Alesis Datadisk review?

[Naz Reyes]

Could someone post a review of the Alesis Datadisk? And, what about
other options other than the Alesis? Anyone?

Thanks in advance,
-Naz

[John Connelly - JET Graphics Products]

I recently bought a DataDisk for use with my other MIDI gear (An MMT-8,
a Roland R-8 drum machine, a Kawai K1, and an Ensoniq Mirage). The
main use I had in mind was storing all of my MMT-8 sequences on disk.
After I hooked it up, though, I quickly realized that I could save
all my drum patterns from the R8, my patches for the K1, my samples
from the Mirage, AND my MMT8 sequences on disks. Plus, the Datadisk
can also record realtime sequences for playback without a sequencer
(a real plus for straight live playback).

The Datadisk is pure simplicity to use, with one exception: backing up
disks. If you have a full (800Kb) disk it will make you swap the
original disk and backup disk over *40* times for a backup. Whew!
Other than that it's perfect for everything I need. I should also
add that it took over 25 full-memory MMT8 sequences to fill one disk.

The Datadisk goes for around $350-$400, and the MMT8 is about $250.
For ~$700 you could get a sequencer with disk built-in, but it's
very unlikely you could save all your system exclusive dumps 'n stuff
on the sequencer disk. For this reason I think the Datadisk is an
excellent value.

Now if Alesis would just put out a sequencer/datadisk/drum machine all
in one convenient package.....!!!

John Connelly
john.c...@EBay.Sun.COM

[Eddie Anthony]

The Datadisk is fabulous. Simple to use. Just make the handshake and
have your machine send it's data through sys ex dump. The Data Disk
will do the rest. You can put 53 filenames on a disk, and in my case
that is 53 ESQ-1 banks, up to 800K maximum.

The upgrade chip that makes it a real time sequence playback machine
is a blessing. No more dragging a computer along to gigs. You just record
your sequences into the Data Disk, and when you want them, select the
sequence name, hit the "send" function and it will play back in time.

If you are trying to decide whether to buy one or not, I will vote a
resounding YES. It's in my rack and will stay there, patched through
my MX8 Midi Routing system.

--
Reply to aa...@cleveland.freenet.edu >-< Don't forget everybody....
Eddie Anthony.....Keyboard Monster!!!! >-< only 24 shopping days 'til
Cleveland Ohio....My girl broke up with me. >-< my birthday!!! This is the
Said I was insecure. Like this'll help that. >-< big one, too..the big 4-0!

[Payman Parastaran]

What I'd like to see is an intelligent master keyboard controller (something
like the Roland A-50 or A-80) with an Alesis style datadisk built in. Just
drag your keyboard to your next gig, and you have all your sysex stuff +
sequences at your fingertips. Now why doesn't anyone have such a product out?

-- Payman

--

______________________________________________
Payman Parastaran / pay...@uiuc.edu..............(217) 398-1452 /
_______________________/_____________________________________________/_________
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Department of Physics

[Eddie Anthony]