before you do an update you can verify if you  just have the last firmware on your device.

For that you can compare the behavior of your device and the description in the manual.

We have 2 main/basic versions /manuals

An older one - that was used till beginning of 2014:  V1.1 http://www.doepfer.de/pdf/Dark_Time_Manual.pdf

and the V1.2  after that. The V1.2 has no newer version(*), so if you have it still on the machine an update is obsolete.

(*)(TheV1.22 that you can donwload from this site has only one little improvement/fix. The clock-in/out value was always stored with an offset of 1 - this is fixed in this version.) http://www.doepfer.de/update/shared/files/DarkTime_Final_E_V1.2_Web.pdf

If you switch on a device with V1.2 for about 2/3 second exactly 2 leds light up. The 2'd of the first row and the 3'd of the second row. If this is so, you still have V1.2 and didn't need any updating.

Also a main difference how you can decide which  version you have is the Function button - if you press/hold it about 5 second, if it then starts to flash and the other leds   start/stop , reset and step  will light  permanently, then you have V1.2

Now for the update

common instructions here 

http://www.doepfer.de/update/en/index.html

instructions f.e. for Windows  7  (8,9,10,11):

http://www.doepfer.de/update/en/update_w7.html

MacOS(*)

http://www.doepfer.de/update/en/update_macosx.html

You also need the current firmware, a so called .HEX-File, which is zipped in 

'darktime_V1.22_fw_c_150211.zip'

download below.

(*)So, if you want to make the update with Mac, customers told us, that this app, we used here for Mac to update, maybe doesn’t work any longer. Cause it is a 32Bit program and on newer Mac you only can use 64 bit ones.
Cause this program is not made by us, we cannot offer any update on 64 bit here.
So, in this case you had to find (someone with a Win PC for the update.

Attention - please read ALL instructions there carefully, also the text in blue - maybe the instructions in the PDF are not 100% compatible with your DarkTime ..f.e. the jumper position is different, if you open the case, what you now should no longer do - if you just have the version with the update button.

Devices from later series have a small update button built into the back plate, which can be used exclusively for updating, instead of opening the device and changing jumpers, using a small screwdriver or pen. Please do not confuse this with the reset switch on the top of the device for resetting the default parameters.

If you then use the program PDFSUSB.exe  ( for windows only) Please read the Instructions in http://www.doepfer.de/update/shared/files/DarkTime%20OS%20Update%20WinXP%20english.pdf

Carefully  - special page 12

"ATTENTION:  Only click on these two buttons – never use other functions as ‘Read Device’,’Erase device’ ..... if you do this by mistake don’t go on in the update process and don’t click on "Program Device", but better leave the program and restart at 11"

Otherwise there is a good change that you 'brick' your device and have to send it to support, which is then not free of charge ! Also is no case of warranty !

Please do a reset as described after the update.

http://www.doepfer.de/update/shared/files/DarkTime_Final_E_V1.2_Web.pdf

see page 29:

3.6.2. Reset Dark Time

played with the help of the Step LEDs.

To reset Dark Time and show the OS version:

• Press and hold the Reset key(*) while Dark Time is switched off.
• Power Dark Time up while you still hold down the Reset key.

 (*) The key between  Start/Stop  &  Step

For about 2 or 3 seconds,  2 LEDs light up. They display the Numbers of the OS-version: upper LED row = first digit, lower LED row = second digit. Count from Zero. ( Second LED upper row, 3. led lower row)

After this, just Step-LEDs 1 and 9 should remain lighted up.

After that you can release the reset key, all parameters are set to their default.

Known issues in this version:

The clock divider is set to 10 (1/8T) by default as to 9(1/16).

This was introduced by mistake  in V1.22 ( which deletes 2 other little issue: that clock In/clock out divide is store always value +1).

This can be fixed by using the

- 3.6.3. Auto Save function page 30 manual over shutoff/on and so you only have to correct one time the clock divider to a more suitable value  ( f.e.l 1/16  as before ....)

And last but not least  -  IMPORTANT:

For the now updated new program version  the manuals for older versions (V1.1) are obsolete. Do not use this manuals any longer!!!

Please only use the new manual for the V1.2  ( V1.2 is f.e. printed on the main page...) .

http://www.doepfer.de/manual_e.htm

http://www.doepfer.de/update/shared/files/DarkTime_Final_E_V1.2_Web.pdf

!!! Attention !!!

There is a typo in the manual on page 18  concerning to adjust the midi channel for the lower row.

The text in the manual is incorrect

"To change the setting of the MIDI channel for the lower step register, please turn the Clock control while both ”Function” and ”Start/Stop” keys are still held down. Again, the number of step LEDs lit up will indicate the channel-number (1 - 16). "

Correct is:

Continue to hold down Function and Start/Stop.....
• Select the desired MIDI channel for the lower step row by turning the Pulsewidth control. The number of illuminated step LEDs also indicates the MIDI channel number (1 to 16).

The picture below the text shows the correct situation !