Alesis Sample Pad Pro 8: Sample ?'s

[ResoNut]

Aleisis sample pad pro 8-sample ?"s

Sorry... lots of Questions!!!
I hope some smart talented folks here can help this Sample Pad Pro (SPP8) novice out?
I viewed the sparse manual and saw a few videos? but still have questions.

I downloaded for free the Reverb drum machine samples and copied the linndrum Folder onto an SD card. Originally the SPP8 did not recognize the samples on the SD card but I removed the 23 sample sounds from the folder and had the 23 sample files loose on the SD card and then the SPP8 recognized them. I then was able to assign and play the individual samples on the SPP8 pads.

Does the SPP8 only read the samples from an SD card or can you load the sample's into the SPP8 Onboard Memory?
If Yes, how do you assign and load individual samples from an SD card into the SPP8?

Also how do you create a Drum Kit on the SPP8? seems like I can only access the preloaded 10 Alesis drum kits?
How can you create Drum Kit # 11 and assign the (SD card samples OR loaded samples) and Save Kit #11?

How many samples can you store in the SPP8?
How many Drum kits can you create and store on the SPP8?

I appreciate any help with this.
Thanks much
Clint a.k.a. ResoNut

[Chaser]

Aleisis sample pad pro 8-sample ?"s

Sorry... lots of Questions!!!
I hope some smart talented folks here can help this Sample Pad Pro (SPP8) novice out?
I viewed the sparse manual and saw a few videos? but still have questions.

I downloaded for free the Reverb drum machine samples and copied the linndrum Folder onto an SD card. Originally the SPP8 did not recognize the samples on the SD card but I removed the 23 sample sounds from the folder and had the 23 sample files loose on the SD card and then the SPP8 recognized them. I then was able to assign and play the individual samples on the SPP8 pads.

Does the SPP8 only read the samples from an SD card or can you load the sample's into the SPP8 Onboard Memory?
If Yes, how do you assign and load individual samples from an SD card into the SPP8?

The Samplepad Pro or SampleRack (Same thing..No Pads). does not have onboard storage...48MB MAX of samples can be loaded into Memory at one time....Memory is not storage.

Check the User Guide pg 5..Assigning Sample to Pad or Ext trigger.

User Guide pg 6..
The .WAV file must be located in the root (main) directory of the card and not in any folders.
The max number of files that can be located in the root directory is 512.

Also how do you create a Drum Kit on the SPP8? seems like I can only access the preloaded 10 Alesis drum kits?
How can you create Drum Kit # 11 and assign the (SD card samples OR loaded samples) and Save Kit #11?

Check the User Guide pg 9  Saving/Copying Kits
You won't be able to Save or Copy Kits without the SD Card.
All New kits are created on the SD Card...No SD Card, NO NEW KIT

How many samples can you store in the SPP8?
How many Drum kits can you create and store on the SPP8?

0/ZERO..
The SPP does not have onboard storage...
The SD Card must be inserted if you assigned samples to Pads/Kits.
All New kits are created on the SD Card...No SD Card, NO NEW KIT...No Assigned Samples will be played etc
Save up to 512 sounds and 20 kits per 32GB SD card

The Reverb Machine FREE Sample Pack is 24/48..STEREO  (2304kps)
You'll be able to use more samples if you use the Alesis Converter (Samplepad Pro Downloads)..to 16/44.1.and help reduce the Loading Time , which was one of the biggest complaints for this model..especially changing Kits Live...ALL Samples must be loaded for the Kit BEFORE the SMP pads will respond.
DON'T FORGET TO SAVE.. you must constantly SAVE..there is No Auto Save..back out of a windows etc etc and you'll lose everything you have done.

Use the Offline Editor that came out a few years ago..you don't need the Samplepad Pro or Samplepad Rack to be connected to the Computer..just the SD Card.This allows you to create multiple SD Cards..sets etc .
I posted a Link in this Topic.
Imported samples are automatically formatted as appropriate (16bit, 44.1k 8-character wav.).
After importing samples through SamplePad Kit Editor you'll still see the original file name (in the case that its greater than 8 characters) allowing for better, more intuitive sample organization.
No one reported any Feedback..so not much info..good..bad...Pros,Cons..etc etc.I sold my SampleRack years before the Editor came out.
The SampleRack was Discontinued around 2016....placed into Legacy..then completely removed from the Database.
The Alesis Get Satisfaction Forum became Defunct around 2020 and along with it all information available.
I archived the Samplerack quite a few times so it wouldn't disappear from existence entirely.
The last update for both was 2015.

There are numerous Topics/Posts about the Pros/Cons about both..Use the Search ..Upper left.

Also check out Justins Video for the Samplepad pro  65 DRUMS - Alesis Sample Pad Pro Tutorial..

SAMPLEPAD PRO User Guide v1.3


EDIT:
Added Links

[ResoNut]

Wow, Chaser... Thanx Much!!!
There's a lot for me to grasp.
I know I could have up to 512 individual sample sounds on an SD card.
If I understand right, You can create and save kits on an SD card. But that seems strange as you might want to have multiple kits. You'd probably want individual folders for each kit. Or you would have to have 1 Saved kit per each SD card... because it seems like the SPP8 only recognizes the SD card with Everything just in One Main root directory.

Thanx So Much for the Manual references and Especially the Embedded Links.
They should help me out immensely!!!

Clint aka ResoNut

[Chaser]

Wow, Chaser... Thanx Much!!!
There's a lot for me to grasp.
I know I could have up to 512 individual sample sounds on an SD card.
If I understand right, You can create and save kits on an SD card. But that seems strange as you might want to have multiple kits. You'd probably want individual folders for each kit. Or you would have to have 1 Saved kit per each SD card... because it seems like the SPP8 only recognizes the SD card with Everything just in One Main root directory.

Thanx So Much for the Manual references and Especially the Embedded Links.
They should help me out immensely!!!
Clint aka ResoNut

As soon as you save a Kit...a KITS Folder is created on the SD Card..that's the Folder the Firmware will search for..20 Kits MAX..one Folder.
You cannot have multiple Folders as it searches for one named "KITS"
This is why I mentioned using Multiple SD Cards..No Need for Big cards (the more Samples the longer the system will scan) if you already know what samples you want to the Pads you want for the 20 Kits.
It is also why I linked the Editor..No Trial and error with the SPP..build your kits on a computer (Took less than 10 mins to import and assign A and B layers to existing MIDI Notes/Map..attached) then pop into the SPP and make all the necessary adjustments..Resave the Kit with the same name.There is an "Import Kit" feature in the Editor..no idea exactly what it does as I don't own a SPP..I presume it's for sharing Kits/Samples from other Users.I highly doubt its possible to import a Kit (export) samples from the module into the Editor/SD Card.Internal Samples are Copyrighted material...developers don't just give them away..
You could try and see if it will list the samples used in a Kit (connected by USB) , but you can do that by just saving a Kit to the SD Card.
Samples can only be placed in the Root Directory..the Firmware only looks there , the Samplepad Pro is an older system..Drum modules since then Command..Crimson/II...DM10 MKII Pro..Forge...DM10 MKII Pro..STRIKE Pro..the Firmware creates separate Folders for the Instruments,Kits.. Loops,Triggers,Voices..Songs etc and have a Folder hierarchy allowing multiple Folders with up to 99.
The SPP Doesn't have this feature and hasn't been updated since 2015....most likely never will.

The STRIKE MULTIPAD however still requires Samples to be Placed in the Root Directory.
It can load into the onboard SD Card and store them..but that's where a lot of the problems rose from.
Users wanted the ability to load 1,000's to the onboard SD Card....import 100's at a time ..they got their wish..but didn't take into account that trying to delete so many at one time... usually corrupted the file system as the OS  imports and places on multiple sorting lists...and all it takes is one corrupt sample to trash the system and when the SD Card is corrupted the SMP needs to be serviced..SD Card replaced , which requires the original Data as you can't just go though 1,000's of samples and hope to find the corruption and if/when you do get lucky and find a corrupted sample the OS has to delete it or the sort lists remain corrupted...without a working backup/copy you're left in a difficult position as Alesis will never release the internal SD Card contents to the General Public.

EDIT:
Added Example Kit created in Editor

[ResoNut]

Thanks again Chaser!
Starting to understand it a bit now.

That sample kit editor looks like a good way to go....
So you can Build up to 20 Kits Max with the Sample Pad Editor on your laptop, put on SD card and put SD card in Sample Pad Pro 8 and adjust & then???
Resave the Kit with the Same Name onto the SD card again? Does that mean the Sample Pad Pro will save the Renamed Kit on the SD card in its own SPP8 created Kits folder (where all Saved Kits go & SPP8 can access them)?

Thanks!!!!!!!!

[Chaser]

Thanks again Chaser!
Starting to understand it a bit now.

That sample kit editor looks like a good way to go....
So you can Build up to 20 Kits Max with the Sample Pad Editor on your laptop, put on SD card and put SD card in Sample Pad Pro 8 and adjust & then???
Resave the Kit with the Same Name onto the SD card again? Does that mean the Sample Pad Pro will save the Renamed Kit on the SD card in its own SPP8 created Kits folder (where all Saved Kits go & SPP8 can access them)?

Thanks!!!!!!!!

I don't have a SPP..the Editor creates a "KITS"..folder , which should match whatever the SPP reads.There isn't going to be separate folders created.
Put a blank SD Card in the SPP and save a Kit...the same folder is probably created.
Re-saving with exact same name is just replacing a Kit with the edits..not adding a kit
You could create 20 empty kits using the editor..or create 21 and see if the SPP recognizes the 21st , if the limit is 20 then you'll probably see an error of some sort pop-up.
I noticed the "Type" is listed as "Battery"...the only Developer I know with that label is for Kontakt Battery...probably just coincidence.
The Samples imported by the Editor have their own naming faction..but retain actual name and length (not the 8 character limit) in the Editor itself.
As mentioned previously..No Feedback from Users and the Editor which is a shame..everyone wanted an Editor..someone took the time to develop one (from the original Samplepad Pro Editor code posted 6 years ago) received no participation/feedback so no updates etc for 3 years. I don't have a SPP and don't intend on ever purchasing again unless someone sells Dirt Cheap....I couldn't find any Videos..youtube etc etc..so you are on your own...trial and error...experiment.


EDIT:
Added link.. image..Kit Folder..Sample naming (Root Drive)

[ResoNut]

OK, I will experiment soon.
Thanks for the time and info.
Cheers!