Apex 9000 (Digitrex 9000) Brightness

[asichter]

I just got the Apex 9000 (Digitrex 9000 here in Australia). I'm pretty happy with it so far, but when recording from my VCR the picture seems to be just slightly over bright. Is this an issue with this recorder & is there a firmware upgrade to fix the problem? I couldn't find any firmware upgrades at the Apex or Digitrex websites???

Also, when I try to record from my Panasonic VCR it keeps telling me that the tape is copy protected, which it isn't. Not an issue when I record from my Sony VCR. (This is on the frot AV input). Any ideas on why this would occur?

Apart from those issues it does a great job for a recorder that is half the price of the Panny E50 here in Australia. I love the Title Icon on the menu. It's a shame the Panny's don't have that. It adds a nice finish. Recording quality is very good. No issues with +R or +RW discs being played back in other machines, including the Panny E20 & S35, which surprised me as the manual says it doesn't play them!

Andy S.

[FKrueger]

I've seen postings on a firmware upgrade, quite awhile ago, and it addressed a tape to dvd problem, however I don't recall the details, by now you may have found it. Search this site if you haven't.

Good luck

[lordsmurf]

Do this: http://www.apexdigitalinc.com/downloaddetail.asp?linenumber=3
This one is newest, NOVEMBER 2003 (fw 4004D)
I have this, fixed all problems. Great recorder. No issues here.

The link is down. I guess it's a temp issue (whole site down). E-mail me at www.lordsmurf.com asking for the fw, and I can send it to you as an attachment. It's 1.29MB so be sure your account can handle it.

[asichter]

Thanks Lordsmurf ... I got a hold of the file the other day. I don't have a PC to burn it, but I spoke to the store that I bought the recorder from and they're going to burn if for me. Nice of them to do so! I didn't really understand about making the file system of the disc ISO9660. Hopefully they will know what to do! I've never had a CD burner so it's double-dutch to me.

I'll post my results when I get the disc done and do the upgrade. Hopefully this will solve the issues I've detailed above. If it does, I'll be very happy with this recorder. For the price it does a great job.

Andy S.

[asichter]

Well no luck with the firmware upgrade. I got the store to burn the CD for me and it didn't work when I got it home. I also got a friend to burn it and it also didn't work. The 9000 just kept saying error when it tried to load it. Any thoughts on this???

Andy S.

[lordsmurf]

They did not burn the disc properly. The file was bad. Maybe you need DIGITREX firmware instead of APEX firmware.

[asichter]

I've just sent an email to Digitrex here in Australia asking if they have a different firmware upgrade for the Australian model, although I couldn't imagine it would be any different. I sent an email to Apex about 3 or 4 days back outlining the issues, but I've had no reply. We waint & see! I'm starting to get a little peeved now.

Andy S.

[FKrueger]

Did they put the firmware in a folder and then put it on a cd? If so that won't work, needs to be put to the root directory of the cd, no folders, and finalize the burn.

[asichter]

Did they put the firmware in a folder and then put it on a cd? If so that won't work, needs to be put to the root directory of the cd, no folders, and finalize the burn.

Not from what I saw ... it looked ok. I'll wait to hear from Digitrex.

Andy S.[/quote]

[lordsmurf]

I be the CD was made wrong. Most people have no idea what they are doing when it comes to burning.