SERVICE NOTE M 18 - Firmware Upgrade by SD card

Firmware upgrade of M18 Mixer

MK1 & MK2
by using SD card

Communication to Service Centers

(Issued: March 2019 - Version 2.0)
CODE: 1903B (replace 1701A)

RCF SpA
Via Raffaello, 13 - 42124
Mancasale Reggio Emilia - Italia

This document may be duplicated or otherwise used or its contents made known to third parties only with
permission of the originator or other authorized people.
Infringements constitute an offence and are subject to claim for damages. All rights reserved for patenting or
utility model registration.

Mar 2019 Version 2.0 Page 1 of 8

 SERVICE NOTE M 18 - Firmware Upgrade by SD card

1 Scope

To restore the original firmware.

According to this service note, the mixer have to be opened to perform the firmware upgrade by
using its SD card slot; this procedure works in all cases, even if the unit is locked, as long as
there is no hardware damage.

Caution: installing the firmware from the SD card resets the mixer to factory default settings.

2 Application field
All the M18 mixers

In case of any doubt about delivery date, please contact the RCF After Sales Service to
communicate the serial number

3 Programming kit

The programming kit consists in

- microSD card 2GB (MAX 8GB) capacity or above , prepare sd card for formatting
- 2.54mm pitch jumper

Mar 2019 Version 2.0 Page 2 of 8

 SERVICE NOTE M 18 - Firmware Upgrade by SD card

STEP 1 – open the mixer

1- Reverse the device and remove the 4 screws (2 of them are “hidden” by the foots that have to be
removed as well), see red circles

2- Remove the three screws on the back on the upper side

3- Open the upper lid of the mixer: pay attention to the wires connecting the WiFi module fixed on the
mixer lid. We suggest reversing the lid to left side of the device (looking the mixer from the back)

Debug connector
area MK2 Debug connector
area MK1

SD card
slot area

Upper lid

Mar 2019 Version 2.0 Page 3 of 8

 SERVICE NOTE M 18 - Firmware Upgrade by SD card

STEP 2 – recognize the exact version of the model because the firmware is different

MK1

MK2

Mar 2019 Version 2.0 Page 4 of 8

 SERVICE NOTE M 18 - Firmware Upgrade by SD card

STEP 3 – prepare microsd card

1- formatting SD card in FAT 32 we recommend to use the “ HP USB Disk Storage

Format Tool”, you can download from http://service.rcfaudio.com

2-download the new firmware from

http://service.rcfaudio.com

3-copy on the micro SD card the content of the firmware zip archive, by decompressing
it
MLO
mxx.info
ramdisk.gz
ubi.img
u-boot.img
uImage

STEP 4 – insert the microSD card

Insert the microSD card into the slot near the fan, on the bottom side of the digital PCB; the SD card
slot is normally empty

SD card
slot

Mar 2019 Version 2.0 Page 5 of 8

 SERVICE NOTE M 18 - Firmware Upgrade by SD card

To ease the insertion of the microSD card, we suggest to Orient the microSD card so that the printed side faces up and
use a plyer or a tweezer for SMT the teeny triangle on the card points toward the open slot.

The card makes a clicking sound when it’s fully inserted

2- Insert the jumper over pins 2-3 of the Debug connector MK1

Debug
connector

I
n
s
e
r

Mar 2019 Version 2.0 Page 6 of 8

 SERVICE NOTE M 18 - Firmware Upgrade by SD card

The jumper over pins 2-3 of the Debug connector MK2

Debug Connector

STEP 5 – flashing the mixer with the firmware loaded in the microSD

1- Turn the mixer ON

CAUTION!! HIGH VOLTAGE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

Do not touch any internal part of the Mixer when

!! !! powered ON

2- The mixer will begin a complete system restore that will require about 2 minutes; during the
restore, the front LED flashes rapidly

Front
LED

3- When restore is completed, the front LED will begin to blink slowly

4- At this point, turn the unit OFF

Mar 2019 Version 2.0 Page 7 of 8

 SERVICE NOTE M 18 - Firmware Upgrade by SD card

5- Remove jumper from Debug Connector and microSD card from the socket: microSD card is
spring-loaded, so pressing it in pops it outward

6- Turn the unit ON again; after about two minutes, the mixer is fully operational

7- Close the unit

STEP 6 – check firmware release on mixer

1- open MixUpdate, connect it to the mixer and verify that the new firmware version is 229

Please contact RCF After Sales Service for any doubt of request of more info.

Mar 2019 Version 2.0 Page 8 of 8