Sunday 9 June 2019

200e firmware upgrade procedures

My notes re this part of the 200e.
I've recently purchased a new 200e module so I need to update the firmware.

The current online manual relates to the 200e ver 30 firware upgrade.
 https://buchla.com/guides/Buchla_200e_v30_Upgrade_Guide.pdf
This was written when Version 30 was new (I think  about 2011/12).

There is an old V30 upgrade video in the links:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxUU9bSR2ik
The page talks about having to load new boot-loaders (code-loaders) or even having to send the 206e or 225e to Buchla to have a new microcomputer installed.
Hopefully, your module isn't pre 2011 so you won't need to do this.
Anyway, in the video there are codeloader download links. These seem to have been removed
from the current website. All you have now are the utility & module firmware links.

My 225e is definitely post 2011.
Preset Managers containing the new micro-computers can be identified by the startup message "Primo Version"

Provided I have already installed a working codeloader (which I do)
I will now need to download a current Hex file from the Buchla website
The firmware page with downloads is here:
https://buchla.com/downloads/
Everytime a new module comes out it looks like it's necessary to upgrade the firmware on the 225e or 206e.
The manual states that I'll need a USB Firmware card and a Macintosh computer running OS 10.5 or higher. (I've tried to run the utility firmware on a PC unsuccessfully, so it looks like you must use a Mac).

The new module I've purchased is a 252e.
I've installed just the 225e & 252e in a separate system
When the system is turned on the 225e doesn't recognize the 225e.
On bootup the 225e preset manager says that just 1 module is in the system ..... I think this is the 225e USB/midi decoder.

So in order for the 225e to see the 252e it looks like I will need to download two pieces of software.
1. Firmware utility.  (BuchlaFirmwareUtility_171.zip)
2. The 206e/225e preset manager firmware..(225Sv323_Primo.hex.zip)

In order to load a hex file into the USB card:
A. Download the Zipped Firmware utility onto the Mac's desktop.
     BuchlaFirmwareUtility_171.zip
B. Open the Firmware utility on the Mac's desktop by clicking the zipped utility file. 


C. This will unzip the Firmware Utility. Save it onto the desktop. 
     The unzipped file has the pic of Don Buchla
D. Download the module's firmware hex file.(225Sv323_Primo.hex.zip)


E. Plug your USD card into the Mac.
F. Double-click the hex file’s icon in the Finder. (or drag and drop onto the firmware utility).
    The Firmware Utility application should launch and display info about the programming process.
    I am not a native Mac user, so found all kinds of obstacles.
    

I decided to override the computers security settings.

Once I had changed the security settings the Firmware Utility application launched.
I just dropped the hex file onto Don's image.  The Mac then displayed the expected info about the programming process.

While all this is happening watch the USB card. It's plugged into the Mac via a USB cable.


The LED on the card will flash to indicate it's being programmed.
Wait for all this to stop, then unplug the card from the computer..

G. Plug the USB card into the 200e card slot.

H. Turn on the 200e while holding down the "Load Button". Usually this is the remote 
     enable button.


You will see the LED on the card flash.

    Also the screen first looks like this:
     
But be patient. Programming seems to take a minute or two.
The screen changes to this:
Then this:
I did all this without any other 200e modules installed.

So the final test is to see if the 225e can now detect a new 252e.

Yes, success. :-)



I.   The 225e is really 2 modules : a Midi to CV converter & a presets section.   
     There are thus two separate hex files to download .. one for the Midi -CV & one for the
     Preset Manager.
     Version 32.3 (225Sv323_Primo.hex.zip) is required to recognize the latest set of modules
     including the 252e and h-series modules
     The 'data' button updates the preset M.  
     The 'remote enable' updates the midi to cv converter.

   
J.  Re the 281e
     This module has two identical CPUs.
     The 281e is actually a pair of modules. A-B and C-D are their own 'module'.
     The quadrature button for A-B updates the upper half & the quadrature button for D-D
     updates the lower half.
 K. Re the 285e frequency shifter
      View it as 2 separate modules... a frequency shifter and a balanced modulator.
      The Frequency Shifter uses  the 285F firware.
      The Balanced Modulator uses the 285B firmware
      Use the associated reference switches to update the firmware. (Reference source in both)

L.  Re the 206e
      The Mixer section uses the 206E firmware and is loaded by holding down the "remote enable".
      The preset manager uses the 225S firmware and is loaded by holding down "DATA". 
M.  Re the 223e
       The Arpeggiator uses the 223A firmware and is loaded by holding down "clock".
       The main section uses the 223M firmware and  is loaded by holding down "remote enable".

N.   Re. the 256e     
      This module has two identical CPUs.

       The first is loaded by holding down "Breakpoint in section A.
       The second is loaded by holding down  "Breakpoint in section C.



Links
+ 218e /225m & 208 card doubler firmware upgrade
+ buchla 200e firmware upgrade page
+ V30 upgrade video
+ ver 30 firware upgrade manual

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