From bruce@ashbysolutions.com Thu Aug 23 22:48:45 2001
Subject:Updating your CX-3

All,

Another list member, George Klaus, pointed me to the firmware update for
the CX-3, which is available for download from KORG/Canada

www.korgcanada.com/korgcanada/zips/CX3_Update.zip

in their Operating System Updates area.

I downloaded it, looked through the documentation, and decided to go for
it. Everything was successful, so I thought I'd share my knowledge with
the other members of the group.
* It appears that the V2.00 00422AB is NOT the firmware revision that
anyone really cares about. It is the revision of the basic Flash ROM
system, and everyone should have V2.00, or you may not be able to
upgrade. The actual firmware revision is the combination of 'M' and 'S'
numbers displayed when you hold the Display button down during
power-up. The upgrade provides M111500 and S111600 revisions.
* The upgrade fixes various issues seen since the initial releases of
the CX-3. The revision history is written in very poor English -- almost
as bad as my Japanese! ;^) -- but from what I can gather (after working for
and with Japanese companies for almost 20 years), a number of early issues
have been fixed, including a) occasional "sparkling sounds" (the pops and
clicks that were discussed the other day?); b) some sort of "crazy noise"
when the expression pedal is moved quickly; c) noise when the Treble knob
is turned; and d) intermittent hangs during playing. Really old s/n CX-3's
will probably see a), b) and c), while newer ones will see d) -- which
seems to have been caused by fixing the first three items. This certainly
sounds like the answer to several list members' complaints.
* The instructions are sketchy, but accurate. If you wouldn't think
twice about updating the BIOS in your PC, you can probably do this
upgrade. If you're saying, "What's a BIOS?" you CANNOT do this upgrade
yourself. If you're somewhere in between, I would want to be leaning
toward the first category before trying this upgrade. The update program
is crude, and the on-screen feedback is minimal. If in doubt, get some
help from your local techie, or take it to your dealer. If you live within
driving distance of Ashby, MA, I'd be happy to do the upgrade for you.
* The upgrade requires a Windows PC. There is no Mac, BeOS, Linux,
etc. version at this point. Some of those platforms have Windows
interpreters, but considering the crude state of the KORG programming
software, I do NOT recommend using an interpreter to bridge the gap.
* In order to upgrade, the software must un-zipped on your hard
drive. It will not work from a floppy drive, nor will it work from a Zip
drive, network drive, or the Windows Briefcase. (Don't even ASK why I know
this last one!) If you try to run it from one of these alternatives, the
program will start, but it will not find all the information about your
CX-3, and pressing the Start button will do nothing.
* You will need a reliable connection between your PC and MIDI
interface. If you ever have trouble sending large SysEx files to and from
the PC, I'd think twice about using that connection, because ...
* The upgrade takes a LOOONNNG time! How long? About 10 MINUTES from
the point where you hit the Start button until you see the EOF message on
the CX-3's screen -- long enough to start doubting whether everything is
really working. Resist the urge to disconnect things! The instructions
say that if the last two digits on the CX-3's display are still counting
upwards, then everything is working; that seems to be the case. From what
I can tell, as long as you don't power down the CX-3, you have a second (or
third, etc.) shot at programming the device, in case your MIDI adapter
hangs up during the download. If, however, you turn off the power to the
CX-3 before the programming is over, you will have a lovely wood-finish
door jamb, suitable for holding open some of the largest doors available,
complete with two sets of drawbars!
* There is a serial number list in the documentation, which appears to
be in error; at least, on the US models. According to the list, my S/N
001383 should already have the latest firmware. It had M111500/S111400
before updating; it now has M111500/S111600 after the update. You be the
judge.
* Because of the unfriendly nature of the update, KORG USA has elected
not to post it on their website, feeling that too many users are unfamiliar
with the technical aspects of the PC. I contacted the CX-3 product manager
today, however, and if you want the update, they have given me permission
to give it to you, or you can download if from the link shown earlier in
this email. Use it at your own risk. I don't think I'm going to post it
on my website, unless I can come up with some idiot-proof instructions for
its use.
* And last but not least, the new firmware has one bug -- albeit, a
non-performance one. Remember how you can check your firmware by holding
down the Display key during power-up? Well, that feature is broken in the
upgrade: The display still shows the revisions, but only for about 1/4
second; after that, it reverts to its normal display functions. It pretty
much takes two people to read the revision, one to hold the buttons, and
the other to read the display -- very quickly!

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™
www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group moderator
978.386.7389 voice
978.964.0547 fax
bruce@ashbysolutions.com