Sonifex Software

Sonifex Courier Software Versions

All Courier models can be updated to the latest specification simply by downloading the latest software from PCMCIA disk. Software upgrades are available on this Web site and can be downloaded free of charge along with the text file for the handbook updates. Alternatively, Sonifex can send a floppy disk loaded with the software and handbook updates, for which there will is a nominal handling and shipping fee.

If you require an older version of Courier firmware which is not available on the website, please e-mail courier.support@sonifex.co.uk with your request.

Related Links:
> Courier Portable Recorder

V4.03

Bug Fixes

Improved code for ISDN Receive for better reliability when using Courier to Courier ISDN Live.
Fixed occasional fault with ISDN Receive not switching off audio loopback so that incoming audio continued to be routed to audio output and headphones.

New Features
- Message on connection to internal ISDN module changed from 'Connect to Modem' to 'Connect ISDN TA' to avoid confusion with external modem connection.

V4.00p Beta

Bug Fixes

Battery charging of large cells can cause overheating - and subsequent low charge in battery. 3 cycles only used if first charge time is less than 1 hour and charging now is pulse at 80% duty cycle.

New Features

New version of code to support version 7 motherboard - has integrated audio and USB.
New firmware must have C2 as first characters for bootstrap filter. During playback and recording the audio parameters are now displayed at the bottom of the screen.
A second password has been added to write protect the disk from formatting or deletion of files.
This password is entered/changed via the main->setup->system menus. It is disabled by default or by setting the password to a single space.
ISDN Receive support for Courier to Courier communication, Single ISDN 2 port for testing, and display of incoming Caller number.
Information screen extended to include ISDN firmware version.

V2.77 / V3.27

Bug Fixes

Battery charging of large cells can cause overheating - and subsequent low charge in battery. 3 cycles only used if first charge time is less than 1 hour and charging now is pulse at 80% duty cycle.

New Features

During playback and recording the audio parameters are now displayed at the bottom of the screen.
A second password has been added to write protect the disk from formatting or deletion of files.
This password is entered/changed via the main->setup->system menus. It is disabled by default or by setting the password to a single space.
ISDN Receive support for Courier to Courier communication, Single ISDN 2 port for testing, and display of incoming Caller number.
Information screen extended to include ISDN firmware version.

V2.73 / V3.23

Bug Fixes

Returned Data Hold timimg to previous setting.
Several users reported errors with hard drives and other media with new timing. Some flash ATA cards do not conform to the hard drive specification. The most obvious symptom is that during quiet passages stereo linear files will have audio clicks on the right-hand channel.
If you encounter this problem you should use the older versions V3.145 or V2.645.

New Features
- During playback and Recording the audio parameters are now displayed at the bottom of the screen.
- A second password has been added to write protect the disk from formatting or deletion of files. This password is entered/changed via main->setup->system menus. It is diabled by default or by settings the password to a single space.

V2.645b / V3.145b

Bug Fixes

Click removed from first MPEG play after power-up.
Marks in Edits were not saved in interim release V3.136b - test code for Musifiles.
USB interface re-written for better initialisation with MS-Windows 2000TM. Requires new INF file.
Timing critical issue affecting some Couriers caused channel swapping when playing linear files.

New Features

PCB revision info embedded into version on information screen.
Some flash ATA cards do not conform to the hard drive specification. The most obvious symptom is that during quiet passages stereo linear files will have audio clicks on the right hand channel. Increased data hold timimg to allow for this non-conformance.
Added support for Digas Musifile recording format.
Courier can update the settings directly when downloading from latest CCM V2.511.

V2.621b / V3.121b

Bug Fixes

Fixed fault in Battery Charging Code. Some of the larger Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries charge characteristics meant we were getting false charge complete indications from the voltage readings. We have changed the code to average the voltage value over 3 readings and also slowed the response in calculating the current peak voltage to ensure full charge has been achieved.

V2.61 / V3.11

New Features

Added ISDN Receive option to Connectivity menu. This allows the user to receive calls from an external ISDN line. Simply enter ISDN Receive mode and then wait for incoming calls. Once a call is established the Courier will work in exactly the same way as if the call had been instigated by the Courier. Pressing menu allows the user options to drop the call and return to waiting for incoming calls or to leave the receive mode all together.
Limited support has been added for disk drives greater than 2GBytes. This limit is due to the FAT16 allocation system used by Windows and DOS. Due to the greater memory requirements of FAT32 it is not possible to use this allocation system. Formatting a drive greater than 2GByte on the Courier will now create 2 partitions on the disk. The first will be of 2GBytes in size, will be able to use the FAT16 system, and so will be free for Courier Recordings. The remaining disk space will be assigned to an extended partition. This will appear as a drive letter in Windows explorer and can be formatted for use in the PC, but will not be accessible by Courier.

Bug Fixes
- Fixed bug in Battery parameters that caused screen to become corrupted.
- Allow outgoing calls to be made with dial direct even though no phone book entries have been defined.

V2.59 / V3.09

New Features

Added re-start command to serial File Transfer. Some older PCs fail during a long serial file transfer. This allows a transfer to optionally continue from failure point. Also requires CCM V2.510 or above.
Version 3 code includes USB connectivity. The base code is different for each Courier type and is filtered to allow only the correct code to be loaded. Standard Courier code is prefixed with CO (e.g co_v259.dwn) and USB Courier code is prefixed with CU (e.g cu_v309.dwn)

Bug Fixes

Fixed Loopback with ISDN live. Did not clear loopback when ISDN call finished - fixed.
Fixed bug in 'Save As' audio file for playlists.
Updated Battery Code to silence speaker when Courier is connected to DC power supply but switched off.

V2.55

New Features

Support for 2 Gbyte disks added

Bug Fixes
- Renaming file no longer causes RIFF file length parameter to be cleared - this caused rename files to be rejected by some PC programs
- Some PC operating systems caused PCMCIA disks to be flagged as non-bootable. Courier now supports these disks and does not show a bad load error.

V2.534beta

New Features

Removed 'Load Firmware' from System menu. Holding 'Power' button down for 8 seconds on power up loads new firmware
32K sample rate added for ISDN Live connection - supported bt Telos Zephyr codecs
56kbps connection added for U and S bus ISDN Live connection - used for US connections. 56kbps is selected as default via ISDN Select menu or by appending @56 to telephone number

Bug Fixes
- Auto Record 'start on level' works correctly
- Limiter now functions with 'Encode & Limit' at 384bps
- ISDN Live Cut list filters out stereo files

V2.529beta

New Features

None

Bug Fixes
- FPGA timing corrected to stop infrequent channel swopping
- Corrected initialisation fault that caused record directory to have underscore characters appended to end of the directory name
- Compiler error caused false disk error messages
- Using Monitor whilst recording in mono changed the loopback to stereo-now fixed
  Fixed some non-fatal edit errors occurring with the scrub and shuttle features

V2.524beta

New Features

ISDN connection reliability improved
If the record stream is missing more than 1.2 seconds a warning is generated and recording is stopped
Downloaded code to the ADSP is now verified after programming

Bug Fixes

Errors after 5 minutes on files recorded with Encode and Limit algorithm now fixed
FFwd and Rewind shows correct time on display in count up mode
Loading a new setup file clears remaining entries

V2.522beta

New Features
- 2 MPEG algorithms now available
- Merge menu available to make a new file from 2 selected files of the same sample rate
- Monitor beeps can be switched off
- Nokia 9110 (Communicator) added as modem type
- Live connections now display simultaneous audio levels (where available) for received and sent audio
- Comms menu moved to Setup Menu
- ISDN 56kbps rate available in ISDN Select Menu for USA codecs
- ISDN Play Filter option added
- Adaptor now available for standard telephone lines allowing Courier to communicate in the analog domain
- Bug Fixes
  - Record Pause code rewritten fixing occasional stopping whilst Recording
  - Wrong audio play out and random end point in Edit screen fixed

V2.509beta

New Features

ISDN Select option Power Detect feature On/Off - Allow users to specify whether power detect feature is to be used. Normally this should be on (ticked) but where the telecom provider does not provide power to the bus then clear this option.

Bug Fixes
ISDN Select option - If U-bus fitted then you cannot set SPID & Local Number - now fixed

V2.508beta

Beta Features

Support for File Transfer via POTS and ISDN
Support for live connection via internal ISDN
Support for live connection via external telephone adaptor
Display of Battery Parameters in Batt/Disk by option (reset by power off)
Added record style of Stereo Mix, where mono file is created by summing left and right inputs
Extended Comms Setup for ISDN and Live connections
Extended settings for ISDN Country variations
Name and Number entry dialogs extend simple editing with addition of DELETE button which removes current character and KEEP button which inserts a blank character
In Cut List screen the KEEP button adds the current highlighted entry to the PlayList
CCM allows two-way file transfer

V1.530

New Features

Information now shows DM (Dalet Mono) and DL (Dual Level Mono) on record style lines
SM Transfer via Alcatel One touch Pocket Phone (Beta release only). Other phones will be supported provided they use a standard serial lead and do not use a soft-modem. These will include Siemens S25 and Nokia 8110 when they become available.

Bug Fixes
- Disk Time Remaining calculated incorrectly for all mono files, now shows correct value
- Record style settings for Dalet Mono and Dual Level Mono swapped in function, now correct
- With Larger disks scrub wheel play in edit mode could be jerky. The play commands are now forced to happen at once and the display updates are more frequent. Display Updates are still lowest priority task, so when accessing many sections or with high data rates there will still be some lag in changing the display, so that it may appear jerky during continuous play with the scrub wheel.

V1.530beta

Beta Features

V1.508

New Features

New file types AIFF, DAVE2000, and ENCO-DAD
Record Style option for Dual Level Mono - Left is normal left input and Right is left input with -12dB atten.
Record Style option to Not create Volume Data in the MPEG frames
Optionally show edit info as volume or as a tape line. MPEG files w/o volume data use tape line
Multi-mark editing of files. In edit there are 2 play modes - scrub wheel works as present accessing all data; for buttons and shuttle it shows and plays just kept audio
Delete All Marks now added to edit menu
Playlists, which contain a sequence of several tracks, can be created by using add to playlist options in edit or track property menus
Playlist edit mode allows moving of entry, editing of an entry, play by stepping through tracks and preview of joins using ffwd and rewind buttons
Timer mode options allow play to show count up or count down, edit can show track position or total kept audio duration
Select button in List mode allows multiple selection for delete or file send
Delete button in List mode allows direct deletion of a track or tracks
File Send and phone book for Modem file transfer. Requires hosting s/w on remote computer
Playlist exit asks save yes/no/cancel - if yes simply saves, if default playlist then saves as new edl
Add entry to Playlist added to menu when editing entry in compile screen
Record Style delete doesn't renumber NewStyle00 type entries
Add record style creates next NewStyle00 type entry
Support for 1 & 2 Gigabyte disks
CCM and Load Setup support for phone book and other new options
Option to stop creating peak file now goes to edit with tapeline
Phone Book and ZModem File Transfer for POTS Modems implemented

Bug Fixes
- Now no Click at beginning of mpeg audio tracks
- Snapping to audio when selecting within 3 pixels of existing mark now corrected
- Sound Info selection caused problem when changing type
- Dragging selected area over deleted section now shows correct highlight
- MP2 files now leave edit correctly when save is selected on exit
- MP2 save as on edit exit now cancels when menu key is selected
- Ffwd or Rew of Linear Stereo tracks could cause channel swapping

V1.180

Features

Improved response when rewinding a file in edit or play mode
Battery Manager double checks battery charge cycle is complete before discontinuing charging cycle
Scrub Wheel can be used more effectively in Edit mode
Edit marks can now be dragged using the Scrub Wheel

V1.160

Features

Courier will continue charging cycle while connected to external supply even if Courier is switched off - and stop charging when battery is fully charged
NOTE - DAVE2000 file support is NOT available on this release

V1.141beta

Features

DAVE2000 file support
Linear wav support for 8kHz, 11.025kHz, and 12kHz
Linear 8bit wav support
Microsoft Active Movie would not recognise Block Align values used by Courier - double clicking would not play file with default drivers in Microsoft Windows 98. Files now saved with acceptable Block Align values and Cue & Playlist settings are scaled acordingly. New files will show wrong duration values on old machines, but should play correctly.
Eliminated squelching when begining playback of MPEG files
Hold Edit exits from create peak file routine
Easier to understand Battery Status indicator messages (See Handbook for details)
Cueing to a position in a long cut of greater than frame number 65536 caused a system crash. This has now been fixed.

V1.040

Features

Improved RS232 diagnostics
Improved shuttle display in Button diagnostics
Improved reliability for Battery Status Display
Battery Full Warning only beeps when in record mode

V1.030

Features

Improved reliability when recording to a new disk
Disk Free Time in status is now limited to 99:99:99

V1.020

Features

New Disk now creates first file without errors
Support for recording on heavily fragmented disks

V1.000

Features

Battery life (% remaining)
Hard disk time remaining
Cut properties (duration, file size, date, time, sample rate, bit rate, mono/stereo)
Cut rename, delete
Passwording
Record styles - defining record modes, sample rates, etc, for user selection
Top and tail editing
Help screens
Record autostart on audio
Options and user setup
Read setup from PCMCIA card
English language version
Show version information and lost password screen

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