HX3.5 Editor User Manual

Preface

HX3.5 Editor is a tool for adjusting HX3.5 parameters and setups. Compared to HX3.4 Remote, number of tweakable parameters have been vastly increased (more than 800), so a new design was necessary. HX3.5 Editor connects to HX3.5 mainboard by a USB-to-serial adaptor cable FT232R-5V (available in our shop) or a USB-to-serial adaptor circuit with FTDI interface chip.

Sorry, only Windows version available (Windows XP and up). A version to connect by MIDI over USB is planned.

Installation

No installation is necessary. Just make sure all files contained in HX3.5 Editor ZIP file are copied to a folder on your local harddisk. Main parameter table and dropdown lists are defined in .INI text files which must be present in same folder as HX3.5 application.

Connection

Attach USB-to-serial adaptor cable FT232R-5V to any PC USB port and HX3.5 6-pin header PL19, black wire (BK) facing to black header PL17. On first install, Windows will install FTDI drivers automatically (Win XP needs manual FTDI driver installation). Power up HX3.5, Open HX3.5 Editor application and click on Connect. A dialog window will appear which asks for the FTDI device to use. Select FT232R entry and click OK. HX3.5 Editor will wait for communication established and reads all parameters from HX3.5 mainboard. Log window will show all activities as well as (plain text) answers from HX3.5 mainboard.

Note: Upcoming version will also have a list of MIDI devices here.

Editing Parameters

The main table lists all 800+ editable HX3.5 parameters. An active "range" is marked by green parameters. To find a particular parameter range, click on corresponding button in "Jump to Param Group in List" bevel. These buttons just search for the respective item line, nothing else. Click on parameter line you want to edit.

A help text for selected parameter appears on right bottom of main window. Depending on type of parameter, either an editable scroll bar, an ON/OFF button or a dropdown list appears on parameter line. Some parameters do not have a special visual control, just the number itself.

Click on teal colored Get Range button to refresh values from HX3.5 board (e.g. to display current drawbar setting). Set Range will send whole range to HX3.5 (usually not necessary since parameter uplink is always "live").

Saving Parameters

Changes to parameters are executed instantly, but they are temporary until you save their parameter range. Save destination is dependant on type of parameter (see color coding at right bottom of main window).

To save teal colored Voice settings (drawbar positions) to a particular Voice Preset, select Voice number (dropdown list) for that manual and click one of Store Upper/Lower/Pedal Voice # buttons according to parameter group (upper/lower/pedal).

Black coloured parameter values are saved to overall (common) presets by selecting desired preset number first and than clicking "Store Preset #".

Red coloured parameter values are saved to a Common Preset; click Store Preset # to save. Additionally, they are saved as a startup default for all voices and presets in common. Click large red Set Params as Default button to save as initialisation value.

Pink coloured parameter values (System Inits) are saved as a startup default for all voices and presets in common. Click large red Set Params as Default button to save as initialisation value. These parameters are persistent even with a major firmware update. Check thoroughly if your hardware configuration changed. Always check on first-time use of brand new mainboard which is configured as MIDI expander from factory.

Note: Parameters can also be saved as an initialisation default ("empty" voice preset content when finalizing a board). Click Save as Init Default to do so. Grayed-out parameters should not be changed.

Testing Controls

Note: Only available with FTDI cable connection!

Parameter display will not update until you click Get Range or Get all Params. Click green Start Events button to enable live update of displayed parameters (when it's range is visible in main table, data will change instantly). HX3.5 mainboard sends an "event" to the editor when it detects a change of any analog or digital control. The Log Window will show each event. If an analog input is floating (not connected), it is likely you will get random data on a particular parameter number. Click Stop Events to cancel live parameter updates. Note: Some functions (saving value ranges, presets, finalizing) also stop event messaging; re-enable with Start Events if needed.

Example: To check operating range and mapping order of volume potentiometers, click "Volume Pots" button to display corresponding parameter range. Click "Start Events" and work the potentiometer knobs; values received should range from 0 to 127. If a pot refuses to work, it is likely that it's analog input has not mapped or re-mapped to the desired analog function (see Analog Remap section).

Updates and Scan Drivers

For updates, entering extended licences or changing Scan Driver from MIDI to FatarScan2 or Scan16/61, click on HX3.5 Update/Finalize. A window will open showing active board licences and serial number. Make sure at least Organ Licence "LED" is lit.

Scan Driver Change

Attach SD card adaptor to PL17 and insert SD card containing all update files (ZIPs available in our Github Repo). Select "INI=scanXXX.ini" entry in dropdown box under OEM Production & Test Functions. XXX stands for desired scan driver (midi, fatr, 61). Click Send Cmd. SD card adaptor should show some activity. When red LED is off, Get Board Info will show if new scan driver (with version number) has beed installed.

FPGA and Firmware Updates

To install a new firmware or FPGA image (sound engine), attach SD card adaptor to PL17 and insert SD card containing all update files (ZIPs available in our Github Repo). Click