Depending on the way you like to work, using Archives may be the best way to import, manage, and organize your Banks. Memory Cards and the Fusion's internal HD are slow writing devices (actually the HD is fast, but it's connection to the outside world can be slow), so working with Archives can speeds things up while you are working, then you can transfer your nice-and-perfect Volume to the Card or HD.

Writing an Archive to a Card/Fusion HD
To write an Archive to the Card/Fusion HD, select the drive you intend to write to on the figure above, then click the Write To Fusion HD/Card button. If you want the Archive to completely replace the existing Volume on the Card/HD, check the "Replace Current Fusion HD/Card Volume" checkbox. If it is not checked, the Archive is merged in with the current contents.

Creating an Archive from a Card/Fusion HD
You can use this feature in reverse - you can create an Archive from the contents of a Card/HD, too. Select the drive you intend to read from, then click the Read From Fusion HD/Card button. You will be prompted where you want the archive written and what it will be called.

More About Archives
Archives are always kept in one place; this is set in Options under Fusion Archive Folder. The default in Windows is c:\Program Files\Alesis\Fusion Convertor\Fusion Archives; the default on the Mac is /Application Support/Alesis/Fusion Archives. They follow this structure:

So if you want to edit the Archives manually, you may, at your own risk, but there is nothing proprietary or special about them.

IMPORTANT! Warning about writing data to, and the use of, Memory Cards
Memory Cards, such as the Compact Flash cards that the Fusion™ supports, are written to much slower than regular hard drives. In addition, computers tend to support “overlapped” writing, which means that the computer may act like it has finished writing to these devices, but in reality it is still writing to them behind the scenes.

So be careful when writing to Memory Cards - makes sure a write operation is completed before you perform another action. You can find this out by seeing the data-light that accompanies your card reader, if it has one. The Fusion™’s data light is the blue light “underneath” the pitch wheel and the mod wheel - they ”blink” when data is being transferred.

Additionally, computers - both PC and Mac - are very picky about releasing memory cards and external devices (including the Fusion™’s hard drive). DO NOT UNPLUG THE FUSION’S USB CABLE WITHOUT RELEASING THE DEVICE FROM THE COMPUTER ITSELF!

Some operating systems or setups claim that a certain device can be released in a “hot-swap” fashion; that is, by simply unplugging the cable. This may be so, but from our experience, you never can be sure.

Since the Fusion™ cannot operate normally when the USB cable is inserted and the computer has access, being able to safely remove devices is very important.

On the PC, you can release the external device (remember, this means a CompactFlash card or the Fusion’s internal HD) by clicking once on the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the system tray. This brings up a “Tool Tip” of devices or sets of devices you can safely remove. Select the drive or set in question, and the PC will attempt to disconnect the device.

If successful, a Tool Tip will appear, saying Safe to Remove Hardware. You will notice that the Fusion appears “normal”, and it is safe to unplug the USB cable (if you want to).

If it is not successful, the PC will tell you that it is in use by something, not telling you what that something is. (Wonderful.) Chances are that it is usually Fusion Convertor™ - close it and try it again. Another culprit is that you have Windows Explorer (or “My Computer”) open - close it and try again.

If neither of those work, simply try it again. Sometimes the second time is a charm. If you think this is a hassle, join the teeming millions that feel the same way. But the benefit is that Windows is protecting your data, and you can be assured that when it does work, it is truly disconnected.

Rebooting your computer is a foolproof method of releasing your devices, if all else fails.

(Also, another way of disconnecting an external drive is by right-clicking on a drive in Windows Explorer or “My Computer” and selecting Disconnect. It’s the same operation, invoked in a different way.

On the Mac, simply dismount the drive by clicking on it’s up-arrow in the Finder, or drag the drive to the Trash. The Mac may give you the same “device is use” refusals - see above for commentary. The Mac does tend to be more cooperative, however.