Show-files corrupted after storing

[SQuser]

Yesterday I had a bad experience.
After I prepared a few scenes in a show, I wanted to save them.
But the storing-screen (picture 1) remained stuck on both displays.
After a few minutes (!) it disappeared on the MixPad (picture 2).
In order to get further, I removed the USB stick (Samsung Fit) at some point and with that I was able to use the desk again.
But after plugging the USB stick in again, it was no longer recognized.
The PC then showed that show data on the stick was corrupt.
The Shows directory was suddenly many GB in size (picture 3).
In particular, 2 shows (1 and 5) were affected (pictures 4-6).

I was really very happy that I prepared it calmly without any time pressure.
But what if something like this happens live at an event?
In this case, for example, it’s about a band contest.
Losing the sound check settings of several bands would be really a worst case scenario for me.

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[Tobi]

I created a ticket with a similar problem regarding data loss when storing shows… A&H does not seem to have a very high priority for bugs with data loss… Keith??

[KeithJ A&H]

@SQuser

Was the drive formatted in the SQ?

@Tobi

The issues you reported related to large numbers of files along with renaming of files/folders to names that had already been used on the drive – potentially with trash/recycling involvement and the SQ writing over blocks which had been marked as free.
These have been logged and are being looked at along with other improvements to USB for the future.
As there is so much interdependency in the USB system, and your issues are at a low level (system-wise), I’m afraid it’s not something that is solved with a quick patch.

Thanks,
Keith.

[Tobi]

Hi Keith,
thanks for your reply. Just to be sure: I found (and reported) two bugs maybe regarding the FAT-Drivers:

1. Related to SQ-Drive playback there is a problem when using more then 240 files in the playback folder
2. Related to write access the File System on USB devices gets corrupted. In my example I did some multitrack recordings, wrote some shows and then the file system was corrupt.

Best Regards,
Tobias

PS: Yeah sorry — I don’t want to be rude… its just: If one of our customers would report a bug which causes data loss — that would be a major issue… with night shifts until its done…

[tourtelot]

Thanks Keith. From my perspective, the way that USB works on the SQ is the, really, one thing that seems to cause lots of problems for lots of folks, in lots of different ways. I will be really please when owner of SQs can say that the USB function is “bomb-proof”. I await that day eagerly.

Thanks.

D.

[SQuser]

> Was the drive formatted in the SQ?

Yes, the USB stick was formatted in SQ to make sure everything works.
The shows have so far only been stored in the SQ.
(I have also already made multi-track recordings on this stick.)

[SQuser]

@KeithJ A&H

> Was the drive formatted in SQ?

Do you perhaps need more information or could I now reformat my USB stick and try to using it again?

[Jibun no Kage]

Same problem for me… brand new SQ7, we have created a number of scenes, and want to back up same. I inserted a USB drive/disk, formatted it, then attempted to copy to the USB device. The interface screen showed downloading… then appeared to freeze. But the SQ7 was still functional, I was able to control it from MixPad, over the network, but I had to reboot the SQ7 to get screen control back. There seemed to be files on the USB device, well, folders anyway, but I did not look to deep into the USB device, because I believe whatever was copied was incomplete. Clearly the interface screen should not lock up or freeze, and very poor software design, show no progress bar or any feedback on the download status. No way to cancel the process at all… in this day and age, surely as digital as the SQ7 is, they can afford to take the time to write quality software right?

[SQuser]

@tobi
Hello Tobi,
since my SQ has once again destroyed my show files, I’ll allow myself to raise the topic again.
You wrote in another thread:
“In my Ticket I described a procedure to reproduce the Data loss Problem, so A&H knows…”
So I assume that only you and A&H know the problem and can reproduce it.
But A&H still doesn’t seem to care about this bug even after many months.
Thats why the question to you:
What do I have to do, or better not do, so that I don’t lose any show files – possibly in connection with SQ Drive recordings?
Thank you very much in advance!

[Tobi]

Hi,
the procedure is quite simple, but from the dialog in the support ticker I assume that A&H did not test it:

1. use any device (Stick or harddrive) and format it in SQ.
2. Go to a windows PC and populate it with some file. As I don’t know, in which way this is important, I send my files with this post — unzip them und place it to the right folders.

3. put the device back to SQ
4. load “SHOW000” (called something with “Default”)
5. Do for a minute in random order
– start a Multitrack recording with 32 Channels (48k)
and after some seconds stopp it.
– overwrite SHOW000 on device (dont need to change
anything, just overwrite).

When you now take back the device to a windows PC, the SHOW001 will be destroyed. In my case, the folder did not open anymore and using the “Windows Repair Tool”, SHOW001 got removed completly in the repair process.

I would be interested / glad if as many people as possible could confirm this problem — as I am starting to doubt myself about this, as A&H does not even seem to try.

Best Regards,
Tobias

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[SQuser]

Thank you, Tobi!
I will try it that way.

[SQuser]

Me again:
Unfortunately I can’t reproduce the error in this way. (
After the procedure (3 to 4 times recording and overwriting), all show folders can be opened and the content doesn’t look corrupt.
But your files are certainly older, because they are in the main SQ directory, while AHSQ is now used.
I have therefore made 3 attempts:
1. Copied your SHOWS and LIBRARY files into the respective folders of the formatted USB stick.
2. Deleted the AHSQ folder of the formatted USB stick and copied your SQ folder – but then your shows are not displayed.
3. Deleted the 6 subfolders of AHSQ and inserted your 3.
But I (unfortunately) had no success (or failure) with data loss.
Possible differences: You are obviously using an SQ-5, while I have an SQ-6 and not all of your add-ons.
Unfortunately, the ones that are missing are not displayed.

What I cannot understand is that A&H did not inform you whether they were able to reproduce the error or not.
I would also be happy if others tried it to find out the constellation that leads to the error that you can reproduce.
But thank you once again.

[Tobi]

Thats why I Said, Put them in the correct folder. Did you load my Default Show before trying? Did you make Sure, SQ captured all 32 Channels? I am using latest Firmware and could reproduce the Problem in 3 of 3 tries with different USB devices.

[SQuser]

> Thats why I Said, Put them in the correct folder.
That was my first attemp: “Copied your SHOWS and LIBRARY files into the respective folders of the formatted USB stick.”

> Did you load my Default Show before trying?
Yes, of course: “_MyDefault”

> Did you make Sure, SQ captured all 32 Channels?
The routing of the 32 IP Direct Outputs to USB is part of your default show.
I didn’t have to change anything.

I dont know what the differences.
How often did you record and overwrite?
Can you still load your SHOW0001 “MT000SledgeHamme” on the SQ direktly after the procedure or does it only become corrupt when you plug the stick into the Windows PC?

> When you now take back the device to a windows PC, the SHOW001 will be destroyed.
Do you ​​always use the same Windows PC or have you tried it with others?

[Tobi]

If you use SQ for checking, you should at least reboot to ensure, there is No Cache.

[Author]

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