Roland SP-555 Playing samples

Playing samples

The SP-555 provides sixteen velocity-sensitive pads, which let you vary the volume according to the force with which you strike the

pads. Striking a pad strongly will produce a louder sound, and striking it softly will produce a softer sound.

The SP-555 has ten sample banks: A–J.

Banks A and B use the SP-555’s internal memory. With the

factory settings, bank A contains preloaded samples. If

you’re using the SP-555’s internal memory, you can record

a maximum of 32 samples with a total maximum of

approximately five minutes.

Banks C–J are located on the memory card (CompactFlash).

You can record up to 128 samples on a memory card.

The SP-555 can play up to twelve samples simultaneously.

However, the polyphony is reduced as shown in the table

below if you’re using stereo samples or if you’re resampling.

BANK A–BANK J

Banks A/B are in internal memory, and the remaining banks are on

the CompactFlash card. Press a button to switch to the corresponding

bank. Sixteen samples can be assigned to each bank. Select banks

C--F by pressing a bank C--J button, causing it to light; select banks

G--J by pressing a button twice so it's blinking.

GATE

If this is unlit, the sample will play to the end when you

press a pad once. If you press this button so it's lit after

pressing the desired pad, the sound will continue playing

only while you continue pressing the pad.

LOOP

If this is unlit, the sample will play to the end and then

stop. If you press this button so it's lit after pressing the

desired pad, the sound will play repeatedly as a loop.

REVERSE

If you press this button so it's lit after pressing the desired

pad, the sample will play backward.

FIXED VELOCITY

If you press this button so it's lit, the sample will play at

the same volume regardless of how strongly you strike

the pad.

ROLL

If you hold down this button and press a pad, the sample

will play as a "roll" as long as you continue holding

down the pad. This produces a "drum roll" effect. By

holding down this button and pressing HOLD, you can

maintain the state of the pad being held down.

HOLD

If you press this button while holding down a pad, the

playback will continue even if you release the pad.

(This is valid only for pads for which GATE is turned on.)

The sound will stop when you press the pad once again.

SUB PAD

When you press this pad, the sample assigned to the

previously struck pad will be heard. You can use this to

play repeated strikes using both hands.

CANCEL

By pressing this four times

in rapid succession, you

can stop playback of all

samples.

PAD 1–PAD 16

Press a pad to play the sample assigned to that pad.

Lit red: A sample is assigned.

Unlit: No sample is assigned.

Blinking: Currently playing.

About the banks About the polyphony

Monaural samples Stereo samples

Normally 12 6

While resampling 4 2