Greetings everyone and welcome to my website Vettaville. This website is dedicated to providing unique information about some of Line 6's modern guitar/amp technology...particularly the Vetta as well the Variax. Also visit the Netherlands Vettaville and join us for equipment discussions at Andy Z's Institute of Noise Forums.

email: nathanshane@vettaville.com

 

How To Update The Vetta's Software

  
 

It's 2004, and the Vetta has been with us for well over two years now. The original Vetta came onto the scene with software version 1.01, which was quickly followed by updates 1.02, 1.03, and 1.05. With version 1.10, the Vetta was given an additional three amp models. But it wasn't until the summer of 2003 that we saw the Vetta given a complete software overhaul with version 2.03 which transformed the original Vetta into a Vetta II.

  
  As with most changes, those of us who have owned Vetta's through all of these software updates have seen how the actual update procedure has changed as well. I think this was largely in part due to the fact that so many Vetta users often feel overwhelmed at the idea of connecting their beloved amp to a computer and hoping it will still work properly after an update. Nevertheless, in order to be able to update the operating system, as well as do any kind of patch editing/saving, users need to have a basic understanding how MIDI works with the Vetta.  
  MIDI, (an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface ) is the only means by which to update and edit your Vetta (and this applies to the Variax as well). As a Vetta owner, you have no real choice but to embrace MIDI and learn how to use it with your Vetta.  
  These midi sysex programs can still be used to do updates, but in an effort to minimize update difficulties, Line 6 developed a better method for doing Vetta updates by creating their own Firmware Updater  which updates the software that runs inside the amp.  
 

 
 

Line 6 Vetta Firmware Update Utility

 
 

 
  In the good ole' days of the Vetta, most of us were using one of two MIDI SysEx (midi system exclusive) programs to do the updates. These programs were SendSX and MIDIOX. Below you will see the original update instructions.  
 

The Original Vetta I Update Procedure

  
 

1. Turn Vetta’s power button on while holding down COMP. The right LCD will display “Software Update…Press EDIT to continue. Press TAP to cancel”

2. Press EDIT to enter software update mode or TAP to exit update mode.

3. The right LCD will say “WARNING!! This cannot be undone! Are you sure? Press SAVE to continue. Press TAP to Cancel”. Press Save to proceed. The amp will now erase the current operating system software from its memory. Please note: if you exit the procedure now and try to use the amp, it will light up but the amp will not function as there is no operating software.

4. After the amp has cleared out the old software, the right display will read “Ready for Software Download”. Tell your Midi Data filer, Computer Midi SysEx software or 2nd Vetta to send the new Vetta Operating system software. (To send the software out of the 2nd Vetta, you must go into the self test mode. To do this, power up the 2nd Vetta while holding down it’s REVERB button. Proceed to TEST #13, “Upload Code”. Press COMP to begin sending the software).

5. After amp has received the new software, the right display will read “Software download complete. Press SAVE to run new software”

6. Press SAVE and the Vetta will go into play mode.

7. If program load is slow switching from channel to channel (which it should be), you will then need to reset the program memory. Press SAVE and scroll to page 10, "RESET FACTORY". Press SAVE while on this page to reset the Factory Bank. The right LCD will read "…restoring FACTORY bank…". When this process is complete, scroll to page 11, "RESET USER" and press SAVE once again. The right LCD will now read "…restoring USER bank…". Press TAP when the process is complete. Program changes should now be back to normal.

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8. Next you need to send the ModelDefaults.syx file into your Vetta. This is a necessary file that must be sent into the Vetta in order for all the amp and fx models to have valid model default parameters. Simply send the ModelDefaults.syx file into the Vetta and the data will automatically be recognized and stored by the Vetta when it receives it.

 

9. If you decide you wish to upload any Bulk Patches, this is simply a matter of pressing the SAVE button, then scroll to the appropriate page which says: Receive MIDI Factory Bank? or Receive MIDI USER Bank? Then decide which of these two banks you wish to upload your new bank into. Then follow the LCD screen instructions.

 		  
     
 

B.  Operating System software and Factory Preset upgrade procedure

  
 

Download the Vetta Upgrade software:

1.   From the Vetta II software download page, click on the appropriate file for the product you     own (either Combo or HD).

2.   In the “File Download” dialog box that appears, select “Save”.

3.   Take note of where you save this file.

4.   Repeat this process for the Model Defaults and the Factory Presets files.

 

Operating System and Amp Model update:

 

1.   Connect the MIDI “OUT” of your “MIDI to Joystick Port cable” to Vetta’s “MIDI In”, or connect a standard MIDI cable from the “MIDI Out” of your MIDI interface (or MIDI recorder) to Vetta’s “MIDI In”.

2.   Power up the Vetta while holding down the COMP button. The Main LCD display will read: “Software Update… Press EDIT to Continue – Press TAP to Cancel”.

3.   Press Vetta’s EDIT button to continue. The Main LCD display will read: “Software Update… !! WARNING !! THIS CANNOT BE UNDONE! Are you sure?” Press SAVE to Continue – Press TAP to Cancel.

4.   Press Vetta’s SAVE button to continue. The Right LCD display will read: “Erasing Flash block.. 05,06,07,08… 19” incrementing as it erases each block. When the erasure is complete, the display will read: “Software Update… Ready for Software Download…”

5.   Start the transmission of the “Vetta 200x.syx” MIDI SysEx file (select “Send SysEx” or “Transmit” in the MIDI SysEx utility software or press “Play” on your MIDI recorder, cued to the beginning of the “Vetta 200x.syx” MIDI file).

 

NOTE: If you are using MIDI-Ox, select “Send SysEx” from the “Command Window” menu in the “SysEx View and Scratchpad” window. If the file does not download correctly, select “Configure…” from the “Sysex” menu and make sure there is a check in the box next to “Delay after F7:” You may also need to increase the “Delay after F7: MilliSeconds” in increments of 20 until the file downloads correctly.

 

6.   While the file is loading, Vetta’s Right LCD display will read: “Software Download in Progress… * ” The asterisk at the right side of the display will flash to indicate the download progress. At the conclusion of the transfer, the display will read: “Software Download Complete. Press SAVE to run new software”.   Press SAVE to run the new software.

7.   When the amp returns to its normal operations mode, power down the Vetta and proceed to the next section: “Factory Presets and Model Defaults data transfer”.

  
 

Updating Vetta Software

 

In order to upgrade a Vetta’s software, a number of key components are required:

 

- A Windows PC or Macintosh computer with an Internet connection.

- A “MIDI Interface” with a standard MIDI cable or a “MIDI to Joystick Port cable” connected to the computer.

- A copy of either “Midi-Ox” System Exclusive Utility software for PC or “SysEx” MIDI Librarian software for Macintosh installed, and configured on your computer (download links for both of these can be found below).

- A copy of the latest Vetta software (attached below).

- A Vetta Head or Combo connected to the computer via MIDI.

 

Several steps are involved in the upgrade procedure:

 

- Download and configure the MIDI Sysex librarian software (if not already installed on your computer).

- Download the latest Vetta software upgrade.

- Upgrading the Vetta.

- Restoring the Amp Model default settings, and the Factory and User Presets.

 

THIS PROCEDURE MUST BE COMPLETED IN ITS ENTIRETY TO ENSURE THAT YOUR VETTA WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY.  ALL USER PROGRAMS AND MODEL DEFAULTS WILL BE ERASED, SO BE SURE TO BACK THESE UP BEFORE PERFORMING THIS PROCEDURE IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO LOSE THEM.

 

If you already have a method of sending sysex files from your computer, skip to step B.

 

A.  Downloading and Configuring MIDI Sysex Programs

 

Download and configure the Midi-Ox System Exclusive Utility software for PC:

 

1.   From a PC computer with Internet access, go here to download (Save) the “Midi-Ox” System Exclusive Utility software to your computer. Take note of where you saved it.

2.   Once download is complete, double click on “midioxse.exe” to run the installer.

3.   After installation, launch Midi-Ox from the Start >Programs menu.

4.   Go to the Midi-Ox “Options” menu and select “Configure Buffers…”

5.   In the “Configure Sysex Buffers” dialog box that appears, you’ll see four numeric fields with different numeric values already assigned to them.
- Change the top two fields (Low Level Input Buffers “Size” and “Num”) to “1024”.
- Change the 3rd field (Low Level Output Buffers “Size”) to “2048”.
- Change the last field (Low Level Output Buffers “Num”) to “1024”.
- Click “OK” to save your changes and exit the dialog box.

6.   Now, confirm that the correct MIDI device is selected as follows:

-  Go to the Midi-Ox “Options” menu and select “MIDI devices…”

-  Under “MIDI Inputs:” highlight the port which corresponds to your MIDI interface (e.g.: SB Live! MIDI In).

-  Under “MIDI Outputs:” highlight the port which corresponds to your MIDI interface (e.g.: SB Live! MIDI UART or SB Live! MIDI Out)

-  Click “OK” to save your changes and exit the dialog box.
By default, the “Monitor – Output” window should now be opened and updated to show “Opened MIDI Input” and “Opened MIDI Output”.

 

Preparing “Midi-Ox” to send SysEx files:

 

1.   Open the Midi-Ox “View” menu and select “SysEx…”

2.   In the“SysEx View and Scratchpad” window that appears, open the “Command Window” menu and select “Load File…”

3.   An “Open” dialog box will appear that will allow you to navigate your hard disk and find the file you wish to load, e.g.: “Vetta Combo 200h.syx” (the .syx extension may not appear under some versions of Windows.)

4.   Double-click the file to open it. The data may take a few moments to load into the MIDI Ox display window.

5.   The only remaining operation in MIDI-OX is selecting “Send SysEx” from the “Command Window” menu at the appropriate time (as specified in step number 6 of “Operating System software and Factory Preset Upgrade Vetta procedure” below).

 

Download and configure the SysEx MIDI librarian software for Macintosh:

 

Once you have your hands on a Mac with internet access and a MIDI interface connected and configured, go here and download the “SysEx” MIDI librarian program for Macintosh. Take note of where you saved it.

 

1.   Once you’ve downloaded and expanded the application, open the “File” menu and select “Get Info”.

2.   Increase the application’s Preferred memory size to 5400 (or more).

3.   Launch the application.

 

Preparing the “SysEx” MIDI librarian for Mac to send SysEx files:

 

1.   Open the “File” menu and select “Open Any” to locate the Vetta upgrade file on your hard drive.

2.   Open the file. You will be offered the option to “Transmit” or “Receive” the file. CHOOSE NIETHER AT THIS TIME.

3.   Open the “Options” menu and Select the Output Port that corresponds with your Vetta connection, found in the “OMS Studio Setup” document (the documentation provided with the app will instruct how to proceed if you’re not running OMS).

 

Factory Presets and Model Defaults data transfer:

 

  1. Power up the Vetta while holding down the REVERB button.

2.      Press Vetta’s TREMOLO button to toggle through the Test routines until the Left LCD display reads: “15 Rcv Factory?”.
(DO NOT PLAY AROUND WITH ANY OF THE OTHER TEST ROUTINES AS THIS COULD CAUSE AN IRREVERSIBLE HEADACHE).

  1. Press Vetta’s COMP button. The right LCD display will read: “PLEASE WAIT …Preparing Flash for Programs...” When the erasure is complete, the Main LCD display will read: “… Ready for Model Defaults SysEx …”

  2. Start the transmission of the “Model Defaults” MIDI SysEx file (select “Send SysEx” or “Transmit” in the MIDI SysEx utility software or press “Play” on your MIDI recorder, cued to the beginning of the “Model Defaults” MIDI file).

 

NOTE: If you are using MIDI-Ox, select “Send SysEx” from the “Command Window” menu in the “SysEx View and Scratchpad” window. If the file does not download correctly, select “Configure…” from the “Sysex” menu and make sure there is a check in the box next to “Delay after F7:” You may also need to increase the “Delay after F7: MilliSeconds” in increments of 20 until the file downloads correctly.

 

While the file is loading, Vetta’s right display will read: “…Receiving SysEx…”  When completed, the display will change to “… Ready for Factory SysEx…”.

 

  1. Start the transmission of the “Factory Presets” MIDI SysEx file (select “Send SysEx” or “Transmit” in the MIDI SysEx utility software or press “Play” on your MIDI recorder, cued to the beginning of the “Factory Presets” MIDI file).

 

When the MIDI SysEx file is received, Vetta’s Right LCD display will change to: “PLEASE WAIT …Expanding Factory Programs…” and each of the 64 Channel indicators will light up, as the programs are loaded.  Vetta’s Right LCD display will then read: “PLEASE WAIT … Copying Factory to User …” and each of the 64 Channel indicators will light up, as the presets are loaded. When complete, Vetta’s LCD display will return to the Main navigation display.

 

  1. Press Vetta’s REVERB button to exit.  The process is complete.