Actually you CAN sample without the RAM card. I thnk the samples are stored in the internal memory.
Speking of internal memory, I have been under the impression that the internal memroy was the old-fashioned kind where you had to give it a constant supply of voltage from a battery. Last night I opened up one of my DDD-1's to change said battery since it has been losing its memory upon shut-down. Imagine my surprise when I fould no battery in the compartment!
Now, I have had this particular machine for about 20 years and never had a problem with memory until a few months ago. There were patterns, settings, and songs stored in the thing from 1990 or so up until recenlty. I always thought it was strange because I had heard that the battery only lasts a few years but I figured it wasn't broke so I didn't try to fix it (some circuit-bender I am, huh?).
Anyway, my question is how did it keep its memory for so long with no battery? Did someone sneak in my house in the middle of hte night and steal my battery out of the thing? (I'll answer that one - nope.. They would have taken the whole machiine or perhaps the MiniMoog or something really worth stealing...)
I am baffled.