Rhodes Chroma Polaris

yes, i have got a chroma polaris,
and am trying to use it for a masterkeyboard for midi sequencing.but i
dont know how to turn local off.
also i was thinking of updating the os, is there anyway to get the
eeprom update or download the code?
is updating the os only a matter of burning eeprom chips and replacing
them or is there more to it?
my os is rev 5, is rev 9 the latest version?
my serial number is 302479.Are there many differences in later models
of the keyboard or is it not worth updating from rev 5?
cheers ,any help is appreciated.

> ... i have got a chroma polaris, and am trying to
> use it for a masterkeyboard for midi sequencing.
> but i dont know how to turn local off.

The information you're looking for can be found in Chapter 10 of the Polaris
User's Manual
(http://www.rhodeschroma.com/content/polaris/ownersmanual.pdf).

In summary, Lower Function, Interface, 1 controls whether the main sound is
played by the sound-generating electronics of the Polaris or not.

(This info is also available in Chapter 12, the MIDI chapter, under the
heading of "Data Stream Routing").

> also i was thinking of updating the os, is there
> anyway to get the eeprom update or download the code?
> is updating the os only a matter of burning
> eeprom chips and replacing them or is there more to it?
> my os is rev 5, is rev 9 the latest version?

I do believe that Rev 9 was the latest/last firmware for the Polaris.

The upgrade is essentially just a matter of installing EPROMs with the Rev 9
code. It is the case that internal memory locations have moved/changed, so
the general recommended procedure would be to:

- back up any programs/sequences you have (that you want to keep).
- Install the Rev 9 firmware
- do a complete computer/memory clear/restart (as outlined in the Polaris
service manual).
- restore the memory of the Polaris (i.e., the "what to do if you loose your
memory" section from the Polaris service manual).
- reload the programs/sequences that you wanted.

I believe the Rev 9 firmware code is like already available on-line (I'm not
sure where), but if you can't find it I would be able to e-mail a copy to
you - there are 4 files, 8K each).

Chris Ryan (if you're listening) do you want to put a copy of the Polaris
firmware on the Polaris portion of the Rhodes Chroma site?

David