Troubleshooting - Fractal MFC-101 Firmware Update Manual

Troubleshooting

Most firmware update problems are easy to solve once you've identified the source of the trouble.
After the firmware update, my MFC-101 is not behaving normally
The first step in troubleshooting MFC-101 irregular behavior is to check all connections, reboot the Axe-Fx and
MFC-101 and try the test again. Please also refer to the firmware update RELEASE NOTES to ensure you didn't
miss an important advisory or change.
In the event of continued trouble, you may also choose to revert to factory default settings by power cycling the
MFC-101 while holding footswitch #11 and then pressing ENTER (#14) when prompted.
My MFC-101 stays on "FW UPDATE MODE" even after I begin sending the firmware file.
The MFC-101 should display a "% COMPLETE" indicator during updates. If the display remains on "FW UPDATE
MODE" even after you press "SEND" in Fractal-Bot, this indicates that the MFC-101 is not receiving the update
from Fractal-Bot. Possible causes include MIDI Interface problems, "competition" from another MIDI device,
incorrect "Output Port" selection in Fractal-Bot, defective MIDI cables, or failure to set I/O : MIDI : USB ADAPTER
MODE to "ON" while using the Axe-Fx II as a MIDI Interface.
My MFC-101 freezes on 0% COMPLETE during the update.
The MFC-101 "% COMPLETE" indicator should progress steadily from 0–100 during firmware updates. When the
display freezes at 0% (or some other position) this typically means that the update is being transmitted too quickly
for the MFC-101 to process. Check the MIDI Buffer Delay setting in Fractal-Bot, which should be at the default
setting of 150ms.
What does ERROR 18 mean?
Error 18 indicates that the MFC-101 has received some stray MIDI message while awaiting a firmware update.
Please make sure no other MIDI applications are running on your computer, or, if using the Axe-Fx II as a MIDI
Interface, ensure that I/O: MIDI: SEND REALTIME SYSEX is set to "NONE".
What does ERROR 16 mean?
Error 16 usually indicates that the MFC saw "garbage" during a firmware update. This problem is often seen when
using inferior MIDI Interfaces, but can also indicate computer problems, or even a bad MIDI cable. In rare cases,
re-downloading the firmware update can also solve this problem.
What does ERROR 14 mean?
Error 14 is a rare problem that occurs after the MFC-101 a failed firmware update. Once this occurs, you can start
over to achieve success, but the MFC-101 will "time out" if the update is not completed quickly enough, causing
the unit to display ERROR 14 again. Decrease the MIDI Buffer Delay setting in Fractal-Bot (In step 1 "READY") to
90ms or lower to speed the firmware transmission process.
I get a NAME TIMEOUT error after updating.
Check the MFC-101 SETUP and MIDI menu to make sure the correct Port and Model are selected for your
connected Axe-Fx. If you're using the Axe-Fx II XL, make sure the correct MFC port is selected (in I/O:MIDI). Be
sure you're using good cables, and that they're connected properly. If you still need help, see below.
What if I need further assistance?
If you need additional help, please contact our support team via
Customers outside the US or Canada may also contact the
Our forum at http://forum.fractalaudio.com/forum.php
members around the clock.
Document Version 3.01 – Jan. 9, 2014
http://support.fractalaudio.com
official distributor for their region.
can also be a valuable resource, with members helping