Analogue-sequencer

Hi Koen, 

> I have a P3 #1014. I didn't do any update yet.
> Now i want to do an update.
> Do i need a new bootloader?
> What is the bootloader?

There are two separate programs that are stored in the P3 flash ROM.
One is the bootloader, the other is the sequencer.
The bootloader always runs at power on.
Its job is usually just to pass control to the sequencer program.
But if you hold the key combination to enter firmware update mode, then the
bootloader handles the receiving of a new sequencer program via MIDI, and
writes it into flash.

There's one update to the bootloader since your P3 was built (IIRC).
Sometimes after writing a new sequencer program to the flash memory, the
CPUs were losing a configuration setting that meant they would no longer
boot properly.
The updated bootloader ensures that the configuration setting is correct
after writing a new program (it shouldn't ever change, but the ATMEL API
seems to be a little buggy...).
So the bootloader update is not essential, but if you are happy you
understand the process, I would recommend it.
The bootloader cannot update itself, so a bootloader update comes in the
form of a little program that sits in the space where the sequencer program
is normally held.
You load in the update like a normal firmware update, then when it runs, it
will update the bootloader.
After that, you can use the new bootloader to re-load the sequencer program.

Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com