Updating Behringer Neutron Firmware - Using a Mac is easier

 

The Neutron has an array of deeper settings accessible by various button presses. These are also accessible by using the appropriate app.

But, as the title of this post refers to, it requires an updated firmware greater than v2.

I spent a number of hours trying to convince Windows to work, but ultimately failed and switched to a Mac, which worked first try.

If you do try Windows there are a few things -

MSVCP140.dll VCRUNTIME140.dll errors because you need to install Microsoft Visual C++

The 2.0.3 Firmware update is the same as the 2.0.2 but also supports later MacOS.

The Boot button is a recessed button at the back, requires a paper clip or similar to press. Pressing this while powering the unit on, will put the Neutron into Firmware Update mode.

The Zadig USB driver (linked in the Troubleshooting section of firmware release notes - https://zadig.akeo.ie/

Firmware installer stalls at 3% is apparently another USB issue, I did not solve it, but someone did by using a cheap USB hub. It's also useful that this does not effect the Neutron at all so it should be OK to restart the Neutron.

Google drive folder containing a collection of Behringer Neutron software, firmware, manuals, etc. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mUeBCpUOgYDygU0XWG-w49r1Im_5w3CA?usp=drive_link

references

https://www.reddit.com/r/synthesizers/comments/q7dfil/behringer_neutron_firmware_update_procedure_is

Pitch CV as a v-trigger sync signal

For no real reason  I occasionally consider using CV for other purposes, todays goal is to use pitch CV to emulate a V-Trigger pulse clock signal.

If V-Trigger uses a voltage transition between 0V and 5V.

While Oxi One sequencer using V/Oct CV range, 0V is C2, 5V is C7.

> Sequence a simple pitch sequence between those two  notes.

Select a mono track on the Oxi One,
set CV settings for track to ouput pitch v/oct,
connect cable between CV out on Oxi and SYNC in on device.

Oxi One - Setting the CV out as V/Oct, and using the Major scale for simplicity.
Other devices - using 1 PPS for simplicity.

This of course worked*, so I decided to go a bit further and explore workable pitch ranges for the transition to work.

If C2 - C7 works, would C3 - G4 work?
What range of pitches would satisfy required levels for triggering?

This was done by modifying the simple melodic sequence (C2, C7) to discover the transition pitch between the sync working/not working.

Raise the lower pitch until it stops working, lower to working pitch
Lower the upper pitch until it stops working, raise to working pitch
**Confirm lower pitch,
Reset lower pitch to C2, confirm upper pitch.

Table shows working ranges,
pitches below the down column, and above the up column.

I found two types of responses.
The first responds when the pulse changes around a central value - the values below show the smallest difference that would work.
The second responds to a change of a certain value but with no fixed centre - the values below show the smallest difference at either extreme.

                                                range in pitch,              

Arturia Beatstep Pro                C3/B3

Behringer TD3                        C3/D4

Behringer RD8                        C3/A3

Behringer Crave                      A3/B3           

Roland TR-06                         A2/B2

Second Type 

Korg Monotribe                     C-1/D-1    and     A6/B6

Sonicware XFM                     C-1/E-1    and      G6/B6

*With caveats for timing, 1PPS was the simplest to work with.
The end device tempo of is based on the Oxi sequencer timing and any device scaling settings. Sequencer settings also determine pitch at 0V.

**Added the confirm step to allow for devices such as the Sonicware XFM which does not have set pitch points, any interval of at least 4 semitones seems to work.