Akai S950

[banksy76]

Usually when I select 'Disk' on the Akai it will simply display 'Disk not mounted' and will not accept the image. Occasionally when I select 'disk' it will read and display the content but when I try to load anything it will start to load, then stop, and display 'Bad data from disk'. When I make further attempts it will revert back to displaying 'disk not mounted'.

[Jeff]

Usually when I select 'Disk' on the Akai it will simply display 'Disk not mounted' and will not accept the image. Occasionally when I select 'disk' it will read and display the content but when I try to load anything it will start to load, then stop, and display 'Bad data from disk'. When I make further attempts it will revert back to displaying 'disk not mounted'.

Did you notice any difference between the 74LS/HC00 solution and the "74LS38" + "new pull up" solution? I mean do you see more often the content of the disk with the pull up mod ?

[Jeff]

I just sent to you some more images to test.

[banksy76]

Regarding the HD images, it doesn't appear to make any difference what chip is in the HxC, be it the 74LS38, the 74LS00, or the 74HC00.

It very rarely allows me to read the content of the disk whereas it did used to.

I shall try the images that you have sent me in a moment and report straight back.

[banksy76]

Should all those images that you sent me contain data/samples or are some of them blank images?

I have tried all of the images and still no success and to be honest the results seems to be quite random. For example, on one occasion...

I could access 'Disk' mode on the S950 but no content is displayed.
I tried saving onto the image and the S950 displayed 'disk unprepared you must format'.
I made numerous attempts but still the S950 insisted that the disk was unformatted.
I removed the SD card and reinserted it, entered 'Disk' mode on the S950 and now the content is shown.
I try loading a sample but the S950 displays the 'unformatted' message again.
I power down the units and power up again, re-insert SD card, and now when I attempt to enter disk mode the S950 displays now shows 'Disk not mounted' instead.
On my 3rd attempt of powering down and then up again, I could now enter 'Disk' mode but now no content is shown.

[Jeff]

Do you have tried all the images ?

If yes i think that we have tried all we can do for the moment.
I really need to have an S950 to figure out what is the problem. It seems that there are an electrical/logical level compatibility problem, but this very hard to understand/solve it through a forum mail. Probably that the data lines is not the only signal to patch...

There still something to try, but this need to modify a little the S950. The modification will force the FDC of the S950 to work at the low bitrate (250kbits/s). By this way you will be able to read akai_s950_1_01.hfe
Anyway i will understand if you don't want to do the modification.

Another interesting to do is to try an USB HxC Floppy Emulator. This hardware has a different bus driver circuit and may work without any problem. If you are interested, i will see with Lotharek to send you one device to test (you need a PC as server to use this emulator).

[banksy76]

Do you have tried all the images ?

If yes i think that we have tried all we can do for the moment.
I really need to have an S950 to figure out what is the problem. It seems that there are an electrical/logical level compatibility problem, but this very hard to understand/solve it through a forum mail. Probably that the data lines is not the only signal to patch...

There still something to try, but this need to modify a little the S950. The modification will force the FDC of the S950 to work at the low bitrate (250kbits/s). By this way you will be able to read akai_s950_1_01.hfe
Anyway i will understand if you don't want to do the modification.

Another interesting to do is to try an USB HxC Floppy Emulator. This hardware has a different bus driver circuit and may work without any problem. If you are interested, i will see with Lotharek to send you one device to test (you need a PC as server to use this emulator).

Yes, I believe I have tried all the images, with all 3 chips but I will try again later just to be sure.

Should all the images that you sent me contain data/samples or are any of them simply blank disk images?

Should I be checking the files & chips with the latest firmware that you issued me?

[Jeff]

Should all the images that you sent me contain data/samples or are any of them simply blank disk images?

The images contain data/samples.

Should I be checking the files & chips with the latest firmware that you issued me?

Yes, the last one. (1.6.4.3A)

[banksy76]

Hi Jeff

I have tried all those images again with both the 74LS00 and the 74HC00 but still with no success. The results seem somewhat inconsistent with all the images and the results range from the following:

1. The image wont mount and the HxC displays 'Bad File'
2. The image will mount successfully but when I press 'disk' on the Akai it will respond with 'Disk not mounted'
3. The image will successfully mount, the Akai will allow me to enter 'disk' mode, but no content is shown.
4. The images successfully mounts, the Akai allows access to 'disk' mode, content is displayed but when I try to load a sample the Akai displays 'disk is unprepared you must format it first'.
5. Occasionally the content is shown and it will begin to load only to stop shortly afterwards with the Akai displaying 'bad data from disk'

Should a detailed account of all images with each of the chips be of any use then please let me know and I can email this to you.

[Jeff]

1. The image wont mount and the HxC displays 'Bad File'

This is not normal at all...
Did you got this error one time or more ?

Should a detailed account of all images with each of the chips be of any use then please let me know and I can email this to you.

If possible yes.

[banksy76]

I have sent you an email with relevant info as requested.

[Jeff]

So the Akai S950 HD disks problem is now solved ! :

3 things to do :

1- Download this new software and use the new "Akai S950 HD" Interface mode to convert Akai HD disks.
https://hxc2001.com/floppy_drive_emulat ... r_soft.zip

2- Download and update your SD HxC Floppy Emulator firmware with this version :
https://hxc2001.com/floppy_drive_emulat ... 6_4_4A.UPD

3- Add a 2.2Kohms Pull-up resistor on the read data line (= to R18 in the Akai S950)

[COBOLT]

Hello,

i have problem with my Akai S 950 with hxc i try every types of hfe. files on this forum and i still dont know what i doing wrong

When i put the sd card into hxc floopy emulator every time show on display reading FAT ..

OS version 1.6.00
Jumper setings A

[Jeff]

Hello,

i have problem with my Akai S 950 with hxc i try every types of hfe. files on this forum and i still dont know what i doing wrong

When i put the sd card into hxc floopy emulator every time show on display reading FAT ..

OS version 1.6.00
Jumper setings A

Do you have formated the SDCard in FAT32 ?

[COBOLT]

Yes i have,
i formated card with vista.

The display show reading fat when card is empty or when cfg. file is on.