Programming/getting MCUs.

Getting Atmega with protected bootloader
Programming PIC18F2550
Loading MegaDrum firmware

Getting Atmega with protected bootloader:

From 01/06/2010 to be able to load latest firmware version you must get Atmega programmed with the protected bootloader. See the announcement for details. As an example of getting Atmega with the protected bootloader see this forum topic.

If you're going to connect your MegaDrum to your PC over a standard MIDI port, you're done and you can skip to Loading MegaDrum firmware. If you're going to connect you MegaDrum to your PC over USB - read on.

Programming PIC18F2550

To program PIC18F2550 you will need an ICSP cable and WinPic. The schematics for the ICSP cable can be found here at the bottom of the page.

  • Download and install WinPic.
  • Connect the Digital board to a USB port to provide power for PIC18F2550.
  • Using the ICSP cable connect the ICSP header on the Digital board to a COM port of your PC.
  • Run WinPic and go to the 'Interface' tab. Make sure that 'Interface type' is set to COM 84 or JDM(2). Make sure the correct port is selected in 'on port:'
  • Go to 'Device,Config' and in 'Part:' select PIC18F2550
  • Download USB firmware from Downloads page.

Now you're ready to program PIC182550. Go to File->Load and browse to a USB firmware file you've dowloaded. Once loaded, go to Device->Program(CODE+DATA+CONFIG). It will take several seconds to complete and it should report at the bottom of the window that programming finished with no errors.

Once you've programmed  PIC182550, disconnect the ICSP cable and disconnect and reconnect Digital board to a USB port. Your computer should automatically detect a new device and install required drivers. After it installed the drivers on Windows you should see MegaDrum in the Device Manager as a 'USB Audio Device' in 'Sound, video and game controllers':

Your MegaDrum is now ready to load MegaDrum firmware.

Loading MegaDrum firmware

Use the instruction on the forum on how to load  MegaDrum firmware over USB or MIDI.