backing up SSL floppies onto a windows hard drive

[Konnektor]

hi guys,
i've been asked this many times so i thought i'd share this here

if you want to make backup copies of SSL floppies on a windows hard drive try this little piece of software:
http://www.towodo.com/products/floppyimage/

i've been using it for both, reel and program disks, for many years
version 2.4 goes for $25 and has been around for about 5 years, so i'm quite confident it'll never be updated again - perfect for our purpose!

never failed, every recall came back spot on (i keep this little file in the same folder which contains my recall pics of external gear)
and i use it about twice a year to create new program disks
piece of mind really

i use the uncompressed 'self-extracting image' option on a sony vaio laptop with an external freecom 22767 usb floppy drive
but it'll probably work on any system..

to create floppies just put a blank one into the pc drive and double click the image
then use it in the SSL

cheers, werner

[jimlfixit]

Hi Konnektor. I just logged on as I wanted to give you a + karma point for your useful post.

I don't know about floppy drive back up (there is a joke there somewhere and it could be another Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse iCock sketch ... how about iFloppy instead? Check them out on utube as it is very funny) but, this seems a useful thing to know and, in my ignorance, the first SSL computer backup that can be linked to more modern computers.

What happened to that Dramastic SSL computer replacement dudes, due to be ready about now? Ditto, the switch mode PSU, also from somewhere in the States? Andy, Mattia, Marc and others ... these tasks could now be down to you people plus a software genius somewhere!

I'm just a wiring chap so, as Manuel in Faulty Towers says, "I know nothing" about the tech stuff, especially the 692 floppy drives (designed by Jim Smith who also designed the 691 computer rack, events and real time controllers) even though I made them at SSL around 1981 ... they were a complete pain at the time what with filing down leds etc.

If you need some studio wiring done (DL's etc), then, I do know something! (how about iWire?).

Good post Konnektor. Later people and regards from Jim Lassen (www.profcon.co.uk). Also on FACEBOOK

[StefanNowak]

Very cool, wish it was on mac!

[Artur D'Assumpção]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the super useful post!

Regarding Jim's comment, If some of the SSL electronics genius want to embark on a real mission of doing an SSL computer replacement I can offer my help on the programming side if needed.

Cheers,

Artur

[kilmister]

Very cool, wish it was on mac!

man dd
https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man1/dd.1.html

Should do the trick

-Paavo

[Konnektor]

hey thanks for the points guys

i tried various pieces of software but this was the only one that worked
worth keeping an old laptop for just that purpose
i always copy the files onto a mac to have it within the session folder backups and use the laptop only to create new ssl floppies

[Artur D'Assumpção]

dd should work (mac or linux) since it does a low level raw image of the disk. Whatever format it should work regardless.

dd if=/dev/fd0 of=floppy.img

dd if=floppy.img of=/dev/fd0

You might also refine the image with bs= (block size) option and size= (size to copy) option.

cheers,

Artur

[Konnektor]

yeah dd (w/o any options) could work, too
probably best to use it from within a script or it could quickly turn into a 'destroy disk' command if you're in a demanding session

[Artur D'Assumpção]

LOL!

Yeah i can't remember how many times i've did a "cat >" to  the wrong file and overwrite it, or a "dd" with to the wrong device... tragic!

A bash script "backfloppy.sh <project name>" is always a safe net to not f*ck up ever again.

Cheers,

Artur

[Artur D'Assumpção]

By the way, I know that it is offtopic, but I want to ask you something regarding the Konnektor since i'm thinking on buying on for my new console.

Would I loose any funcionalities, besides a wasted DA output, if I use an SMPTE track instead of a SYNC HD generating the SMPTE Time Code? Are there any advantages in using an SYNC HD if I only use it with contained mixing projects? (no video)

Cheers,

Artur

[Dan Korneff]

Great post! Now I can keep a copy of my TR and automation with my mix sessions on DVD.

[Artur D'Assumpção]

By the way,

I was thinking the other day about this floppy subject. Does anyone have access to development documentation of the SSL software?

I would like to know how SSL formatted the floppy drives and structured its filesystem. I was thinking if I could get the hands on this it would be fairly easy to do an application not only to backup SSL floppies but also manage directly the projects so that you can save/manage and load any projects you have on a library on your computer to a blank floppy and the software would format it to SSL filesystem. This would be really awesome and is something that I can easily do.

If getting this info is close to impossible, I think trying to reverse engineer it could be a more hard and long path with lots of trial and errors, but doable. It would be the first nor the last.

Cheers,

Artur

[perfectsnd]

>>

What happened to that Dramastic SSL computer replacement dudes, due to be ready about now? Ditto, the switch mode PSU, also from somewhere in the States? Andy, Mattia, Marc and others ... these tasks could now be down to you people plus a software genius somewhere!

<<

I can tell what happing to the switch mode PSU.  I was to be one of the first ones to receive this supply. I put down a deposit on the supply at the end of March and Norman was going to commission my console. If he didn't have a working supply for me by my install date he was going to loan me the working one he had.  Come install time I was informed that Norman was taking on a business partner and that he couldn't leave the working supply that he had but he would get me out one very, very soon.  He commissioned my console but he left with his power supply.  So time (months) go by without a power supply and many, many, many inquiries as to when I would be getting mine. Remember he had my deposit since March and a promise that I would have one by my install date (Early April). Finally in October I get an email from his business partner that in order for me to get the new supply my price was going to be raised over $1100.00 due to changes that were made in the supply. His partner said I would still be getting the supply under the value they plan on selling it for so it is still go for me.  Needless to say I was pretty pissed off about this and it was completely contradictary to the original agreement I had with Norman on this.  So bottom line. Tread lightly on the new power supply and don't give a deposit unless they have one in stock ready to ship out to you.  Your agreement could change and you might not see the supply for 6 months or more.

I ended up backing off the deal because I didn't like how this all went down and in the end I couldn't trust that I would get a supply in a reasonable amount of time without any further monetary committment. It really isn't a good way to start off a company.

The new company is Atomic Instrument and the power supply is The Atomic Instrument S1 power supply.

So bottom line is do your homework.

[marcmozart]

Regarding Dramastic, last thing I've heard somebody posted on Gearslutz a few days ago that Dramastic is working on it, but it will take another 6 months for them to present a working version.

What relaxes me a bit is the great work Pelle G has done, so we potentially have 2 alternatives on the market soon:

http://forum.sslmixed.com/index.php?topic=118.0

For me personally, I don't give a shit about Total Recall. The minimum I need is the VCA Faders automated, not even sure I want them to be motorized.
Anything else is cool, and I might still buy it, but my business as a producer/mixer doesn't depend on it.

Regarding Norman Druce power supply - I spoke to Norman a few times over Facebook, he's a cool guy, always helpful and knows his stuff. I bet it's a lot of work getting from a prototype to a marketable product.

[perfectsnd]

Norman is a cool guy and if it was just him I was dealing with I'm sure the out come would have been different.  I'm just telling my story so people have a background on what happened and where this power supply is at.