Ales is Q20: battery and EFTP.

[SJB]

On seeing the above posts relating to the Midi Out being disabled once loaded by Charlie Hall I thought it reasonable to find out if this was true - just in case I decided to purchase a second hand unit.

Taken from the Website.
Hi XXXX,
I cannot allow the MIDI out to be re-enabled even if it were possible as the chip has been epoxied. I don't want to get in a situation where we argue about it and you haven't even bought it yet. You will be much better off going for a different Q20 that I haven't programmed before, or waiting for the Hall & Collins unit.
Regards,


So I suppose the way forward is to suck it and see. Or look at the PCB for an Epoxied Chip.

I have just downloaded the Q20 Service manual. I have never opened a Q20 up - so at this time I don't know the physical difficulties in soldering in a standby battery whilst changing the main one.
At this point in time I am thinking that if you loose the patches - because the midi out is disabled (because the midi load / unload requires both in and out working for transfer) then no one can replace them.

Hope I am wrong

[Tab]

I was enquiring about this some time ago and the following message was added to the thread if it's any help.


Re: Q20
by pjr » Tue Nov 13, 2018 2:30 pm
I have repaired an officially programmed Q2 and can tell you that the story of the self-erasing programs is a fallacy.
It is true however that the midi out has been disabled by the removal of a few components.

I'm not taking on repairs myself but try this guy if he is still around: Roy Paynter <r.paynter@btconnect.com>
He's in the Peterboro' area and is very good - much better than I am with that type of gear

[pjr]

Just to clarify that previous post of mine from way back, removing the cover from the unit will not erase the programs.
HOWEVER, removing the battery without attaching another power source WILL erase them.
There was no epoxied chip in my official EFTP Q2, only a couple of components removed to disable the midi out.
These were replaced to allow backup of the programs before changing the battery.

But please don't ask me to release the programs to anyone because I will not.
Hope this helps,

Cheers,

Pete

[SJB]

Just to wrap things up:-

Does the Q20 situation also apply to any other Alesis units?