SOLVED: BlueBoard firmware update using Firmware Updater!

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SOLVED: BlueBoard firmware update using Firmware Updater!

Postby forum@josh.ch » Wed Jun 24, 2020 3:45 pm

Hello everybody

I will describe my odyssey here - maybe it will be of help to someone else on a similar mission (and according to comments on the Apple store and around this and other forums, there's a lot of frustration in this topic).

The reason I wanted to upgrade the firmware is that I don't want the iRig BlueBoard app running in the background all the time. It was created in a time when no MIDI standard was available in iOS, but this changed years ago. And while basic usage of the BlueBoard was perfectly possible with the BlueBoard app running in the background, I wanted to make use of more advanced MIDI tweaking, like the Blue Velvet library for MidiFire (and the free StreamByter) which adds double/triple taps, combinations, holding, etc. (see https://discchord.com/appnews/2018/11/2 ... -blueboard and https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/2990 ... -blueboard). And according to Blue Velvet's README, the BlueBoard needs the firmware upgrade to work with it.

So my odyssey started...

First: My BlueBoard has a mini USB connector in the battery case, so it can be connected to a computer using an appropriate USB cable. Some (probably newer?) BlueBoards do not have such a connector available. Read here how to determine what your BlueBoard version you have: https://www.ikmultimedia.com/firmware/blueboard/

But before all that, I had tried the iOS BlueBoard Updater app (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/irig-blue ... 1478647297), but it did NOT work for me at all. It could never see my device, although I started it in update mode (which means holding down D while turning it on, see https://download.ikmultimedia.com/plugi ... _Guide.pdf). Maybe it will work only for the non-USB version (see https://www.ikmultimedia.com/firmware/b ... no_usb.php)?

So I used the official instructions for the USB version: https://www.ikmultimedia.com/firmware/b ... ex_usb.php

And although it tells me to register my BlueBoard using my serial number to get access to the firmware updater ("Registration provides you with access to the Firmware updater."), this IS NOT NECESSARY! I don't own a serial (due to it was 2nd hand and the seller didn't provide me with one), but I could easily download the software from https://www.ikmultimedia.com/userarea/firmware/ (I needed to register as a user to access this area, but it didn't depend on any serial number or similar).

To my big surprise the software "iRig BlueBoard Firmware Updater 1.1" is only available for Windows! How absurd, because AFAIK the BlueBoard even lacks of supporting Windows, and it's advertised solely to be used with iOS and macOS! I first tried on a Windows 10 virtual machine on my Mac, but it told me that I don't have the required privileges (even when right clicking on the file and starting it as Administrator). I then tried on a native Windows laptop, but with the same result.

I finally found an old laptop at a friend's place, running Windows 8. And there I could start the software. Yay!

But still, after starting, I got a red warning text: "Waiting for search indexing... please wait...". I waited for some hours, but nothing seemed to happen. But suddenly, Windows needed to restart because of system updates.

And see: after a restart the "Waiting for search indexing..." message did not appear anymore! If it had, I would have tried to stop Windows Search as described here: https://lookeen.com/blog/how-to-disable ... s-8-and-10.

But luckily, I was able now to search for a device, find it, and update it. It took 2-3mins, and I was really afraid that some failure would happen, but the % counter slowly reached 100%.

I could verify that some upgrade happened because the BlueBoard now has its default name again in the BlueBoard app. But while I could see it as a Bluetooth device in iOS settings, I couldn't connect.

I then restarted it in "MIDI over Bluetooth mode 1" (by holding B while turning it on) - and that did the trick! It connects successfully now in iOS' Bluetooth settings, and thus is shown in 3rd party apps like AUM (as "iRig BlueBoard Bluetooth - HARDWARE"). :D

Remember:

- If you want to use the "BlueBoard mode" (which you start by holding A and turning the device on), you seem to need the BlueBoard app running and connect the device from there (although I didn't look closely into this any further).
- To use "MIDI over Bluetooth mode 1" or "MIDI over Bluetooth mode 2", (hold down B or C while turning on) you don't need the app running. Simply connect it in the iOS Bluetooth settings and you're good to go!

And if you're curious: the iOS updater app still doesn't see my BlueBoard (started in update mode -> holding D while turning it on). I really have no idea what's this app useful for - probably it's only meant to be used with the non-USB BlueBoard version, but then it could at least give an error message or something when trying with the USB-version (or state the limitation clearly in the app). But hey, what can you expect from a firmware updating app that is promoted as "frimware updater" (typo!) on the screenshots in the Apple store! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/irig-blue ... 1478647297 :lol:

So, FINALLY, after hours of fooling around: aaaah, the taste of success...! 8-)

I hope this will be useful for someone else. Please buy me a beer if you succeed thanks to my extensive explanations! 8-) And if I can assist you with anything else regarding this topic, please tell me.

Cheers and happy foot-pedaling! :D
forum@josh.ch
 
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Re: SOLVED: BlueBoard firmware update using Firmware Updater

Postby forum@josh.ch » Thu Jul 02, 2020 9:08 am

Small addition: I'm not sure whether something changed (or whether I just didn't realise it when writing the original post), but I'm unable to connect the BlueBoard "directly" through the iOS Bluetooth settings, as it is not listed there.

Instead, I need to start Midimittr app (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/midimittr/id925495245) which then lets me connect the BlueBoard; and when this happened, also the iOS Bluetooth settings finally see my BlueBoard. When I stop Midimittr, it (again) is not visible anymore in the iOS Bluetooth settings.

I'm not sure whether this is the expected behaviour, but it's a minor inconvenience to me.
forum@josh.ch
 
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Re: SOLVED: BlueBoard firmware update using Firmware Updater

Postby The-Russ » Thu Sep 10, 2020 4:54 pm

Thank You for this... I too had issues. I did not want to use a 3rd party app "midimittr", but as you stated it is the only way to connect with midi. Without it, you are forced to only use blueboard's Bluetooth (bluetooth only) setting "A" when starting up. You would think that there would be VERY CLEAR instructions to keep people from wasting hours of time.

It is a nuisance that you have to turn on a 3rd part app to use the blueboard.

On my Mac, I have to go directly into "Audio Midi Setup" to connect it. It is a pain, but it works. I like the device and the batteries last FOREVER...

My only wish is that there was a click on the pedal so I knew it switched. That is not going to happen and it is not a big deal, just a learning curve.
The-Russ
 
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Re: SOLVED: BlueBoard firmware update using Firmware Updater

Postby jmp220478 » Sat Jan 30, 2021 12:44 pm

[mod redacted, violates EULA]
jmp220478
 
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