I’ve been struggling for hours trying to get my Analog Heat MKII to work with Overbridge but I keep hitting roadblocks. My Mac recognizes the device but Overbridge refuses to detect it. I attempted a firmware update but it keeps failing with a checksum error leaving the unit stuck in a perpetual receiving mode
Here’s what I’ve tried so far
Set USB Mode to Overbridge in the system settings
Restarted Overbridge Engine and reinstalled Overbridge
Used multiple USB cables and ports direct no hubs
Tried different update methods Elektron Transfer SysEx
Factory reset the unit multiple times
Tested on another computer same issue
At this point I’m stuck. If a failed firmware update can make the device nonfunctional that’s a huge concern. Has anyone experienced this before Any workarounds or ideas before I consider returning the unit
Hey, I don’t know much about mac OS but I’ve read a couple of threads here on elektronauts which imply that the high security level for installing new software on a mac computer might require some kind of administrator approval on your end before OB will work correctly. Moreover something I read said that it needs to be approved within a set amount of time from the point of installation and that it won’t always notify you.
I’d have to look for the thread in the search bar to confirm, but I believe that the solution was to uninstall overbridge and then reinstall and manually approve the software and driver installation. I can’t remember specifically where you’d look for this, but it seems to me that it was the equivalent of windows security center, but for mac.
I’ll take a look and see if I can find the relevant post for you. May have nothing to do with your problem but won’t hurt to check it out.
This might be a bit outdated, I don’t think this is the same post that I was referring to either but the information seems to be the same as what I recalled from the other topic that I was originally thinking of so I’d probably say it’s worth looking into even if your OS is newer. Good luck and if all else fails, contact elektron support through the contact form in your elektron.se account.
Thanks. I’ve been looking through the forum and haven’t found anything I haven’t already tried—really frustrating. This is my first Elektron device, and I’m not happy with how much research and waiting it’s taking just to get it up and running.
It’s strange that Overbridge Engine detects my device with an “update firmware” status, yet when I open the Transfer app, the device is completely unrecognized. The unit is definitely in Overbridge mode. I’ve had slightly better luck using a MIDI cable, where I can at least send the Syx file, but the update always fails with a “checksum” error or gets stuck indefinitely in “receiving” mode.
I’ve already opened a support ticket with Elektron and hope to resolve this before resorting to returning the unit. Hard to believe that a firmware update could be this complicated and unreliable.
I think you probably have a menu setting on the heat for overbridge mode and another option for USB midi / audio (I don’t have an AH but most OB enabled devices have this, probably under USB settings). Switch it out of overbridge mode and into the latter, then see if transfer detects it when in normal USB audio mode. Tell me what happens.
I’m sure it’s frustrating. I don’t have much experience with mac personally but having read and participated in a lot of silmilar discussions, it seems that with mac devices 7 times out of 10 the mac is the problem but without knowing that for sure, it could be anything. The failed update must be for a reason so hopefully support will know what’s going on.
Once transfer recognizes the AHmkII try updating your firmware again via USB, I’ve definitely seen where a Digitakt or other similar won’t show up in transfer when in OB mode.
Hopefully it turns out to be simple but since you already submitted a ticket you might just have to wait on a response from support, unless another user here has some fresh ideas. I do know that you tried a bunch of stuff already but something simple is often the issue so lets hope for that.
Another idea to try if you haven’t already is use SysEx Librarian to send the firmware update.
Power on Analog Heat. Connect it to your computer via USB.
Settings → System → OS Upgrade
Open SysEx Librarian.
Select the Analog Heat as its destination.
Send the *.syx file to the Analog Heat. You should see a progress bar on the AH while it works.
Also it’s worth double-checking you downloaded the correct .syx file for the Analog Heat MKII and not the MKI or +FX.
If that fails there is a setting in SysEx Librarian where you can reduce the transmit speed. Try setting it to half speed and try again. I’ve had this fix issues updating firmware on other synths in the past.
If you have a MIDI Out, such as on an audio interface, plus cable you can also send the .syx over that to the Analog Heat, circumventing USB. Just select the MIDI Out in SysEx Librarian, ensure the cable is plugged into the MIDI IN on your Analog Heat, Settings → System → OS Upgrade, and transmit.
If none of that helps it would be worth opening a support ticket with Electron.
Thanks so much for the helpful suggestion! Using a MIDI interface and SysEx Librarian did the trick, and I was finally able to get the Analog Heat updated successfully. Really appreciate the detailed steps and the advice.
