Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Hi, 
  Just a query about a few problems I'm having with my VFX (ver2.1 
rom). First is that my sounds nor my settings are getting saved 
between powerups (fairly new battery so i'm pretty sure it's not
that)and second is that i'm not able to save sounds onto my VPC-100 
cartridge.

Any suggestions as to a cause??, it's got me baffled...

Thanx
Mick

Mick.  I had a similar problem saving sounds and sequences with my SD1.  I 
learned that it was a faulty floppy drive.  Replacing the drive helped but I, 
took have mysterious losses of all my sequences and have to re-load the 
sequencer os back in from floppy.  

Several years back I phoned a tech support guy at Ensoniq/Malvern and he told 
me that sometimes things like that happen when the keyboard is connected via 
midi to lots of other gear.  I tried disconnecting midi cables and sometimes 
everything backed up, and sometimes things just vanished.  So I join you in 
experiencing the mysteries and agonies of computerized gear.  Warmly yours, 
Frank Fortunato

Frank Fortunato
OM International Music Director
Coordinator, AD2000 Worship and Arts Track

Probably the easiest thing is to eat the expense and get another new battery, 
especially if it wasn't tested before being installed. If loaded files 
including master settings aren't being saved between power ups, it's not a 
disc problem. Then things wouldn't load or save in the first place and you'd 
get an error sisplay immediately. 

If the first battery was in there for a long time, it may have started to 
leak, just enough to put an acid-oxide coating on the board leads and cause 
resistance or even insulation. Not to mention it's not good for the board! So 
give it another look and make sure that area is clean.

Someone earlier mentioned a problem with discs going bad gradually. Did 
anyone mention the importance of keeping discs away from magnetic fields? 
It''s easy to fotrget how manny things in your work area can generate fields. 
Older, poorly shielded monitors are great for that. Likewise speakers. Keep 
discs a minimum of 3ft/1m away and/or store them in a metal box! I suspect 
that a lot of disc deteration is fields , not equipment going bad. It was 
thoughtful on Ensoniq to provide that disk well, but I wouldn't keep them 
there all the time.

Cheers
Mike Nelson
Manicmaestro@...