3.50 Floppy Disk to USB

**AtelierMan** · 07-06-2011, 05:44 AM

Does anyone know if there is a kit with which you can replace the 3.5 floppy disk drive with a USB drive on a Roland Atelier similar to the one available for Lowrey?

**andyg** · 07-06-2011, 07:13 AM

I'm on the case! A couple of my students want one if there is. I'll report back if I have news.

In the meantime, if anyone has any info - please tell us!

**lparsons21** · 07-06-2011, 12:02 PM

Andy, remember the guy that was selling a kit for the Lowreys a bit ago? That same rig is used in many places, knitting machines for one. It is pretty universal as far as I can tell. As long as the floppy drive in the organ is a PC floppy and not some strange proprietary one, it should work.

**psrick** · 07-06-2011, 05:52 PM

Here is a link to information on one such system (I haven't tried it):

http://www.plrelectronics.com/floppy_to_usb.php

**andyg** · 07-06-2011, 07:52 PM

That system only lets you put one floppy's worth on a stick. The one made for the Lowreys allowed you to choose your 'virtual' floppy. I've asked my local engineer to investigate as the floppy drive in the 90SL is a pain to swap. I'm not doing it unless I know it's going to work.

**AtelierMan** · 07-07-2011, 06:48 AM

Thanks for the quick work guys! I asked because I an seriously considering upgrading the a Atelier and have been reading up on AT90SL and was concerned with the 3.5 floppy becoming obsolete.

**andyg** · 07-07-2011, 07:38 AM

Way too many instruments using floppies for them to disappear just yet, and probably stockpiles of drives, but future-proofing is never a bad idea.

**Westminster** · 07-07-2011, 12:25 PM

Considering that the 5.25 floppies were only discontinued last year I wouldn't worry too much about 3.5 availability for the next few years. I still use them occasionally, but the flash sticks are certainly much more convenient. The amazing capacities really do make them a no-brainer.

**seamaster** · 07-07-2011, 06:02 PM

I was astonished when I bought my Roland E-80 a couple of years ago that it still had a floppy disc drive. They were rendered obsolete the moment the original iMac went on sale without one (1998).

**AtelierMan** · 07-07-2011, 11:23 PM

I have only iMac computers and in researching Ateliers I came upon this in the specs:

Operating System: Mac OS X v10.2 or later
Computer: USB ready Apple® Macintosh®
CPU/Clock: PowerPC G3 233 MHz or higher
Memory (RAM): 256 MB or more
* The ATELIER will not operate in the Mac OS X Classic environment.

Does anyone use Macs with their organs and what does this mean?
Makes me laugh when I look at my 33 year old Thomas and am learning about these new amazing Rolands and Lowreys. I gotta get one!