How to update ZOOM R8 firmware
I had someone message me about this recently so I decided to put an article together since the process may be unfamiliar to some.
Disclaimer
Follow these instructions to update your ZOOM R8 at your own risk. I won't be held responsible if you lose all your data.
Step 1. BACK UP YOUR MEMORY CARD FIRST
The R8 erases the memory card during the update, so you have to back it up first.
Take out the memory card from the R8.
Plug it in to a PC or laptop.
Copy all the contents of the card somewhere on your computer where you will remember it.
REPEAT: COPY ALL THE CONTENTS. AS IN THE WHOLE CARD. ALL OF IT. If you don't, YOU WILL LOSE ALL YOUR PROJECT FILES.
The card will contain a folder called ZOOM_R8, and within that 3 more folders LOOP, PROJECT and SYS. This is where all your stuff is.
Depending on how many projects you have on your memory card, it may take a long time to copy it all locally to a backup folder on your computer. This is normal.
When copying the card to a local backup location on your computer, DO NOT MULTITASK. Don't use your web browser. Don't run any other programs. Don't let your screen "sleep". Let the copy happen without any interruptions to make sure everything is copied over with no file corruption.
It is suggested, although not required, to make two copies of the memory card.
Step 2. Download the firmware update
Go to the ZOOM web site and download the latest firmware update for the R8 model. It will be a ZIP file.
Step 3. Open the ZIP and extract the firmware file
Windows natively supports ZIP files. Double-click the downloaded file ZIP to open it.
The first thing you will see in the ZIP is a folder. Double-click to enter it.
In this folder will be 3 files. The only one you want is R8SYS.BIN.
Copy R8SYS.BIN to a place where you will remember it.
Step 4. Put your R8's SD card in your computer and copy over the BIN file
When you insert the SD card to your computer, it will be automatically assigned a drive letter. Usually it will be E, but it may be something else like F or G, whatever drive letter is available first to Windows.
Copy R8SYS.BIN to the root of the SD card, which means "not in a folder". If for example the SD card is assigned to drive letter E, copy R8SYS.BIN directly to E.
Step 5. DID YOU BACK UP YOUR MEMORY CARD FIRST?
I hope you did, because in the next steps you're about to erase it.
Confused? Read step 1 again.
Step 6. Remove SD card from the computer and put it back into the R8
Self-explanatory.
Step 7. Connect USB power to the R8
Don't perform this update on battery power. Use USB. You can use a USB cable plugged directly to your computer if you don't have anything that plugs into the wall.
Step 8. While holding PLAY, power on the R8
Press the LEFT ARROW KEY on the R8 to highlight OK.
Press ENTER on the R8 to continue.
Wait. The upgrade process takes 1 to 2 minutes to complete.
Step 9. Power off the R8 when safe to do so, wait 10 seconds, power back on
You will see the splash screen with the updated firmware version momentarily, then the R8 will bring you to the main project screen.
...but as you will notice, all projects that were on the memory card are gone.
You did remember to back up your project files first like I told you, RIGHT?
If you didn't, this tutorial is over and it sucks to be you because you didn't follow directions!
If you did, good! Proceed to the next step.
Step 10. Prepare to copy back all your project files to your SD card
Take the SD card out of the R8 and put it into your computer.
Delete all files on the SD card. Yes, it's OK to do this. STOP. Read what I just said again. I said delete the files on the SD card. I did not say "delete your copied backup files". Don't be stupid by deleting the backup. You're just clearing the card to copy over your backup data.
Step 11. Copy back all your project files to the SD card
Copy the backup you made earlier to the SD card. It should be a folder called ZOOM_R8, with the three subfolders LOOP, PROJECT and SYS.
When copying your data, DO NOT MULTITASK. Don't use your web browser or anything else while the copy is taking place to ensure no files copy over incorrectly.
When the file copy is finished, proceed to the next step.
Step 12. Put the SD card back in the R8
Self-explanatory.
Step 13. Power on the R8
Your R8 should now be exactly the way that it was with all your project files ready-to-use.
"Is this process the same for replacing the SD memory card in my R8?"
Yes.
If the SD memory card in your R8 is over 3 years old or you just want to bump up to something with more memory capacity, this is how you go about it:
Get a new memory card. The R8 supports up to 32GB. Anything bigger than that won't work. You can use SD or a microSD within an SD adapter. You do not need "ultra high speed" or "extreme" cards because this is only audio and not video files. A 5-pack of 32GB cards will ensure that you don't have to buy more cards for a good long time.
Put a new card into the R8 and format it using the R8 directly.
After that, follow steps 1, 11 and 12. That's it. The only difference is that instead of copying your project files to your old card, copy them to the new one, put in the R8, boot, done.
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Published 2019 Jul 29