Can not get RK006 to finish FW upgrade

Boricua

Hello,

I had never upgraded the FW, thus, trying to get it to the latest version.

I have been trying like crazy to get my RK006 upgraded, and it stays in some sort of FREEZE mode after completing Part 1 of 2. Every time I cycle through the upgrade I encounter a different situation, either the light just flashes continuously, stays on permanently though not connected to the web app, or no light and obviously no connection.

I have now used 2 Macs (MacBook Pro and Mac Mini M4), plus, a borrowed Windows PC -- all with same issue.

Is there any way to perform the ugrade outside of the web solution? If so, how? Thank you!
Any thoughts on how to best go about this upgrade would be appreciated! Thank you!

Regards,
Luis Torres

Boricua

Did a little bit more digging on this issue, and, by using Bome MIDI Translator I sent a sysex request inquiry (F0 00 21 23 00 06 00 F7) and received a inquiry response back as "F0 00 21 23 00 06 40 00 10 00 11 00 F7", thus, thinking I am at HW version 1.0, and SW version 1.1 (though need to validate). I also sent a sysex for the Factory Reset Request (F0 00 21 23 00 06 05 F7), yet, was unable to get a response back (expecting "F0 00 21 23 00 06 45 F7" per the sysex manual) from the RK006. However, I did get several other returned messages,

I continued again to run into the same issues of no full FW update.

Thoughts anyone? Thank you!

Luis

grit

On some occasions the timing for the upgrade is disrupted by use of USB hubs. The RK006 has to detach and attach itself back to the USB bus which takes too long on some hubs. Therefore the best is to plug the RK006 straight into the USB port on the computer.
Perhaps a fresh computer reset so the browser is clean from other tabs which might use MIDI and also no other apps in the background like daw's or something which might echo midi during the update process. Update is tested on Macs' M1, M4, intel and it does work. Chrome or Brave (and I think now firefox as well) browsers have good midi support.
On M-macs you can also try and run the iOS app from the app store (although I'm not sure if that one has the latest firmware embedded at the moment 2.2 at moment of writing)

Boricua

Hello! Thank you for getting back to me on this request, much appreciated!

I have not used a USB Hub for the FW upgrading portion of my debugging. However, I did route the RK006 through a hub while using the Bome MIDI Translator.

For the MacBook Pro and Mac Mini M4 FW upgrade testing, I have only used a USB-A to USB-C connector to enable proper connection from the RK006 to the Macs. One the PC, it was a completely direct connection via USB-A. The Mac Mini M4 is completely new so no DAWs on it yet (for potential MIDI echo/interference), and, I did disconnect all devices (BomeBox, MIDI Hub, and MioXL) from my Macs.

I did try using the iPhone (iOS) app, yet, was never able to connect.

I will try your 2 suggestions:

Fresh computer reset, clean up browser and only enabling the 1 tab for the FW upgrade page.
Will check the iOS app again.

Again, thank you for the insights!

p.s. BTW, is my unit currently in version 1.1 (based on the sysex response I posted)?

Boricua

No success with the 2 suggestions (using my Mac Mini and iPhone).

Just tested with my iPad (using the camera connect kit/dongle) w/iOS App, yet, I run into the same problem. Starts part1/2, then, message "update FAILED".

Will keep testing!

grit

Hm, you have an extreme amount of bad update luck there... The Sysex inquiry seems to view fw 1.1 indeed. If the RK006 is flashing, waiting for the 2nd part to update you can also try and unplug, wait, replug again, see if the update continues on the 2nd part. To be honest, we always do up/downgrade checks but not with these big intervals of revisions inbetween.

There is a backup method where you can update the RK006 via .mid files but you need to playback the mid files exactly to the embedded midi tempo. Sysex librarian does not do that (it can only set packet interval time and that's not enough). On mac there's an app called 'midi player x' which works but you need to pay for that.
However - we made a .mid firmware player in the old RK004 settings page you can try. There you can play a .mid firmware file at the correct speed intervals:

https://www.retrokits.com/rk004/settings
Select the RK006 out_all port on this page

Download RK006 firmware https://retrokits.com/rk006/settings/RK006_fw207.zip
Extract the 2 mid files and drag-drop RK006_part1.mid onto the dotted square in the RK004 page
The RK006 should glow, when it's finished and blinks fast again, drag-drop RK006_part2.mid on the square.
Hopefully this method works. Id not, I'd need to check the update from 1.1. to latest, see if I can replicate this.

Boricua

First of all, thank you very much for the support, much appreciated!

I actually purchased the MIDIPlayer X app (pretty cheap), and, tested both the rk004 site and the X app. I got the same results. When I first connect the RK006 to the Mac, the light flashes. Then, upon the start of the first mid file (RK006_part1.mid) the light goes OFF. Was not behaving as you described.

** UPDATE - as I was writing this post, I ran it again using the X app, and the light behaved as you described (a very slow flash). Yet, when it finished part2, it stays flashing. Should I just disconnect it? And, how can I tell it actually updated?

Thanks!

Spoke too soon. Back to flashing. Will keep testing some more.

--> Was able to replicate what I did with the X app on the rk004 web interface. Ends at continuous flashing. Not sure what to do next.

p.s. There is a 3rd file (RK006.mid) in the zip, do I need that?

grit

the 3rd file combines part 1 and 2 in one file with a pause between the two files, this is the regular update file but since that does not work in your case you do not need to use that one.
The flashing state (blinking, not glowing) means the 2nd firmware part went wrong, dropping part2 onto the page should update the rest and finish it. Perhaps you updated a half again when it was finished when the light went off?
Anyway, if you need a match for firmware 1.1 I have both .mid files in this location:
https://bla.retrokits.com/assets/RK006_fw11.zip
If you still can't get it to work drop us a mail via https://retrokits.com/about/ and hopefully we can solve it

Boricua

Q: What is the expected behavior of the RK006 when it is a successful completion of the FW Upgrade (properly finishing part2 of the MIDI transfer/upload)? [unit shuts down (no light], unit recycle power (light on again), other]

I had tested this morning and it goes through (flashing, then glowing) part1, rapid flashes, then I drop part2 and it starts again glowing, when either RK002 site, or, X App finish with part2 it then starts flashing again. So, certainly need to ensure that part2 is able to successfully finish/close properly on unit.

In the RK-004 App site it indicates to ensure the MIDI player adopts the tempo of the midi file. The X App indicates a tempo of 120 (which I think can be changed). What is the required tempo, or, should one slow ot down to ensure the RK006 is able to complete uploading part2 of the FW update.

I checked the unit via Bome MIDI Translator and it still confirms the unit is under FW ver 1.1, and, when sending a sysex for a RESET, it does not return a response, thus, meaning the unit is not properly resetting (not even with pushing the top "button" zone).

I will test a couple of more times tonight, if unsuccessful will follow up via email.

Thanks!

Boricua

Followed up using your link provided (form filled) via https://retrokits.com/about/