The OS is stored
inside the DPS12 on a flash ROM chip, which means that it can be updated
without having to be replaced. You will need:
- a SCSI equipped
computer (either PC or Macintosh)
- a removable
media Zip drive (Zip/Jazz/EZFlyer etc) that can be connected to
both the computer and the DPS12 (though not at the same time!).
- a blank
disk for the above
Visit Akai's
software download page at http://www.akaipro.com/software-HDR.html and download
the OS Maker II application for the relevant computer platform. This
program takes the operating system file and writes it to the SCSI
drive's disk in a DPS12-specific format.
OS Maker II
(PC - 1.8megs) http://www.akaipro.com/software/osmaker2.zip
OS Maker II
(Mac - 54K) http://www.akaipro.com/software/OSMakerII.hqx
This program
is compressed and must be uncompressed - you'll need WinZip or similar
for the PC or Stuffit Expander or similar for the Mac.
Download the
operating system file. You must download the relevant file for the
computer platform you are using - you can't download the Mac file
and use it with the PC version of OS Maker. Again, it'll be compressed
so you'll need to uncompress it.
DPS12V2.11.zip (PC - 358K) DPS12V2.11.hqx
(Mac - 375K)
(These files
are the V2.11 upgrade. Other upgrades will be appropriately named)
Put the OS file
in the same directory as the OS Maker II application, and launch the
OS Maker II application. The program will automatically detect any
available removable media drive. Insert the removable media on to
which you will write the new OS update. Select the drive from the
OS Maker II list and click "OK."
A screen will
appear with a list of all available OS update files. (This is the
.cod file that you downloaded and saved to the OS Maker II folder.)
Select the OS file update and click "Execute." The new operating
system will then be written to the removable media disk. When it is
done, a "Completed" message will appear. Click "OK"
and the application will automatically shut down and the removable
media will eject from the drive.
To update your
DPS12 recorder's Flash-ROM using SCSI and removable media (e.g. Jaz
disk, Zip disk, MO disk, etc.) containing the OS update, follow these
steps: (Note: If the OS program is on a Jaz disk and the DPS12 has
a Jaz drive installed internally, skip steps 1 and 8.)
- Connect the
SCSI drive to the SCSI port of DPS12 and turn the SCSI drive on.
Note: Do not turn the DPS12 on yet.
- Insert the
OS programmed disk into the SCSI drive.
- Turn the DPS12
on while holding the "REC" and "PLAY" keys down.
- Press "F6
(NG)" repeatedly until the correct ID number of SCSI drive
used is displayed.
- Press "F1
(OK)" to start loading the OS program from the disk into DPS12's
internal memory.
- Press "REC"
key when the message "SUCCESS: Press "REC" to Continue"
is displayed. The OS program is loaded into Flash-ROM.
- Press "REC"
key when the message "Press "REC" key to Restart"
appears. This will switch the DPS12 into normal operation mode.
- Turn the system
off and disconnect the SCSI drive.
Note: Software
may become garbled during electronic transmission, so make a backup
copy of your existing recorder operating system before attempting
any installation. Please read the Akai software license agreement
carefully. Use at your own risk!
Contact Akai.
You can send your DPS12 back to them for upgrading at a nominal fee.
You may also be able to send them a Jazz or Zip disk, which they'll
write the OS onto, for uploading to the DPS as described above.
Also, Allen Castleton
stated that he upgraded his DPS12 with the following method (regarding
a suspiciously empty and as yet unknown chip socket inside the DPS12):
"I'm
not sure if we are referring to the same socket, but the method I
used, in Australia, to do the first software update was to have the
local agent send me an e-prom. This fitted into a socket inside the
box and enabled me to download the software. I didn't go looking for
other slots cos I was only interested in seeing what the new software
would do."
Yes, and they
are available from Akai's website. Currently there are two manual
addendums, one for each of the upgrades we've had so far, in addition
to the main manual (which is also available in electronic format).
These are in PDF format, so you'll need a copy of Adobe's Acrobat
reader software to view or print them.
