I plugged the USB to MIDI lead input nd output the wrong way around on my Alesis Sr 16 and it stopped working. Have I blown something inside?

5.4J Copy a Song to Another SR-16 Via MIDI
The SR-16 can send Song system exclusive information to another SR-16 via MIDI. If you have only one SR-16, you can skip this section.
1. The source SR-16 should be in Song mode and stopped. Connect the source SR-16 MIDI out to the destination SR-16 MIDI in.
2. Select the Song to be copied.
3. Press and hold the COPY button, and keep holding it down until step (5). The display says COPY TO SONG.
4. Do not enter any destination Song number-just press PLAY to send the data out over MIDI. It will end up in whatever Song number had been selected at the receiver. If the Song was not empty, the new Song steps will be appended to the existing Song steps.
5. Release the COPY and PLAY buttons.
Caution: This does not transfer Pattern information, only the song steps. To transfer Patterns to another SR-16, see section 3.3D and 3.3E.


Hopefully this helps, it comes out of the SR16 Manual, page 40 I think
Cheers Pete

Likely the input rectifier and filter in the SR16 has shorted diodes or caps. Should be easy fix for a competent electronics tech.

you may well have to go via a third unit, a computer or laptop to store the data then send it back to the other machine.

The sync signal that is sent on the MIDI cable is actually a "clock" of something like 96 ticks per measure. This is the "MIDI sync clock". This is a single byte FF hex.

The beats themselves are not sent. The firing of the individual percussions should be.

Hi.

The SR-16 has 50 preset patterns that are built in, I do not think they can be deleted, if there are no patterns the unit may be defective, even if patterns can be reinstalled using an rmidi file or re-flashing the unit.

To reset an Alesis drum machine you have to hold down both Play and Erase buttons while you power on the machine at the same time.

If that does not work, the presets are held into an rmidi file , the Rmidi file is not available for download. I think it can be purchased contacting Alesis or Rmidi.

I quote from Alesis Rmidi page:

"A rMidi Import/Export File named 'Sr16PresetKits.xml' containing the Sr16 Preset Kits has been installed within the folder named 'Sr16' within the directory in which you installed the rMidi FrameWork software. You can Import these Kits into the rMidi Drums Control if you wish. "


Check if you have the file in the folder.

If not the Sr16 will allows you to export your User Drum patterns, but I do not think you can export factory patterns.

These will USUALLY stop playing if in a song mode that runs so many cycles and terminates.

The random starts CAN be caused if you have a MIDI input cable connected and ANY device sends a rhythm start command or starts sending rhythm clocks to the unit. You can usually disable receiving commands via MIDI and SHOULD do this unless you are actually using MIDI.

Other things would be electrical transients that could trigger the device. MAKE SURE ALL of your equipment that this is connected to is power from the SAME electrical outlet to avoid ground loops which can also damage your equipment as well as cause intermittent operation.

These of course have to be connected to an external amplifier and speaker.

Check that your amp is working first.

This should start and stop on the standard MIDI rhythm on/off codes.

FA = Start
FC= Stop

For most Alesis drum machines the best way to get programming is to find an identical unit and clone/transfer from it. Try a music store that sells Alesis.

A second possibility is to go to website(s) and download a SYSEX file to transfer via MIDI to the unit.

I have never experienced this problem, but I know that you can reset the SR-16 to all default settings by doing something like holding down play when powering up. Try that & I'll look into the matter and get back to you with a definite answer. Peace and good luck until then.