788T Firmware Download and Known Issues

last update July 21, 2008

Sound Devices 788T firmware revision 1.07 provides the following key fixes and changes:

fixed: hard drive no longer has a chance to go off-line when stopped when a CompactFlash card is removed,
fixed: a FAT32-formatted CompactFlash card no longer erroneously reports "needs to be formatted" when inserted,
fixed: a slow drive/card no longer causes problems on other attached storage volumes,
fixed: limiter fully optimized - rid of audible artifacts,
fixed: file navigation greatly sped up on volumes with many files,
fixed: full volumes now retain FULL state across power cycles,
fixed: full volumes now indicate FULL reliably instead of occasionally getting stuck at 0:00,
added: slow volume/media errors now display a message box which needs to be cleared by the user,
added: errors now generate repeated tones in headphones until a message box is cleared,
changed: removed menu item Rec: Error Handler,
view the documentation here.

Firmware Installation Instructions

Please read and follow the steps below carefully. You may want to print them before upgrading firmware.

Prepare to Update

Sound Devices recommends backing up any existing audio data that may reside on the recorder. While no data on the hard drive is changed during the update process, it is best practice to backup the unit.
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 CompactFlash 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 788T to ensure it is formatted as a FAT32 volume.
To upgrade via computer transfer have on hand a FireWire cable for interconnection between computer and 788T.
Check the present firmware version of the recorder using the Info:Version selection in the menu. If the version number is below 1.07, apply the file below. If it is at 1.07 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 788t_1.07 is created. It contains the firmware file 788t_1.07.prg.
In Mac OS X, double-click (if necessary) to extract the firmware file. The file is named 788t_1.07.prg.

Copy Firmware File to CompactFlash Card (CF upgrade method)

Insert the CompactFlash card into the computer's card reader.
Copy the 788t_1.07.prg file to the CompactFlash volume.
Make certain that only one copy of the firmware file is present.

Copy Firmware File to 788T Hard Drive (HD upgrade method)

Connect the 788T to the computer via FireWire 400/800 or USB. This is the same connection as for a file transfer.
Copy the downloaded and extracted firmware file to the internal hard drive of the 788T. Place the file in either the root folder or SOUNDDEV folder of the 788T hard drive.

Update Firmware

Insert the CompactFlash card into the 788T (if using CF upgrade method).
Disconnect all audio and data connections, including any FireWire or USB connections.
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 several minutes.
NOTE: the screen may blank while firmware is being written to the EEPROM. This is normal.

If Updating from Revision 1.03 or Earlier

Because of the various processors on-board, the update procedure must be perfored twice in order to re-program the -1394 chip if the unit is running firmware revision 1.03 or earlier

Verify Update

Check to verify the firmware version of the recorder in user menu Info:Version. It should now read version 1.07 and the 1394 revision should end in a "6".

Verify User Setups

Verify the settings of user-selected parameters. The original values may have changed during the update process.

Download User Guide

The available user guide references the new features and functionality in the release version of firmware.

License

By using software of Sound Devices, LLC you agree to the following terms and conditions. If you do not agree with such terms and conditions; do not use or apply the software. The terms of the end user license agreement accompanying the product shall supersede the terms presented below.

The export and re-export of Sound Devices software products are controlled by the United States Export Administration Regulations and such software may not be exported or re-exported to Cuba; Iran; Iraq; Libya; North Korea; Sudan; or Syria or any country to which the United States embargoes goods. In addition; Sound Devices software may not be distributed to persons on the Table of Denial Orders; the Entity List; or the List of Specially Designated Nationals.

By downloading or using Sound Devices software product you are certifying that you are not a national of Cuba; Iran; Iraq; Libya; North Korea; Sudan; or Syria or any country to which the United States embargoes goods and that you are not a person on the Table of Denial Orders; the Entity List; or the List of Specially Designated Nationals.

Sound Devices grants you a non-exclusive license to use such software with the 7-Series hardware product only; provided you possess a valid license from Sound Devices for the hardware product. Except as set forth below; such software is licensed to you subject to the terms and conditions of the End User License Agreement from Sound Devices governing your use of the hardware product.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES: YOU AGREE THAT SOUND DEVICES HAS MADE NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES TO YOU REGARDING THE SOFTWARE AND THAT THE SOFTWARE IS BEING PROVIDED TO YOU "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. SOUND DEVICES DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THE SOFTWARE; EXPRESS OR IMPLIED; INCLUDING; WITHOUT LIMITATION; ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE; MERCHANTABILITY; MERCHANTABLE QUALITY OR NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. Some states or jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties; so the above limitations may not apply to you.

LIMIT OF LIABILITY: IN NO EVENT WILL SOUND DEVICES BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OF USE; INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS; OR ANY DIRECT; INDIRECT; SPECIAL; INCIDENTAL; OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION WHETHER IN CONTRACT; TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE); STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE; EVEN IF SOUND DEVICES HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Some states or jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages; so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

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

Firmware File

09 July, 2008

This is 788T firmware.
Do not use on any other 7-Series recorder! (653 KB)

Known Issues in 1.07

When monitoring multiple sources, the headphone monitor circuitry can distort because sources are summed without compensation for NOM (number of open microphones).
When operating in linked input mode, the 48 V phantom setting is not retained across power cycles. A short-term workaround is to manually turn on 48 V phantom at power up.
When powering the XL-DVDRAM (bus-powered) from the 788T with a supplied XL-WPH2 power supply, the suppy does not provide enough current for all operation, resulting in the XL-DVDRAM not properly mounting to the 788T. A short term work around is to turn off the 788T battery charger when using an XL-DVDRAM. This is done via menu "91) Power: Battery Charger". Set the unit to either "Off" or "Charge only when unit is off".
The 788T is designed to switch over from external power to Li-ion battery power when the external voltage dips below the voltage set by the "Power: Ext Low Batt Volt" menu item. Presently, this switchover is too sensitive and can switch over to battery (and not switch back) when glitches on the external power are present. This may cause the unit to operate from the Li-Ion battery when the user thinks it is operating from the external source. The LCD does correctly show which power source is being used, either "EXT" or "BATT". Short term fix: To minimize this sensitivity, set "Power: Ext Low Batt Volt" to 10.0 V. Long term Fix: This will be corrected in a future firmware release.

These known issues will be addressed in future revisions of firmware.

Firmware History

1.07 - present release

fixed: hard drive no longer has a chance to go off-line when stopped when a CompactFlash card is removed,
fixed: a FAT32-formatted CompactFlash card no longer erroneously reports "needs to be formatted" when inserted,
fixed: a slow drive/card no longer causes problems on other attached storage volumes,
fixed: limiter fully optimized - rid of audible artifacts,
fixed: file navigation greatly sped up on volumes with many files,
fixed: full volumes now retain FULL state across power cycles,
fixed: full volumes now indicate FULL reliably instead of occasionally getting stuck at 0:00,
added: slow volume/media errors now display a message box which needs to be cleared by the user,
added: errors now generate repeated tones in headphones until a message box is cleared,
changed: removed menu item Rec: Error Handler,
posted 09 July, 2008

1.06

fixed - condition where the internal hard drive or CompactFlash storage could go offline without warning.
fixed - bug where REC would cancel the selected headphone 'favorite'.
fixed - condition where external DVD-RAM drives could intermittently not connect upon unit or drive boot up.
fixed - recorder no longer attempts to keep recording to full drives.
fixed - polarity reversal with M/S matrix.
fixed - iXML corruption issue which could lock recorder while editing.
fixed - limiter 'whirring' noise with microphone wind noise.
fixed - bug where tone only appeared at outputs 1 and 2.
changed - SLOW error now pops screen up which must be cleared.
added - headphone monitoring modes LA, RB; LAC, RBD; LACE, RBDF.
posted June 19, 2008

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