Little Phatty stage 1 FW update problem, help please!!

[barry1]

Hi,

I recently bought a little phatty stage 1 which came with firmware 1.03, I wanted to update to the latest FW to use the arpeggios etc so I downloaded the SysExLibrarian and the latest frimware (LPSE_v221_MAC) and started the update via my esu 1808 interface (via midi as I don't have usb on the stage 1), I am using a macbook with os 10.5.7.

The update froze on Cycle 1 and was completely unresponsive to the point where I had to turn it off and on but now the screen is completely blank (although lit up) and no sound etc

I searched after trying the update and found alot of threads with people having the same problem (wish i had of searched first!) but the posts are more than a year old (some of them). The solutions I found all refered to using a pc or usb debugger (I don't have access to a pc and my phatty doesn't have usb)

Please tell me that there is a solution to this (which i am sure there is as it's been an ongoing issue by the looks of it), really want to get the phatty back up and running asap!!!

any help would be very much appreciated,
barry

[barry1]

I have just realized that I do have access to a windows laptop so if there is a solution using a windows laptop please let me know, I really want to hear that I haven't just spent alot of cash on a synth which is dead. Quite frustrated!

Just worried about the fact that this synth doesn't have the usb connectivity, really don't want to have to pay more cash on a usb upgrade for nothing more than fixing a synth which was fine before attempting a firmware update.

[Amos]

Hi, and very sorry for the trouble!

No you don't need USB physically on the synth, the tool people are using to fix the Phatty when this problem occurs is called a "USB Debug Adaptor"
it connects via USB to your (PC) computer, then on the other end is a special ten-pin plug that fits into a programming connector inside the Little Phatty.

This is what the process looks like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VMCijPZiLU

I (and some other forum members, I'm sure) will be happy to help you with this.

[barry1]

Ah, that's great news Amos & thanks for the speedy reply, don't worry I should have really done some more reading up before attempting to do the FW update, as long as I know that i haven't terminally injured my phatty then I am happy

Is there anywhere in the uk that I can buy a debugger from? I Just watched the video and it looks quite straight forward so I am looking forward to getting the phatty back in action (it sounded brilliant for the few days I have been using it)

i will pm you my email address and if you could help me with the process of debugging & getting the Hex files etc that would be greatly appreciated!

thanks again for the speedy reply

[barry1]

Ok so I have ordered an M-audio uno and am going to order this de-bugger - http://uk.farnell.com/silicon-laborator ... dp/1186943

Would this be all I need hardware wise to debug?

[EMwhite]

I haven't done it myself but it appears to be a 'simple' matter of connecting the SilLabs debugger (and it's 10 pin connector as Amos mentioned) to the back of the Phatty's board, then 'programming' the Phatty anew.

There's a bit of executive (loader code) that watches USB/Midi for SysEx based updates to firmware code and I suppose (based on what I've see) some of the older machines given the right (or wrong) set of circumstances will end up in an undesired state thus making it necessary to flash the onboard code directly.

The bloke that walk through the procedure that I saw appears to have run into the issue upon powering up (not related to a code upgrade). I have a Tribute and ran into some screwy problem at one point but not so bad as to render the Phatty usable.

The bad news is that this procedure is not for the faint of heart (you have to open your Phatty and press a connector onto the circuit board then remove it afterwards). The good news is that the USB Programmer from SilLabs is a low cost device and easily acquired (at least in the states).

So here's the point of my post: I've heard that a few folks in the UK have had problems getting one of these devices. Well a colleague of mine is visiting the U.S. and we are meeting in Ohio for business next week. Given interest, I would be willing to pick one up from Mouser, etc. and give it to my friend to smuggle into London. I'm not interested in stringing him up so you'll need to pay tariff on the $40 it costs.

If there is interest, let me know via PM. I'll need to act immediately due to the fact that tomorrow is Friday and it could take 3-4 days to get the package here. I return from Ohio on Thursday evening and my friend leaves for UK again on Friday evening. I can't guarantee success or be responsible for issues encountered but am willing to help out a bloke who may be stuffed (using some lingo here).

[barry1]

Hi EMwhite,

thank you very much for your kind offer, it is very much appreciated.

I have ordered the debug adaptor from farnell.co.uk though & Amos has kindly sent me the instructions and relevant files for the procedure so hopefully I will be back in action in the next few days. http://uk.farnell.com/silicon-laborator ... dp/1186943

thanks again for your help!

I have also ordered the m-audio uno interface as i have read that people have had sucessfull updates with and I will download the latest driver before attempting the update again. Could anyone let me know the best buffer settings to use as I have read on the forum that some settings work better than others?

[Sir Nose]

Also, to let you know. OS 3 for the LP should be out soon. It is supposed to implement a new update procedure (you would still use the m-audio uno) that should eliminate the problem you encountered.

[barry1]

Yes Sir Noise, Amos has mentioned that to me via email, hopefully that update will sort the problem out for good

[barry1]

I am happy to report my phatty is alive!!

Thanks very much to Amos and the speedy replies and clear instructions which he sent, my phatty is back in action 2 days after reporting the problem!

Thanks to the people who offered help in the thread also,

If you are in the uk farnell are great for the debugger (mine arrived today after ordering yesturday and it was free postage (£35 for debugger)) I like having the peace of mind that if anything goes wrong in the future i have the means now to fix it also,

I'm off to make some music!

[Amos]

sweet

glad to hear the happy ending... happy music-making to you!

[cane creek]

i like having the peace of mind that if anything goes wrong in the future i have the means now to fix it also,

I made the video above and totally agree once you perform the task your a lot more confident about running into any future issues, Amos was a great help to me too.

[rosswatson]

Would it be possible for someone to send me instructions on how to carry out this procedure? I also need the relevant files. I'm expecting my Silicon Labs Debug adapter to arrive in the post tomorrow afternoon and I'm hoping to have my Little Phatty up and running for band practice on Wednesday evening. I'm experiencing the exact same issues as described by Barry1.

Cane Creek - your video has been hugely helpful to me already in identifying what is wrong with my Little Phatty.

Thanks,

Ross

[NemoTeus]

Hello,
I have the Same Problem with my Little phatty Tribute Edition caused on my stupidity of trying to Update it to Firmware 3.1 i just ordered the usb debugger. Could someone please Write ne the Instructions on how i can fix it?
All the best,
Tim