Is Live Update working properly in your MX Editor software?

[Chris D]

Over the last year or so, I've noticed discrepancies in Parasound's MX Editor software program to customize the MX-700 and Sidekick remotes included with the Halo C1 and C2 processors.

It seems to depend on the version of Parasound MXEditor that you're running, and localized just to the new version.

How to check what version you're running, and if you're having LiveUpdate problems:

1. Start your "MXEditor for Parasound" program.
2. To make sure MXEditor is as current as possible, run Live Update by either clicking "Help" - "Live Update", or clicking on the Live Update satellite icon on the top toolbar, then click on the "Update Now" button.
3. If after being updated, Live Update now gives space for two download progress bars, Live Update has upgraded you to the latest version. If there is only one progress bar on the Live Update box, it's still an old version.
4. Under the top "Help" pull-down menu, select "About..."
5. On the resulting pop-up box, if it says "Copyright 2002-2003" or other date prior to 2005, you likely are having problems with the new MXEditor program properly Live Updating. If it says "Copyright 2002-2005", your program is probably updating fine.
6. On the same "About..." pop-up box, note the version number. As of 30 Dec 05, the current version is 1.12.255. If you have anything less, your MXEditor program is probably not updating properly.
7. If you download the MXEditor program from Parasound's website today, you'll be installing a file "MXEditorv2.zip" and have the new version. If you installed MXEditor a while ago, such as 2003 or prior, you may have used the previous version "MXEditor.zip". (note that even the "v2" installation file has changed that can be downloaded, although it is still called "v2". A bit confusing)
8. If your have doubts that your MXEditor has updated to the latest IR database, check for a new product's IR codes, such as the X-Box 360. To do this, enter the database by either clicking on the IR database on the top toolbar, or clicking the "Program" pull-down menu, then "2: IR Database". On the "IR Data from:" pulldown menu, select "AUX". Scroll through the "Brand:" window and select "MICROSOFT". Look to see if the X-Box 360 appears in the "Model:" window to the right.

To figure out who's experiencing what, please post the following info:

1. What version number is MXEditor updating to on the "About" box?
2. On the "About" box, what does the copyright say?
3. On the Live Update box, do you have one progress bar or two?
4. Do you seem to have a current IR database?
5. If you know, approximately when did you install the MXEditor program, and from what file?

[Chris D]

I'm personally running MXEditor on two different computers. My info off the first computer, with the newest MXEditor program: (not updating)

1. Version 1.11.184
2. Copyright 2002-2003
3. One progress bar on Live Update
4. No, IR database not fully current.
5. New "MXEditorv2.zip" file installed directly from Parasound's website on 29 Dec 05. Live Update indicated that it downloaded and updated successfully, and now "No further updates available at this time".

It's working fine other than Live Update.

My info off the 2nd computer, running the original MXEditor program. (working fine)

1. Version 1.12.255
2. Copyright 2002-2005
3. Two progress bars on Live Update (after the latest update)
4. YES, IR database current
5. Installed off of original "MXEditor.zip" from Parasound's website in late 2003

More info on this Live Update thing that may help people:

I had a problem with the "MXEditor v2" before, doing a Live Update, so my desktop is running the original Parasound MXEditor program. When I ran the Live Update yesterday, it downloaded a major update that improved the Live Update functions, the MXEditor program, and the IR database. The version now lists at 1.12.255.

On my laptop, though, I just did a new Windows XP OS install, so I had to do a new installation of MXEditor. I downloaded the latest Parasound MXEditor program straight from the Parasound website. It's still listed as "v2", (which has supposedly been out for over a year) although it now contains commands preset for the new Parasound Halo D3 DVD player about to be released. After doing a Live Update yesterday, it downloaded and installed an update, but did NOT do the major upgrade to the Live Update function like my other program did, and it's now listed as 1.11.184.

FWIW, if you click on the "Update History" link under the Help menu, it takes you to Universal Remote's website and tells you the history of what has been updated. However, the two program versions take you to two different webpages. My desktop, running the OLD version of Parasound MXEditor, takes me to http://universalremote.com/htm/updatehistory/index.php which lists 1.12.255 as the 27 Dec 05 update. It also says that the 13 Dec 05 update added a "software algorithm change for Live Update".

Conversely, my laptop, running the NEW version of Parasound MXEditor, straight from Parasound's website, takes me to http://www.urcmx.com/mxeditor/update/updatehistory.html which last lists an update on 20 Dec ***2004*** with version 1.12.224. Incidentally, is doesn't specifically list 1.11.184, but it appears it would have been an update sometime Aug-Nov 2003.

I know that the Parasound MXEditor program doesn't exactly line up with the standard MXEditor, but something screwy is going on. The "new" version seems to not be properly updating. i.e. after running the latest Live Update, the "old" version of MXEditor contains codes for the new XBox 360, but the "new" version doesn't. The "new" version straight from Parasound's website has the D3 Halo DVD player pre-loaded, though, where the "old" version doesn't, of course. Neither version actually has the D3 contained in the IR database.

[Chris D]

Oh yeah... if anybody wants all the codes from the D3 Halo DVD player, I've got it saved as a device file that you could import to your MX-700.

[slayer]

1. Version 1.11.184
2. Copyright 2002-2003
3. One progress bar on Live Update
4. No, IR database not fully current.
What can I do to update this?

[Chris D]

Randy, if you've completed your Live Update and it's not getting any further than 1.11.184, then it looks like you're running into the same problem I do with the new "MXEditorv2" file.

If you like, I can E-mail you the original MXEditor file, that looks like it's updating properly. I just removed the problematic "MXEditorv2" file from my laptop, and installed the original "MXEditor" file that I have saved, dated July 2003.

For everyone, another way to tell which IR database MXEditor is using is to connect your computer to your MX-700 and then click Help > Firmware Version. If properly updated, you should be seeing "Firmware: MX-700 Ver 1.97 / December 07, 2004" and "Universal Data: Version 1.74 / December 19, 2005". Anything less and you're running old problems.

Go ahead and weigh in on the poll on this thread, and E-mail me, Parasound, and/or Universal Remote if you need more help.

[slayer]

Chris, if you could email to me that would be great. I will give it a try when I get it. Thanks. saput@sbcglobal.net

[nba]

1. Version 1.11.184
2. Copyright 2002-2003
3. One progress bar on Live Update
4. No, IR database not fully current.


Update does not seem to work for me too.

Can the non customised MX editor be used with the Parasound remotes?

Niko

[Chris D]

Well, Parasound's website says NO, that the non-Parasound MXEditor software will not work properly in certain functions. I think other Club members here have used it, though, and reported only the on/off power buttons being switched. (that's how a standard MX-700 is set up)

Randy, I'll send that file your way. It's a 5+MB file, so be ready for a big message.

[nba]

Chris, could you mail me a copy too
I really need to get the latest updates.

I have tried to manualy enter the codes of my other remotes but only manage to have a messed up remote. ops:

Niko

[mitch57]

I know this isn't the officical Parasound MX-Editor software but here's a link to a a site that custom installers use to report issues with the MX-Editor Software. Since URC writes the software I would suspect that the problems that effect the Universal MX Editor would also effect the Parasound MX Editor as well.

http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-master/thread.cgi?8178

[Chris D]

Actually, I've previously tried to fix the problem--called Parasound tech support (can't remember who) who said that they really don't deal with the inner workings of the program, they just employ what Universal Remote gives them.

I could see where this was going. I called Universal Remote, who said that they don't really deal with the Parasound MXEditor program because it's tailored to Parasound.

Okay, so each company is "deferring" to the other, and I can't make any headway.

[bhuskins]

I personally suggest using the MX Editor from Universal Remote and making sure you keep your power buttons in the right spot. You can always save specific devices from other versions and move them to the latest version.

[nba]

The original Parasound MXEditor file seem to update and work properly.
No problems any more. Thank you Chris ;x(

Niko

[Jon SS]

I just did another live update today and it downloaded some sort of patch. Anybody know what it was for?

[Chris D]

Jon, click on Help > Update History. It will tell you what has been included in each update. One of the things this most recent update does is a "software algorithm change for Live Update".

[slayer]

Thanks Chris, it's working for me too.

[Chris D]

So, since I last updated MX Editor, right around New Years, every time I run Live Update is had told me, "This program has already been updated! However, on a hunch, I recently clicked on MX Editor's command "Help > Update History", which brought up Universal Remote's MX-700 update website. It lists a new update on April 4, 2006, of version 1.12.263. However, my program was still showing 1.12.255 of December 27, 2005.

So I uninstalled MX Editor and re-installed it, then updated it. (again, using the old version of MX Editor--see post above) Now it's coming up as version 1.12.256. :wtf: That version isn't even listed. So I don't know what's going on anymore.

[mitch57]

So, since I last updated MX Editor, right around New Years, every time I run Live Update is had told me, "This program has already been updated! However, on a hunch, I recently clicked on MX Editor's command "Help > Update History", which brought up Universal Remote's MX-700 update website. It lists a new update on April 4, 2006, of version 1.12.263. However, my program was still showing 1.12.255 of December 27, 2005.

So I uninstalled MX Editor and re-installed it, then updated it. (again, using the old version of MX Editor--see post above) Now it's coming up as version 1.12.256. :wtf: That version isn't even listed. So I don't know what's going on anymore.

Chris,

This obviously has something to do with Parasound. Apparently updates are obtained from Parasound and not URC. I use an MX-700 and did a live update back in April and it updated me to version 1.12.263.

If you installed the MX Editor software from URC I would be willing to bet that when you did the live update you would receive the latest version which is 1.12.263.

However, I would caution against that due to the fact that the power buttons (On and Off) are on the opposite side of the URC MX-700 remotes as compared to the Parasound remote. That might create some confusion for those who program their own remotes.

I think that Parasound gets their updates from URC and then has their programmers customize it for the different power button layouts before releasing it to the general public. That would explain the different version numbers. I suspect it takes Parasound a good month or two to catch up with URC.

If you want to verify that you can download the MX Editor software from URC here:

http://www.universalremote.com/products/software/MX-700Setup_1.12.263.exe

Install it and do a live update and see what version it comes up with when you are done.

Let us know what you come up with.

[Chris D]

Yes, it's true that you can use the original Universal Remote MX-700 files, with the power buttons switched between on and off. I haven't met somebody yet who has encountered other functionality problems other than these buttons. (why Parasound chose to reverse these is still beyond me)

In the past, I actually haven't encountered a delay between the official update and a "Parasound version". But given the quirks that I've found with the various versions of MX Editor by Parasound, I suppose that's true.

[blownrx7]

So what's the fix????

Do we trash the Parsound editor and just use the MX-700 editor?
That just doesn't seem right.

[Chris D]

No, you don't have to. As I've mentioned, I've gotten full functionality from the "old" version of MX Editor for Parasound. With this latest update in the last 2 months, I'm just not sure if I'm getting the latest and greatest.