As a user and fan of the Pioneer Toraiz SP-16, I felt that the recent update to the sampler's firmware (1.4) was newsworthy for a couple notable reasons:
First. the unit's meager sampling capability of 32 seconds has been doubled to 64 seconds. While this won't please the contingent that had hoped to be able to load song-length samples, it comes as a welcome upgrade for those who were already working successfully within the 32-second framework.
Secondly, the SP-16's initial maximum programming/sequencing length of four bars has been doubled to eight bars. When I realized this, I must admit, I was thiiiiiis close to unleashing a "Hell yeah!" until I realized that there was no obvious method to program or sequence 8-bar samples, as the machine itself can still only program four bars.
Admittedly, there could very well be an official method for programming 8-bar samples, but the documentation provided with this update as to how to best employ the improvements hovers somewhere between scant and non-existent.
Luckily, I happened upon a bit of a workaround that involves making use of the SP-16's arrangement screen.
Here's how it works:
1. Create a new pattern (for this example, Pattern 1) by pressing SHIFT and SCENE buttons, then select one of the sixteen sequence buttons. Upon doing so, button will illuminate as purple.
2. Press SHIFT and PATTERN, then set length of pattern to four bars.
3. Program 8-bar sample to begin on first step of pattern sequence.
By hitting PLAY at this point, your 8-bar sample will play until the pattern reaches the end of its four-bar limit and will then stop.
Here begins the workaround:
4. Create a second sample (for this example, Pattern 2), setting it to a length of four bars. For the sake of this example, do not program any samples into this pattern.
5. Tap the ARRANGEMENT button from your HOME screen. You will be taken to the ARRANGEMENT screen.
6. In first slot of ARRANGEMENT window, enter PATTERN 1, setting REPEAT to "1".
7. Scroll down to "END OF ARRANGEMENT" and enter PATTERN 2, setting REPEAT to "1".
8. Make sure ARRANGEMENT button on left sidebar is lit. Hit PLAY.
PATTERN 1 begins playing. Green arrow indicates as such. After four bars, green arrow will move to PATTERN 2, indicating that it is now the active pattern as the remaining four bars of the sample you loaded into PATTERN 1 continue playing.
Repeat above process for any pattern utilizing 8-bar samples.
OPTIONAL: You can also layer additional samples into PATTERN 2 that will play in unison with the 8-bar samples from PATTERN 1, but DO NOT reload the original 8-bar sample(s) from PATTERN 1 , as it will re-trigger the sample(s).
Tags:
Pioneer doubles down