Wavedrum Mini modification (Micro SD card)

IdleDrummer · Post by **IdleDrummer** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 9:18 pm

Hi there,
Following freestok's great work on the WaveDrum, I tried and read the micro SD card inside my WaveDrum Mini. Here's how files are stored :

I haven't been able to figure out which format is used for loops. The first 4 bytes are always 04 DC 10 D3, but that's all I have noticed so far. I tried and renamed the extension to WAV, but it didn't work.
Importing as raw file in Audacity didn't give much since I couldn't find the appropriate settings. Leaving default values gives an awful result, yet some parts of the real loop are audible. So I guess the format could be based on WAV but some settings need to be adjusted.
I haven't tried to replace these BMN files with my own loops yet.
I can share one file, in case someone more talented feels like giving it a try. I guess sharing would be totally illegal since these loops are the property of Korg, but anyway, this is for research, isn't it ?

The other interesting file here is obviously WD2_DATA.BMN (stored as a backup in Factory/F_DATA.BIN) where I guess all sound presets are encoded. This one is quite a big challenge, though...

WaterDrum · Post by **WaterDrum** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 11:07 pm

hi IdleDrummer

you win 10 activity points for your research

so few people who are are doing ,(mostly reading and talking only..

some help for you
1. the *.BMN files are , as I remember , *.BIN files ,like the rest.
and a few *.INF files of course.
On the Oriental they are called *.BOR files.

2. Audacity seems not the best editor to open the file.
"GOLDWAVE" editor can import it as 16 bit 48 kHZ Little Endian
http://www.goldwave.com/index.php

you prbly read this already ?
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... ee5f2b17ff

3.WD2_DATA.BIN are the samples, I can not find it in the factory folder.

(4.try to swap the INST_R.BIN and INST_H.BIN in the root directory
with the INST_R.BIN and INST_H.BIN in the factory folder
and then have a look at your new presets...)
special hack possible ?at the moment only for very interested people
just an idea , only for smallhackerz

my suggestion : get on a list for an extension cable

IdleDrummer · Post by **IdleDrummer** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 11:55 pm

Hi WaterDrum,
Thanks for the activity points

1. I suspected BMN files to be the same as BIN, the M only stands for "Mini", I guess. But...

2. ...I just tried Goldwave and I get the same result as what I had using Audacity.

There are a few audible sections, but the rest is a sort of white noise. I tried various combinations (unsigned/signed, 16/32 bits, little/big endian, 44100/48000 Hz) but couldn't find the right one. Maybe someone else will be luckier...

3. Actually, WD2_DATA.BMN can be found in the Factory folder under the name "F_DATA.BIN". These are the same files under two different names.
The same goes for all files that are included in a "factory reset" operation, e.g. : FX.BMN -> F_FX.BIN ; GLOBAL.BMN -> F_GLOBAL.BIN ; etc.

4. Are you talking about INST.BMN (Factory\F_INST.BIN) and INST_SUB.BMN (Factory\F_INST_S.BIN) ?

Indeed I already read the other topic and watched Freestok's very interesting video.
At the moment I haven't done any further research, since the manipulation of the card isn't very handy. I'm already on the list for an extension cable, of course

WaterDrum · Post by **WaterDrum** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 12:05 am

you did a lot of analyzing already

could you please also post pics of the inside
some people are very interested
I was already thinking about similarities between silver and mini !
both have 100 sounds ...
you will be up to 50 points very very soon...

please check PM

your questions :
1. yes

2.unsigned 16bits, little endian, 48000 Hz would be the best format , according to freestok .
I think you can not listen to the loops on a PC in a clean way.
but easily substitute them , thats all what is important.

3. and 4. :
if you compare the Oriental / silver files by size :
WD2_DATA BIN is the sample file ,and on the SILVER its about 92 MB
ORIENTAL 160 MB , ...on the MINI about 6 MB ??... wow

WD2_PROG.BIN (11kB) is the USER bank on the SILVER

INST_SUB.BMN (Factory\F_INST_S.BIN) is NOT on SILVER
some more small files not on Silver

so...now I am familiar with the file stuff again
and need to compare directly

Prime NL · Post by **Prime NL** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:20 am

WaterDrum wrote:...snip...
if you compare the Oriental / silver files by size :
WD2_DATA BIN is the sample file ,and on the SILVER its about 92 MB
ORIENTAL 160 MB , ...on the MINI about 6 MB ??... wow
...snip...

Guess this has to do with the fact how they compressed/converted the files to a certain quality/bitrate.....?!?

IdleDrummer · Post by **IdleDrummer** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:45 am

Hi Prime NL,
Could be a compression thing indeed, and/or the fact that the Mini has way less expression capabilities than the big Wavedrum - therefore there must be less sound layers as well.
On the PCB inside the Mini, there are two wires going to the dynamic pad. Not sure how it's done inside the big WD... Plus, this pad is one piece of plastic (not a real skin like the big WD).

IdleDrummer · Post by **IdleDrummer** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:17 am

WaterDrum wrote:unsigned 16bits, little endian, 48000 Hz

It seems to be the best format indeed.
I just tried and replace Loop 0000 with a regular mono Wav loop... but I can't write on the MicroSD card, my computer says "Write protected"

although the Lock switch on my SD adapter is off... Maybe my SD adapter isn't working correctly, not sure about that. I'll have to buy another one and try it out.

WaterDrum wrote:INST_R.BIN and INST_H.BIN are presets / userbanks on the SILVER
to be found in ROOT + in FACTORY (F_INST_R.BIN )size 38 kB
ORIENTAL = 58 kB

--- analog to INST_BMN on the MINI ??

Yes, I think so.

Edit -- Concerning the micro SD card : I thought that instead of wiring an extension cable, I'd rather drill a rectangle into the plastic case so I could directly access the micro SD card with my finger. But WaterDum suggested that it could be possibe to solder 2 (or 3, 4 ?) of the 6 contacts located on the right of the micro SD slot, and wire them to a USB cable - so that it would be possible to access the micro SD directly via USB. I think his idea is great indeed - but then, how to know which contacts need to be soldered ?
Here's a detailed picture of the PCB, with those 6 contacts boxed in red colour :

WaveDrum also kindly pointed me to this link : http://pinouts.ru/Memory/sdcard_pinout.shtml

WaterDrum · Post by **WaterDrum** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:25 pm

this USB idea is not so new
April o1/2011

anyway , for further use in my WD XXL Silver
I already ordered this one , some time ago...

http://www.thomann.de/de/neutrik_nausb.htm
either an extension cable , or solder SD card to USB

this is another link , that I found , you need to combine both :

http://pinouts.ru/SerialPortsCables/usb ... nout.shtml

if you have a close look at the 6 contacts it seems ,
that only 4 contacts are connected.

follow the traces to the SD card and combine all information

I was still too lazy to work this out but can help if you want

IdleDrummer · Post by **IdleDrummer** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:42 pm

I think I'll choose the easiest solution (micro SD extension cable) and drill a rectangle in the plastic case.
I'm going to order a 25 cm cable.
Thanks again WaterDrum for the unvaluable help !

Bertotti · Post by **Bertotti** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 3:31 am

Funny waterdrum only four lines connected! Even the older spi/mmc cards used four chip select, data in, data out, and the fourth slips my mind, and a power and a couple grounds. So it isn't working in SD mode? Interesting.

WaterDrum · Post by **WaterDrum** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 3:12 pm

the card gets the power only from the WD not from USB ,
not worked out yet ,
Im busy with someting else at the moment .
something for you/collegues to investigate ?
arent you working in computer business ?

Bertotti · Post by **Bertotti** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 5:45 pm

I fix industrial equpiment. Used to be and electrician on fighter aircraft and electronics on medical equipment and cockpit instrumentations. No real component level computer work since the 80's.

Slabwax · Post by **Slabwax** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:22 am

What is this about a group order of a micro SD extension cable? How do I get on the list? I'd buy 2 maybe 3.

Dean

Bertotti · Post by **Bertotti** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 3:28 am

I was going to try but only had three accounted for out of 20 so I didn't go through with it. I did buy one of the cables off the link waterdrum posted. Might want to give that a look unless you are overseas waterdrum might be able to hook you up some how.

WaterDrum · Post by **WaterDrum** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 3:50 am

I am still collecting adresses but Europe only ,
because of easy money transfer

@ IdleDrummer :
just had a good idea ...
if you connect a cable and a jack to the head sensor input INSIDE the WD
(into the original cable ,....or from the underside of the mainboard)
then you can connect a second external clip to your MINI .