Important announcement

28 September 2024

We've learnt from our supplier that the microprocessor in the Zebra-Trem has a problem. Very occasionally, on power up, it might erase a section of internal memory. If that happens, the pedal will stop working, and will need to be fixed.

Our supplier has recommended a fix, and this fix will be applied to all pedals sold from today onwards. Unfortunately, all pedals sold before today carry the problem.

There are a number of ways this could be handled, and we will support you through whichever you prefer.

Option 1: do nothing until the fault arises

This has been working for most people. Only a small percentage of pedals sold have been affected so far. It is possible though, that as time passes, more pedals will be affected. When the fault arises, option 2 or 3 will be required.

Option 2: DIY repair

This approach requires two screwdrivers, a Micro USB B cable, a desktop or laptop computer, and a bit of patience. The exact steps involved depend on whether you're fixing before or after the fault has arisen. (There are fewer steps if you do it before.) We would love you to give this a go, because it'll save so much in shipping costs and time. We will do our best to support you through this, with voice or video calls, or through email, WhatsApp or Messenger. If you get part way through, and decide it's too difficult, you can always return it for repair at that point. To thank you for completing the fix using this approach, we'll send you US$20, either via PayPal, or as a gift card of your choosing.

Option 3: return for repair

This approach is always available, regardless of whether the fault has already arisen, or whether you've started fixing it yourself. If you're the original owner, we can reimburse you for reasonable shipping costs. If you bought the pedal second hand, we will cover the cost of shipping the pedal back to you. In either case, please contact us before shipping.

If you'd like to go ahead with one of these options, please email us at sounds@gmail.com

We apologise for the inconvenience this causes, and hope that one of these options gives a satisfactory way forward.

Steps for the DIY approach

  1. Remove the microprocessor from the pedal. This video shows how. If this is as far as you get with the DIY approach, and you're able to send just the microcontroller for us to repair, we'll send you US$10, either via PayPal, or as a gift card of your choosing.
  2. Download this zip file to your computer, and open it.
  3. Connect the mocroprocessor to your computer using a Micro USB cable, and wait for the CIRCUITPY device to appear in your computer's list of connected devices.
  4. Double-click the reset button,

    and wait for the ITSYM4BOOT device to appear in your computer's list of connected devices.
  5. Copy 
    update-bootloader-itsybitsy_m4-v3.15.0.uf2
    from the .zip file to the ITSYM4BOOT device, and wait for the ITSYM4BOOT device to disappear from, and then reappear in your computer's list of connected devices. This replaces the faulty bootloader.
  6. Copy 
    adafruit-circuitpython-itsybitsy_m4_express-en_GB-7.3.3.uf2
    from the .zip file to the ITSYM4BOOT device. This reinstalls the correct version of CircuitPython, and is necessary to get the microprocessor out of bootloader mode.

If your pedal was still working when you started the update, that's all you'll need to do. The steps above will prevent the fault from happening.

If the fault has already arisen, a couple of further steps are required to get it working again:

  1. Reinstate flash memory using a file we will send you. It contains the calibration details for your specific pedal.
  2. Update to the latest version of the Zebra-Trem software: https://roundersounds.com/zebra-trem (see the Downloads tab).