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Boot Rom image file
Posted: 19 May 2022, 09:29
by Vikink
Hello, I am new in this forum but been on electronics and music since I was a kid (I'm 56 now).
I repair vintage synths for a living, but, as Murphy's law states, the one wich is yours will have the worst issue.
I'm repairing my Nord Lead 3 and need diagnostics rom.
By the way, made some interesting upgrades in the NL3 power supply that I can share if anybody is interested.
And now, what I need at this moment.
Does anybody has a boot rom image file ?
Because mine has 0.18 and it has no diagnostics on it.
Thanks!!
Re: Boot Rom image file
Posted: 19 May 2022, 17:01
by 23skidoo
They never released a diagnostics rom to the public for that synth (or any other, that I'm aware of).
Why did you consider the power supply needed upgrading? What changes did you make and why?
The last firmware (1.20) can be found here:
https://www.nordkeyboards.com/downloads/nord-lead-3
Re: Boot Rom image file
Posted: 19 May 2022, 20:40
by Vikink
Thanks for your reply 23Skidoo, , but I need the boot rom file, readed with a programmer from the chip itself (by the way, only version 0.2 and after has diagnostics on it), when you "upgrade firmare" via MIDI, it is only the flash part.
About the power supply, and after some time spent on it, it has several defects, logic when the synth was created but easy to fix nowdays.
For example, there are all linear regulators, and it is ok for the analog part but on the digital one (specially on 3.3V for DSPs) I've changed the 5V and 3.3 V regulators for its counterpart DC/DC converters, increasing efficiency and leaving some "reservoir" avoiding the common self reset problem and hypersensibility to fluctuations on the power line.
Don't forget that this power supply has the same basic design of the Nord Lead 2, and there is slightly increased power consumption on the NL3.
Re: Boot Rom image file
Posted: 19 May 2022, 20:43
by Vikink
23skidoo wrote:They never released a diagnostics rom to the public for that synth (or any other, that I'm aware of).
Exactly for this I'm asking for the file, readed by a user (or technician) on their own synth
Re: Boot Rom image file
Posted: 19 May 2022, 22:19
by 23skidoo
Yes, I'm aware that the firmware file they provide is not the same thing as the boot rom, that's why I wrote them in separate sections.
The switchmode power supplies are a big part of why the NLA1 gets noise complaints, but if that's how you like your synths...
The linear supplies of the L1/2/3 are, IMO, a big plus from that perspective.
I don't know how big or drastic your fluctuations are, but I've never seen any power related issues with my NL3. Did you check the capacitors in your power supply? Maybe they were just going bad. Linear regulators are perfectly capable of tracking fluctuations (as good as switchmode, and better in some cases), and headroom is simply a matter of current capacity, not topology.
Where did you find the information that version 0.2 of the boot rom has diagnostics, or how to use them? I'd be curious about this myself, as I want to keep mine running as long as possible, too.
Do you have the pinout and chip type of the ROM chip? Is it a standard JDEC SPI flash chip or is it older than that and needs a special reader / programmer?
Re: Boot Rom image file
Posted: 19 May 2022, 22:52
by Mr_-G-
There was some time ago a discussion about this (I do not own a NL3 so I can't confirm it):
https://gearspace.com/board/so-much-gea ... ost6515383
Re: Boot Rom image file
Posted: 19 May 2022, 23:53
by 23skidoo
A simple capacitor is *very* different from replacing the topology of the regulators entirely... whether it's necessary or not is also a matter of debate.
Nevertheless, I'm more interested in the boot rom discussion; if we want to talk about the power supply further I'm ok with opening a separate thread on the subject.
Re: Boot Rom image file
Posted: 20 May 2022, 11:03
by Berretje
23skidoo wrote:
Nevertheless, I'm more interested in the boot rom discussion; if we want to talk about the power supply further I'm ok with opening a separate thread on the subject.
I'm not that technical but I'm interested in how do you download the software from the chip itself? Do you have to solder on some wires and is there specific software to get it off the chip?
Re: Boot Rom image file
Posted: 20 May 2022, 11:25
by maxpiano
Maybe the guy who opened this thread (to fix his NL3 for another issue) could be a good one to contact and ask for that ?
nord-lead-rack-forum-f12/nord-lead-3-pr ... ml#p142582
Re: Boot Rom image file
Posted: 20 May 2022, 21:50
by Vikink
23skidoo wrote:Yes, I'm aware that the firmware file they provide is not the same thing as the boot rom, that's why I wrote them in separate sections.
The switchmode power supplies are a big part of why the NLA1 gets noise complaints, but if that's how you like your synths...
The linear supplies of the L1/2/3 are, IMO, a big plus from that perspective.
In this case I'm not replacing the PS with a SMPS, jus changing topology of DIGITAL regulators, so no noise added, and new DC/DC buck converters oscillate over 500Khz, well over the high end of the audio band.
I don't know how big or drastic your fluctuations are, but I've never seen any power related issues with my NL3. Did you check the capacitors in your power supply? Maybe they were just going bad. Linear regulators are perfectly capable of tracking fluctuations (as good as switchmode, and better in some cases), and headroom is simply a matter of current capacity, not topology.
I completelly disagree with you on this, linear regulators dissipate the overvoltage as heat, high freq. converters not so, If you have an average 90% efficiency versus 30% of linear, you can see the difference. And already changed al caps, on the 10 V input of 5 and 3.3V regulators you get a 500mv 50 hz (60 if you are in america) ripple, can show you the O'scope image if you like 
Where did you find the information that version 0.2 of the boot rom has diagnostics, or how to use them? I'd be curious about this myself, as I want to keep mine running as long as possible, too.
It is in the NL3 service manual
Do you have the pinout and chip type of the ROM chip? Is it a standard JDEC SPI flash chip or is it older than that and needs a special reader / programmer?
Yes, it is a ST 27C1001, OTP eprom QFP32, can be replaced with a flash SST39SF001 if you will change different firmwares