Wavedrum Mini modification (Micro SD card)

Discussion relating to the Korg Wavedrum

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lessbones
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:35 am

Post by lessbones »

I'm also interested in replacing the sounds (since the wavedrum mini cannot actually change it's internal sounds)

I've got the hang of replacing the loops, which may be useful in some capacity, but i'm far more interested in actually changing the samples that I can play.

I'm thinking i'm going to just cut a hole in the case and attach a little strip of plastic tape to the micro sd card so i can just pull it out from the side instead of using an adapter.

can anyone share the sound bank (WD2_DATA BIN) from the original wavedrum so we can try it in the mini and see if it works? The SD card in the mini is a 2gb card with plenty of free space on it, and I've also succeeded in duplicating its contents onto a 4gb card (formatted fat32) and it still works.

I'm in the process of downloading freestock's video right now, but it would be great if someone could upload some sounds they have created or the originals from the other wavedrum so we can see if they are compatible.
freestok
Junior Member
Posts: 68
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2011 11:24 pm

Post by freestok »

i have already try it, no work, or work with often freeze problem,


it's difficult, each sample are in special place in datasound for each model especially, you can only replace the PCM sample existing in your unit with the right codec sound

but decode and encode sound of datasound it's not easy, actually i search, maybe i have found a way, but still in reasearch state
WaterDrum
Senior Member
Posts: 340
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:38 am
Location: 3rd Stone from the Sun , Bavaria

Post by WaterDrum »

hi lessbones
its good that you are thinking AND ACTING away from the given box...8)
Last year it was me , who tried to convert oriental files to silver format.
I have experienced instabilities and also situations , when my Silver wouldnt work at all...
(still some things are to be checked , its not over ,yet)
Dont be afraid , I think that manipulations of the SD files can not harm your WD.
Mine is again working alright , and , believe me ,
I have done nasty things with my silver. :wink:
(rename/swap all of the files , shortcut my expression pedal , overdriving my trigger inputs (heavily), making the WD oscillating by connecting audio out to trigger in...)
The WD is an absolute solid piece of gear (except the 1/8 jacks ,headphone +9V DC) .

thank you KORG for a solid Instrument ,
but why didnt you give us all of the possible features ?
would only have been 20 bucks more.
but probably a lot more sold instruments , do the maths.

so , lessbones ,
If you want to convert Silver files to MINI format (you need to adapt more than only the WD2_Data.bin , but also the soundbank files + MORE

Problem NO 1
The Silver Soundbank contains STEREO Panorama information ,
The MINI is MONO , so this alone will cause incompatibilities

But anyway , try it , experiment , all the good things so far have been discovered by "try & error system"
My suggestion : get a Silver , mod it to the max and you will be SOO happy.

check PM for "active hackerz" info
lessbones
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:35 am

Post by lessbones »

cool, thanks waterdrum and freestok-- i'm very much looking forward to see what your research yields--

waterdrum-- i tend to be pretty cavalier with the electronics i purchase-- so even if i am afraid of messing something up, I just cannot resist my curiosity, so i've long ago stopped trying to fight it :P

anyway, as I was saying, I went ahead and cut a hole in the side of my WD mini using a drill and dremel (my aim was a little off, so it ended up being a little bigger than the ideal, but it doesn't really matter) but i now have a slot i can stick my fingernail in to release the card, then i can pull on a piece of folded tape to get the card out:

Image

Image
WaterDrum
Senior Member
Posts: 340
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:38 am
Location: 3rd Stone from the Sun , Bavaria

Post by WaterDrum »

welcome to the Drillers/Cutters Club. (2 members already)
do you collect activity/curiosity points ? :lol:

as i am not familiar with the exact anatomy of the Mini ,
I can not really imagine how easy it is to access your SD card in your style...
One thing to be considered:
the card holder on the mainboard is certainly not built to be accessed
again+again+again , and if it is getting worn out (is this the right expression?)
you can either bend the metal slider of the card holder
or you can get a mainboard problem. (hard to repair,maybe expensive).
Still anytime you can get an extension cable (10 cm)
and lead it out through your slot . :wink:
how do you like the silver loops ?
lessbones
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:35 am

Post by lessbones »

WaterDrum--

sorry for the long time between replies-- i haven't tried out the loops from the other wavedrums (i'll check them out eventually, but im not really interested in playing along to loops) I'm REALLY interested in being able to change the sounds coming from the wavedrum, and especially being able to alter the algorithms (really really really fingers crossed)

I realize that this would all be possible using a max/msp patch like this one: http://cycling74.com/practical-max/practical-max-1/

but it would be amazing to be able to do this in a standalone device like the wavedrum-- otherwise the mini is pretty severely limited for how much it costs--

has anyone been able to figure out some kind of graphical editor for the original wavedrum?
WaterDrum
Senior Member
Posts: 340
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:38 am
Location: 3rd Stone from the Sun , Bavaria

Post by WaterDrum »

lessbones wrote: I'm REALLY interested in being able to change the sounds coming from the wavedrum, and especially being able to alter the algorithms

so am I , thats why I have a Silver .... :wink:
it is designed to get the sounds edited
the Mini not , it doesnt even have buttons for that.
lessbones wrote: I realize that this would all be possible using a max/msp patch like this one: http://cycling74.com/practical-max/practical-max-1/

max looks interesting but is not free (?)
a cool link ...
how should this be connected to the WD ?
with an ARDUINO board to the JTAG connector or to the "RAM" ?
then the code for the WD needs to be written ... (+ endless)
KORG has the answers ....:lol:

this guy was (is) experimenting
with an Arduino board (probably ?) and a MINI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQC6Q0nfmDc

graphical editor ? live editing with a computah ?
then I woke up and it was just a dream :wink:
needs: first to connect , then work out the functions ,
then to design a nice graphical interface.
WaterDrum wrote: My suggestion : get a Silver , mod it to the max and you will be SOO happy.
a modded WDX is like a MINI Ultimate without a looper :twisted:
so many "????" , no real answers , sorry
lessbones
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:35 am

Post by lessbones »

yeah seems to be true--

i wasn't suggesting that the max/msp patch be connected to the wavedrum, just that it basically accomplishes the same thing while also fulfilling our desires to be able to change algorithms etc-- also any max patches can be used for free with the max runtime-- also the clip from the mini would work very well as the input for such a patch

maybe a silver would have been the way to go.... but i'm super into the portability of this thing, and the rubber pad feels great to me for finger drumming
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