SX 9 Pad Editor

Editor and librarian for the Roland SPD-SX.

What it does

SX 9 Pad Editor connects to your SPD-SX in Wave Manager mode and gives you a whole-kit view of every pad and wave in the device. You can edit kits and pads, import samples with automatic format conversion, and back up and restore your device — all from a single app instead of the manufacturer's own software.

The workflow: backup → program → read back → verify.

Getting started

Connect your SPD-SX

1. Put your SPD-SX into Wave Manager mode (hold CANCEL while powering on).
2. Connect via USB.
3. On iPhone or iPad: when the Files prompt appears, grant access to the SPD-SX drive.
4. In the app, your device appears automatically.

No hardware? Use the virtual device

On first launch, the app opens in OFFLINE mode with a built-in virtual SPD-SX. You can explore the full kit and pad editing experience without plugging anything in. Connect a real device when you're ready to move samples.

Note: the virtual device covers kit and pad editing. Sample import requires a connected SPD-SX in Wave Manager mode.

Importing samples

The SPD-SX requires audio files in 44.1 kHz, 16-bit WAV format, and it's strict about it. SX 9 Pad Editor converts for you on the way in:

• Supported formats: WAV, AIFF, MP3, M4A/AAC
• Conversion: automatic — files are converted to 44.1 kHz / 16-bit WAV during import
• Optional processing (all off by default):
• Normalize — peak to −0.5 dBFS
• Trim silence — removes leading/trailing silence below −60 dB
• Fade out — applies a fade of the specified length

The import flow: pick files → convert → assign to slots → staged apply. Nothing writes to the device until you confirm.

Backups

Every destructive write is backed up automatically before it happens. The app also checks for occupied slots and existing paths before overwriting anything.

To restore: open the backup and apply. Your kits come back.

Storage requirements

The SPD-SX has a fixed internal storage layout. Samples are stored in a flat wave table. The app shows available capacity and slot assignments so you know what's full before you import.

Troubleshooting

The device doesn't appear

• Confirm the SPD-SX is in Wave Manager mode (hold CANCEL during power on). It will not appear in normal play mode.
• Try a different USB cable — data cables and charge-only cables look identical.
• On iPhone/iPad, make sure you granted access when the Files prompt appeared. If you dismissed it, force-quit the app and reopen it.
• Close any other app that might be accessing the device (only one app can connect at a time).

Import says the file is unsupported

The converter handles WAV, AIFF, MP3, and M4A/AAC. Other formats (OGG, FLAC, WMA) need to be converted externally first — Audacity or any DAW will do it.

My changes didn't take

After writing, the app reads back from the device and verifies. If verification fails, the app tells you what didn't match. If the device was disconnected during the write, restore from the automatic backup.

SPD-SX PRO

If you have an SPD-SX PRO, it uses a different connection protocol (USB serial rather than Wave Manager mode). A separate editor for the PRO is in development.

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SPD-SX and SPD-SX PRO are trademarks of Roland Corporation. SX 9 Pad Editor is not affiliated with or endorsed by Roland.