TOPIC:

I finally updated my DDR88 from 1.7 to 2.2. This involved moving the internal jumps cable around (and back again) and doing the SHARC firmware update with the white button on the SHARC chip pressed. It all seemed to work.

But at the end, the DDR88 now makes no sound at all - no test tones for levels, no calibration sweeps, no audio at all. It is dead. Which is a massive pain because I'd just it all dialled in perfectly and now my system sounds a bit rubbish rather than sublime.

Here's what I've done so far with screenshots.

1. The updater utility says the 88a firmware is successfully updated.


2. The plug in says it can see the 88a and that it's working and that the levels are high.

3. The Direct config utility says it can see the 88a and that the firmware has been updated successfully.

4. The Dirac config utility can see the Umik mic.

5. The Dirac utility says the channel-level check test tone is being sent but nothing is coming through the speakers.

I have an RCA cable from outputs 1 and 2 into a channel on my mixer that I know is live. But no test tone comes through. And no Dirac calibration test tones come through either.

6. However interestingly, I now get a "Play stimulus failed' error message.

That seems to relate to dodgy USB connections. So I have tried a new USB cable (direct connection from Mac to 88). No progress. And restarted Mac too.

All ideas appreciated...

IT sounds like a similar tech support tix already solved with our team.
Are you all set?

DevTeam

Many thanks Devteam. Your advice has resolved the issue.

For anyone else with a similar issue the advice from devteam was:

"You have a very old version of DDRC-88 firmware in your unit, the firmware for bottom larger mother board has also to be updated.

Please try this steps:

1a. Power off the unit;
1b: make sure the 5-pin header cable is re-connected to the j34 pin to upgrade the firmware for the bottom mother board. See p.72 in the user manual.

2. Press-and-hold the reset button on back panel and at the same time power on the unit, after powered, release the reset button.
(This was the key additional step that I was not doing previously.)

3. Run MiniDSP-8×8-IO plugin, click the “Upgrade Firmware” button.

4. A firmware upgrade tool will pop-up, follow the steps 5c ~ 9 in user manual p.73 (for Windows) or p.75 (for Mac) to upgrade the firmware using the firmware file: miniDSP_2x8_8x8_v2.10_release.hex

5. Power off the unit, restore the appropriate connector to its original location, see p.77

6. Power on the unit, connect to DDRC-88BM plugin, select “Restore” → “Restore All to Default”. "

After that everything worked as it should - level test signals same through etc.

I am now again a happy AV geek. MiniDSP's Dirac processor is without doubt the single best and most important component in my whole system - certainly it vies with my Genelecs for that position. Dirac is the key to good sound - my system is again an absolute joy to listen to.

Wonderful to hear that you're all set and thanks much for your feedback.

Have fun!