Firmware

Firmware Upgrades

The 744T uses upgradable EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) to hold the unit’s operating system software, or firmware. Firmware is the source code which controls all aspects of the device, including: menu options, signal routing, signal processing, LED’s, controls, and data ports.

Version Information

During manufacturing the unit’s hardware revision number and serial number are burned

into a protected area of the EEPROM and are not changeable. These numbers are viewed in the Info:Version selection of the setup menu. Info:Version also shows the firmware version of the

recorder.

The 744T firmware version and unit serial numbers are written to the data chunk of every WAV and BWF audio file generated by the 744T.

Upgrade Process

From time to time Sound Devices may issue revisions (new versions) of firmware for the 744T. Firmware is user-upgradeable. To upgrade firmware follow the steps below.

1.Download the firmware file from the Sound Devices web site or obtain it on disk.

2.Transfer the firmware file (it will be named version_number.prg) to the 744T internal hard drive via FireWire or onto a CF card. If there are multiple firmware files on the media, the 744T will select the first firmware file available. There is no provision to skip to the next file. To prevent confusion, ensure that there is only one firmware file available on any 744T media.

3.Enter the firmware upgrade menu. You will be prompted to search for the firmware file. If a valid

firmware file is present on either the internal hard drive or CF the recorder will prompt if the path is the proper file to use. Press the Multi-Function Controller or the tone key to say yes. The 744T will begin firmware upgrade and validation. Progress is indicated with a bar graph.

4.When the upgrade and verify process is complete, power cycle the 744T. On power-up the LCD will turn solid black and the green LED next to the FireWire port will blink 20 times. When the update se- quence is complete, the 744T will reboot once again.

5.Verify the firmware version using the Info:Software menu.

6.Reset the time-of-day clock to the present time and date. Reset the time code to an appropriate value.

Firmware upgrades are designed to preserve all user menu settings. As a precaution, we recommend saving the present state as a setup file on the hard drive or CF. Once a firmware upgrade is complete, restore settings from this file, if necessary.

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