A to E drum conversion : Megadrum + Acoustic drum + Junxion

[kimouette]

Anything could explain the fact that powering the Megadrum while holding the left button DOES NOT do anything... Its just stays at the first menu (Megadrum by Dmitri....) until I let go of the button.

How can I test if I haven't lost the firmware and\or the the bootloader

[dmitri]

Have you ever been able to enter the bootloader?

[kimouette]

Have you ever been able to enter the bootloader?

If entering the bootloader means seeing the Mhz options (16, 20 etc...) while holding the left key, then no, I have never been able to enter the bootloader.

And please dont tell me I have to use an ICSP cable!
I have only mount the USB section cuz I thought having a programmed "Atmega with bootloader" (as described in the Syntex All-in one v.2.7 kit), I would be able to upload anything I need with a USB cable!

[dmitri]

Have you ever been able to enter the bootloader?

If entering the bootloader means seeing the Mhz options (16, 20 etc...) while holding the left key, then no, I have never been able to enter the bootloader.

And please dont tell me I have to use an ICSP cable!
I have only mount the USB section cuz I thought having a programmed "Atmega with bootloader" (as described in the Syntex All-in one v.2.7 kit), I would be able to upload anything I need with a USB cable!

Looks like your Atmega is not programmed with the bootloader.

[kimouette]

Could any other scenario justify that situation? A short circut? some keys I could have accidentaly pressed? or just anything else?

Or is there any other test I could try in order to confirm that my Atmega has definately not been programmed with a bootloader?

[dmitri]

If all keys work correctly in the menu, including the key LEFT, then not being able to enter the bootloader when powering up holding the key LEFT pressed says that the bootloader is not programmed correctly.

[kimouette]

Dmitri, thank you so much for your help!
The problem was definately coming from the LEFT pushbutton. It worked only half of the time but I didn't figure that out immediately. I have changed the pushbutton and it now WORKS!!

I was even able to upgrade the firmware!! And most suprisingly, I was able to upgrade the firmware with my Mac (PowerPc G4)!

The only weird thing is that after powering while holding the LEFT key, I wasn't asked for the quartz I'm using (16Mhz, 20Mhz etc...). In the Config tool, the upgrade screen explains that we have to hold the left key THEN to press UP one, two or three times depending on which quartz we are using, but pushing the UP key did not show anything.

In other words, I was able to upgrade, but it seemed like there was no need to choose which clock I am using. I pressed DOWN and it worked! But has Megadrum chosen a radom clock.. I have no idea.

And by the way, now that I have upgraded the firmware I have fully access the all the menus!!!

FINALLY !!!

[dmitri]

You have an older type of the bootloader which had crystal frequency fixed in it.

[kimouette]

If I change the crystal (which is currently 20Mhz) for a 16Mhz (so I dont have an overclocked Atmega anymore) will there be any problem with that "old type of bootloader"?
And since I can already anticipate I,ll need to upgrade with the corresponding firmware (megadrum32_16_32_20081020.syx instead of megadrum32_20_32_20081020.syx), your answer is really important!
I was planning to change the crystal tomorrow morning! Hopefully you'll read and answer this question before then!

[dmitri]

If you change the crystal than you have to update the firmware to the latest version which supports clock selection otherwise firmware update won't work.