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PRO Knob Firmware Updates

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The WVC Dual PRO Knob and WVC Quad PRO Knob update themselves over WiFi, from their own menu. This article covers updating the knob, picking a network, repairing an update, starting a base station update from the knob, and what to do if an update fails.

For the Single, Dual, Concentric, and Quad knobs, see Updating the Wireless Knob.

Before You Start

  • A 2.4 GHz WiFi network with internet access. The knob does not see 5 GHz networks. Most routers broadcast both bands under one name; if yours does not show up, check that 2.4 GHz is on. A phone hotspot works too.
  • Stay close to the network. Keep the knob near your router, or keep the phone next to the knob if you use a hotspot.
  • Keep the knob and your base station on until the update is done.
  • The USB-C port is for charging only. It carries no data, and it is not how the knob updates.

Both PRO knobs use the same firmware. It is separate from the firmware of the other knobs in the family.

Updating the Knob

  1. Press and hold an encoder, or tap the gear in the top bar, to open the menu.
  2. Choose Advanced.
  3. Choose Update Firmware.
  4. The knob connects to WiFi and checks for a newer version. If there is one, it downloads it and shows the progress.
  5. The screen shows Update complete, and the knob restarts on the new firmware. It then reconnects to your base station by itself.

If the knob already has the newest version, the screen shows Firmware is current and the knob restarts. Nothing is reinstalled. To reinstall anyway, use Repair Firmware.

The knob restarts at the end of every update, whether it worked or not.

Which WiFi the Knob Uses

A WVC base station with WiFi set up for its own updates shares that network with the knob. While the knob is connected to it, the knob uses that network, and you do not type a password on the knob. To set up your base station's WiFi, see Firmware Updates.

Note

While the knob is connected to a base station that shares its WiFi, the knob always uses that network. To use a different one, change your base station's WiFi, or switch the base station off and update the knob on its own.

When the knob is not connected, or your base station has no WiFi to share, the knob picks one network, in this order:

  1. The base station network it used for an earlier update
  2. The network you typed in on the knob most recently
  3. If it has neither, the WiFi list opens so you can pick a network

The knob tries only that one network in each update. If it cannot find the network, or the password is turned down, the next update opens the WiFi list so you can pick another. After a weak or slow connection, the next update tries the same network again.

Picking a Network

The WiFi list, Select Network, shows the networks the knob can see, strongest first. Turn an encoder to move the highlight and press it to pick, or tap a row.

  • Networks you saved before are marked (saved).
  • Networks with a password are marked (locked). Open networks connect with no password step.
  • Enter Manually lets you type the name of a hidden network, then its password.
  • Rescan scans again. If the scan does not work, the list shows Could not scan. If nothing is in range, it shows No networks found.

After you pick a locked network, type its password on the keyboard and tap OK. The keyboard needs the touchscreen; the encoders do not type.

  • Tap a group of letters to zoom in, then tap the letter you want.
  • 123 opens digits, #+= opens symbols, and Aa switches to capitals.
  • List leaves the keyboard and goes back to the WiFi list.

Saved Networks

The knob remembers up to 5 networks. When you add a sixth, the oldest one is dropped.

A network is saved when you tap OK on the keyboard, before the knob knows the password works. So a mistyped password is saved too; see If the Update Fails. Open networks picked from the list are not saved.

To see or remove them, open the menu and choose Settings > WiFi:

  • Base WiFi shows the network learned from your base station. Clear Base WiFi removes it.
  • Saved Networks lists each network you saved, with Remove.
  • Add Network opens the WiFi list. Picking a network there starts a firmware update on it straight away.

Removing a network asks you to confirm first. A tap on Confirm right after it shows does nothing, so wait a moment.

Factory Reset erases every saved network and the base station network. Forget Base keeps them.

During the Update

The screen shows each step: finding your network, connecting to it, checking for updates, then Downloading Firmware with a percentage and a progress bar.

  • If the knob cannot find your network, it scans again, up to 3 times.
  • If your network does not accept the connection, the knob tries again, up to 5 times. Between tries the screen shows Connection failed with a short countdown.
  • If the download is cut off, it picks up where it stopped. The screen shows Resuming download and the percentage it reached.
  • If the WiFi signal gets weak, the screen shows "Weak WiFi signal. Move closer to your router". The download keeps going.
  • Every update is checked before it is installed. An interrupted or damaged download is never installed.

While the update runs, the screen stays on and the encoders and the menu do nothing. Most updates finish within a few minutes.

If the Update Fails

A failed update does not change the firmware already on the knob. The knob restarts, and you can safely try again.

The screen says What to do
"Update failed - weak WiFi signal. Move closer to your router" Move the knob closer to your router, or keep your phone hotspot next to it, and try again
"Update failed - unstable WiFi. Move closer to your router" Move closer to your router and try again
"Update failed - WiFi too slow. Move closer to your router" The download was too slow to finish in time. Move closer to your router and try again
"Update failed - it took too long. Try again" Start the update again
"Could not find WiFi after 3 attempts" Check that the network is on, is 2.4 GHz, and is in range. The next update opens the WiFi list
"Update failed - WiFi password not accepted" Start the update again. The WiFi list opens. Pick your network and type the right password
"Update failed - check your WiFi password" The password may be wrong. Remove the network under Settings > WiFi, then enter it again from the WiFi list
"Update failed - could not connect to WiFi" Move the knob closer to your router and try again
"Update failed - no WiFi saved. Try again to pick a network" Start the update again. The WiFi list opens so you can pick your network
"Update server unreachable - try again later" Check that the network has internet access. Try again later
"Update check rate-limited - try again later" Wait a few minutes, then try again

If an update keeps failing with any other message, note the message and contact LF Audio support. Have the knob's System Info to hand.

Note

The messages come from the firmware the knob has now. Knob firmware older than 4.14.3 shows fewer of them. Either way, moving closer to your router and trying again fixes most failed updates.

Repair Firmware

Update Firmware installs only a version newer than the one on the knob. Repair Firmware installs the newest published version even when the knob is already up to date.

  1. Open the menu and choose Advanced.
  2. Choose Repair Firmware.
  3. The knob connects to WiFi and installs the newest version, the same way as a normal update, then restarts.

Use it after an interrupted update, if the knob misbehaves after an update, or when LF Audio support asks you to. On a knob that already has the newest version, it reinstalls that version. On one that is behind, it installs the newest.

Updating Your Base Station From the Knob

You can start a base station update from the knob:

  1. Make sure the knob is connected to your base station.
  2. Open the menu and choose Advanced.
  3. Choose Update Base. On a multi-unit system the row reads Update All Bases, and one tap updates every linked base station.
  4. The base station downloads and installs its own update. The knob shows its progress as Updating Base Station.
  5. When the base station is done, the knob checks for its own update too, and restarts.

Update Base shows only while the knob is connected to your base station. Your base station needs its WiFi set up. See Firmware Updates for the base station side.

The knob also shows Updating Base Station, and then updates itself, when you start a base station update from the LF Audio app while the knob is connected.

Warning

Do not switch off the base station while it updates. Wait until it finishes.

If the base station stops answering, the knob stops waiting and moves on to its own update. That happens after about 30 seconds with no progress, or 5 minutes in all. Once both are back on, start Update Base again to update the base station.

Checking Your Version

  • The knob: open the menu and choose System Info. Model shows WVC Dual PRO Knob or WVC Quad PRO Knob, and Firmware shows its version.
  • Your base station: open the menu and choose Base Info. It shows CPU1 FW and CPU2 FW, plus CPU3 FW on a WVC-PRO 6. Base Info shows only while the knob is connected.

To see the newest version and what each one adds, open the PRO knob release notes. On the firmware updates page, the PRO knobs are listed as WVC Dual PRO Knob / WVC Quad PRO Knob.