30/07/2025
How to Recover SD2 Files – Restoring Peter Andre’s 'Flava'
Learn how to convert vintage Sound Designer II (SD2) audio files from 1990s Logic Audio sessions into modern WAV formats compatible with today's DAWs, including Logic Pro 11.2. Preserve your classic recordings with this step-by-step tutorial. Unlock the potential of your vintage Sound Designer II (SD2) audio files from the 1990s with this comprehensive tutorial.
This guide demonstrates how to convert SD2 files—commonly used in early versions of Logic Audio (V3 to V7)—into modern WAV formats compatible with today's Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), including Logic Pro 11.2. In 1996, I had the privilege of producing Peter Andre's chart-topping hit "Flava".
During that era, my setup included Logic Audio Version 4 managing MIDI for 24 tracks, with instruments like the Akai S3000 and S1100 samplers, Minimoog, Roland JD800, Prophet 5, and Roland MKS80 synthesizers—all synchronized via MIDI.
The project also featured four audio tracks capturing Peter Andre's lead vocals, Cee's rap, and Wayne Hector's backing vocals.
To safeguard these sessions, I backed up the sampler data onto 230 MB optical MO disks and archived the audio tracks as SD2 files. The backup process involved recording mono files at double speed, alternating between left and right channels, to expedite the process.
Originally, restoration was straightforward: initiating the "restore" function would playback the double-speed backups, and the SD2 software would reconstruct the original audio tracks. Fast forward nearly three decades, and the software to seamlessly convert these files is no longer readily available.
This video provides a step-by-step manual method to recover and convert your SD2 files, ensuring your invaluable audio recordings remain accessible and functional in contemporary DAWs.
How I Produced Peter Andre’s #1 Hit in 1996! | “Flava”
Track Breakdown https://youtu.be/rBWxdTM2jIs?si=4Wano4MBZZ6SsXWM
