Alesis Datadisk SQ

I have the early Datadisk without the SQ upgrade. The display shows version 1.02 I am actively looking for the upgrade firmware. I can burn my own eproms so all that is needed is the binary image file or I can copy a version 2.09 eprom. If you know where I can find this please e-mail me Narfman96 at yahoo dot com. Thank you!

The Datadisk version 1.02 is even simpler to use than the SQ. It cannot send midi sequences as playable files. There isn't an option for the midi sync so all the data screams every note in the sequence at top speed. Thus the need for the SQ upgade. This early version cannot back up the internal settings to disk either. These units do not have a battery to corrode the electronics so they should last until the floppy drive wears out. I replaced the floppy in my unit with a high density drive from a PC because it was worn out. Amazingly it worked! When using 1.44mb floppies they can't have a previous HD format or the drive will error on the first HD track even if the disk was formatted in the unit. This requires a reboot (power down) of the unit to recover from and to read any disks again.

The Datadisk is great for saving sysex to floppy disk. The unit identifies the midi manufacturer ID and most known synth models from the late 80's. Then when the disk is read it displays the information making it simple to scroll through different synths. 53 files is a lot to scroll through from the front panel but it can fly through the file directory if the scroll button is held. I can put 10 QS banks on one disk. This is much more economical than using sram cards for 8 banks. Just slower to load. The Datadisk can also store SDS (Sample Dump Standard for Midi) sample dumps for the QS or my Peavey DPM gear. Don't depend on this for a gig unless they are small. Midi speed is slow for large sample dumps. One 8mb card image for the QS takes 1:17 (1 hour 17 min). Yikes!

This unit is very handy for gigs. Dumping sysex is easy and unless your synth has large dump files it's quite fast. If I was going to really rely on it a spare floppy drive could be brought along. The drive can be changed in about 15 minutes break time. I have 3 drives that can all read each others disks. So it doesn't seem very fussy. Much more reliable than having a laptop onstage.

Alesis support is not much help with anything in this unit. When Numark acquired the company in 2001 much of the information and parts for the earlier equipment was lost. Since I wasn't there I can't lament on the details but it's a real shame! The early QS series suffers this same problem. Alesis support on their current gear is great. Also they gave permission to copy the SQ firmware (if it can be found) to upgrade earlier units as long as it is not done for profit or reverse engineered.

If something happened to this unit I would try to replace it. Identifying sysex by manuafacturer makes it handier than my Peavey Midi-Librarian or Yamaha DRC-20. Low DD density disks are used in all of these. 1.44mb high density disks can be used but the format needs to be bulk erased using a tape de-magnetizer. The disks cannot be read in a PC as the format is 800k. There are PC disk utilities available but I haven't tried them.
I moderate several of the Yahoo user groups for the Alesis QS synths. If you have any info or problems post your message there and I'll be around to help. Along with 600+ members.... Narfman

The Datadisk SQ is a 1U rackmount MIDI Sysex/Sequence playback and backup unit that uses DSDD 3-1/2" floppy disks for storage. There is an earlier model (called the Datadisk, no "SQ") that does not handle sequence, only sysex. It is very easy to tell which unit you have - watch the LCD on bootup and it should read "Datadisk" or "Datadisk SQ"

The buttons are logical and it's easy to poke around using the LCD, but I wouldn't call it intuitive. A manual is recommended and it's not hard to operate - in fact I haven't needed to refer to the manual for years. The menu system isn't very deep. Once you know the system, it is very easy to use.

Here's an example - press RECEIVE, LCD says "REC ONE SYSEX WAITING FOR DATA". Then dump your sysex and it saves your data to floppy. Press NAME and you can rename the file on floppy. Press SEND and you can send one or more files from floppy. Just follow the prompts. Multiple presses of each button will cycle through their options. Easy.

Download the manual from the Alesis website. The one that came with my unit was an early print edition - the website has the latest ones.

OS is v2.09 on my unit.

The Datadisk is very handy for MIDI sysex backups. Sysex data is stored to files on the floppy disk and you can rename the files. The SQ model adds MIDI sequence storage and playback - REALLY handy if you don't want to drag your laptop to gigs. However you don't create or edit sequences on the Datadisk - that's what your PC or hardware sequencer is for. You build your sequences, dump them to the Datadisk, and then you can leave your laptop or sequencer at home and take the Datadisk to the gig.

You can play back sequences from the front panel or remotely from MIDI. Sequence playback from the Datadisk SQ can be synced to MIDI and MIDI real time start/continue/stop/clock commands will control the Datadisk. You also can send a MIDI program change to select sequence files from the disk but I haven't tried that yet. MIDI Echo is provided (there's no hardware MIDI Thru jack) and MIDI real time commands can be filtered from MIDI out to prevent nasty loop problems.

In order to use MIDI sync you need a master MIDI controller or sequencer capable of generating MIDI clock and start/stop commands (MIDI Continue is optional). Many MIDI controllers don't generate MIDI clock - the one shortcoming of my favorite controller, my Kurzweil MIDIBoard. I wound up using my Alesis Andromeda.

If you send a MIDI start with no MIDI clock, the Datadisk won't play at all. When you dump sequences to the Datadisk SQ for MIDI sync, you MUST include MIDI Clock in the sequence. This stumped me until I downloaded the manual from the website. If MIDI clock is missing from the sequence and you try to play it back using MIDI sync, the Datadisk will just dump everything out at full speed and your seven minute opus will play completely in ten seconds.

Once that was figured out then everything fell into place. I set up the Andromeda footswitch for start/stop toggle and got it to generate MIDI clock. You have to have MIDI clock BPM settings preprogrammed for each song, so I used mix programs (layers/splits) in the Andromeda. The cool thing is that the Datadisk will vary the tempo from the MIDI clock, so I could control tempo from a single knob on the Andromeda - very cool. Luckily the Andromeda's clock speed can be modulated in real time, so I can use the pitch wheel, mod wheel, ribbon, footpedal controller, or anything to slow down or speed up the tempo. Nice.

You can also save the Datadisk MIDI Sync settings to your floppy, so that when you play back a sequence the Datadisk will automatically load sync settings from the disk. Smart.

I don't notice any latency at all in MIDI playback - even though you can see the floppy being accessed during playback there were no glitches or interruptions in the sequence.

Although the Datadisk uses hard-to-find DSDD floppies, you can use DSHD floppies and format them on the Datadisk, but you won't gain any more storage than a DSDD. Yeah it uses antique DSDD 3-1/2" floppies instead of high density Smartmedia cards, but remember that this unit came out in the 80s folks!

The floppies are not PC or Mac compatible. If you search the Google groups you will find websites that sell utilities that let you make floppies that can be read on the Datadisk, but nothing to read Datadisk floppies yet. In the ten years I had the Datadisk SQ I haven't had a need to read the floppies on my PC anyway.

For sysex backups, this thing is invaluable. There have been a few occasions when I lost programs on a module on the gig and was able to get restore them quickly with the Datadisk.

Rugged and built like a tank. The floppy drive has a spring loaded door to keep out dust. It's been in my gigging rack for ten years and I have had zero problems.

Alesis quit making these in the early 90s and there is no support or upgrades available. I doubt you're going to need support, these things are solid.

You can still download manuals from the website.

Best $200 I ever spent. This thing has saved my ass on many a gig when I lost my programs and the sequence playback is ideal for gigs. I'm putting together a 70s/80s duo act and we're using the Datadisk SQ to sequence drums, bass, backing keyboards, the guitar player's pedal, and FX.

I recommend a MIDI Patchbay with one of these - they save a lot of grief hooking up MIDI cables especially if you have a lot of MIDI devices.

I can leave my PC at home. I don't have to worry about my laptop crashing or breaking the screen while traveling. The Datadisk is a very practical device and they are being sought after. I brought my rack to a studio session and the engineer asked if the Datadisk was for sale. With more and more MIDI devices around, backups are crucial. No one makes anything like the Datadisk and I don't know why Alesis doesn't re-release something like it. Yes there's Smartmedia but they're not interchangeable between machines. MIDI Sysex is still practical.