Lich seems "dead" after delete/upload from patch library

OWL Lich
#1

The patch library had been offline for awhile and tonight it back came online.
My Lich was fully functional, it had patches uploaded
and these patches were also visible on the patch library-device page.
On the device page, I deleted the uploaded patches and tried to upload another patch.
Then I ‘lost’ the Lich, the patch-library-device page doesn’t recognize it anymore. The only sign of life on the Lich is the gate-out led is continually burning.
I tried “Bootloader Mode Reset” ( ’ hold down the encoder while powering on the Lich’ ), but to no avail.

Anybody with any advice or help ?
Thanks.

#2

It sounds like either your bootloader got corrupted or it’s a hardware failure on OWL board. In the first case you can fix it by flashing bootloader again with ST-link programmer, this was explained many time on forum. If it’s some failed chip, you would have to replace OWL digital board.

ST-link clones are very cheap and you could try reviving your existing board, however if you had OWL2 I would suggest getting an OWL3 and consider it an excuse for upgrading.

1 Like
#3

According to Befaco support, the Lich is in bootloader mode and waiting for firmware.
I should install the firmware but I can’t, since the module is not recognized as a USB device anymore.
( I’ve asked Befaco if there’s another way to install firmware than via USB )

I have an OWL 2, so the upgrade to OWL 3 actually sounds like a good idea.

Thanks for your answer, much appreciated.

#4

I hope you don’t think that Befaco support will be OWL firmware experts that know every little detail of it, that would be very a unrealistic expectation. Current version of bootloader blinks opposite LEDs 3 times on boot, so it’s obvious when it runs. I’m pretty sure that this or some similar blinking was always used for Lich bootloader. So if you don’t see this, you can be sure that bootloader mode is not actually running.

Another way to install bootloader is DFU, but it only is present on OWL1 and Xibeca boards as it relies on code flashed by ST Microelectronics that is only present on specific MCUs used on those boards.

#5

I don’t expect them to be experts, and actually censored my previous message :slight_smile:

Does replacing the Owl2 board with an Owl3 involve soldering ?

Do you know the purpose of the connection on the Owl2, as shown in the picture
( sorry, the important part is just out of focus )

owl2_befaco
owl2_befaco800×690 187 KB

Thanks again for your expertise.

#6

No soldering is required.

The port is USB device. Actually it might be a good idea to try to connect it to your PC to confirm that it still won’t work this way. This should be done without powering it from eurorack, just from USB itself.

1 Like
#7

I got no connection via the USB connector on the OWL board itself.

Today I sent the module to Befaco, to replace the board with an MK3.

Thanks for your input and advice.

1 Like