44
SOFTWARE UPDATES
Wheatstone/PR&E may periodically issue software revisions for the DMX
Surface, PR&E Mix Engine, and Razor I/O Interfaces. The DMX Surface
code version is viewed and updated using the DMX Surface Setup app’s
Hardware menu (Figure 3-35). The Engine and Razor code is updated
using PR&E Navigator’s Version Manager tab (Figure 3-36).
Surface Code Update
To see the current version of code running on the DMX Surface, in the
DMX Surface Setup app select the Hardware > Version… menu item. A pop
up window lists information about the current code that’s running on the
DMX Surface, including the version number.
Figure 3-35 EMX Surface Code Version and Update options
The Surface code is downloaded to the admin PC as part of the DMX
Surface Setup app installation. But updated versions of the code may also
be available to be downloaded separately. Click Hardware > Update… to
open a Windows file search window. It opens on the folder holding the
code downloaded with the Surface Setup app. If the code was downloaded
separately, then navigate to that folder. The code file will be named:
PRE_DMX_ surface_ X_X_X.rbn with the Xs being the version number
of the new code.
Click Open to upload the new code to the Surface. This action can be
done while the console is actively being used since the code is only loaded
into the Surface’s memory. A popup message advises that the Surface
must be rebooted to use the new code.
The DMX continues to pass audio as the Surface is rebooted but, of
course, no Surface controls will be available during the 60 seconds or so it
takes the Surface to complete rebooting and be ready for use again.
Note: The PGM buses and monitor outputs may momentarily duck
or change levels as the Surface regains control after rebooting.
Engine & Razor Code Update
The PR&E Mix Engine and Razor code is also saved to the admin PC
when the PR&E Navigator app is installed. But updated versions of the
operating system code for these devices may also be available to be
downloaded separately from the Navigator app.
Figure 3-36 PR&E Mix Engine and Razor Code Version and Update options
The code version running on each Blade can be viewed, and the code
can be updated, using the Version Manager tab in PR&E Navigator (Figure
3-36). The Software Version column lists the code build currently running
on each Blade (the PR&E Mix Engine and each Razor I/O Interface). Blades
can be individually updated or they can all be updated simultaneously.
Click the Update... button to open a Windows file search window, which
opens on the folder PR&E Navigator uses to save the code downloaded
with it. If the code file was downloaded separately, then the code file may
be in a “Downloads” folder so use the file search window to locate the new
code file. The Mix Engine and Razor code is in a compressed file named:
DMX_update_ X_X_XX.tgz, with the Xs being the code version number.
Once the code is uploaded to the Blade(s), each Blade must be rebooted
to actually run the updated code. As the updated code is subsequently run
there will be momentary muting or audio changes on the program buses
and monitor outputs so, if possible, the code update process should be
done while the console or Razor are not carrying on-air audio.
