Long -- Soap Box -- Reply -- Sorry!
> emm sorry to ask but ...
>
> if it fixes a lot of things
> how come it is impossible to have a list of them ?
>
> _IF_ it is legal i don't mind making copies of the ROM but i have
only 1.03
> cant we organize here a common update ?
As far as the fix list goes, I am unaware of any fix lists published
by Yamaha on any of their gear. I have no less than two of every,
what I consider "Good/Classic" Synths, Effects Processor, Rack Mixer,
etc, etc, Yamaha Made since the Early/Mid 80's. Two Studios full.
Most have at least a 4th Generation ROM update in them if I recall.
Most I have no idea what they fixed. Talking to Yamaha, they
frequently can't tell you either. It is more evolution. Quirks that
were reported in the field that most never new about or noticed and
were fixed in production or shortly there after. For instance the
DX7II is at V1.09. As far as I know, I am one of the few that have
that Rev. Can't tell you exactly what it does.
My guess is many of the fixes are things found out about
interoperability with other gear after the fact -- not everything can
be tested. MIDI issues, Timing, Sequencers, Disk Drives, etc, etc.
As an example, you have to realize, that when the DX7 was released,
the MIDI spec. wasn't even complete. It got fixed in later ROM's.
The EX5/7 had a lot of issues. SCSI, Disk and timing issues, but
lot's more I guess. That's at 1.11 for the OS and 1.14 for the
Waves. The A3K at V2.0 ROM, and the A4/5K at 1.50 Software. The
AK's can be re-flashed by floppy disk -- nice.
In general, once you get enough gear out there, somebody will find
something that doesn't work correctly, and hopefully it get's fixed,
but not all users do the same thing or appear to have the same
problem. It depends on what they are doing. We should all feel lucky
that Yamaha Actually does fix and support these things. Where else
can you get a ROM upgrade for a 20+ year old synth.
On copying and distributing ROM code, etc. I don't want to do it
unless Yamaha gives the OK. My assumption is, they would allow it --
if you don't sell it. You can freely down load the software flash
updates for A4/5k, Motif, etc, so the Code is not necessarily the
issue. Their charge for ROM's -- if not free -- has to be close to
their cost.
It is a serious pain to handle the calls, inventory, burn, ship, etc,
etc. on something that they will never make another nickle on. Other
vendors pretty much tell you to buy a new synth or what ever. One
other thing. I do burn my own ROM's, but once you go out and start
looking for the chips, they tend to be NA or pretty expensive. The
last batch I got, and the one's I think may work on the AN I bought
used from Singapore and cost about $6.00 USD ea. New from a vendor
or a chip broker $20.00 - $50.00+ USD -- if they even have one in
stock. In the past, I sent clean chips to Yamaha and they burned
them for me free of charge.
Somebody, or I will one of these days -- I've been meaning to do it --
is contact Yamaha -- I know the person who may help -- and ask for a
list of all the ROM Versions -- at least for my gear -- and see if I
could roll my own and "Free"ly redistribute them -- cost plus postage
of course.
BTW: If someone has the AN Service Manual, maybe you could let us
know what the ROM is. Like a M27C800 or a 8Mbit, or a 1Mbx8 or a
512kbx16 or some such thing............... Either the parts list or
the block diagram would tell you. The new chip from Yamaha is a OTP
imprinted with Yamaha stuff.
Hum! Just for kicks -- I had an AN1x on the bench here with just a
couple of screws in the pan. I pull the ROM and was successfull at
burning a copy on to a M27C800-100F1. I plugged it in and it passed
the Diags. so I guess that is the chip. Hard to find one too.
Discontinued in 2000 if I recall, but used in a lot of Yamaha gear up
through the EX and A3K anyway.
Well, that's my 2cents worth if it has any value.
Best regards;
Peter
