Update guide
Do you have a 7SEG/Numeric Deluge like this:
Do you plan on loading new firmware onto your Deluge at any point in the future? Read on!
Have an OLED Deluge? You should have the latest bootloader installed on your OLED. If the Deluge logo does NOT animate when you boot up and/or if you see static briefly on boot up, then in that case you will likely need to update your bootloader to properly update to Community Firmware. For now, contact Synthstrom to receive instructions/support. We may be able to link the OLED bootloader download here in the near future.
WARNING!
When updating firmware, there is a potential way to make 7SEG Deluge’s inoperable if the right precautions aren’t made.
Rohan, the developer of the Deluge, has provided the following guide to warn potential users with outdated ‘bootloaders’ and guide them how to permanently avoid this issue by updating their bootloader. All the information you need on that is here:
Bootloader precautions for "numeric" Deluge developers
TLDR?
If you attempt to install a firmware file (.bin) on your 7SEG Deluge that is either too small (0 bytes) or too large (~3.5 MB and larger) you could make your 7SEG Deluge inoperable. Although it is fixable, you will be terribly inconvenienced.
However, there is a way to update your 7SEG Deluge so this can never be an issue. You’ll need the latest beta v4.1.4-beta1 or wait for v4.1.4 to be released. The steps are detailed in the link above. Please take every precaution to follow those steps perfectly! Otherwise, just always check the size of your .bin firmware file before you update your Deluge.
Want to quickly check if you have an outdated bootloader?
- Approach your Deluge, make sure it’s turned OFF.
- Hold the BOTTOM, LEFT-MOST pad on the Deluge (‘Sample 1, Mode’).
- Turn on your Deluge.
- Note what number shows up, if any.
If no number is displayed or if ‘0003’, ‘0004’, or '0005' was displayed you should read through the above link.
For numbers ‘0006’ up to ‘0008’, you have no precautions to worry about. Carry on! 🙂
The following is a step by step demonstration of how to download and install new firmware.
First, we can check what firmware the Deluge is currently using. Turn on your Deluge and enter the Main Menu (hold SHIFT then press down on the SELECT knob).
From here, scroll until you find Firmware Version.
Enter the “Firmware” section (press down on the SELECT knob).
Version “4.1.2”, got it. Now let’s check what’s the latest Firmware available on the Synthstrom website.
Official Firmware Download Page
Note: OLED and 7SEG Deluges have different Official firmware.
Version 4.1.3 is available for OLED. Since I’m at 4.1.2 it looks like I could use an update. I’ll download the OLED version, “V4.1.3 OLED”.
Now is the time to access the contents of my Deluge’s SD card. I’m going to remove it from my Deluge first.
Next, we need a computer with access to the SD card.
(Here’s an internal SD card reader on a laptop)
If you don’t have an internal SD card reader on your computer or an external one you’ll have to purchase an external one. You're most likely looking for an SD card reader to USB to purchase. Expect to pay $15-$60 for one.
Once it’s plugged in, insert your SD card.
Generally, your SD card’s folder will pop up automatically. Otherwise check here:
Notice the contents of the root folder. The root folder is the top-level directory that shows up when entering an SD card and contains all the contents of the SD card.
Notice the file ending in .bin? That’s the current firmware you have loaded into your Deluge. You may not even have a .bin file on your Deluge which is fine. But you can't have two or more .bin firmware files on your SD card when updating.
Although not necessary, you can copy the old .bin file and save it onto your computer if you ever need to revert back to it at some point.
Right click and 'Cut' the old firmware .bin file.
Now open a new location to store your old firmware, then right click and 'Paste'.
Now that it’s backed up, make sure the old .bin file isn’t on the SD card, delete if necessary. Don’t worry, technically the firmware is already installed onto your Deluge. This is just a copy of it.
Great, now find where you downloaded the newest firmware, whether it's Official or Community, and copy it.
Now paste it on the root folder of the SD card.
Perfect! Before physically removing the SD card let’s do so safely by right clicking the SD card and selecting Eject.
Sweet, now time to insert the SD card back into the Deluge.
We want the Deluge to be OFF for the next step. We’re going to hold SHIFT on the Deluge while then turning ON the Deluge. This installs whatever Firmware (.bin file) is on the SD card to the Deluge.
You’ll know the process has started when the Deluge turns on and you see the following.
You should only need to wait for a minute at most. Once done, the following will be displayed.
Success! Just to be thorough, let’s confirm that we’re on the updated firmware by repeating the steps we took earlier to check the firmware version.
Woohoo! We’ve successfully updated the firmware.
This process is the same process we’ll perform when installing new Community Firmware. Just note that firmware isn’t separated between OLED and 7SEG, the one .bin file you’ll download will work for both versions!
The next chapter will walk you through finding and downloading Community Firmware.
A website has been made in order to easily find the latest Community Firmware available. This is the best place to download the firmware without the need of navigating GitHub.
Community Firmware Download Page
Note: OLED and 7SEG Deluges share the same Community firmware. Woohoo!
Download Firmware
Simply click the 'Download' button and your download will begin. The download will be a .zip file, open the .zip file and drag just the .bin file into the root folder of your Deluge’s SD card and follow the necessary steps to update your firmware. See Updating Firmware.
Nightly build?
If you’re wondering what a ‘nightly build’ is, it just means it’s an automatically created version of the Community Firmware made every night that includes all changes and fixes made the past day. If you scroll down the Community Firmware page you will find a link to download it.
A nightly build is different from Release 1.0.0 in that it contains features being developed for the _next _Community firmware release.
New Features
A list of all the features added to the Community Firmware is available in the link right below the download button of the same website, “List of Changes and New Features”.
Reporting Bugs
If you have any issues that you would like to report, click the “Feedback and Issues” button. You will be brought to the GitHub Issues section and can create a new “Issue” from there. You will need to have a GitHub account to leave a detailed bug report. This is arguably the best place to leave bug reports as it guarantees that developers will see them soonest. Alternatively, you can also create bug reports on the Synthstrom Deluge Official Forums or in the #nightly-testing Deluge Discord channel.
Discussion/Feedback on New Features
To discuss new features further you can join or create discussions in the GitHub Discussions section, the Open Source category on the Official Forums, or in the #feature-chat Deluge Discord channel.