

For more about using SP-555 Wave Converter, refer to

☞

the online help. The online help is a PDF  le. You’ll need Adobe Reader (available free of charge) in order to read it.

If you want to import audio  les from a CompactFlash

☞

card without using the included “SP-555 Wave Converter” software, refer to “Importing audio  les” (p. 46) in the owner’s manual.

Roland Corporation SP-555 Quick Start

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual