JBL Professional DSC 280 User Manual

Product Technical Notes

DSC 280 Programming

MIDI Sysex and PCMCIA Card File Transfers

There are two ways to update and transfer programs into and out of the DSC 280. These are by MIDI System Exclusive and
by PCMCIA (PC) card. The procedures for each of these actions are detailed below.

MIDI “dumps” are the fastest way to update a unit with a new set of programs. With these methods, you do not have to
remove the top of the DSC280 to access the PC slot. These methods cannot update individual programs, but instead
overwrite all programs in memory of the receiving unit. This is of limited use in the field, but is the quickest way to update
units in stock. It requires two DSC280s and one MIDI cable or one DSC 280 and a computer capable of playing MIDI
Sysex messages.

Using the PC card method, a user can update all programs or individual programs and assign them into user chosen
locations. This requires at least one DSC and an approved PC card.
structured data files that can be read, transmitted and organized on standard DOS machines having a PC card slot that can
be read as a disk drive.

Transfers Via MIDI between two DSC280s:

1. Connect the MIDI OUT of the Transmitting DSC to the MIDI IN of the Receiving DSC.

2. Select any available program from memory on the Transmitting unit. This will be the program that the Receiving unit
will load on completion.

3. Press “Utility” to access the Utility screen parameters.

4. Set XMIT to “PROG” on the Transmitting unit.

5. Make sure MIDI channel is set the same on both the Transmitting and Receiving Units.

6. In the “Utility” menu of the receiving unit, select Lock Mode to “OFF” using the Up and Down Arrow keys.

7. On the Transmitting unit, press the MIDI Dump Soft Key on the Utility screen.

8. You will see “Channel X Dump. Receive Ready?” X is the number of the MIDI channel.

9. On the Receiving unit you will see “Receive dump and overwrite all?” If you want to transmit all programs from the
Transmitting unit to the Receiving unit, press “YES” on the Receiving unit and then press “Yes” on the Transmitting
unit.
Note: If you press “Yes” on the Transmitting unit before the Receiving unit, the Transmitting unit

will send data before the Receiving unit is ready and will not know this. The Transmitting unit will
return to normal functions and the receiving unit will not be updated with the new programs.

10. A status window on the Transmitting unit will update the progress in percentage complete and the Receiving unit will
say “receiving” during transmission.

11. On completion, the Transmitting unit will return to the Utility Screen and the Receiving unit will load the program that
was loaded in the transmitting unit.

1

In addition, the PC card contains standard DOS

1

PC Card Types supported are detailed at the end of this document.

Transfers Via MIDI Sysex using an external computer:

1. Connect the MIDI OUT of the computer to the MIDI IN of the Receiving DSC.

2. Make sure the MIDI channel is the same on both the computer and Receiving Unit.

3. In the “Utility” menu of the receiving unit, select Lock Mode to “OFF” using the Up and Down Arrow keys.

4. Open the selected MIDI file from your sequencing program. (On some sequencers you might need to import the MIDI
file.) The file format is a normal MIDI file (type 0) with two MIDI Sysex messages.

5. On the computer, play the MIDI Sysex file. The first message prompts the connected DSC 280 with a request to
overwrite all files in memory. The second is the actual data dump.

6. On the Receiving unit you will see “Receive dump and overwrite all?” If a YES is not pressed within ten seconds, the
update will be ignored.

7. As the file “plays”, the DSC 280 will display “receiving” during transmission. This should start about ten seconds into
the file and last for another ten seconds.

8. When the “Receiving” dialog disappears from the DSC 280 screen, the loading is complete.

Loading via PC Card

Using this method, you can store or recall either a complete set of DSC programs or individual programs. Note: Because

the top of the DSC needs to be removed to access the PC card slot, only qualified service technicians should attempt these
procedures.

Recalling a Complete Set of Programs from a PC Card

With the power disconnected, take out the eight Posi-drive screws on the top of the DSC

1. Plug the PC Card into the slot located in the front left of the unit located behind the meter panel. The Slot is keyed so
the card can only be seated in one direction.

2. Connect the power and switch on the unit.

3. After the start up message, press “Utility”

4. Select Lock Mode and turn it “off” using the Up and Down Arrow keys.

5. Press Utility again to go back to the main screen.

6. Press “recall”

7. Press the middle soft Key labeled “Type.” Use the up arrow key to select “Call.” A listing of available files stored on
the Card will appear.

8. Press “Pick” and select the desired file with the up and down arrow keys.

9. With the desired file selected, press “Recall”

10. The message “Recall All. Lose all Data? Yes No” will appear.

11. Press “Yes." Pressing “No” will return you to the recall screen.

12. All memories will be overwritten with the new data from the Soft Card.

Recalling Individual Programs from a PC Card

With the power disconnected, take out the eight Posi-drive screws on the top of the DSC

1. Plug the PC Card into the slot located in the front left of the unit located behind the meter panel. The Slot is keyed so
the card can only be seated in one direction.

2. Connect the power and switch on the unit.

3. After the start up message, press “Utility”

4. Select Lock Mode and turn it “off” using the Up and Down Arrow keys.

5. Press “Recall”

6. Press the middle soft key labeled “Type.” Use the up arrow key to select “Cprg." A listing of available individual
programs stored on the PC Card will appear.

7. Press “Pick” and select the desired program with the up and down arrow keys.

8. With the desired program selected, press “Recall”

9. The program will be loaded into the active memory location.

10. Press “Store.”

11. Select an internal location by pressing “Type” and selecting “Int."

12. Press Pick and use the up and down arrow keys to selected the desired location.

13. Press “Store” to confirm.

14. Repeat for any additional individual programs.