Hi guys! How are you? I’m reaching out to see if there’s any way to recover my Hercules DJ Control Air+.
When I plug it into my PC, none of the lights turn on, and it’s not recognized as a USB device. I’ve tried multiple computers and USB cables, and I’ve also reinstalled the official drivers and DJUCED, but the controller doesn’t respond in any way.
I opened up the unit and confirmed it’s receiving power internally, so I believe this might be a firmware failure or a bricked microcontroller. The last time it was connected, Windows kept detecting and disconnecting the device rapidly — after that, it went completely dead.
This controller is very important to me on a personal level: it was a gift from my mom during her fight against cancer, as a way to help me get started as a DJ and Music Producer. Thankfully, she’s now doing well — but this controller still holds a lot of sentimental value for me, and I’d really like to find a way to bring it back to life.
So I have a few questions:
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Is there any key combination to force the device into a bootloader or firmware recovery mode?
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Does the DJ Control Air+ have any method to reflash the firmware manually?
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If the firmware is corrupted, is there any tool or process I can follow to restore it?
Unfortunately, I live in Argentina, and I haven’t been able to find any local repair service that works with Hercules products. I’d really appreciate any support or guidance you can offer!
Thanks in advance,
Franco
Hello Franco,
Welcome to Hercules community area.
There is a firmware update process but it works only if the controller is partly detected by the computer, since if the DJ controller is not detected at all by the computer, the firmware updater program cannot find a target device where the firmware can be uploaded.
As you did not precise the most technical information which are needed on your computer setting:
- computer operating system,
- Hercules driver package installed in the computer,
I presume
- your PC has Windows 10 or 11,
- you installed on this PC Hercules last driver package, 2023.HDJS.2.
So the following process is valid only if your computer setup in Windows 10 or 11, with Hercules driver package 2023.HDJS.2, and with DJControl Air +:
- Close any background program (as an internet browser or a DJ program)
- Right click on Windows Start icon
- Select Run
- Type on 1 line, with the " characters and the - manual as follows
"C:\Program Files\DJHERCULESMIX\Audio\DJ Console Series\firmware\HDJSeriesUpdater" -manual - Click on OK
- It will run Hercules Firmware updater program
- If you can read DJControl Air + in info field, the firmware updater can see the device and try to update the firmware. If you cannot read DJControl Air+ in the info field, you can leave the firmware updating process as the issue is not the built-in firmware, it is the hardware detection.
- If you can read DJControl Air+ in Info field, and at Current column, if front of "Firmware Audio", you can read the same number as "Available", your issue is not related to the built-in firmware, and you may stop the firmware update process.
- If you read something else on "Current" column and on "Available" column on firmware audio line, it is time to update the firmware.
- Check the Flash field on Firmware Audio: line.
- Update! text becomes black on "Update!" button on bottom right.
- Click on "Update!" button.
- The firmware update process starts, and the bar in "Task in process" gradually fills.
- When the bar reaches 100% and becomes blue, the firmware updater says
"Done. You can not disconnect and reconnect your Hercules DJ Device." - Unplug/replug the USB on the DJ Controller.
- If, at "Current" column, on "Firmware Audio" line, you read final firmware audio version, the firmware update has been successful, you can close the firmware updater in clicking on the X on top right.
