Fostex HP-A4BL Use and care manual

How to update the HP-A4BL firmware ///// 1
How to update the HP-A4BL rmware
This document explains how to update the Fostex HP-A4BL rmware. Thoroughly read the document to properly up-
date the rmware.
· micro SDHC card (& SD card adapter) preparation and current rmware version conrmation
1. Prepare a micro SDHC card (Capacity: 2GB ~ 32GB, preformatted
with FAT32/exFAT).
* CAUTION
Since the HP-A4BL does not recognize a micro SDXC card (larger
than 64GB), use a micro SDHC card (capacity: 2GB ~ 32GB).
2. Insert the micro SDHC card into the micro SD card slot on the HP-
A4BL rear panel.
* CAUTION
Do not power on the HP-A4BL before inserting the SDHC card
into the slot.
3. After connecting the AC adapter bundled in the HP-A4BL
package to the [DC IN] port on the HP-A4BL rear panel,
power on the HP-A4BL by turning the [POWER] switch
/ Volume knob to the right. The HP-A4BL power LED
turns on in green and the Fs: 44.1kHz LED ashes in red.
The HP-A4BL recognizes the micro SDHC card inserted
into the micro SD card slot on the rear panel and creates
the "HPA4BL_VER.txt" file in which the firmware ver-
sion number is written in the micro SDHC card root di-
rectory.
4. After powering off the HP-A4BL by turning the [POWER]
switch / Volume knob to the left, remove the micro SDHC
card from the HP-A4BL. After tting it into the SD card
adapter, insert it into the Windows PC/Macintosh SD card
slot. Next, open up the “HPA4BL_VER.txt” file in the
micro SDHC card root directory and check the HP-A4BL current rmware version "VX.XX" (V1.01 in the lower
right example).

How to update the HP-A4BL firmware ///// 2
· Firmware download and unzip
5. Download the HP-A4BL firmware update file from Fostex website, <http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/
tech_support/software_updates.shtml> and place it at such a place as your desktop. Upon unzipping the le, there
will be following two les appeared.
“HP_A4BL.***”
“SYS_A4BL.***”
(rmware version: *.**)
Copy these two les together into the root directory
of micro SDHC card, which you inserted into the
Windows PC/Macintosh SD card slot in the proce-
dure 4. The screen shot on the right shows an ex-
ample of V1.10 rmware update les copied in the
root directory of micro SDHC card with the SD card
adapter mounted on Windows 8.1 PRO PC (64-bit
version).
* CAUTION
In order to update the rmware correctly, place only one version of rmware update les (e.g. V1.10 rm-
ware update le “HP_A4BL.110” and “SYS_A4BL.110” only) into the root directory of micro SDHC card.
· Firmware update
6. Remove the micro SDHC card (and SD card adapter) in which the rmware update les are copied from the Win-
dows PC/Macintosh SD card slot. Next, remove the micro SDHC card from the SD card adapter and insert it into
the micro SD card slot on the HP-A4BL rear panel.
* CAUTION
Do not power on the HP-A4BL before inserting
the SDHC card into the slot.
7. Power on the HP-A4BL by turning the [POWER]
switch / Volume knob to the right. The HP-A4BL
recognizes the firmware update file in the micro
SDHC card and automatically enters the rmware
update mode. As shown on the right illustration, the
HP-A4BL indicates the progress of the firmware
update status by the LEDs on the front panel.
* CAUTION
Unless the HP-A4BL recognizes the firmware
update file whose version is different from the
currently installed firmware version, the HP-
A4BL will not enter the rmware update mode.
Pay attention to the current firmware version
which can be checked by the before mentioned
procedures 1. ~ 4. and the version of the firm-
ware update le which you are going to use for
the update.
Power on the HP-A4BL. The POWER LED is lit
solid in green.
The Fs: 44.1k and DSD LEDs flash in red.
The Fs: 48k and DSD LEDs flash in red.
The Fs: 88.2k and DSD LEDs flash in red.
The Fs: 96k and DSD LEDs flash in red.
The Fs: 176.4k and DSD LEDs flash in red
The Fs: 192k and DSD LEDs flash in red
Only the DSD LED flashes in red indicating that
the firmware update is completed.

How to update the HP-A4BL firmware ///// 3
· Conrming rmware version
8. With the conrmation of only the DSD LED ashing in red, power off the HP-A4BL by turning the [POWER]
switch / Volume knob to the left. Then, with the micro SDHC card being inserted into the HP-A4BL micro SD card
slot, power on the HP-A4BL by turning the [POWER] switch / Volume knob to the right. The HP-A4BL overwrites
the rmware version in the “HPA4BL_VER.txt” le placed in the root directory of micro SDHC card.
* CAUTION
As explained in the before mentioned procedures 1. ~ 4., the HP-A4BL creates the “HPA4BL_VER.txt” le
and writes the rmware version in it. After executing the rmware update, if the HP-A4BL power is not cy-
cled, the rmware version in the “HPA4BL_VER.txt” le will not be overwritten meaning that the previous
rmware version number still remains. After updating the rmware, make sure to cycle the power so that
the “HPA4BL_VER.txt” le is overwritten.
9. After conrming that the HP-A4BL power LED is lit in green and the Fs: 44.1kHz LED ashes in red, power off
the HP-A4BL.
10. Remove the micro SDHC card from the HP-A4BL.
After tting it into the SD card adapter, insert it into
the Windows PC/Macintosh SD card slot. Then,
open up the “HPA4BL_VER.txt” file in the root
directory of the micro SDHC card and check if the
version number (V1.10 in the lower right example)
matches the one of the rmware update le that you
have used.
The above procedures complete the HP-A4BL rm-
ware update.