702 Firmware Download and Revision History - Revision 2.67

Sound Devices SupportDownloads702 Firmware Download and Known Issues

last update November 9, 2011

Sound Devices 702 firmware revision 2.67 provides the following fixes and features:

• fix - Low level File system improvements.
• fix - DC offset removed when HPF is enabled for high sample rate recordings.
• see known issues below
• view the documentation here

Firmware Installation Instructions

Prepare to Update

• Sound Devices recommends backing up any existing audio data on a CF card before beginning the firmware update process. While no data on the card is changed during the update process, it is best practice to back up.
• Have on hand a fully charged battery pack to the recorder, or charge the removable battery fully.
• Connect the AC power adapter and run the unit from external power.
• To upgrade via Compact Flash card, have on hand a FAT32 formatted CompactFlash card and a card reader to transfer the firmware file from computer to a CompactFlash card. Format the card in the 702 to ensure it is formatted as a FAT32 volume.
• To upgrade via computer have on hand a FireWire cable for interconnection between computer and 702 with CF card inserted.
• Check the present firmware version of the recorder using the Info:Version selection in the menu. If the version number is below 2.67, apply the file below. If it is at 2.67 or above, no further updating is required.

Download and Extract

• For Windows and Mac OS computers, click the ZIP archive file below and download it to your computer.
• In Windows XP, navigate to the downloaded ZIP archive, right-click it and select "Extract All". A new folder named 702_2.67 is created. It contains the firmware file 702_2.67.prg.
• In Mac OS X, double-click (if necessary) to extract the firmware file using Stuffit Expander. The file is named 702_2.67.prg.

Copy Firmware File to Compact Flash Card via card reader

• Insert the CompactFlash card into the computer's card reader.
• Copy the 702_2.67.prg file to the CompactFlash volume.
• Make certain that only one copy of the firmware file is present.

Copy Firmware File Directly to 702 Via FireWire

• Connect the 702 to the computer via FireWire. This is the same connection as for a file transfer.
• Copy the downloaded and extracted firmware file to the 702's inserted CompactFlash card. Place the file in the SOUNDDEV folder of the 702 CF card.

Update Firmware

• Insert the CompactFlash card into the 702.
• Disconnect all audio and data connections, including FireWire.
• With the unit powered up, navigate to Update Software in the setup menu. It is the last menu selection.
• Following the on-screen instructions, the unit will locate the firmware file. Select update.
• Read the on-screen instructions for updating firmware.
• The upgrade process may take up to five minutes.
• If the firmware is being updated from revision 1.74 or earlier, the update process must be completed twice. The first time through updates the "boot block" to a later version. The second time applies the firmware. For updates from versions later than 2.00, this two-step process is not necessary.
• NOTE: the screen will remain blank for up to 30 seconds while firmware is being written to the EEPROM. This is normal.

Verify Update

• Check to verify the firmware version of the recorder in user menu Info:Version. It should now read version 2.67.

Verify User Setups and Reset Time/Date

• Reset the time and date.
• Verify the settings of user-selected parameters. These will have changed during the update process.

If you agree with the above license, click to download.

Known Issues

• If a single storage medium (i.e. CompactFlash card) is selected/available for recording and it is unintentionally removed the unit will briefly show that the volume has been taken off-line, but the display will still indicate recording and the record LED will remain illuminated for up to 30 seconds or until STOP is pressed.
• When initiating a repair on an unformatted volume (not likely...but), the unit will begin the process and lock up, requiring a hard shut down.
• FireWire storage volumes with a PL3507 FireWire chipset and hard drive fail the speed test. Threre is a problem reading from these external drives. There are no problems writing to drives of this type.
• These known issues will be addressed in future revisions of firmware.
• Cue Markers are deleted if file is automatically split.

Firmware History

2.67 - Present Release

• fix - Low level File system improvements.
• fix - DC offset removed when HPF is enabled for high sample rate recordings.
• posted November 9, 2011

2.66

• fixed - bug in which the recorder's drive(s) would would not properly mount when connected via FireWire to Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard).
• posted July 28, 2010

2.65

• new - firmware revision number shows in boot up splash screen.
• new - ability to mark a take as 'NG' (No Good). Typically used to identify a take as not the one to be used in post, although there may be sections of it which may be useful. Data stored in the iXML chunk.
• new - STOP+LAMP shortcut for quick access to Circling or NG'ing the last recorded take.
• new - add ability to change take status of any take from the take list.
• new - addition of iXML (v1.52) parameters including <FALSE_START>, <NO_GOOD>
• fixed - RF hash/noise no longer causes the recorder to incorrectly stop recording in ExtTC/cont - Auto Record mode.
  It will only stop when stationary TC code is detected.
• change - When daily folders are selected, the daily folder is only created when record is first pressed. This prevents empty daily folders being generated if the 7-series is powered up every day but without recording anything. This also applies to the generation of top level and bottom level folders.
• change - Drive "Erase" menus renamed to "Erase / Format".
• posted November 16, 2009

2.63

• change: enhanced write algorithm to significantly improve real-time multi-track recording to DVD-RAM even while simultaneously recording to 2 media
• new: LCD scrolling direction menu enables user to select which direction the rotary encoder scrolls through the menu
• fixed: drive warning corrupt file bug
• released April 16, 2009

2.61

• fix - condition where keyboard combinations pressed with a connected keyboard (via the CL-1) could freeze the recorder.
• fix - condition where Windows Media Players-generated WAV files would not be recognized or playable on the recorder.
• added - periodic, automatic file header saving during recording to preserve WAV file integrity in the event power is lost during recording. Does not apply to FLAC or MP3 recording.
• added - menu option to allow display of gain settings instead of sample rate/gain in the LCD.
• added - latching tone - press and hold tone button >2 secs to latch on.
• added - option to enable tone activation during record. Set in the Tone: Record Lock menu.
• added - menu to prevent start up messages appearing at power up.
• added - default 'tape' metadata if mid-level (daily) folder is set to none (important for EDL based workflows).
• change - 10 Hz steps in the tone generator frequency.
• change - scrolling through menu made more intuitive.
• change - remove drive repair function and associated menus.
• released March 16, 2009

2.54

• fixed - SPEED and TAKE tags were sometimes not written the BEXT chunk when the recorder was in EXT_TC AUTO or EXT_TC/CONT AUTO. This bug did not affect the iXML tags - they are always correct
• fixed - The REC: Timer Start/Stop function did not function if the recorder was set to record to daily folders and the record start time was after midnight.
• new - added beeps to Rec-Pause Mode, so beeps occur when recording is paused and un-paused.

2.48

• fix - MP3 time code stamp bug - time code was not getting stamped correctly in the ID3 tag
• added - record-pause, allows for recording to stop, then commence without generating a new file.
• added - Family UID added to iXML metadata
• change/fix - "record pending” notification when a record command has been given and the DSP is not available to begin recording. The recorder now enters stand-by mode and will begin recording immediately once the DSP is available to record. This improves the overall performance and reliability of the CL-1 in particular. “Record Pending” also replaces the “Busy” notification.
• change - CompactFlash formatting now adds a partition so that CF cards can be exchanged between all 7-Series Recorders including the 788T.
• change - poly files no longer contain unused tracks. The 7-Series will no longer record zeros to unused tracks.
• change - circled takes are now tagged <CIRCLE>= TRUE in the iXML chunk and @ is added to the BEXT filename.
• posted June 04, 2008

2.40

• fix - MP2 and MP3 file length calculation.
• fix - possibility of missed take introduced in 2.34 with CF after rapidly entering record after pressing stop. Unit now says, "Please Wait".
• fix - project folder not setting and clearing copy flags in sub-folders. Bug introduced in 2.34.
• fix - metadata note data saving. When notes were added and then edited, the edits occasionally did not take affect. Bug introduced in 2.34.
• fix - when recording FLAC to CF, the recorder had the possibility of producing a file of length 0 seconds.
• fix - when changing from FLAC format to MP2, the unit had the possibility of locking up.
• fix - lockout of transport controls now operating properly.
• fix - gain display only shows when gain knobs are turned.
• change - estimate of available drive space when recording FLAC format. Original estimates too optimistic.
• posted December 07, 2007