ISLA Instruments S2400 User manual

S2400
User Manual
Copyright © 2020-2022 ISLA Instruments
Revised February 24, 2022
The most up to date version can be downloaded from
https://islainstruments.com/docs-downloads/

ISLA Instruments S2400 User Manual
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First and foremost, if you’re reading this user manual then the likelihood is that you have either
already purchased an S2400 or are perhaps considering doing so. If you have, then thank you.
I’ve had a serious drum machine fetish for about 25 years now. The first machine I bought was a
broken MXR-185 for cheaps at a local thrift store circa 1996. Broken only in the sense that it had
been abused so much that the insides of the switches had a sticky residue on them from a
certain plant species, resulting in them not releasing after being pressed. After I got it all
running, I was hooked and spent countless evenings making up my own drum patterns.
Not long after that, I got my first sampler; an 8-bit parallel port attachment for my Commodore
Amiga 2000. Sequencer One and OctaMED were my music software weapons of choice for this
machine. From these formative experiences, my fate was set. Electronics repair, computers,
music gear, and music production is pretty much all I’ve ever done, and have been my lifelong
love ever since those early days.
The engineering side of me pretty much took a hiatus for the best part of a decade as I worked
as a co-producer and record label manager for the DJ/Producer Ian Carey. Fast forward to 2015,
and again, a visit to a thrift store here in the USA (I’d emigrated here from the UK a few years
before, via Spain for seven years) resulted in me walking out with a broken Alesis HR-16 drum
machine of which I started modifying and hot rodding into being able to do all sorts of things
including reading samples from custom burnt EPROMS. I uploaded the results of my
modifications onto YouTube (lookup: Rhythm Imposer) and pretty soon after was bombarded
with emails from folks wanting me to make them a similar machine.
I guess the universe was trying to tell me something, and that was to culminate my love of
electronics, music production, and old-skool hardware workflows into a modern, yet familiar
machine with the aesthetic and sonic character that pays tribute to some of the most inspiring
and prolific machines of the 80s and 90s. And, Dave Rossum, a true pioneer, and a personal hero
of mine, I hope this machine pays tribute to you as well.
Bringing this machine to life has been a labour of love from a very small team of like-minded and
dedicated individuals of whom, with the exception of myself, are an absolute crock-pot full of
talent and experience, without which, there would be no S2400.
Once again, THANK YOU to our customers and followers, for believing in this project enough to
crowd-fund it into existence. I for one can’t wait to see what you come up with on your
machine.
Now, switch your machine on, take a deep breath, relax… and turn the page.
Brad Holland
ISLA Instruments

ISLA Instruments S2400 User Manual
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Vision/Design: Brad Holland
Audio Engine: Vladimir Pantelic
UI/Sequencer: Mickey Delp
PCB & CAD: Supul Sapukotana
Beta Testers & Factory Content: Alex Ball, Chaz Emphatic, Corrinne Haskins, Craig Albright,
David Noller, Dennis Ferrer, DJ Battlecat, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Doug Terrebonne, E-A-Ski, Easy Mo Bee,
Fred Wreck, Jamie Lidell, Just Blaze, Ken Flux Pierce, Kenny Dope, Lisa Vazquez, Questlove,
Rory Dow, Scott Wozniak, Ski Beatz, Steve Mac, Sunshine Jones, Todd Terry, Young Guru,
Matt Jones, Goldbaby, Grant Nelson, Burning Rainbow
Additional Thanks: Bill Behrendt, Paul Schreiber, Rob Orr, Dave Rossum, Marco Alpert,
Adventure Kid, Erin Parr

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Foreword ......................................................................................................................................... 2
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 3
Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 5
Front Panel ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Rear Panel........................................................................................................................................ 8
Instant Gratification ........................................................................................................................ 9
User Interface Elements ................................................................................................................ 10
Files and SD Card ........................................................................................................................... 16
Assigning Sounds to Tracks............................................................................................................ 19
Pattern Mode ................................................................................................................................ 20
Fader Modes.................................................................................................................................. 24
Multi Mode.................................................................................................................................... 33
Pattern Functions and Settings ..................................................................................................... 34
Step Program................................................................................................................................. 39
Playback Features.......................................................................................................................... 46
Record Features............................................................................................................................. 47
Live Looping................................................................................................................................... 48
Song Mode..................................................................................................................................... 51
Track Settings ................................................................................................................................ 54
Pitch Stretching ............................................................................................................................. 57
Time Stretching ............................................................................................................................. 58
Resampling .................................................................................................................................... 60
Bouncing........................................................................................................................................ 61
Settings.......................................................................................................................................... 62
File ................................................................................................................................................. 66
Sync ............................................................................................................................................... 68
MIDI Control of Parameters .......................................................................................................... 72
Sample Mode................................................................................................................................. 73
Input Monitor................................................................................................................................ 75
Pan................................................................................................................................................. 76
Effects............................................................................................................................................ 77
Save ............................................................................................................................................... 77
MIDI-Only Tracks ........................................................................................................................... 78
MIDI Tracks MAP File Format........................................................................................................ 83
Sample Tracks MAP File Format.................................................................................................... 84
Sample Track MIDI CC Numbers.................................................................................................... 85
Global MIDI CC Numbers............................................................................................................... 86
F-Key Quick Reference................................................................................................................... 87

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The 1980s and 1990s were a groundbreaking time for electronic music. Samplers like the Emu
SP-1200 and Akai MPC60 revolutionized music and shaped new genres like hip hop, house, and
jungle. Thanks to their crunchy 12-bit sound and solid workflow, these samplers have become
sought-after classics. The S2400 retains the sound and soul of these machines whilst adding
current features like built-in USB soundcard, disk streaming, WAV import, and much more.
The S2400 is a 16-voice machine, meaning it can play 16 mono or stereo samples
simultaneously. Each of these samples can be assigned to a Track, and there are 32 sample
Tracks available. Each Track can be sent to one of the eight individual outputs and into your
audio interface or mixing desk. There are also 32 MIDI tracks that you can use to sequence
external synths, drum machines, and samplers.
As well as loading WAV samples from the SD card, you can record from a turntable (phono) or
line input. Then modify each sample with pitching, envelopes, filters, slicing, and sequence using
the sophisticated onboard sequencer. Because the S2400 can also stream samples from the SD
card, you can even playback very long samples like acapellas (the only limit to sample length is
the SD card itself).
Once you've created a set of patterns in the sequencer, you can put them together into a song,
bounce them down to WAV files or record them to your DAW using the analog outputs or USB
audio interface.
We have designed the S2400 to be the centrepiece in a modern studio. Create songs entirely in
the S2400, if that's your jam, or sync it up with your other sequencers, DAW, modular synths,
etc., using MIDI or analog clock. How ever you choose to use it, we hope you'll enjoy making
music with the S2400 as much as we have enjoyed creating it.

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A. Song: Switches between Song and Pattern modes.
B. Shift: Shift is used in conjunction with other controls for additional features.
C. Level: Sets the Level fader mode.
D. Pitch: Sets the Pitch fader mode.
E. Envelope: Sets the Envelope fader mode.
F. Loop/Slice: Sets the Loop/Slice fader mode.
G. Multi Mode: Engages Multi Mode, which spreads eight values of a parameter across the
faders/knobs for a single track.
H. Bank: Change the bank. There are four banks of eight tracks.
I. Top Row Keys: Dedicated keys for the most commonly used Pattern mode functions:
Metronome, Swing, Copy, Time Signature, Pattern Length, Erase, Quantize, and Step
Program.
Holding Shift and pressing a top row key accesses configuration options: Settings, File, Sync,
Sample, Input Monitor, Pan, Effects, and Save.
J. Knobs: Context-specific, multi-purpose dual knobs that control filter cutoff, resonance, loop
points, and more depending on the fader mode.
K. A & B: Two Context-specific, multi-purpose illuminated buttons that control various options
depending on the fader mode, they also light up to indicate mode-specific information.
L. Faders: The focus of the front panel. They control level, pitch, and various parameters
depending on the Fader mode.

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M. Mute & Solo: A pair of illuminated buttons to mute/solo a track. They double as step buttons
in TR Mode.
N. Pad: Velocity sensitive, RGB illuminated pads for playing and recording sounds.
O. Phones: Volume control for the headphones.
P. Mix Out: Volume control for the mix out jacks.
Q. Select: A rotary encoder with integrated pushbutton. The encoder is used for editing
settings, scrolling, and a multitude of other things.
R. Screen: White OLED screen that displays menus, waveforms, envelopes, and lots of
information.
S. Keypad: Used for numeric entry as well as F-keys.
T. Back: The Back key exits menus and modes.
U. Help: The help key displays context sensitive information about the active mode. Press Help
for a reminder of what the F-keys, faders, knobs, and buttons do in the active mode.
V. Enter: Confirms data entry. On some screens, Enter is used as a tab key.
W. Tempo: Press Tempo to set the tempo. Pretty straight forward.
X. Tap/Repeat: Works as a tap-tempo key when setting the tempo, or as a pad repeat key when
playing or recording the pads.
Y. Run/Stop: Starts and stops the sequencer.
Z. Rec/Edit: Turns recording of patterns on/off. In Step Program mode, turns editing on/off.
<> Left & Right Arrows: Function just like turning the encoder left and right. Long-press the
arrow keys to auto-repeat.

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A. Power Inlet: Accepts a C13 style power cord. Input voltage can be 125 or 250. Above the
inlet is the main power switch.
B. USB: USB type B jack for connecting the S2400 to a computer.
C. USB Host: USB type A jack for connecting controllers to the S2400.
D. SD-Card: SD-Card slot for saving samples and projects.
E. Clock Out: 3.5mm clock out jack clocking external hardware or modules.
F. Clock In: 3.5mm clock in jack for clocking the S2400 from external hardware or modules.
G. MIDI In: MIDI DIN jack for controlling the S2400 via MIDI.
H. MIDI Out: MIDI DIN jack for controlling other MIDI devices from the S2400.
I. MIDI Thru: MIDI DIN jack which outputs the same data that is on the MIDI In jack.
J. Input Trim: Knob adjusts the hardware amplifier that is internally connected to the sampler.
Note that higher is clockwise –when adjusted from the front of the machine, not the rear.
K. Input 1 & 2: Two ¼" mono jacks for sampling input. Connected to a preamp.
L. Input 3 & 4: Two ¼" mono jacks for sampling input. Connected to a preamp. Input 3&4 are
normalized to Phono1 so you can connect RCA plugs, but still go through the preamp.
M. Phono 1: A pair of phono jacks for sampling turntables. Connected to RIAA preamps.
N. Phono 2: A pair of phono jacks for sampling turntables. Connected to RIAA preamps.
O. Mix Out: Two ¼" mono jacks output the sum of the eight outputs. If a plug is inserted into
only one of the Mix Out jacks, it will include both signals, albeit at a slightly lower volume.
P. Channel Outs: Eight individual output jacks. They are switched jacks, so when a plug is
inserted into an individual output, that output is mechanically removed from the mix out.
The channel outs are pseudo balanced. Which means they are TRS jacks, but the ring does
not carry an inverted copy of the signal as with actual balanced jacks. Instead, the ring is
connected to ground with an impedance matching that of the signal on the tip. This
configuration still gives noise reduction when connected to a balanced input, albeit with a
6dB reduction in level.
Q. Ground: Grounding screw for connecting turntables.

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You just got your S2400 and you want to make some beats now!
Make Some Sounds
Connect the Mix Out jacks on the back to an amp, mixer, or audio interface.
Or, plug headphones into the headphone jack on the front.
Turn on the S2400 with no SD card inserted.
A default kit will load from the internal memory.
Press the pads. Wee! Sounds!
Shift the Pitch
Press the Pitch key on the left.
The faders now control the pitch of the sounds.
Pads 7 and 8 in the default kit are toms and sound great pitch shifted.
Record a Pattern
Press and hold the Rec/Edit key, then press the Run/Stop key.
The S2400 is now recording.
Press pads to record sounds into the pattern.
The pattern will repeat.
Press more pads to add to the pattern.
Learn More
The S2400 can do a whole lot more!
Read the whole manual to learn all of its secrets.
Watch the S2400 Video User Manual on YouTube.

ISLA Instruments S2400 User Manual
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Highlighted Field
When a field on the screen is highlighted (black text on a white background), then that field is
currently being edited. Its value will change when the arrow keys are pressed or the encoder is
turned, or, in the case of a numeric field, when the number keys are pressed, and in some cases,
when a fader is moved.
The Encoder
Turning the encoder always does the same thing as pressing the arrow keys, and pressing the
encoder always does the same thing as pressing the Enter key. They are just two different ways
of interacting with the machine.
Press and hold the arrow keys to repeat the key. Only the arrow keys repeat when held.
Shift
Shift+Key means hold the Shift key, then press another key. Shifted keys are used all over.
The keys across the top of the S2400 are all dual function, except Song. Press the key to access
the function written under the key, and press Shift+ the key to access the function written
above it.
Sticky Shift key allows single handed Shift+Key presses. Press and release Shift without pressing
any other key to "stick" Shift. The Shift key's LED will be illuminated. The next key pressed while
Shift is stuck will behave as if Shift was held, and then Shift will be unstuck. Pressing and
releasing the Shift key when it is stuck will unstick it.
F-Keys
The F-keys (function keys) are context specific. They do different things depending on what
screen is active. They share the same keys as the number keys. If a numeric field is highlighted,
pressing the number keys changes that field, so the F-keys are activated by either Shift+ the
number key, or by long-pressing the number key. When a non-numeric field is highlighted, then
the F-keys can be accessed with or without Shift or long-press.
Help
The help key displays the built-in help. Help is context sensitive and gives information about the
active screen or mode. The built-in help is not the entire user manual, but more of a quick
reference. It lists the functions of all of the faders, knobs, buttons, and F-keys, which change
depending on the active screen or mode. At the top of the help for many screens is an F-key
quick reference grid. At the bottom of the help is a QR code which links to this manual.
Help shares a key with the number zero, so the same rules apply to it as to the F-keys.