Joining the SP sampler family from Roland, the sp555 is a kind of missing link between Sp404 and Sp404SX with some special gimmicks. The SP features real-time effects, sequencer and some minimal tweaks on the sound, getting a bit different from classic MPC.
Being interested into VIDEO V-links stuff, I was looking for some compatible devices. A lot of Edirol flimsy masterkeyboards not really interesting... Finally I found out a vid of a guy using a Sp555 with sync vid! I already own a classic SP202 and a very popular Sp404 SX (got rid of Sp606 and Sp505), but I am mainly an MPC classic oldschool fanboy.
Finally found one Sp555 on local Craiglist with some issues , in south Italy, at very nice price. It also features a nice skin of AKIRA anime.
Once it arrived, my little guest Sara (a 3 months kitten) decided to sleep on it with her little brother Firat. I will wait until tomorrow.
The friendly seller told me the SP555 suffers from bad contacts on pads and the Compact flash slot was not working. I tried it and many buttons and pads were in fact simply not working even pushing real hard.
This SP does no really an internal reset factory, but a simple INI then you have to upload original sound using a computer. Anyway it was not possible to reset anything since the combo keys were not working. Anyway, insering a CF the SP555 reacts that's a good sign. Another strange thing is the internal ram "B" bank that cannot be activated. So let's open it.
UPPER: Disassembling the SP555 is not really complicated: there are basically two kinds of screws: long and shorts. Just mark were the shorts are (there are less). You must remove many flats connectors and the knobs. Remove the 4 board in order (check upper picture). The fourth board needs also you remove screws on the cannon XLR connector on the other side.
UPPER: First Inspection I began to think that the Compact flash works. It 's just simply impossible to access the C-D-E-F-J banks which are particularly contaminated by dust, and maybe... tobaccos? :) who knows ! Now you have to remove the plastic membrane with grafite contacts.
Microscope closeup: The bank contacts were highly contaminated and needs deep cleaning now
UPPER a very good rinse is necessary on both sides with good brushing.
After cleaning some grafite contacts were checked to have a good conductivity with OHM meter. With 16kOHM you should be ok, if not it will be necessary to replace or use conductive paint like silver.
NOW IT'S TOTALLY WORKING!
FORMAT CARD:
1. While holding CANCEL, press REMAIN.
2. Press any one of the C/G-F/J bank buttons.
3. Press DEL. Wait for the dot in the display to stop flashing.
INIT:
While holding down [CANCEL], turn on the power ofthe SP-555; this will turn off the internal memoryprotect setting.The display will indicate "P.oF," indicating thatprotection has been disabled for the samples and padsof banks A–J
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