How to Upgrade your VCI-100 firmware

Purchase the firmware upgrade kit

Download the VCI-100 Special Edition Firmware (Version 1.3)

Install firmware upgrade software (Windows)

Install the matching TKS files

Learn about the features of the VCI-100 SE

56 Responses to “How to Upgrade your VCI-100 firmware”


  1. 1
    Vote -1 Vote +1G-Reg

    Yes, FINALLY!! Thank you very much, cant wait to get mine!

  2. 2
    Vote -1 Vote +1Joe Smite

    Thanks so much for your generous work! ..very helpful.

  3. 3
    Vote -1 Vote +1RayU

    “the VCI-100 upgrade kits will be on sale in mid September”

    that ^kit mentioned will include the firmware upgrade kit and plates?

  4. 4
    Vote -1 Vote +1Dj Wills

    Ean Golden you are the best forever man!!! cant wait to get mine ty so much

  5. 5
    Vote -1 Vote +1Dj Wills

    Let me ask you this so the vci 100 will be with the same fuctions as vci ean golden edition???

  6. 6
    Vote -1 Vote +1barf

    RayU, i got the feeling there aren’t gonna be plates to be bought :(

  7. 7
    Vote -1 Vote +1barf

    Ok i shouldn’t say stuff before watching the video :P
    nice one! keep it up

    although i’m wondering how you would connect the upgrade kit serial port to a laptop if u didn’t have such a cable, but would have a serial port

  8. 8
    Vote -1 Vote +1luv2xra

    This is just the upgrade kit, for the firmware only. The plates will be for another day. This kit is also going to to give you, as advertise, the VCI-100 SE functions. I would suggest to start reading the documents and seen the videos. The VCI-100 SE support forum should guide you with any FAQ and issues. I suggest to read the first three posts, they deal with both issues.

  9. 9
    Vote -1 Vote +1luv2xra

    Just one question, when will the mac version will be release?

  10. 10
    Vote -1 Vote +1beep

    @ luv2xra

    I had the same question, and mr. golden said as of now there will be no mac version. However, quick 1-time upgrade. Get a PC buddy to help ya out and you should be fine.

  11. 11
    Vote -1 Vote +1BentoSan

    Cant wait to update, sick of my 1.1 firmware lol

  12. 12
    Vote -1 Vote +1mycole

    Thanks for all the hard work Ean & team! I’m so excited to be rockin the new firmware! It’s Christmas in August! Then, when I get my new plates in Sept it’ll be Christmas in September.

    …So what do you have planned for Oct and Nov?

  13. 13
    Vote -1 Vote +1mycole

    I’m going to play the VCI-100SE feature tour vidoes on loop until my firmware arrives.

  14. 14
    Vote -1 Vote +1ATP

    Ok…so this firmware update basically turns and VCI-100 into the SE? So I don’t have to try and top the eBay bidding to get the revised features of the SE? That would make me happy.

  15. 15
    Vote -1 Vote +1oquela

    Does the upgrade kit mini board stay inside the unit?
    How do you go between 1.2 and 1.3 firmware once you update?
    How much will the plates be?

    Thanks to everyone responsible for this!

    BTW: any future mods (like blue LEDs) in the works?

  16. 16
    Vote -1 Vote +1sgb

    I think the credit goes out to Midifiddler (sp?) for creating this, but credit for Ean to actually getting distributing this beauty I’ll post a link for the 1.2 firmware once I confirm I get some flashing in.

    By the way, I’ve got my money on that you can flash from VMWare/Parallels/Bootcamp on your mac, but I’ll post my results once I get some testing in.

    sgb

  17. 17
    Vote -1 Vote +1BentoSan

    ATP - “Ok…so this firmware update basically turns and VCI-100 into the SE? So I don’t have to try and top the eBay bidding to get the revised features of the SE? That would make me happy.”

    Yes thats correct :)

  18. 18
    Vote -1 Vote +1Hedgehog

    Will a delivery of the whole kit to Germany be possible?

  19. 19
    Vote -1 Vote +1mycole

    So, I got mine today! Just to clarify. Can I use either a normal serial cable or a serial to USB cable to connect to the firmware kit? I have a serial port. I just want to make sure because will need to buy either cable.

  20. 20
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ean Golden

    Yes, everything produced by us will always ship worldwide. A full kit, once all the parts are in, will be available. While we wont be making plates, there is something much,much better in the works that will make everyone very happy. More on that soon.

    For all support and questions about the firmware update process please visit the forum:

    http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=13

  21. 21
    Vote -1 Vote +1Beep

    so.

    Just got my Firmware in the mail, and this afternoon will be modding it.

    I will let everyone know how it turned out.

  22. 22
    Vote -1 Vote +1mycole

    Has anyone else that’s gotten the upgrade kit had trouble with getting the VCI-100 into Boot Mode? I’ve posted on the forum but there’s only a few people looking at that right now. Any help is appreciated!

    http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=13

  23. 23
    Vote -1 Vote +1G=Reg

    I’m also having trouble on the last step of installation. I posted in the forums, any help is greatly appreciated!!

  24. 24
    Vote -1 Vote +1Thomas

    Donøt quite get it yet. What is it that the firmware do? upgrade your MIDI controller in some way????

  25. 25
    Vote -1 Vote +1mycole

    Exactly. The firmware upgrade changes the behavior of some buttons and reconfigures midi notes. It allows multiple midi notes to be sent out by a single knob or button, so that Ean’s special configuration can be used.

  26. 26
    Vote -1 Vote +1Thomas

    Oh, okay, I haven’t got the VCI YET! :D
    So it can’t already bind one button to more than one function???!!

  27. 27
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ean Golden

    no, thomas, the vci-100 only sends out one message per button and is not configurable. firmware 1.3 sends out specific multiple messages that are useful in traktor.

  28. 28
    Vote -1 Vote +1Thomas

    God! :D Then I MUST HAVE this firmware :D
    and really good job with all this Ean ;)

  29. 29
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ean Golden

    Hi Ean!

    I’have just upgraded my VCI-100 and now it rocks! I’m really missing the plates.

    Any update about the surprise (instead of plates) you told us you are going to provide?

    Thanks! ;)

    Check out this post for more info:
    http://www.djtechtools.com/2008/09/02/the-vci-100-ne-nintendo-edition/

    The overlays will be coming out in about 2 weeks,

  30. 30
    Vote -1 Vote +1Krilikz

    Thanks for the insite! You dont find stuff like this just anywhere on the internet.

  31. 31
    Vote -1 Vote +1CJ Kav

    ??????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ? ? ??? ???? ????????? ???????????!


    ? ????? ??? VCI-100

  32. 32
    Vote -1 Vote +1lui

    Why when I download the 1.3 firmware it always downloauds as MPEG Quicktime file

  33. 33
    Vote -1 Vote +1lui

    Why when I download the 1.3 firmware it always downloauds as MPEG Quicktime file PLS can you send me the one that will work

  34. 34
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ean Golden

    Why when I download the 1.3 firmware it always downloauds as MPEG Quicktime file PLS can you send me the one that will work

    your computer thinks its a quick time file because its not sure what format it is in. If you follow the steps in the forum and video and load the file in the renessas program then it will be recognized. The file does not get double clicked but is loaded directly into the program.

  35. 35
    Vote -1 Vote +1avx

    Hey Ean, I’m trying to install the firmware, but in going to the process, when I get to the last step with Flash, I get an error 15024 Boot failed?

  36. 36
    Vote -1 Vote +1avx

    Scratch that, I changed the port to COM 5 and it worked, I was using a Sony Viao.

  37. 37
    Vote -1 Vote +1Michael

    So, if i have a vci with 1.2 firmware do i need the upgrade pcb or is this only for people with 1.1 firmware. How do i upgrade to 1.3? Is it using the software and the usb lead it comes with?

    A little confused thats all

    Regards Michael

  38. 38
    Vote -1 Vote +1avx

    I’ve taken the steps to check the firmware, but I have Euro edition and the lights light up either way, at first they are green, then I click the snap button and it turns blue, then I have to click it twice (maybe 3 times) and it turns green again. Does this confirm being on 1.3?

  39. 39
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ean Golden

    I’ve taken the steps to check the firmware, but I have Euro edition and the lights light up either way, at first they are green, then I click the snap button and it turns blue, then I have to click it twice (maybe 3 times) and it turns green again. Does this confirm being on 1.3?

    yes- thats 1.3 alright. That was the only way I could make one TSI file work for 1.2 and 1.3 users. You can change the SNAP mapping to hold and it will work the right way.

  40. 40
    Vote -1 Vote +1Elektranik

    Hey Thanks A LOT for this firmware! Im can’t seem to find a TKS file that uses the new platter commands but retains the original VCI 100 midi CC’s. Does this exist somewhere? Thanks again!

  41. 41
    Vote -1 Vote +1Define

    Hello DJ Tech Tools…Im kinda interested with the Firmware Kit….ive checked out the Store but it says that the kit is out of stock and will be back end of January…any news on the stock yet?…Thanks!

  42. 42
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ean Golden

    Hello DJ Tech Tools…Im kinda interested with the Firmware Kit….ive checked out the Store but it says that the kit is out of stock and will be back end of January…any news on the stock yet?…Thanks!

    Sorry, they are being made now and should be done in a few weeks :)

  43. 43
    Vote -1 Vote +1Thomas Barron

    I’ve been waiting for this firmware kit for quite a while now. It’s been out of stock forever. And now it’s going to be WEEKS longer??? I’m really sad right now. If there’s any way to get one earlier than “a few weeks” I’d be willing to pay double.

  44. 44
    Vote -1 Vote +1fab

    im’ going to be mad i want te firmware kit, i check everyday the website for this DJ EAN hurry up, but thank you for all your work about the vestax vci 100, you’re a genius

  45. 45
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ean Golden

    Did you know you can sign up on a list and we will send you an email as soon as any of our products that you want are back in stock? Then you dont have to check back in every day :)

    http://djtechtools.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=beb2a6ddc61a995d1d47d79bb&id=90e0a8b489

  46. 46
    Vote -1 Vote +1fab

    lol thank you Ean but i’m on the guest list too, i’m going to make yoga lol.
    Do you have a date for the firmware kit ??

  47. 47
    Vote -1 Vote +1mikey

    hi ean,

    longtime lurker, thanks for all your work. looking at the out-of-stock firmware update board, i can’t help but notice it just appears to be a max232 level shifter, caps, and some headers.

    if this is the case, might i suggest you or an intrepid reader consider an alternative part: the following board — while not made for the vci 100’s header — is a TTL-serial-to-USB converter:

    http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8772

    i’m guessing it’d just be a matter of getting the pins connected to the right place. (it is a pity the vci’s mcu isn’t reprogammable via the built in usb connection.)

    cheers..

  48. 48
    Vote -1 Vote +1jbro

    ean i have a mac and am not sure how to do the firmware update because the program you have posted to use is for windows only…. what do i do

  49. 49
    Vote -1 Vote +1Lukas

    As you can read from the above comments, you need Windows ..

  50. 50
    Vote -1 Vote +1fab

    Thank you Ean Golden, i put my vci 100 in firmware 1.3 with the kit, it tooks me 25 minutes and the black overlays is more difficult 45 minutes lol

  51. 51
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ian Jackson

    Please advise, do I need to buy the firmware update or can I download for free the 1.3, I am using a mac. All advice gratefully recieved!

    Ian

  52. 52
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ian Jackson

    Please advise, do I need to buy the firmware update or can I download for free the 1.3, I am using a mac. All advice gratefully recieved!

    Ian

  53. 53
    Vote -1 Vote +1midifidler

    Please advise, do I need to buy the firmware update or can I download for free the 1.3, I am using a mac. All advice gratefully recieved!

    Ian

    The firmware update cable is a hardware device that allows you to update the firmware on PC or Mac. If you dont have something that will do the job allready you will need to buy the update cable.

  54. 54
    Vote -1 Vote +1lui

    How can we upgrade my VCI 100 if I have a Mac computer

  55. 55
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ian Jackson

    Thanks for sending me some information yesterday re updates. I wanted to check did I read correctly on your site that soon it won’t be neccessary to update to Firmway 1.3 as you are working with Native and they will be providing updates to Tracktor Pro. If this is correct do you know when this planned for.

    Once agan many thanks for your work.

  56. 56
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ean Golden

    I wanted to check did I read correctly on your site that soon it won’t be neccessary to update to Firmway 1.3 as you are working with Native and they will be providing updates to Tracktor Pro. If this is correct do you know when this planned for.
    .

    that is not correct. There are several things in the 1.3 update that fix problems with the VCi-100 and several functions that Traktor Pro can not duplicate. It is possible to use the mappings with 1.2 and Pro with only a few bugs and missing features but 1.3 is still much better.

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