How to upgrade a Yamaha MU2000 to a MU2000EX

[@EgoShredder]

I'm glad I saved all the available downloads for the PLG expanion boards back in the mid to late 2000s. Even back then the English / European Yamaha websites did not carry the full software and plugins etc for the entire range of PLG boards. Back then they could ONLY be found on the Japanese site, and that is long gone and replaced with a revised website minus the downloads. Weirdly the downloads were all in English with no support for Japanese!

[@jerdure]

Do you mean the PLG boards can be substituted with a software solution on hardware synths ? I am looking to upgrade a Motif ES with 1 or 2 PLG150 boards

[@cromulence]

Fantastic, thanks for this! Glad you can use Win10 directly as I think an XP VM might be a bit finnicky. Grabbed an MU2000 for just under 130 quid from Sendico - very much looking forward to receiving it!

[@RetroBoxRoom]

Nice! I hope it all works out for you!

[@cromulence]

This came in handy - received my MU2000 and it was running EX already, however after checking the version on there, it wasn’t the latest R1 revision. This video is reassuring as the random pauses are nerve wracking - it at least this prepares you for it! Major props to YAMAHA for not only writing a solid firmware update program that still works on Windows 11, but also for still providing updated drivers for a device that’s pushing 25 years old. Massively impressive - surely one of the oldest devices that isn’t class compliant that still has an up to date Windows driver? Anyway, now running the R1 firmware - now awaiting a SmartMedia card so I can play around with the 2000s features a little more. What a cool little box of tricks this thing is!

[@DhinCardoso]

Amazing! A lot of amazing things here - how intelligent you are, how generous you are sharing this knowledge and 2k → 2kEX ♥

[@RetroBoxRoom]

Thank you for the kind comments. Hopefully you find my other episodes helpful too. Thanks for watching!

[@kirabate]

THANK YOU MAN!!! IT WORKS!! 👍👍👍

[@RetroBoxRoom]

Great stuff! Thanks for watching!!’

[@EgoShredder]

You did not show the result but I assume you later checked the screen, to see if it showed the updated firmware version.

[@RetroBoxRoom]

Please jump to 24m

[@woofaki5550]

A question my friend,can this be used on a modern W11 PC to play older games with midi?Im using Xg softsynth for now.

[@RetroBoxRoom]

Have a search for my MIDI mountain. I’ve added to it since, but the whole point is for me to play retro games on a Windows 11 PC, with the MIDI music. It’s a rabbit hole to fall done, matching up different synths, for the different games. I use a Roland Um-One Mk2 midi interface to connect to the synths. I then have to play about in SCUMMVM, dosbox or the like to get it all setup correctly. Part of the fun is getting it working, but it’s also really nice to hear the original music. Thanks for watching!

[@woofaki5550]

@@RetroBoxRoom So from what i understood,i need the Roland UM-One mk2 to be able to use it on PC as Midi?

[@RetroBoxRoom]

@woofaki5550 You need the UM-One so the PC can communicate with MIDI devices that use MIDI ports.

[@woofaki5550]

@@RetroBoxRoom Thank you,do we need any drivers in order for win 11 (and beyond) to see the tone generator?

[@woofaki5550]

@@RetroBoxRoom A question,is the difference between the soft XG and the MU big in games that are using XG or GM midi?I never got to hear one live to compare....

[@jimmyandrademusicjapan]

Can i use with computer? Connect directly to DI and recorder?or i need the computer anyway?, sorry for the simple question.

[@RetroBoxRoom]

A DI and a recorder, would be enough to hear the audio, but of course you need some sort of a MIDI musical instrument to play the notes. Have fun making music!

[@jimmyandrademusicjapan]

Thankyou. Yes i have a midi keyboard. I'll by a used one so, My question ia about to start with the module .

[@RetroBoxRoom]

Don't forget to check the manual. You should find links in the description.

[@sceic]

I using a laptop with a Windows 11 23H2 system, and I'm trying to upgrade MU2000 via a USB3 port. During part 2 of the upgrade, every step's write status in the lower left corner is showing 'NG,' and the final checksum C4EC upgrade fails. When I try to upgrade again, I encounter the same status, and the laptop can only boot into DL MODE."

[@sceic]

Then I switched to another laptop with a USB 2.0 port running Windows 10. I attempted the upgrade again from part 1 to part 2. In part 2, the write status changed from 'NG' to 'OK,' and the final checksum was 2762. After rebooting, the MU2000 changed to 'EX,' indicating a successful upgrade.

[@woofaki5550]

@@sceic My friend can you use MU 2000 in a win 11 PC for retro games with midi?If so how we connect it to it?

[@EgoShredder]

I wonder if you can update the firmware via the front SmartMedia memory card slot?

[@RetroBoxRoom]

I doubt it. The data size and bandwidth would be factors holding it back, I believe.

[@jimbotron70]

@@RetroBoxRoom Also these updating methods require one and only one specific procedure.