SOFTWARE UPDATE

The latest version includes changes made in previous versions. Just load the latest. Loading instructions are located after the change list.

If your AVM 20 has v1.16 or higher (press Status to find out), you can load this software version. If you have v1.12 or lower, your 56366 DSP hardware must be replaced with the 56367 before loading this version (see 'Products / AVM 20 Archive / Upgrades' on www.anthemAV.com for details).


THE AVM 20 WILL TURN ITSELF ON AND OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF THE INSTALLATION PROCESS - DO NOT INTERFERE WITH THIS.


Mac users:

This software can be installed through a Windows emulator and a USB to serial adapter (adapter's driver program must be properly installed).


If you are using a laptop:

VERY IMPORTANT - check your computer's power management settings to ensure that the software update does NOT get interrupted.


If you are using a USB to serial adapter:

1. Make sure its driver is properly installed. If a Windows message pops up just before driver is installed saying that the driver is not Windows-certified, DO NOT USE IT. Some of these "budget" adapters are known to load funny data into the preamp, causing it to freeze up, which is not covered under warranty.

2. The virtual port must be assigned to COM1 through COM6 for installer to run. If installer can not locate preamp, go to Start Menu / Settings / Control Panel / System / Device Manager. Double-click on Ports, then double-click on the adapter. In Port Settings, if it shows COM7 or higher, change to an available port between COM1 and COM6.


If you are using a Mac:

This software can be installed through a Windows emulator and a USB to serial adapter.


The meaning of software numbering is as follows:

first digit - hardware version
second digit - major operational changes, new manual (downloadable)
third digit - minor changes and/or bug fixes
letter at the end (if present) - beta version


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CHANGE LIST


v2.21:

1. Custom installers: Added serial query commands for new AMX module - see serial command documentation for changes.


v2.20:

1. Added Dolby Pro Logic IIx (Movie, Music, Matrix, Games). Note that Pro Logic IIx can be applied even if input is 88.2 kHz or 96 kHz PCM, or with Analog-DSP when A/D converter is set to these rates.

2. Added THX Games Mode (both for 2.0 and 5.1 input)

3. Added ability to engage PLIIx on top of DTS 5.1 and ES Matrix

4. Added ability to engage Neo:6 on top of Dolby Digital 5.1 (including EX)

5. Changed mode preset structure in menu 5 submenus to be user-friendly with the above. Recommended - scroll through these to familiarize yourself with the new options.

6. Serial commands and IR macros for mode selection expanded due to above (see attached documentation)

7. To satisfy new Dolby output level standard, the THX noise reference level in menu 4 is up by 3 dB. This means that playback level drops by approximately 3 dB compared to earlier software for any given volume control setting.

8. Copy function can be locked in and used without powering on Main (see bottom of menu 5)

9. All video inputs now assignable

10. Dolby Digital soundtracks with center channel only automatically change mode to Mono (Mono-Academy and All-Channel Mono can also be used)

11. THX Re-Equalization can be engaged even when THX is off

12. Due to its use becoming more common, "Audio Group Delay" now reads as "Lip-Sync Delay"

13. Adjusted DTS output level to match as closely as possible the recent changes in Dolby Digital output level

14. With a certain HD set top box model, muting occurs when changing channel from HD to lower one - SPDIF receiver modified to try to clear bitstream error flags that may be responsible for this muting

15. Installer now scans up to COM6 to establish serial communication - it was found that some USB-serial adapters use virtual assignments COM5 and COM6.

16. Compatible with new Settings Editor utility.

17. 20 July version - numerous changes to the installer to try to get more consistent performance with USB to serial adapters.


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Changes from v2.14 to v2.15 - various fixes for isolated cases:
 
1. Serial command "PnzxAAAAAAAAAAA" for displaying a string on the front panel and OSD displays for timeout does not work when sent to zone which is not the current front panel zone - fixed

2. When Main and Z2 are on and serial command P1P0 is sent, Z2 OSD stays on until user intervention - fixed

3. When sending serial command P1Eyx, returns P1Eyyx, though P1Eyx is returned when it's part of a package such as changing input (when Tx status is on) - fixed

4. When rears are set to 2 and reverse sur-rear to yes, if one then goes back to spk config and changes rears to 1 the surrounds continue to come from the rears - fixed by forcing the surround/rear swap to off/NA when number of rears is set to 1

5. If unit is powered down when in power-up sequence for auto-on, the volume ramp-up for that zone will get stuck on max volume - fixed

6. ...and a memorable one that against unlikely probability involves a certain CD segment with a sequence of 1s and 0s exactly the same as that which tells a pre-pro to go into a Dolby decoding mode, thus causing no output


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Changes from v2.13 to v2.14:

1. Custom Installers: added new serial command PnzxAAAAAAAAAAA for displaying custom messages/notifications on the front panel and Main / Zone 2 on-screen displays for duration of timeout period, where n=zone (1,2), x=line (1,2), AAAA=text up to 20 characters for each of the two lines.

2. Fixed bug where Auto-LFE didn't switch the speaker configuration depending on certain factors.


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Changes from v2.12 to v2.13:

1. In further trying to prevent popping that occurs with a small number of digital source components, without resorting to methods that delete the beginning of a track, a new parameter has been added to menu 5 submenus, 'source setups':

Muting: Min/Med/Max

This allows a selection of 3 muting types for digital sources.

Min - optimized for CD players

Med - optimized for DVD players

Max - optimized for digital satellite/cable boxes

Regardless, if you have a DVD player that works better with Max setting, use Max setting. Thanks to all involved.

2. Swap surround/rear and copy surround/rear can be set even if there are no rears in either speaker configuration - now says 'NA'.

3. More changes to serial commands (see accompanying document and new command set).

4. Various bug fixes.


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Changes from v2.10 to v2.12:


1. THX required change: When Ultra2 Subwoofer is 'Yes' in submenu 2h., Bass Peak Level Manager is disabled.

2. Eliminated loss of level trim / balance settings and disabling of tone controls due to THX being turned on during bitstream change (eg PCM to AC3 due to chapter change on DVD). Settings now lost only if a new source is selected with THX turned on whereas the previous source had THX off, or when THX is turned on manually. (Trims and tone controls resetting to zero is a requirement whenever THX is activated.)

3. When in simulcast mode, triggers followed audio source conditions only, which may be incompatible with some installations where trigger conditions are set according to source - triggers now activate if either the audio or video source has them turned on in setup menus.

4. Adjusted muting time and related factors during bitstream change to prevent cutting off of track beginning and, as much as possible, popping due to format transition. Thanks to all involved. This sort of problem is inherent with multiple format detection (PCM/AC3/DTS/MPEG/etc and all variations including DTS-CD), and normally results in a tradeoff between presence of popping vs losing beginning of track, further complicated by pause/skip/scan modes and lack of operational standards within.

5. Changed the way audio group delay is adjusted in presets submenu - now allows faster changes by giving access to individual digits (with remote control, press Select after highlighting appropriate line in submenu of menu 5, then use the East/West keys to move from digit to digit and North/South keys to change digit).
 
6. Added back door for group delay adjustment to allow on the fly changes during regular operation - press and hold Display on remote control, then adjust using navigation keys as above.

7. Extensive additions and some changes to RS232 commands and echoes - documented with new RS232 command list download (found in 'AVM 20 / Custom Installation' section of www.anthemAV.com).

8. Various bug fixes.


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Changes from v2.09 to v2.10:

too many to list here - see v2.1 Upgrade.pdf


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Changes in v2.00 hardware upgrade:


1. Additional Surround Sound Modes - AnthemLogic (TM) Music, AnthemLogic (TM) Cinema, Dolby Pro Logic II Music, Dolby Pro Logic II Movie, DTS Neo:6 Music, DTS Neo:6 Cinema, DTS-ES Matrix, DTS-ES Discrete, THX Ultra2. With the addition of all of the these new surround modes, Church, Hall, Club, Theater, and Stadium that were in v1 have been deleted.

2. Advanced Settings for Speaker Configuration

3. The 6-channel input is now available as a stereo downmix when copied to Zone 2, Zone 3, or Record.

4. When Main power is turned off last, all Copy settings are retained (copy settings also retained in the event of a power failure).

5. Dynamics now works for DTS as well as Dolby Digital (source material must be encoded with scaling information, and applies to 5.1 / 6.1 only).


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SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE


1. Confirm which Software Version you currently have by pressing the Status button on the Front Panel. Compare your Software Version to the one you have just downloaded. Proceed only if your version is a lower number (indicating that it is older).

2. Ensure that your current Setup configuration is saved in 'User Settings' or 'Installer Settings' (menu 11).

3. Turn the power switch at the rear of your AVM 20 off, or disconnect the power cord to prevent the possibility of a static discharge when the serial port is connected.

4. Using a straight-wired serial cable, connect your computer to the AVM 20 via the 9-pin female RS-232 port on the Rear Panel.

5. The rear power switch must then be turned on and the AC power cord of the AVM 20 must be plugged back in, but MAIN, ZONE2, or ZONE3 power does not have to be turned on.

6. Click on the file called "AVM 20 Installer". Click on the Install Upgrade Now button. In a few minutes the install and verification will be completed. The AVM 20 will then turn itself OFF for a forced re-boot.

NOTE: The Installer will automatically cycle through various steps - Program Flash, Program EEPROM, ...Verifying. Do not close the Installer or use any controls on the AVM 20 (or remote control) until all of these steps are completed.

7. Once complete you may disconnect the serial cable from the Rear Panel.

8. You do not need to Restore or Recall any settings after the Update procedure. The AVM 20 will retain the settings that were in use before the update. Time and day settings will be set according to your computer's settings.


TROUBLESHOOTING:

RTS/CTS should be turned off in the setup menu (item 9g. set to 'None'), otherwise the installer may not be able to communicate with the AVM 20.

If the installer keeps returning a message that says "AVM 20 Not Found" after several attempts, restore Factory Settings in the Setup menu, try installing again, and reload User Settings once the new software is installed.

Also, if you're using a docking station for a personal organizer or another device that uses the serial port on your computer, make sure that the serial port is not already in use. You may have to go into the application to turn it off.


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Copyright  2005, Sonic Frontiers International. All rights reserved. The information contained herein may not be reproduced in whole or in part without our express written permission.

Sonic Frontiers can be reached Monday to Friday, 9:00 am - 5:30 pm (EST) at 905-362-0958

fax: 905-564-4642
e-mail: info@sonicfrontiers.com
technical support: sfitech@sonicfrontiers.com

ANTHEM (TM) and SONIC FRONTIERS (TM) are trademarks of Sonic Frontiers International.

Sonic Frontiers International reserves the right to change specifications and/or features without notice as design improvements are incorporated.
