This is my first Forum post - sorry it has to be about trouble, but I did achieve success after several hours of ‘dicking around.’
Yesterday I attempted to follow the “How to update firmware in the NPC” instructions at the PSAudio website. My NPC had the firmware ‘Main’ version 0.44; and, in order to use the “Vinyl Studio” (Alpine software) its forum advised to upgrade to version 0.52 in order to successfully be able to record DSD format.
The firmware Main 0.52 package at the Vinyl Studio contained one less file that the package at the PSAudio website. The added file in the PSAudio website package was “Loader.CFG.9999”. Otherwise the Vinyl Studio website and PSAudio website Main version 0.52 firmware upgrade packages appeared to have the same content. I had also acquired from the PSAudio website the Main version 0.48 firmware upgrade package.
Using a FAT32 formatted Sandisk 16G USB drive I had no luck initially. Following the “How to update firmware in the NPC” did not result in any firmware updating. I then re-formatted a ‘No Name’ 8G USB drive and transferred the Main version 0.48 file package to it. This USB had a ‘flashing light’ in it when it was in use. My intent was to ‘see’ if the NPC was accessing the USB drive at the time of the power switch turn-on.
This did not work either … becoming pissed, I then noticed the very small inset “Reset” button adjacent to the USB firmware update connector. Cycling through several sequences of:
- Power off; 2. Power on; 3. Followed by an immediate Reset button push
Finally loaded the Main version 0.48 firmware update package. Then I loaded the Main version 0.52 firmware update file package onto the NoName USB drive, erasing the old 0.48 files first.
At least four sequences of the ‘Power Off’, ‘Power On’, immediate ‘Reset’ button push were required before the 0.52 package was loaded after I changed to the Vinyl Studio 0.52 update file package (from its forum - software author).
Why does the PSAudio version 0.52 package have a “.9999” file type in it. Please note that I ended up erasing the PSAudio 0.52 update package and loading the Vinyl Studio 0.52 update package which does not have the “.9999” file in it. In terms of superstition, I must advise that the “.9999” Loader file in the PSAudio package seems to be ‘bad juju’ … but then again the whole NPC update process seems to be ‘bad juju.’
The “How to update firmware in the NPC” instructions at the PSAudio website says nothing about pushing the “Reset” button … and it seems like pushing the “Reset” button (as described above) is The Thing which made the update work. Unpleasantness all around.
John - Acoustic Line Source Research
p.s. the version 0.44 software worked with Sony Sound Forge Pro software to record PCM files before this firmware update.
