Help update my old Pod XT firmware. What's a MIDI interface?

[erik]

I have an old Pod XT. I bought a bass expansion pack for it, and learned that I need to update my firmware. (I think.) I downloaded instructions which told me the following:

If you have one of the first POD xt units built, you may have version 1.01 Flash Memory. To prepare for Model Pack activation, you'll have to first either 1) use a computer MIDI interface and two MIDI cables to connect your PODxt to your PODxt to your computer and update your Flash Memory or 2) update to newer firmware directly from a more up to date PODxt, using a MIDI cable.

I don't know anyone else with a Pod, so it seems like I should do option 1. Exactly what do I need to buy, and how do I connect it to my ten-year-old computer? I don't want to spend more money than I have to. Bonus points for people who can link me to something that I can buy from a store like Best Buy or Fry's or somecrap (although I'd like to buy it in person, I just want to know what the heck I'm looking for). Thanks.

[Spud]

Many sound cards have a game port that doubles as a midi in and out, and all you need is an adapter. Some do not. What is the sound card on the computer in question?

SPUD

[erik]

Many sound cards have a game port that doubles as a midi in and out, and all you need is an adapter. Some do not. What is the sound card on the computer in question?

SPUD

I have no clue.

[obscurity]

What are you using for your soundcard on your PC - the pod xt or something else? If it's something else, tell us what it is, because it may already have a midi interface that you just need a cable for.

Alternatively:

Doesn't your pod xt have a usb port? (Mine xt live did). Can't you upgrade using that instead (that's what I used to do)?

[obscurity]

What OS are you running?

[erik]

More possibly relevant info below:

Updating POD XT Firmware Using a Computer and MIDI Interface
1. You’ll need to have a MIDI interface working with your computer to perform this update. Connect two MIDI cables, one from the interface’s Out to POD XT’s In, and the other from the interface’s In to POD XT’s Out. To avoid confusing Line 6 Monkey with multiple connections, do NOT also connect a USB cable from your computer direectly to your POD XT’s USB jack.

[erik]

What OS are you running?

Windows XP.

[obscurity]

Well if you go settings->control panel->sounds and audio devices->audio tab, you can look at the default sound playback device which should tell you what soundcard (or at least what drivers) you're using.

[obscurity]

Is there any particular reason why you're trying to do this over midi instead of usb?

[Spud]

Well, does your unknown sound card have a game port?

[erik]

Well if you go settings->control panel->sounds and audio devices->audio tab, you can look at the default sound playback device which should tell you what soundcard (or at least what drivers) you're using.

Under the Audio tab, Aureal Audio is listed as my default sound playback device.

[erik]

Is there any particular reason why you're trying to do this over midi instead of usb?

Yes. The instructions do this do not list that as an option.

[erik]

Well, does your unknown sound card have a game port?

I looked under control panel ->sounds and audio devices -> hardware tab, and found a list which included "Aureal Vortex Game Port".

[Spud]

Here's your hardware:

here's one at a store
here's on on ebay

You get the idea.
Your software will probably know what to do with them.

[erik]

Cool. Thanks Spud.

[obscurity]

FWIW, it's probably cheaper and easier to do it over USB. Although I can understand you wanting to follow the instructions you've got to the letter if you're not comfortable with what you're doing, but I did my firmware updates over usb with my pod xt live just fine. I bet if you dug further into the knowledgebase/messageboards over at line6.com you'd find usb-specific instructions.

[erik]

FWIW, it's probably cheaper and easier to do it over USB. Although I can understand you wanting to follow the instructions you've got to the letter if you're not comfortable with what you're doing, but I did my firmware updates over usb with my pod xt live just fine. I bet if you dug further into the knowledgebase/messageboards over at line6.com you'd find usb-specific instructions.

I have dug around the messageboards there, and the information I found said that if you have a PodXT Version 1.01, that you have to update using MIDI. It said that it only applies to the PodXT (not the Pod XT live), and once updated from Version 1.01, other updates can be done using USB. I have found no information that makes me think that what I want to do can be done over USB.

[obscurity]

Ah, sounds like there were issues with doing usb updates on the early pod xts that they fixed with later firmware revisions then. Shame that, 'cos it's an absolute doddle doing it over usb, so I was trying to save you a bit of hassle.