Alesis DATADISK User Manual
ALESIS
Data Disk
Reference Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................2
FEATURES................................................................................................................2
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL...................................................................................3
SECTION 1
DATADISK QUICK START...............................................................................4
TO FORMAT A DISK.................................................................................................4
RECEIVING ONE MIDI DATA FILE FOR STORAGE.................................................4
RECEIVING MULTIPLE MIDI DATA FILES FOR STORAGE.....................................4
SENDING A SINGLE STORED FILE.........................................................................5
SENDING MULTIPLE STORED FILES......................................................................5
SECTION 2
DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS.......................................................................6
FRONT PANEL ..........................................................................................................6
3 1/2" DISK DRIVE........................................................................................6
LCD DISPLAY...............................................................................................6
SCROLL........................................................................................................6
NAME............................................................................................................6
RECEIVE ......................................................................................................6
SEND............................................................................................................6
DELETE........................................................................................................6
BACKUP .......................................................................................................7
DO/YES.........................................................................................................7
REQUEST.....................................................................................................7
INFO .............................................................................................................7
MIDI ..............................................................................................................7
FORMAT.......................................................................................................7
POWER ........................................................................................................7
BACKPANEL .............................................................................................................7
MIDI IN..........................................................................................................8
MIDI OUT......................................................................................................8
POWER ........................................................................................................8
DATADISK FRONT AND BACK PANEL....................................................................9
SECTION 3
INTERFACING DATADISK...............................................................................10
DATADISK CONNECTED TO A SINGLE MIDI DEVICE ............................................10
HANDSHAKING............................................................................................10
DATADISK USED TO STORE HR-16/MMT-8 SEQUENCES.....................................12
DATADISK IN A MORE COMPLEX MIDI SETUP......................................................13
SECTION 4
DATADISK FUNCTIONS..................................................................................14
THEORY OF OPERATION........................................................................................14
SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE...................................................................................14
RECEIVE MODES.........................................................................................14
SOFTWARE FUNCTIONS .........................................................................................15
RECEIVE MIDI DATA FUNCTION.................................................................16
RECV ONE SYSEX ..........................................................................16
RECV MULT SYSEX.........................................................................16
SEND MIDI DATA FUNCTIONS....................................................................16
SEND FILE XXXXXX YYYYYY ZZZZZZZZ .......................................16
SEND ALL FILES..............................................................................16
DELETE FILE FROM DISK FUNCTION........................................................17
DEL NNNKXXXXXX YYYYYY ZZZZZZZZ ............................17
DELETE ALL FILES ..........................................................................17
DISK BACKUP FUNCTIONS.........................................................................17
BACKUP XXXXXX YYYYYY ZZZZZZZZ...........................................17
BACKUP ALL FILES.........................................................................18
BACKUP TO MIDI.............................................................................18
REQUEST FUNCTION ..................................................................................18
REQUEST SAMPLE DUMP XX ........................................................18
REQUEST SYSEX FOR YYYYYY ....................................................18
DISK INFO FUNCTION.................................................................................19
XX FILES = ZZZ% YYY Kbytes free..................................................19
NNNNN XXXXXX YYYYYY ZZZZZZZZ.............................................19
SOFTWARE VERSION ....................................................................19
MIDI FUNCTIONS.........................................................................................19
MIDI ECHO .......................................................................................19
RCV PROGRAM CHANGE...............................................................20
FORMAT DISK FUNCTION...........................................................................20
NAME FILE FUNCTION................................................................................20
RENAME XXXXXX YYYYYY ZZZZZZZZ...........................................20
SELECT CHARACTER.....................................................................20
DISK STATUS AND INFO MESSAGES.....................................................................20
NO DISK IN DRIVE.......................................................................................21
DISK UNFORMATTED ..................................................................................21
DISK WRITE PROTECTED...........................................................................22
DISK EMPTY.................................................................................................22
DISK FULL....................................................................................................22
OPERATION ABORTED...............................................................................22
DUPLICATE FILE NAME...............................................................................23
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FILES....................................................................23
NOT ENOUGH DISK SPACE........................................................................23
MIDI OVERFLOW TRY RECV MULT............................................................23
ERROR IN SYSEX ERROR ON DISK...........................................................23
TARGET UNIT NOT RESPONDING .............................................................24
SECTION 5
OPERATION.....................................................................................................25
TO FORMAT A DISK.................................................................................................25
TO RECEIVE A FILE .................................................................................................26
TO RECEIVE MULTIPLE FILES................................................................................27
TO REQUEST A DUMP.............................................................................................28
PRODUCT SPECIFIC DUMP REQUEST...................................................................29
TO RENAME A FILE..................................................................................................30
TO SEND A FILE.......................................................................................................31
TO SEND ALL FILES .................................................................................................32
TO DELETE (ERASE) A FILE FROM DISK ...............................................................33
TO DELETE (ERASE) ALL FILES FROM DISK.........................................................34
TO SET MIDI ECHO..................................................................................................35
TO SET UP A MIDI PROGRAM CHANGE.................................................................35
TO DISPLAY AVAILABLE DISK SPACE ....................................................................36
TO DISPLAY FILE INFORMATION............................................................................36
TO BACKUP A FILE ..................................................................................................37
TO BACKUP AN ENTIRE DISK.................................................................................39
TO BACKUP AN ENTIRE DISK OVER MIDI TO ANOTHER DATADISK...................40
SECTION 6
REAL-TIME MIDI SEQUENCE PLAYBACK.....................................................41
TO RECEIVE A MIDI SEQUENCE................................................................41
TO SEND A MIDI SEQUENCE......................................................................43
SYNCING DATADISK TO A SEQUENCER...................................................44
APPLICATIONS ............................................................................................47
STORAGE OF DATADISK MIDI SETUP PER DISK .....................................48
TO STORE THE DATADISK.........................................................................48
SECTION 7
APPENDEX.......................................................................................................49
TROUBLESHOOTING...............................................................................................49
PROBLEM SAVING TO DISK .......................................................................49
RECEIVING INSTRUMENT WON'T RECEIVE..............................................49
SPECIFICATIONS.....................................................................................................51
BOOKS ON MIDI.......................................................................................................52
VIDEOS ON MIDI ......................................................................................................52
Alesis DATADISK
Direct MIDI to Disk/Universal Data Storage
USERS MANUAL
INTRODUCTION
Alesis DATADISK
Direct MIDI to Disk /Universal Data Storage
INTRODUCTION
The DATADISK is a real-time MIDI data storage and retrieval unit
capable of storing 800K bytes of data onto a 3 1/2" floppy diskette.
Unlike similar units which store data to a large RAM (Random Access Memory) buffer before processing, data in DATADISK is stored
and retrieved directly from disk so there is no waiting for large RAM
buffers to fill.
The disk functions are used to transfer data between the disk drive
and MIDI. Because the disk size is fixed, data can not exceed
800K bytes. Each disk can hold 53 MIDI data files, but the total
size of the data cannot exceed the maximum disk size, or 800K.
As an additional benefit, DATADISK is universal in that it will read
virtually all manufacturers system exclusive data without updating
software.
A large 16 character by 2 line LCD display is fitted to make the
functions and operations faster, easier, and less cryptic.
—Instantly expands memory of any synthesizer or sequencer, drum ma-
chine, or effects processor
—Easier, safer, and faster than tape backup
—Will store MIDI System Exclusive data from virtually any manufacturer
—Uses standard 3 1/2" floppy diskettes
—Stores up to 800K of data per disk
FEATURES
—SEND ALL command allows sending stored data to all MIDI devices in
your systems at once
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
Since a musician's time is better spent making music than reading
manuals, we've tried to make this manual not only easy to use, but
also fast and easy to find things when you need to. Therefore, the
manual is broken down to 6 major sections, of which Section 5 will
be probably be referred to the most. They are:
SECTION 1 - QUICKSTART
This section tells you how to use the most frequently needed operations. If you have to use your DATADISK now but don't have the
time to read the entire manual, Section 1 will quickly guide you
through.
SECTION 2 - DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS
This section gives a brief explanation of all front panel and rear
panel controls and indicators.
SECTION 3 - INTERFACING DATADISK
Section 3 deals with the interfacing of DATADISK to another MIDI
device or into a MIDI system.
INTRODUCTION
SECTION 4 - DATADISK FUNCTIONS
Section 4 gives an overview of the software functions and pages of
DATADISK .
SECTION 5 - OPERATION
This section will probably be the most used part of the manual as it
describes how to execute every function in a step by step manner.
Actual display readouts of DATADISK are also included.
SECTION 6 - REAL-TIME MIDI SEQUENCE PLAYBACK
This section decribes the DataDisk's Real-Time MIDI sequence
recording and playback functions.
SECTION 7 - APPENDIX
Section 6 provides a simple troubleshooting guide and operational
specifications for DATADISK.
3
SECTION 1
SECTION 1
DATADISK QUICK START
DATADISK will use any standard 3 1/2" double sided, double density
floppy diskette, but first the disk must be customized for use in
DATADISK . This is called "Formatting".
1) Insert Disk
2) Press the FORMAT button. The display will read:
"FORMAT DISK?".
3) Press the DO/YES button. The display will read: "ARE
YOU SURE?"
TO FORMAT A DISK
4) Press the DO/YES button again to initiate formatting.
DATADISK will proceed to format the disk and will tell
you what its doing.
5) When formatting is complete, the display will return to
"FORMAT DISK?" once again. You can now begin a
Receive operation by pressing the RECEIVE button.
RECEIVING ONE MIDI DATA FILE FOR STORAGE
1) Press the RECEIVE button. The display will read "RECV
ONE SYSEX: WAITING FOR DATA".
2) Send the MIDI exclusive file from the sequencer, syn-
thesizer, or sampler. The display will tell you that it's receiving the data.
3) When the transmission is complete, the DATADISK will
display that the file has been stored and assign a file
number.
RECEIVING MULTIPLE MIDI DATA FILES FOR STORAGE
1) Press the RECEIVE button twice. The display will read
"RECV MULT SYSEX: WAITING FOR DATA".
2) Send the MIDI exclusive files from the sequencer, syn-
thesizer, or sampler. The display will tell you that it's receiving the data.
3) At the end of the data transmission, the DATADISK will
ask if the file is complete. Send more data or press the
YES button to store all of the data received into one file.
SENDING A SINGLE STORED FILE
1) Press the SEND button. The display will show a file.
2) Press SCROLL UP or SCROLL DOWN button until the
desired program is displayed.
3) Press the DO/YES button to send the program.
PLEASE NOTE: Files are displayed alphabetically by manu-
facturer, product, and user name.
QUICK START
SENDING MULTIPLE STORED FILES
1) Press the SEND button twice. The display will ask "SEND
ALL FILES?".
2) Press the DO/YES button to begin transmission of the
files. The display will show each file as it is sent.
5
SECTION 2
SECTION 2
DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS
FRONT PANEL
The disk drive accepts standard double sided, double density (DD)
3 1/2" floppy diskettes, the same as those used in many synthesizers, samplers, and computers. Each disk will store up to 53
MIDI data files as long as the total size of file data does not exceed
a maximum of 800K.
The LCD Display shows the current DATADISK operating status and
allows you to view files stored on the diskette. The display
features 2 lines of up to 16 characters each.
3 1/2" DISK
DRIVE
LCD DISPLAY
The SCROLL buttons are used to view either the files of a diskette,
select a file, digit, or character, or abort an operation.
The NAME button is used to enter the character editing mode and
allows you to name or rename a file.
The RECEIVE button is used to enter the Receive MIDI Data mode.
In this mode, the DATADISK is able to receive either a single MIDI
system exclusive file, multiple system exclusive files (up to the limit
of available diskette space), or a MIDI Sample Dump.
The SEND button is used to send data stored on a diskette to either
a sequencer, synthesizer, or sampler, through MIDI. Either a
single or multiple files can be sent.
The DELETE button is used to erase an unwanted file or files from a
diskette.
CAUTION: Once a file is deleted, it is lost forever!
SCROLL
NAME
RECEIVE
SEND
DELETE
DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS
The BACKUP button is used to copy either a single file or multiple
files of a diskette onto another for safety purposes. This is known
as "Backing Up" the diskette.
The DO/YES button is used to initiate all operations of the DATADISK
, and to select any choices which might appear in the display. The
DO/YES button is actually a fail safe, giving the user a final choice
to either initiate or abort any previously selected operation.
The REQUEST button allows the user to request sample or program
bulk dumps from a MIDI device that requires a request before it
can send MIDI data. When the DO/YES button is pressed, the
transfer is handled as in the Receive MIDI data function.
This button is used to display information about the diskette currently inserted in the disk drive. The information displayed in the
first page will be the number of files stored on the diskette, the percentage of memory used, and the amount of free space available
on the diskette.
The second page will show each individual file name and the
number of bytes in each file (see Section 4).
A third page will show the DATADISK software version.
BACKUP
DO/YES
REQUEST
INFO
The MIDI button is used to set the MIDI output of the DATADISK to
echo the data received at the MIDI input. MIDI ECHO ON sets the
MIDI output to operate as a MIDI THRU port. MIDI ECHO OFF
sets the MIDI output to send only MIDI file data initiated from the
front panel of the DATADISK .
A second page selects if the DATADISK is to receive program
change information (for initiating sending files from the DATADISK )
and on which MIDI channel.
The FORMAT button is used to prepare an unformatted diskette (a
diskette that hasn't been especially adapted for DATADISK) for use
by the DATADISK.
The POWER button turns the DATADISK on or off.
7
MIDI
FORMAT
POWER
SECTION 2
The MIDI IN jack is used to receive MIDI data from a sequencer,
sampler, synthesizer, or effects processor for storage on diskette.
The MIDI OUT jack is used to send MIDI file data to a sequencer,
synthesizer, or sampler. This jack can also be selected to function
as a MIDI THRU jack so that it echo's an exact copy of what is being
received by the MIDI IN jack.
The POWER jack is a 4 pin DIN jack which connects to the outboard
9 VAC power transformer.
BACKPANEL
MIDI IN
MIDI OUT
POWER
FIGURE 1
DISK DRIVE
DISPLAY
SCROLL
NAME
RECEIVE
SEND
BACKUP
POWER
DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS
DATADISK FRONT AND BACK PANEL
POWER
MIDI OUT/THRU
MIDI IN
SCROLL
DO/YES
REQUEST
INFO MIDI
DELETE
FORMAT
9
SECTION 3
SECTION 3
INTERFACING DATADISK
DATADISK CONNECTED TO A SINGLE MIDI DEVICE
Set-up of the DATADISK is simplicity itself. Simply connect the MIDI
Out of the synthesizer, sequencer, effects processor, or other MIDI
device that is to send system exclusive data, to the MIDI In of
DATADISK. To off-load data, connect the MIDI Out of DATADISK to
the MIDI Input of the MIDI device that will be receiving the data.
HAND-SHAKING
Although most MIDI devices that are capable of dumping data to
DATADISK will only need one MIDI cable at a time when using
DATADISK (MIDI device Out to DATADISK In for a dump; DATADISK
Out to MIDI device In for an up-load), there is some earlier MIDI
equipment that requires both cables to be connected for operation.
This is because the MIDI device must Handshake with DATADISK.
When such a MIDI device is in the receive or up-load mode,
DATADISK may be able to send data faster than the MIDI device is
able to process it. In order to give itself a chance to catch up with
the transmission, the MIDI device sends out a command to stop the
transmission (the "Handshake"), then after it has caught up, it
sends out another command to begin transmission again.
FIGURE 2 A/B
DATADISK WITH A SINGLE MIDI DEVICE
A. WITH HANDSHAKING B. WITHOUT HANDSHAKING
INTERFACING DATADISK
11
SECTION 3
FIGURE A. WITH HANDSHAKING
Alesis MMT-8
sequencer,
synthesizer,
sampler, or other
MIDI device
MIDI IN
MIDI OUT
MIDI OUT
MIDI IN
DATADISK
FIGURE B. WITHOUT HANDSHAKING
Alesis MMT-8
sequencer,
synthesizer,
sampler, or other
MIDI device
MIDI IN
MIDI OUT
DATADISK
INTERFACING DATADISK
DATADISK USED TO STORE HR-16/HR-16:B, MMT-8 SEQUENCES
In the setup shown below, DATADISK sends System Exclusive data
to the HR-16, which has been set to echo System Exclusive
information received at its MIDI Input and send it back out of its
MIDI Output (see HR-16 manual for specific instructions). The
data is then sent to the MMT-8's MIDI Input.
FIGURE 3
DATADISK USED TO STORE HR-16/MMT-8 SEQUENCES
MIDI THRU
MIDI IN
HR-16/HR-16:B Drum Machine
MIDI OUT
MIDI OUT
Tone Module
MIDI OUT
MMT-8 MIDI Sequencer
DATADISK
13
SECTION 3
DATADISK IN A MORE COMPLEX MIDI SETUP
If you are using DATADISK with a number of other MIDI devices,
you may wish to use a programmable MIDI patcher to route their
MIDI inputs and outputs to DATADISK's MIDI input and output. This
will enable you to perform loads and dumps to and from any or all
of your MIDI devices without having to manually change any of
your connections.
FIGURE 4
DATADISK IN A MORE COMPLEX MIDI SETUP
DATADISK
In
Out
In
Out
Out
In
Out
Out
QuadraVerb/MIDIVERB III
Tone Module
In
Tone Module
In
Tone Module
MIDI
In
Switcher/Patchbay
Out
In
DATADISK
ALL CONNECTIONS ARE MIDI
HR-16/HR-16:B Drum MachineMMT-8 MIDI Sequencer
OutOut
In
DATADISK FUNCTIONS
SECTION 4
DATADISK FUNCTIONS
THEORY OF OPERATION
DATADISK is able to work because the data is stored in the form of
System Exclusive (or sysex) files. System Exclusive is the unique
way that each manufacturer identifies its own particular data. This
allows data from one manufacturers equipment not to be mistaken
for another manufacturers when it is sent and stored.
SYSTEM
EXCLUSIVE
When DATADISK is in the Receive mode, either the first byte, or the
first three bytes, of information received is the manufacturer ID. In
most cases,DATADISK will identify both the brand and model of the
equipment that it receives the system exclusive data from. If the
data is from an unknown manufacturer, DATADISK will display "ID
xxH" for 1 byte IDs or "xxxxxx" for 3-byte ids (where xx or xxxxxx is
the manufacturer ID number in hexidecimal) instead of the
manufacturer's name. This will not confuse how the data is stored
by DATADISK, or loaded by the unknown piece of equipment,
however.
RECEIVE MODES
DATADISK normally receives data in the Receive One Sysex mode.
After the manufacturer ID bytes identify the unit, DATADISK begins
storing data to disk and continues until it receives an End System
Exclusive command. Some synthesizers or MIDI devices will send
multiple messages, one after the other, which DATADISK will
recognize and still save under the same file as long as there is no
more than 1/2 second delay between the end of one message and
the beginning of the next.
If there is more than 1/2 second but less than 1 second, then
DATADISK will have stored the first file but will not have had enough
time to store the directory of that file before the next set of MIDI
messages arrive. When this occurs, DATADISK will display "MIDI
OVERFLOW" and suggest that you use Receive Mult mode.
15
SECTION 4
If the delay between messages is more than 1 second, DATADISK
will store the next set of sysex messages in a new file. This is particularly advantageous if you are saving an entire MIDI equipment
system, where you would first send out your MMT-8 data, then your
HR-16 data, then QuadraVerb data, etc.. In this case you would want
each piece of gear to have its own file and that just the way that
DATADISK stores it.
If you have a synthesizer that requires that different sections of the
same file be sent separately (as in the case of the Yamaha TX802
which sends voice data and function data separately), then you
would probably want to use the Receive Mult mode since you
would want these different sections of data to be in a single file. In
this case, DD doesn't care how long it has to wait between messages. It will continue to put everything into one file until you tell it
to stop receiving.
SOFTWARE FUNCTIONS
There are nine functions in the DATADISK which allow the user to
send and receive MIDI data, prepare a disk for send/receive operations, and view files stored on the disk. Each function has several
choices, called pages, which further allows the user to tailor the
function to his specific needs.
These functions are selected by pushing the appropriate function
button, and the pages are chosen by then pressing the same function button repeatedly until the desired page is displayed. All
operations are then initiated by pressing the DO/YES button.
The current digit value of a parameter is displayed on the LCD
within the relevant page. An underline under the left most digit of a
value indicates that this value can be edited. Values are edited by
pressing the SCROLL buttons.
Files are viewed in alphabetical order by manufacturer, with numbers coming before letters. Exceptions to the rule are the following:
Unknown manufacturer names (either displayed as "Id xxH"
or "xxxxxx") are displayed after known manufacturer names.
Unknown product names are left blank and are displayed
after known product names within each manufacturer.
Sample dump files are displayed after all manufacturer
specific files.
16
Loading...