Sony Walkman firmware mods

Originally posted on MiniDisc.org by Peter Maksymiuk & Eric Woudenberg

Additional information about the N510, N520 and NF610 posted on https://www.sharoma.com/minidisc/hacking.htm by Robin Sharrock

Sony apparently uses some common DSP and system firmware in their Minidisc recorders but selectively disables certain functions on low-end equipment. The instructions below show how to change two EEPROM values to enable features that are normally available only on more expensive MD equipment.

The table below shows the features available with Factory Default (“D”) settings and with the Upgrade Hack (“U”) for various units.

Notes:

1. On the MZ-N505 the display does not show the timer's 1's digit, so the value shown is approx. times 10.
2. These functions are only available with the addition of an MZ-R900 remote (RM-MC11EL), its unbacklit brother (RM-MC10L), or the MZ-N1 remote (RM-MC12ELK)(see appendix for remote signalling information)
3. Unit's integral headphone amplifier lacks headphone/line selection circuit found in upscale model (see e.g. diagrams of the MZ-R700 and MZ-R900 audio circuitry).
4. Unit's integral microphone amplifier lacks sensitivity selection circuit found in upscale model (see e.g. diagrams of the MZ-R700 and MZ-R900 audio circuitry).
5. The Date/Time stamp function requires a battery backed time-of-day clock that is only present on the high-end models.
6. Also features Bookmark and Bookmark Repeat modes
7. The N510/N520/NF610 do not have battery backed up memory, so while you can enable the Memory function, it will forget the settings on next power down.
8. The N510 here refers to N510, N520 and NF610, as they all share the same feature set in upgrade.

Warning: These modifications require that you enter service mode on your unit. It is easy to render your machine inoperative in this mode. We make no guarantees that this will not happen to you! Proceed at your own risk. If your machine does not display the values indicated, exit service mode by removing power – this procedure may not be suitable for your machine.

This procedure discusses the MZ-R700 but the steps are nearly the same for the other machines. The only difference between the them is in the value of settings 1 and 2, and entering Service Mode on the MZ-N710, as noted in the text.

These modifications are made from the keyboard, proceed as follows:

• Run from the AC adapter or a fresh battery.
• Unplug the remote.

Display Description

The MZ-R700's LCD display has two sections, the dot matrix field on the left where titles are displayed, and the 7-segment section on the right where numbers (e.g. time values) are displayed. We will refer to these respectively as the “left display” and the “right display”.

Note: on the MZ-N505, the “left” and “right” displays are reversed.

Enter service mode:

1. Set the “HOLD” switch on.
2. While holding down the VOL – key like a SHIFT key (MZ-N710 users: hold down the GROUP key instead), enter the key sequence: FF FF REW REW FF REW FF REW PAUSE PAUSE
3. Release all keys.

If you have successfully entered service mode, the display will alternately display the firmware version in the left display and a screen with all LCD segments lit at about half second intervals. This work was done on a machine showing Ver 1.300. It will also work on Ver 1.400 and has been reported to work on an MZ-N707 Ver 1.100 and on an MZ-N710 Ver 1.500.

Change Setting 1:

• Press VOL + – you should see “MANUAL” displayed on the left and “0 00” on the right.
• Press PLAY – you should see “Laser” on the left and “0 10” on the right.
• Press VOL + 5 times – you should see “F Code” on the left and “0 60” on the right.
• Press PLAY – the first 3 digits of the left display should be continuously incrementing. The last 2 digits of the left display are a value in memory that you want to change (it probably reads as below but in any case, write this number down!). You should see “0 61” on the right.
  • “90” for the MZ-R700 and MZ-G750
  • “10” for the MZ-R500
  • “A0” for the MZ-N707
  • “80” for the MZ-N505
  • “20” for the MZ-N710
• Press VOL + repeatedly until the last two digits of the left display read:
  • “F7” for the Sony MZ-R700/G750/R500
  • “FE” for the Sony MZ-N707/N505 (or “FC” if you do not want Katakana titling)
  • “70” for the Sony MZ-N710

(you can press VOL – if you go past it).

• Press PAUSE

Change Setting 2:

• Press PLAY – you should again see incrementing numbers in the first 3 digits of the left display and “0 62” should appear in the right display. The last two digits of the left display are the value you want to change (it probably reads as below but in any case, write this number down!).
  • “20” for MZ-R series machines
  • “50” for the MZ-N707 and
  • “10” for the MZ-N505
  • “64” for the MZ-N710
• Press VOL + repeatedly until this reads: (you can press VOL – if you go past it)
  • “7B” for all machines besides the MZ-N710
  • “75” for the MZ-N710
• Press PAUSE

Exit service mode:

• Remove power plug or battery.

Warning: These modifications require that you enter service mode on your unit. It is easy to render your machine inoperative in this mode. We make no guarantees that this will not happen to you! Proceed at your own risk. If your machine does not display the values indicated, exit service mode by removing power – this procedure may not be suitable for your machine.

This procedure discusses the MZ-N510 but the steps are nearly the same for the other machines. The only difference between the them is in the value of settings 1 and 2.

These modifications are made from the keyboard; proceed as follows:

• Run from the AC adapter or a fresh battery.
• Unplug the remote.

Display Description

The MZ-N510's LCD display has two sections, the dot matrix field on the right where titles are displayed, and the 7-segment section on the left where numbers (e.g. time values) are displayed. We will refer to these respectively as the “right display” and the “left display”.

Enter service mode:

1. Set the “HOLD” switch on.
2. While holding down the GROUP button like it was a SHIFT key and enter the key sequence: FF FF REW REW FF REW FF REW PAUSE PAUSE
3. Release all keys.

If you have successfully entered service mode, the display will alternately display the firmware version in the left display and a screen with all LCD segments lit at about half second intervals. This will likely read 00 8 V1.600

Change Setting 1:

• Press FF – you should see “0 00” on the left and “Manual” on the right.
• Press FF – you should see “0 10” on the left and “Laser” on the right.
• Press VOL + 5 times – you should see “0 60” on the left and “F Code” on the right.
• Press FF – You will see 0 61 and some rolling numbers - ignore the rolling numbers. The Final two digits are important, and they should read 00. Press MENU to increase the values by 10, until 70 is shown, and then press VOL + twice to get them to 72.

(Note: you can press VOL – if you go past it).

• Press PAUSE

This has completed the settings that include the new Sound settings, Katakana Editing, the Line Out mode, and the Title Display.

Change Setting 2:

• Press FF – you should again see incrementing numbers and “0 62” should also appear. The last two digits of the left display are the value you want to change (it probably reads 20, but write this number down!).
• Press MENU to increase the number by 10, and VOL + to increase by 1, until it reads 61. (use VOL - if you miss the number)
• Press PAUSE

Exit service mode:

• Remove power plug or battery.

Turn off the hold switch, apply power, put an MD in your machine and start playback. Press ENTER, use FF to scroll through the display. You should see new modes such as M-TIMER and PERSONAL.

You have successfully upgraded your machine without wrecking it. Now have a look at the MZ-R900 user manual or MZ-N910 user manual to figure out how to use the new features.

If you need to restore the machine to to its factory settings, repeat the modification procedure given above, but replace the first and second settings values with whatever values you wrote down when you changed it originally. en you changed it originally.

Sony remote controls place various electrical resistances across pins 2 and 4 of the remote plug to signal button presses to the main unit. We give here the resistor values for the MZ-R900 remote.

The remote plug appears thus: