ALESIS SR-16 - Manual (Page 53)

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CHAPTER 7: BACKUP
7.1 BACKUP BASICS
This function allows you to save the SR-16 Pattern, Song, and Drum Kit data to cassette
tapes or MIDI system exclusive storage devices. General instructions are:
1. Press the BACKUP button.
2. Use the Page (up and down) buttons to select different "pages" of functions; the display's
lower right window shows the page number. These pages are described below.
3. Adjust values on pages, if necessary, as described for each page.
4. After performing the desired backup operation, press BACKUP again to exit, or choose
another page.
With all tape operations, pressing STOP during a data transfer cancels the operation from
that point on, as indicated by the display (TAPE OUT CANCEL when saving, TAPE IN
CANCEL when verifying or loading). If you press STOP during a load from tape, the memory
contents may end up partially full, thereby resulting in jumbled data for some Patterns or
Songs. However, if you're loading a single Pattern or Song, you can press STOP any time
after the desired Pattern or Song has loaded.
If an error occurs while loading, the display will say ERROR; loading continues but the data
may be unuseable. Try reloading an alternate take of the data. If the tape stops or a dropout
lasts long enough for the SR-16 to think the tape has stopped, the transfer will be cancelled
(the display says TAPE IN CANCEL).
Background The SR-16 can save the data in memory by converting this data into audio tones and recording
these tones on a standard audio tape machine (usually cassette). Data can also be converted into a special type of
MIDI code and stored in a MIDI data storage device such as the Alesis DataDisk, or transferred to another SR-16. As
you build up a library of Patterns and Songs, data can be reloaded from tape or MIDI into the SR-16. There are two
main reasons to save your work:
• Although the SR-16 can typically store over 15,000 events, eventually it will run out of memory. You can save the
memory contents, fill up the memory with new Patterns and Songs, and re-load the old data when needed.
• It is vitally important to back up what's in the SR-16's memory! A mechanical problem (surge on the
power line, a quick zap of static electricity) or operator error could alter the data in memory. Save your data
whenever you've done enough work on something that you wouldn't want to lose that work. If possible, make two
backups, and store the second backup in a different physical location from the primary backup.
Caution! Saving and loading data is very unreliable when done incorrectly, and very reliable when done right. To
promote error-free saves and loads, use a high-quality recorder and tape.