[sdiy] [OT] Help with Alesis Ion repair

[Michael O'Bannon]

This is an Ion that came to me in "bricked" condition.  When you turn it 
on it immediately shows this message: "bad os code found, please reload 
code". Then it changes to another message: "ready to receive software".

I tried to update the OS using the latest sys ex file from Alesis.  I've 
tried both MidiOx and SendSX122, with the same results. The Ion shows 
the bar graph with an increasing percentage as the download progresses, 
but when finished it says "corrupt data found, please try again".

I've tried slowing down the upload by increasing delays and decreasing 
buffer sizes in MidiOx, but still no joy.  The Ion does not appear to 
respond to the usual manner of gaining access to the boot loader 
(holding down "a" and "d" keys during power on).  Holding down "page 
left" and "page right" keys during power up doesn't do anything either.

Is this permanent brain damage or simply contrariness?  Any ideas would 
be greatly appreciated.
>
> Brain wave controlled synthesis....what is the frequency of brain 
> waves, like 4 hertz?!?!
Yes, brain waves are rather slow compared to audio.  They typically run 
from 1 to about 40 Hz or so, altho there is interesting activity at 
higher frequencies.  What I do is process them with a filter bank or 
FFT, track specific dynamics and use those to trigger changes in 
compositional algorithms or other parameters.  I've been using mostly 
soft synths in the past but I'm a hardware guy at heart, having started 
on this path with tube-based eeg machines and paper chart recorders.  I 
have some Doepfer modules now, and I'm building a couple of Thomas Henry 
Mega-Percussive boards, so I hope to be controlling analog sources soon.

Thanks again,
Michael