Alesis DataDisk SQ

So basically if you want convenience, GIG travel usefulness and simplification of your MIDI libary, buy one of these. they average about $50 on ebay.

Someone said "you cannot use 1.44MB disks" That is NOT true. It supports both SD and HD 3.5" floppies. (only formats in 720k regardless however)

So you are technically "wasting" a 1.44MB floppy however it can be used. You're just going to be only utilizing 720KB of it's capacity. Also keep in mind you won't need to worry about it since MIDI information is plaintext and takes up very little space.

I'd say the only CON of this unit is that the powersupply is external. BOO.

No sound or internal data, it is only a MIDI data recorder, which stores them on floppy disk (floppy) and restores, all with a DIN connector (MIDI)

UTILIZATION

Could not be more simple, the manual (available on the net) is not necessary.
I bought this product at the time of the early and MIDI sequences on ATARI (Pro24, Cubase). The sequences made in the studio, saved as standard MIDI file (including sysex which control the program number, track volume etc..) Can be played on stage by connecting the DataDisk to MIDI in synth. Neither seen nor known, it seemed that the keyboardist was 10 but especially a tempo of hell ...
I had previously tried hardware sequencers (Roland, Korg) much more expensive and complex, with Datadisk reliability and simplicity essential live were there.

SOUNDS

not its internal

OVERALL OPINION

Today, most synthesizers integrate a sequencer section that reads midi files with a memory space for a directory of several hours. I still have my DataDisk if I'd limited, and there is no device came to compete.
Only drawback: the floppy disk as storage media. Load midi still takes a few (long) seconds, and you can not put that on a 1.44MB floppy disk. SD card reader would be perfect instead.
Damage, but since there is no equivalent, I keep my DataDisk.

Note: incidentally this tool has helped a lot of bands playing supposedly live, with sequences abuse and forget to play;, or pretend. The best is sometimes the enemy of the good.

midi in out, external power supply (GRRR) and a floppy

no its just a recorder player, but especially Sysex midi!

a machine that can save your life and certainly more than once, but consigned to oblivion for most musicians ... passed to the computer

but for those who are allergic to monitors, mice and keyboards, this machine is simply divine

I put 9 because the disk ... Alesis could split an SD card version and my friends ...

UTILIZATION

Wholesale stores and ca ca sends sysex for backup programs, config sound banks etc ...

it avoids the purchase of memory cards for synths (Wavestation, Roland D70, JD990 and JV and hundreds more!!).

SOUNDS

no sound, simple operation, what I hate is that today to find disks ....

OVERALL OPINION

there is no many competitor in this area, except perhaps some digital mixers that can store some sysex on tracks and send them individually.

I love the simplicity, robustness, and I do not take my head to update the OS or software version in my machine, it's simple and it works

Alesis, STP make us an SD card, CF or flash version and it would be perfect!!!