You’re here because you have a device, bought before April 15, 2025 or a Trash Panda Quad from the US warehouse purchased before September 15, 2025 and you want to perform a firmware update.
MIDI Interfaces
You’ll need a MIDI interface for your PC with a MIDI output. The update process involves sending a large MIDI SysEx file. Unfortunately, not all MIDI interfaces support this reliably. While Morningstar MIDI controllers and WIDI Uhost/Jack work fine with the WebMIDI interface, they are NOT capable of sending large SysEx files. Please ensure your MIDI interface supports this functionality before starting the update. Otherwise, the update might fail midway, leaving your device erased and without a suitable MIDI interface to complete the update.
I’m not sure. How can I test my MIDI interface?
You can check whether your interface can handle large MIDI SysEx files by sending a firmware file with no device connected and observing the MIDI interface’s status LEDs. These usually blink when messages are being sent. When you send the firmware file, the LED should blink or stay lit for about one to two minutes. If that happens, your interface should be ready.
These devcies are tested and will work:
- RME Fireface
- ESX MIDIMATE ex
- SSL 12
These devices are tested and will NOT work for the legacy update:
- Morningstar MC6 MkII (probably all Morningstar controllers)
- CME WIDI uHOST (probably all CME WIDI devices)
- PirateMIDI (Not tested, but doesn’t support MIDI SysEX)
Sending the Update
You now need a software that is capable of sending MIDI SysEx messages. For Windows MIDI-OX is recommended (find a guide on how to download, install, and configure it here), for macOS SysEX Librarian works well.
Sending the Update File with MIDI-OX
Once MIDI-OX is installed and configured to send messages to your MIDI interface’s output, you’re ready to proceed.
- Open MIDI-OX, then go to View → SysEx.
- Connect your device directly to the MIDI interface (without any other devices in between) and turn it on.
- In MIDI-OX, select File → Send SysEx File, then choose the firmware file (with the
.syxextension). The transfer will start immediately.
To ensure the update completes without issues, do not use your PC or the device during the process. The update takes approximately 2 minutes. MIDI-OX will display the outgoing SysEx messages in the background.
Note: MIDI-OX may progress through the file quickly, but it actually takes one to two minutes until everything is sent. Check the following section to determine the update status using the LEDs.
Available Legacy Updates
| Device | Version | Download |
|---|---|---|
| HYDRA4X | 1.1.1 (16th May 2025) | Hydra4X-1.1.1.syx |
| Siren | 2.1.1 (26th March 2025) | Siren-2.1.1.syx |
| Trash Panda Quad | 1.2.0 (27th June 2025) | Coming Soon |
During the Update
All devices communicate their state during the update via two of their LEDs (or two colors of a dual-color LED).
When the update starts, the device resets and only one LED stays on. We refer to this LED as LED1.
LED Status Overview:
- LED1 on, LED2 off: The device is ready to receive the update
- LED1 on, LED2 blinks: Update in progress; LED2 toggles with each memory page written
- LED1 off and LED2 on or off: Update failed — try again
Devices and LED mapping
| Device | LED1 | LED2 |
|---|---|---|
| HYDRA4X | Master Red | Master Green |
| Siren | Phase | CH B Red |
| Trash Panda Quad* | Preset 1 | Preset 2 |
When the update finishes successfully, the device restarts and functions normally.
Failed Updates
If the update fails — whether due to a computer error or a power outage — you can simply try again at any time. However, please note that the device will not function normally until a firmware update completes successfully. A device with a failed update may appear unresponsive or “dead,” but it will still accept a new update attempt.
If the update fails repeatedly, try to download the file again— it might be corrupted.
If you have persisting problems, please get in touch.