[A6] A6 memory

[Boele Gerkes]

So if I read well, the A6 has static RAM kept alive with a battery?

That means the battery will have to  be replaced one day? Will that be 
a do it yourself job?

Does all synths with static RAM have a battery inside (waldorf Q, XT, 
Acces Virus etc.)??

So the RAM card that sticks out of my Microwave 1 has a battery as 
well? I only see a big chip on it.

Boele



Op 11-nov-04 om 0:46 heeft Michael E. Caloroso het volgende geschreven:

>> Just wondering,
>>
>> Why has the A6 only in the userbank the possibility to freely switch
>> around sounds, while you can only copy a whole bank to the preset 1 
>> and
>> 2 banks?
>>
>> Is there a difference in memory hardware (read cheaper)? Or was it a
>> real Alesis policy at that time to have "preset" banks? Personally I
>> would have liked three userbanks :-))
>
> User banks are static RAM.  Preset banks are flash RAM.
>
> Pros/cons of static RAM: infinite R/W cycles, but loses its contents 
> when power goes off, requiring battery backup.  The PC memory card 
> that fits the A6 has a battery for this very reason.
>
> Pros/cons of flash RAM: does not lose contents when power goes off, 
> but limited write cycles (writing to the same memory address excessive 
> times actually "wears out" the cell at that address, rendering the 
> flash IC useless).  Read cycles do not damage flash RAM.
>
> By limiting flash RAM to entire banks of sounds, Alesis extended the 
> life of the flash RAM ICs.  The OS is also contained in flash RAM, 
> standard convention for synths with system upgrade capabilities.
>
> FYI, SmartMedia and CompactFlash are flash RAM - no batteries but they 
> wear out the more you write to them.  Something to think about.
>
> "I'm David Evans and I approve this message",
> MC ;)
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