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 .....................
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 ........................................
APPLICATIONS ............................................................................................ 47 STORAGE OF DATADISK MIDI SETUP PER DISK ..................................... 48 TO STORE THE DATADISK......................................................................... 48 SECTION 7 APPENDEX....................................................................................................... 49 TROUBLESHOOTING ..................................................................................
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.
INTRODUCTION 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.
SECTION 1 SECTION 1 DATADISK QUICK START TO FORMAT A DISK 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. "FORMAT DISK?". The display will read: 3) Press the DO/YES button. The display will read: "ARE YOU SURE?" 4) Press the DO/YES button again to initiate formatting.
QUICK START 2) Send the MIDI exclusive files from the sequencer, synthesizer, 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.
SECTION 2 SECTION 2 DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS FRONT PANEL 3 1/2" DISK DRIVE 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. LCD DISPLAY The LCD Display shows the current DATADISK operating status and allows you to view files stored on the diskette.
DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS BACKUP 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. DO/YES 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.
SECTION 2 BACKPANEL MIDI IN The MIDI IN jack is used to receive MIDI data from a sequencer, sampler, synthesizer, or effects processor for storage on diskette. MIDI OUT 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. POWER The POWER jack is a 4 pin DIN jack which connects to the outboard 9 VAC power transformer.
DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS FIGURE 1 DATADISK FRONT AND BACK PANEL POWER DISK DRIVE MIDI IN MIDI OUT/THRU DISPLAY BACKUP POWER DELETE RECEIVE NAME SEND FORMAT INFO MIDI REQUEST DO/YES SCROLL SCROLL 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.
INTERFACING DATADISK FIGURE 2 A/B DATADISK WITH A SINGLE MIDI DEVICE A. WITH HANDSHAKING B.
SECTION 3 FIGURE A. WITH HANDSHAKING Alesis MMT-8 sequencer, synthesizer, sampler, or other MIDI device MIDI OUT MIDI IN MIDI IN MIDI OUT DATADISK FIGURE B.
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.
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.
DATADISK FUNCTIONS SECTION 4 DATADISK FUNCTIONS THEORY OF OPERATION SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE 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.
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.
DATADISK FUNCTIONS RECEIVE MIDI DATA FUNCTION The RECEIVE MIDI Data Function is used to store MIDI system exclusive data received from a synthesizer, sequencer, or effects processor to a floppy disk inside the DATADISK. There are two pages to this function which are: RECV ONE SYSEX Receive One Sysex (the display will read "RECV ONE SYSEX:") is used to receive a single system exclusive file over MIDI.
SECTION 4 DELETE FILE FROM DISK FUNCTION This function is used to erase unwanted files from a disk. There are two pages, which are: DEL NNNK: XXXXXX YYYYYY ZZZZZZZZ This page is used to delete (erase) a single file from the disk, where NNN is the size of the selected file in kilobytes (1024 bytes = 1K), XXXXXX is the manufacturers name of the file, YYYYYY is the product name of the file, and ZZZZZZZZ is the name of the file to delete.
DATADISK FUNCTIONS BACKUP ALL FILES This page makes a Backup copy of an entire disk. During the Backup process, DATADISK will prompt the user when to insert either the original or Backup disk, and will indicate when the Backup is complete. BACKUP TO MIDI Rather than making a Backup copy of your data to a disk, it's also possible to send all files out via MIDI to another DATADISK. All files are sent out in alphabetical order.
SECTION 4 DISK INFO FUNCTION This button is used to display information about the diskette currently inserted in the disk drive. There are 3 pages which are: XX FILES = ZZZ% YYY Kbytes free The information displayed in the first page is the number of files stored on the diskette (XX), the percentage of space used (ZZZ), and the amount of free space (in Kilobytes) available on the diskette (YYY).
DATADISK FUNCTIONS RCV PROGRAM CHANGE Sometimes it is desirable to have a file send initiated during a sequence or performance to change a program or sample. Even though DATADISK will receive MIDI system exclusive data on any channel, a single channel must be selected to receive a MIDI program change command. When such a command is received, DATADISK will initiate a file send with the program number (#0 to 52) selecting the file to be sent.
SECTION 4 character set key until the desired character is displayed. These steps are repeated until all characters are changed as desired. Pressing the DO/YES button stores the new name. DISK STATUS AND INFO MESSAGES DATADISK is an intelligent device and its display will either prompt the user to make decisions, or describe the current disk status. The LCD will also display a variety of status and info messages telling the user why a particular function cannot be initiated.
DATADISK FUNCTIONS DISK WRITE PROTECTED 3 1/2" disks have the ability to be write protected so that any data is not accidentally erased. This is accomplished by setting the tab on the lower right hand corner of the disk (when it is turned over) to the down position so that the window is open.
SECTION 4 DUPLICATE FILE NAME This display occurs if a name is attempted to be given to a file that is the same as the name of another file. DUPLICATE FILE NAME MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FILES This display occurs if there are 53 files already stored on the disk. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FILES NOT ENOUGH DISK SPACE This display occurs if there is not enough space left on the disk to store the incoming data.
DATADISK FUNCTIONS REPLACE FILE WITH SAME NAME? 25
SECTION 4 TARGET UNIT NOT RESPONDING This display occurs when the Data Disk sends a file to an instrument that requires handshaking and receives no handshaking response. TARGET UNIT NOT RESPONDING PLEASE NOTE: There are safeguards to prevent against tricking the DATADISK by swapping disks before initiating an operation. For example: 1) With disk A in the drive, press the SEND button. 2) Eject disk A: insert disk B.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING SECTION 5 OPERATION DATADISK is easy to operate. First, the desired function is selected by pressing the appropriate function button; then, if necessary, the desired page is selected by pressing the same function button again. A file or parameter is then selected by pressing the SCROLL UP or SCROLL DOWN buttons. The operation is then initiated by pressing the DO/YES button. DATADISK will tell you what it is doing and then prompt you when the operation is complete.
SECTION 6 ** FORMATTING ** ** TRACK # XX ** The display will read from track 79 to track 00. XX is the current track being formatted. After DATADISK has formatted all 80 tracks, the display will briefly change to: ** CREATING ** ** DIRECTORY ** and then will temporarily display: FORMAT COMPLETE When formatting is complete, the display will return to the first page and read once again: FORMAT DISK? 5) The disk is now ready for storage. Press the RECEIVE button to begin a storage operation.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING (check your manual for the correct procedure). When system exclusive data is detected, the display will read the following: RECEIVING XXXXXX YYYYYY In this display, XXXXXX is an abbreviation of the manufacturer's name of the device sending the data, and YYYYYY is an abbreviation of the model name. If the data received is a MIDI sample dump, the manufacturer and product name will be displayed as "Sample Dump".
SECTION 6 RECV MULT SYSEX: WAITING FOR DATA DATADISK is now awaiting system exclusive information. 2) Send a Sysex dump from the synthesizer, sequencer, effects processor, or other MIDI device. This may be called a "Bulk Dump", "File Transfer", or some other indication that multiple files will be transmitted (check your manual for the correct name and procedure).
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING 1) Press the REQUEST button on the front panel. The display will read: REQUEST SAMPLE DUMP XX? XX is the sample number (may be called "Program Number") between 00 and 99 requested by DATADISK from the sampler connected to the MIDI input. 2) Select the correct sample number by using the SCROLL UP or SCROLL DOWN buttons. 3) Press the DO/YES button to transmit a request. The transfer is handled as in the Receive MIDI data function.
SECTION 6 5) Press the DO/YES button to transmit a request. The transfer is handled as in the Receive MIDI data function.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING TO RENAME A FILE When a file is received, it is given a name and number in the order that it was received. For instance, the first file is named "File 01", the second "File 02", etc. A file can be renamed with a name up to 8 characters long using the Rename function. To Rename a file, do the following: 1) Press the NAME button on the front panel.
SECTION 6 RENAME XXXXXX YYYYYY ZZZZZZZZ? 4c) Repeat steps 4a and 4b until all characters are changed as desired. 5) When the file has been renamed, complete the operation by pressing the DO/YES button. This brings us back to the beginning of the Rename function, allowing other files to be selected to be renamed, if desired. 6) Exit the Rename function by pressing another function button. PLEASE NOTE: —To remain in the Name function without storing the newly edited name, press the NAME button again.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING 3) Press the DO/YES button to send the file. While the file is being sent, the display will read: SENDING: XXXXXX YYYYYY ZZZZZZZZ In this display, XXXXXX is an abbreviation of the manufacturer's name of the device sending the data, YYYYYY is an abbreviation of the model name, and ZZZZZZZZ is the name of the file being sent. After sending is complete, DATADISK will return to the start of the Send data function with the next file ready to be sent.
SECTION 6 3) Press the DO/YES button to send the files. While the file is being sent, the display will read: SENDING: XXXXXX YYYYYY ZZZZZZZZ In this display, XXXXXX is an abbreviation of the manufacturer's name of the device sending the data, YYYYYY is an abbreviation of the model name, and ZZZZZZZZ is the name of the file being sent. The display will change with the file name for every file sent during the Send All Files function. There is a 25 millisecond delay between each sysex message transmitted.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING 4) If the answer is yes, press the DO/YES button. The display will show: DELETING . . . After the file has been erased, the display will read: FILE DELETED After deleting is complete, DATADISK will return to the start of the Delete function with the next file ready to be erased. 5) Exit the Delete function by pressing another function button. PLEASE NOTE: —Once a file is deleted, it is lost forever! —Deleting all files does not format a disk.
SECTION 6 DELETE ALL FILES? 3) Press the DO/YES button. The display will then read: ARE YOU SURE? If the answer is no, press the another function button to exit the Delete function. 4) If the answer is yes, press the DO/YES button. The display will show: DELETING . . . After the file has been erased, the display will read: DISK EMPTY 5) Exit the Delete function by pressing another function button. PLEASE NOTE: —Once a file is deleted, it is lost forever! —Deleting all files does not format a disk.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING 3) Press another function button to exit the MIDI Echo function. TO SET UP A MIDI PROGRAM CHANGE 1) Press the MIDI button on the front panel twice. The display will read: RCV PROG CHANGE ON MIDI CH: XXX 2) Press the SCROLL UP and SCROLL DOWN buttons to select the channel number (1 through 16) or Off. 3) Press another function button to exit the MIDI function. TO DISPLAY AVAILABLE DISK SPACE 1) Press the INFO button on the front panel.
SECTION 6 ber of bytes to indicate if the file if the file was received in RECV MULT, otherwise it is blank. 2) Press the SCROLL UP and SCROLL DOWN buttons to view the desired file. Files are arranged alphabetically by manufacturer, with numbers coming before letters, except in the following cases: Unknown manufacturer names (either displayed as "Id xxH" or "xxxxxx") are displayed after known manufacturer names.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING you will backup your file to) must be inserted and removed from the disk drive. 4) Press the DO/YES button again. The display will show: PLEASE INSERT BACKUP DISK. OK? 5) Eject the source disk, insert the backup disk, and press the DO/YES button. The display will briefly read: Checking Disk The display will then show: XX PLEASE INSERT ORIG DISK. OK? XX denotes the number of disk swaps remaining.
SECTION 6 BACKUP COMPLETE 8) Backup another file or exit the Backup function by pressing another function button. 9) Check backup procedure by sending the backed-up file(s) to their appropriate destinations and checking the data.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING PLEASE NOTE: —If the backup disk contains a file with same name as the file selected to be backed up, the display will prompt: REPLACE FILE WITH SAME NAME? Pressing the DO/YES button will proceed to delete the file on the backup disk, before starting backup. Pressing any other function will exit the backup. —Backup can be aborted at any time by pressing any other function button. TO BACKUP AN ENTIRE DISK 1) Press the BACKUP button on the front panel.
SECTION 6 TO BACKUP AN ENTIRE DISK OVER MIDI TO ANOTHER DATADISK 1) Press the BACKUP button 3 times. The display will read: BACKUP ALL FILES TO MIDI? 2) Press the DO/YES button. The display will then read: IS DEST DATADISK IN RECV ONE? "DEST DATADISK" stands for Destination DATADISK, or the DATADISK that you're sending to. 3) Press the DO/YES button. The display will read: THIS WILL ERASE DEST DISK. OK? 4) Press the DO/YES button to initiate the Backup over MIDI.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING SECTION 6 REAL-TIME MIDI SEQUENCE PLAYBACK:DATADISK SQ DataDisk can receive and play back entire sequences (as well as sysex data) in real time. All MIDI data received is time-stamped and can therefore be sent from the DataDisk with the same timing with which it was received (a MIDI tape recorder)! This allows the DataDisk to be used in several new ways.
SECTION 6 2) Begin sending the sequence from your sequencer or computer. As soon as the first non-MIDI clock MIDI byte is received, the display changes to: Receiving Seq. . . File Complete? 3) Press the DO/YES button when all desired MIDI data has been received to store the data into a file. If no MIDI data is received for 1 minute, the DataDisk will automatically store the received data into a file. If either SCROLL button is pressed before the minute is up, the sequence data WILL NOT BE STORED ON DISK.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING the DataDisk. If this is done, the sequencer will crash and most likely lose all of its data. MONITORING A SEQUENCE BEING SENT TO DATADISK Out IN MIDI THRU BOX Out Out IN IN TO SEND A MIDI SEQUENCE 1) Press the SEND button. 2) Press one of the SCROLL buttons until the desired sequence is displayed. The display will read: SEND FILE MIDI Seqnce FILE ZZ ? FILE ZZ is the desired MIDI Sequence name. 3) Press the DO/YES button to play back the sequence.
SECTION 6 The same sequence can be played back again by pressing the DO/YES button, or another sequence or sysex file can be selected by pressing the SCROLL buttons. If, while playing back a sequence, you decide that you wish to abort the operation, press either of the SCROLL buttons. The display will briefly read: OPERATION ABORTED The display will then return to the Send File MIDI Sequence page.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING EXT MIDI SYNC OFF 2) Press the "up" SCROLL button. read: The display will now EXT MIDI SYNC ON 3) Now press the SEND button. The display will read: SEND FILE MIDI Seqnce FILE ZZ ? 4) Use the SCROLL buttons to select the desired sequence to playback. 5) When the desired sequence is found, press the DO/YES button. The display will then read: Waiting for MIDI Start/Continue . . 6) Start the external sequencer or drum machine.
SECTION 6 in the DataDisk starting at bar 2, beat 1, then that point becomes the beginning of the sequence as far as DataDisk is concerned. When the file is played back from the DataDisk (synced to MIDI Clock), a Start command will start playing from the beginning of the file, which will be 1 bar ahead of the original sequence's start location. Continue and Song Position Pointer commands will be 1 bar ahead of the original sequence's location as well.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING APPLICATIONS To record a MIDI sequence from the DataDisk to the Alesis MMT-8 MIDI Recorder for editing purposes: 1) Connect both units as shown: IN Out a) Place the MMT-8 into MIDI & INTERNAL b) The MMT-8's countdown should be set to 00, and length should be changed either to the highest number available or the known length of the sequence. c) The DataDisk's EXT MIDI SYNC and MIDI Clock Out filter should both be set to OFF 2) Select the MMT-8 track that you wish to record on.
SECTION 6 6) When the DataDisk has finished sending the file, press the Stop button on the MMT-8 to stop recording. 7) Press Edit while in the part that you have just recorded to on the MMT-8, then scroll through the sequence to determine the total number of beats. Change the length of the sequence to equal the number of beats . This will eliminate any empty beats at the end of the sequence. Synchronizing the DataDisk to a Sequencer In a closed loop configuration (see page 13, fig.
REAL TIME MIDI SEQUENCING b) If the DataDisk is powered-on with a disk that has no MIDI setup stored on it, all MIDI parameters will default to OFF.
SECTION 7 SECTION 7 APPENDIX TROUBLESHOOTING The wonderful world of MIDI makes our musical lives much so much easier most of the time. Still, there are those moments when things just won't work. Below are some hints regarding sending and receiving problems and possible solutions. This is just general info since there is no way of knowing each and every instrument, connections, and system setup. PROBLEM: DATADISK won't save data to disk.
APPENDIX Some instruments also might receive a dump, not make any indication that it has received a file, and continue playing the same program as before the dump until a new program is selected. 5) Although the MIDI System Exclusive status byte does not specify a channel number, some manufacturers include a channel or device number within the message and will only respond to a sysex message with a matching channel/device number.
SECTION 7 SPECIFICATIONS MEMORY IMPLEMENTATION Direct to disk; no RAM buffer. DATA STORAGE COMPATIBILITY Universal; Operates with virtually all manufacturers products which provide MIDI System Exclusive.
APPENDIX BOOKS ON MIDI The preceding does not substitute for reading a good book on the subject of MIDI. For further information, refer to the following: MIDI For Musicians and The Electronic Musician’s Dictionary by Craig Anderton; AMSCO Publications. The former was written specifically for musicians with no background in MIDI, and the latter defines terms related to musical electronics. Music Through MIDI by Michael Boom; Microsoft Press.
SECTION 7 SQ FEATURES REAL-TIME MIDI SEQUENCE PLAYBACK DataDisk can receive and play back entire sequences (as well as sysex data) in real time. All MIDI data received is time-stamped and can therefore be sent from the DataDisk with the same timing with which it was received (a MIDI tape recorder)! This allows the DataDisk to be used in several new ways. • Playing an MMT-8 (or any other sequencer or computer) sequence into the DataDisk and then using the DataDisk as a rack mount sequence playback unit.
APPENDIX Receiving Seq. . . File Complete? 3) Press the DO/YES button when all desired MIDI data has been received to store the data into a file. If no MIDI data is received for 1 minute, the DataDisk will automatically store the received data into a file. If either SCROLL button is pressed before the minute is up, the sequence data WILL NOT BE STORED ON DISK.
SECTION 7 MONITORING A SEQUENCE BEING SENT TO DATADISK Out IN MIDI THRU BOX Out Out IN TO SEND A MIDI SEQUENCE 1) Press the SEND button. 2) Press one of the SCROLL buttons until the desired sequence is displayed. The display will read: SEND FILE MIDI Seqnce FILE ZZ ? FILE ZZ is the desired MIDI Sequence name. 3) Press the DO/YES button to play back the sequence.
APPENDIX If, while playing back a sequence, you decide that you wish to abort the operation, press either of the SCROLL buttons. The display will briefly read: OPERATION ABORTED The display will then return to the Send File MIDI Sequence page.
SECTION 7 EXT MIDI SYNC ON 3) Now press the SEND button. The display will read: SEND FILE MIDI Seqnce FILE ZZ ? 4) playback. Use the SCROLL buttons to select the desired sequence to 5) When the desired sequence is found, press the DO/YES button. The display will then read: Waiting for MIDI Start/Continue . . 6) Start the external sequencer or drum machine.
APPENDIX through the disk for the specified location before executing the command. The DataDisk will, however, remain in sync.
SECTION 7 IN Out a) Place the MMT-8 into MIDI & INTERNAL b) The MMT-8's countdown should be set to 00, and length should be changed either to the highest number available or the known length of the sequence. c) The DataDisk's EXT MIDI SYNC and MIDI Clock Out filter should both be set to OFF 2) Select the MMT-8 track that you wish to record on.
APPENDIX STORAGE OF DATADISK MIDI SETUP PER DISK It is possible to store the DataDisk MIDI parameters (MIDI Echo, MIDI Program Change Channel, MIDI Sync, and MIDI Filter) to disk. When a new disk is loaded, the MIDI setup will be automatically loaded as well. This means that the MIDI setup can be unique per disk. TO STORE THE DataDisk MIDI PARAMETERS TO DISK 1) Press the MIDI button.
