Hi guys, i read a lot of pages on the internet (talking about sci2sd connections, sd cards, vga output, and a mouse) . my problem is that i am not sure 100% of what i have to buy/do to be able to use a roland s760 using my pc windows 11 or above, so i can transfer from/to and being a fast workflow.


Let's assume i bought a Roland s760 sampler.
what else should i buy to be flexible and productive at max potential... (cables, hardware ecc)

Anyone done it yet?
Could you please give me a step by step setup.
Big thanks.

Pleass. i Love this sampler

 

do a little research before you actually buy anything, and that depends on where you live. In the US, your best option is likely samplerzone.com. SCSI2SD will still work, but the more modern option is a ZuluSCSI v6. Or a Gotek is an option too, but the Zulu is really the way to go. They should have both of them.

You can get a copy of the newest Recycle version for free anyway, here: www.reasonstudios.com/recycle

Since you are on Windows 11, I have no idea about that part. Maybe someone will have a Roland.


Some AI info to get you started reading up on the subject:

ZuluSCSI:

Spoiler

ZuluSCSI device can fit and work with a Roland S-760 sampler, but there are a few important things to understand and check first:

✅ Compatibility Summary

• Interface: The Roland S-760 uses a 50-pin internal SCSI connector.
  
  
• ZuluSCSI Versions:
  • The ZuluSCSI RP2040 V1.1 or V1.2 (bare PCB) with a 50-pin header is ideal for internal mounting in the S-760.
    
    
  • The ZuluSCSI SD V6 version also works well if you adapt it properly.
• Power: The S-760 provides internal power via a standard floppy or Molex connector, which ZuluSCSI can use.

What You Need to Install It

1. ZuluSCSI board (50-pin internal version)
   → Ideally the ZuluSCSI RP2040 50-pin version, not the DB25 (external) version.
   
   
2. SCSI Ribbon Cable (50-pin)
   → Connects ZuluSCSI to the S-760 internal SCSI header.
   
   
3. Power Cable
   → Either Molex or floppy-style depending on your ZuluSCSI version and S-760's power layout.
   
   
4. SD card (preferably high-quality, 16–32GB)
   → Format it as FAT32 and place correctly named .HDA image files (e.g., SCSI2_0.HDA) in the root.

SCSI Image Format

• The Roland S-series expects specific file systems and partition layouts.
  
  
• It's best to use pre-prepared SCSI HDA images created for the Roland format (you can find Roland S-series sample CD images online, or make your own with software like OmniFlop or SAMDisk).

⚠️ Things to Watch Out For

• Termination: ZuluSCSI usually provides termination, but make sure it's either at the end of the SCSI chain or properly terminated.
  
  
• SCSI ID: Name your image file accordingly — e.g., SCSI2_0.HDA for SCSI ID 2.
  
  
• Sampling OS: Your S-760 must have the OS installed or booted from disk — many people boot it from the ZuluSCSI or from a separate floppy.

Quick Purchase Checklist
Item Recommended
ZuluSCSI RP2040 50-pin Internal
SCSI cable 50-pin ribbon
Power cable Molex (or floppy-style, depending)
SD card 16–32 GB, FAT32
Boot disk S-760 OS (on floppy or in .HDA)

Gotek info

Spoiler

is a Gotek a better option for s760?
ChatGPT said:


A Gotek drive can work with the Roland S-760, but it is not a better option than ZuluSCSI in most cases—especially if you care about capacity, speed, and workflow.

Here’s a detailed comparison so you can decide what’s best for your setup:

ZuluSCSI vs Gotek for Roland S-760
Feature ZuluSCSI Gotek (with FlashFloppy or HxC firmware)
Emulates SCSI hard drives / CD-ROMs Floppy drives only
Storage Capacity Up to 2GB per image (multiple images possible) 720 KB or 1.44 MB per disk image
Speed Very fast sample load/save Very slow (floppy speed, ~100x slower)
Compatibility Acts like a full hard drive (up to 7 virtual SCSI IDs) Acts like a floppy disk
Bootable Yes (can boot OS image or load samples) Yes (must have S-760 boot floppy image)
Ease of Use Requires SCSI setup, image files Plug-and-play once configured
Price ~$60–80 ~$25–50
Ideal Use Replacing external SCSI drives or CD-ROMs Replacing the floppy drive only
SD Card or USB SD Card USB Flash Drive
Mounting Internal or external 50-pin SCSI Replaces floppy drive in front panel
✅ When ZuluSCSI is Better

• You want to replace large external SCSI drives.
  
  
• You want to load and save large sample banks quickly.
  
  
• You want access to sample CD-ROMs or back up your own library.
  
  
• You're comfortable setting up SD card images or using HxC software.

✅ When Gotek is OK

• You just want to boot the S-760 OS from floppy (and don’t mind slow load times).
  
  
• You’re only loading small sample sets.
  
  
• You're on a tight budget or don't want to open the sampler to install a SCSI solution.
  
  
• You want plug-and-play floppy replacement with minimal setup.

Bottom Line

• If you're serious about using the S-760 as a fully functional sampler in a modern workflow, ZuluSCSI is far superior.
  
  
• If you're just booting the OS or using small samples occasionally, a Gotek can get the job done cheaply and simply.

 

Tnx, i am from Italy. Yes i need to be sure of compatibility with a pc windows 11.

 

Here is something to read , before you buy it:

https://llamamusic.com/s50s550/sinfo.html#S-760Info

 

Roland S760/770 Sampler computer integration
https://gearspace.com/board/electro...nd-s760-770-sampler-computer-integration.html

 

nice site, they have pinouts and lots of good info. But pay attention to the line about drawing power. That means you will want a v6 SCSI2SD or ZuluSCSI because the v5 SCSI2SD cannot take power from an internal source. V5 required an external power source, so the v6 will be the one you want to get.

This is the v6.4


Internal ZuluSCSI v6.4 SCSI SD Drive
From $149.95

For an extra $50 (us), they include a copy of Chicken Systems Translator v7. I have no idea about the old released versions and them working on Windows 11. V7.1 of Translator Pro is Windows 11 Compatible:

Version 7.1 edition

• Maximum OS: MacOS 14 (Sonoma), Win 11
• Minimum OS: OSX 10.10 (Yosemite), Win 7

from here https://llamamusic.com/s50s550/sinfo.html#S-760Info

SCSI
If you plan to use a SCSI2SD or ZuluSCSI device with this sampler, be aware that you can power either of these without the need for an external +5VDC power supply. You will need to ensure that the switch labeled TERM POWER (located on the Main Board inside the SP‑700) is set to the ON position. This supplies a line on the SCSI bus with +5VDC which in turn will provide the required power for a these devices (Pin #25). This switch is easily accessible without having to remove the entire case and is located directly beneath the SIMM memory access lid


SP‑700 "UNFORMATTED" Errors
Two of the most common "UNFORMATTED" errors on the SP‑700 when trying to load samples from CDROM, SCSI2SD, ZuluSCSI, Floppy Disk or GOTEK are the same as those on the S‑760. See the section above titled "S‑760 "UNFORMATTED" Errors"


This is the Gotek pictured:



Gotek II Floppy Emulator
From $59.95


The S760 is not on the list of samplers which can accept a GotekSCSI, which is the Gotek Floppy Emulator with a ZuluSCSI mounted on top of it. It won't fit in the S760. But they do look nice. ;]
It's somewhat unnecessary with E-Mu Ultra samplers with internal hard disk because we do not need to boot an OS from floppy.


Gotek-SCSI
Regular price$169.95

 

Last edited: Jun 26, 2025

I have 2 SCSI2SD interfaces, one in Yamaha A4000 because I love it so much, and one in an external SCSI CD-ROM case so I can use it with other samplers, S-760 among others. The SD card in it is partitioned for different samplers and I have a few of them. It's not so hard to transfer samples to them, but I simply won't bother to transfer samples back. You pretty much need a SCSI card in your computer (Adaptec are the best) and they are only ISA or PCI, so you also need a computer with PCI or an external PCIe 2 PCI case to host the PCI card. I used to have an Adaptec SCSI PCI card back in the early 2000s and used Sound Forge (some older version, not Sony) and Recycle to transfer samples back with Ensoniq ASR-10 and Akai S-950. But I don't think I have the patience these days to do it like that... and that computer is long gone.

You know what I do to transfer samples back quickly? I record them back. There's no less complicated and faster way to do it, and besides - don't we use these samplers to dirty those samples up? So dirty them up. Enjoy!

 

Last edited: Jun 27, 2025