Korg T3 floppy copy

[olivier.jan]

Hi,
Although not fully Atari related, an Atari might be useful here.
I bought a Korg T3 synth yesterday and it came with a floppy containing the default configuration. I would like to copy this floppy, and ideally make a disk image for safe storage.
The disk is on an HD floppy but I can’t find a way to read it in order to image it. So far I tried MacBook with an USB floppy drive, the disk is not even seen at the OS level, I guess the USB drive ignores it.
On a Mega STE with HD floppy drive, not much better, the disk is not readable either.
Last option I haven’t tried yet is a Macintosh classic, but after that I run out of HD floppy equipped computer.
Forgot to mention, the floppy works well on the Korg itself.
Anyone would know how to copy using the Macintosh or the Mega STE without using extra hardware ?

[exxos]

Does it use a standard DOS type format for starters ?

[olivier.jan]

No, it doesn't. It seems to be a proprietary Korg format using 1600k with 80 tracks, 10 sectors of 1024k. The filesystem itself is unknown, so I was looking more fo a raw copy software.

[exxos]

Likely kyroflux is your only option then I assume :(

[ijor]

No, it doesn't. It seems to be a proprietary Korg format using 1600k with 80 tracks, 10 sectors of 1024k. The filesystem itself is unknown, so I was looking more fo a raw copy software.

What really matters is the low level format, not the file system. If it uses standard sectors that the FDC can understand, then you might be able to read them with a plain ST. Otherwise you need custom hardware, like Greaseweazle. Try reading the disk on your STE with something like Fcopy Pro.

[olivier.jan]

Just tried Fcopy pro and it doesn’t work, I guess low level format is different.
Found a PC program (omnidisk/omniflop) which seems to read/write these floppies. It needs a PC with internal floppy drive though. I had plans to build a 386 or 486, this will give me a good reason to do it sooner than later.

[ijor]

Just tried Fcopy pro and it doesn’t work, I guess low level format is different.
Found a PC program (omnidisk/omniflop) which seems to read/write these floppies. It needs a PC with internal floppy drive though. I had plans to build a 386 or 486, this will give me a good reason to do it sooner than later.

Just because Fcopy Pro failed doesn't necessarily means the disk is unreadable on the ST. It is possible, I don't remember, that Fcopy Pro doesn't support 1024 bytes sectors. If the disk is readable on a PC, it is very likely readable on the ST as well. You might need the right software though. You probably need something that can read HD copy protected disks. Don't remember if there is any software that can do that. Usually it is either copy protected or HD, not both. But did you try Fcopy Pro with "copy protected" mode?

Btw, a Greaseweazle is very cheap. Should be much cheaper than building a DOS PC.

[olivier.jan]

No luck with either modes of fcopy pro, followed your advice and ordered a greaseweazle as I need to dump a lot of other disks anyway from my Apple //c.
I’ll build the PC anyway in time as I already have most of the parts I stored when upgrading my 386 in the 90s. The only missing and difficult part to find so far is a 5.25 floppy drive.

[Atari74user]

I did a quick Google, and found this which is a start, for the Korg T Series proprietary file system, albeit CMD line or Windows based: https://sourceforge.net/projects/korgutils/

[olivier.jan]

Btw, a Greaseweazle is very cheap. Should be much cheaper than building a DOS PC.

Thanks a lot, I followed your advice and got myself a Greaseweazle and copied my Korg disk easily. Greaseweazle, is a really nice little device pretty simple to use. I initially thought it was defective as my drives (I tested 3) were making strange noise and didn't read any floppy, but after powering the drives with an external power supply everything was fine. I guess my USB connector doesn't have enough power, so using the greaseweazle power connector was not sufficient.

Anyway, I have backup copies now and a proper image, if anyone needs the floppy to boot a Korg T1, T2 or T3, let me know.

Cheers,

PS: I'm still building the old PC, just for fun and a few hours of "Days of the tentacle"...