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Gamma Firmware Restore Runbook

This skill provides the recovery workflow to unbrick and restore official factory firmware onto the this.is.NOISE Gamma Mini Synth (powered by the Electro-Smith Daisy Seed 2 DFM).

Technical Background

  1. Bootloader Architecture:
  2. The device runs the Electro-Smith Daisy Bootloader residing in internal flash (0x08000000).
  3. The user application/firmware is stored in external QSPI flash starting at 0x90040000 (APP_TYPE = BOOT_QSPI or BOOT_SRAM).
  4. On power-up or hardware reset, the Daisy Bootloader enters a ~2.5-second DFU grace period (USER LED pulses).
  5. If no DFU connection occurs within ~2.5 seconds, it attempts to boot the application at 0x90040000.

  6. If the application at 0x90040000 is invalid or crashes, the bootloader emits an error/SOS blink pattern, stops DFU, and halts without enumerating USB CDC/MIDI.

  7. OLED Screen Retention:

  8. The 1.3" OLED (SSD1306/SH1106) maintains its display RAM (GDDRAM) as long as 3.3V logic power is supplied.

  9. If firmware crashes or halts, the splash text (this.is.NOISE inc) remains visible on the screen even though the microcontroller is not running.

  10. Official Firmware Binaries:

  11. Official firmware binaries are hosted on the official web update tool:
    • Latest release: https://gammaupdatetool.netlify.app/data/gamma-v2.0.3.bin
    • Legacy release: https://gammaupdatetool.netlify.app/data/gamma1_1.bin
  12. Local copies are cached in backups/gamma-v2.0.3.bin.

Recovery Procedures

Run the automated polling script:

python3 .agents/skills/gamma-firmware-restore/scripts/restore_firmware.py

Steps:

  1. The script automatically verifies or downloads backups/gamma-v2.0.3.bin and starts polling dfu-util every 100ms.
  2. Trigger bootloader mode on the Gamma:
  3. Option A: Press the RESET button on the Daisy Seed 2 DFM (or cycle the power switch).
  4. Option B: Hold BOOT, press and release RESET, then release BOOT.
  5. The script catches the DFU device during the ~2-second window and flashes gamma-v2.0.3.bin to 0x90040000:leave.
  6. The device reboots automatically and re-enumerates as Gamma.

Method 2: Manual Terminal Flash (dfu-util)

If flashing manually:

  1. Put the Daisy Seed into bootloader mode (Hold BOOT, tap RESET, release BOOT, or tap BOOT during the startup grace period to extend it indefinitely).
  2. Verify the DFU interface is active:
dfu-util -l

Expected output: Found DFU: [0483:df11] ... Product: "Daisy Bootloader" (Electrosmith) 3. Flash the firmware binary:

dfu-util -a 0 -s 0x90040000:leave -D backups/gamma-v2.0.3.bin

[!NOTE] dfu-util: Error during download get_status / exit code 74 upon :leave is normal. The STM32 resets immediately upon receiving the leave command, causing the follow-up USB query to disconnect.

Method 3: Browser Recovery (Official Web Tool)

If using gammaupdatetool.netlify.app:

  1. Standard "Connect" requires entering the on-screen menu (System -> Info -> Enter Boot), which is inaccessible when custom firmware is broken.
  2. Expand Troubleshooting \(\rightarrow\) "Can't Enter Boot".
  3. Click the "Connect & Install" button (opens the browser USB pairing modal).
  4. Power cycle or tap RESET on the Gamma.
  5. Within the ~2-second boot window, select "Daisy Bootloader" and click Connect.
  6. The web tool will flash gamma-v2.0.3.bin automatically.

Post-Restore Verification

Check that the device enumerates correctly on the host system:

ioreg -p IOUSB -l -w0 | grep -A 10 "Gamma"

Expected values:

  • kUSBProductString = "Gamma"
  • kUSBVendorString = "Electrosmith"
  • idVendor = 1155 (0x0483)
  • idProduct = 22336 (0x5740)
  • OLED screen displays the active Gamma synthesizer UI.