Multiple GM5x5x5

Antix · February 15, 2013, 10:57pm

Hi,

I am try to use more than two GM5x5x5 module on my Windows7 .

After tried a lot of jumper settings only two module can work without any strange issue ( like plug and unplug the third module to make the system see it and so on ).

I would try to use the eeprom .

So I have two ( at least ) questions:

Can the eeprom configuration help me to creating 5 different ( for the OS ) GM5x5x5 modules ?

What I have to modify in the app to create a unique ID ( or name ) for each GM5x5x5 module ?

I am using the driver

http://www.ucapps.de/gm5/midibox.org_gm5_WIN32_1.0.10.zip

and already have modified the name in the .inf file

Thanks for any help

Best regards

Antonio

Shuriken · February 16, 2013, 7:27am

On the frontpage:

_ Q: I want to use two GM5 modules for getting 10 MIDI IO ports, how can I give them individual names?
A: Break the bridge at J8 of the PCB with a small screwdriver, so that IC2:IO4 is not connected to ground anymore. This selects the ploytec.com VID, so that your operating system can differ between two devices (midibox.org and ploytec.com) and installs an individual .inf file.
If more ports with individual names are required, you could use different IO number configurations (J1..J3), since this results into different PIDs. Alternativeley you can use an EEPROM to define your own IO port configuration and PID - so long VID is assigned to Ploytec range, the Windows driver will find it.
Note that without individual names, your OS will numerate the ports so that you are still able to differ between them._

I think this should answer your question.

Antix · February 16, 2013, 4:56pm

Hi Shuriken,

Unfortunately not help me.

I already tried this ( the GM5x5x5 need no screwdriver as are there jumpers for settings)

I am able to select ploytec.com VID leaving J8 open but any jumper setting ( J1…J3 or s1…s3 as we want call them ) reduce only the number ( quantity ) of midi ports.

So I would try the EEprom settings but dont know what I have to change in the contents in each EEprom to have different settings.

Thanks and regards

Antonio

T.K · February 16, 2013, 6:27pm

J8 open: Ploytec VID selected

J8 closed: MIDIbox VID selected

All other jumpers untouched.

Can you confirm this?

Best Regards, Thorsten.

Antix · February 16, 2013, 9:03pm

Hi Thorsten,

yes, I can confirm.

but I have to say that two device works OK also with only the MIDIbox.vid selected , leaving both J8 closed and other jumpers untouched ( closed )

I changed the name in the .inf file writing:

WDM.MIDI_1.szPname=“GM5 porta 1”
WDM.MIDI_2.szPname=“GM5 porta 2”
WDM.MIDI_3.szPname=“GM5 porta 3”
WDM.MIDI_4.szPname=“GM5 porta 4”
WDM.MIDI_5.szPname=“GM5 porta 5”

So for the first interface I have ( in MIOSStudio for example and in othe programs too ) :

GM5 porta 1

GM5 porta 2

GM5 porta 3

GM5 porta 4

GM5 porta 5

and for the second i have:

GM5 porta 1 - 2

GM5 porta 2 - 2

GM5 porta 3 - 2

GM5 porta 4 - 2

GM5 porta 5 - 2

The " problems " start with 3 or 4 GM5x5x5

The system dont recognize the third at bootstrap, I have to unplug and re-plug the USB cable to make the system see it

The fourth doesnt exist anyway.

And this with various configurations tested (it seems to me I am following the indication in the GM5 page very correctly but it is possible that I am making something wrong )

Best regards

Antonio

T.K · February 16, 2013, 10:30pm

I must say that I never tried more than 1 GM5x5x5 on a Windows PC…

If there is a driver issue, only Ploytec can help.

Or somebody, who tried more than 2 GM5x5x5 as well and just can confirm, that it works at his side (resp. what he did to get this working)

Best Regards, Thorsten.

Antix · February 16, 2013, 11:19pm

Thanks anyway,

By the way I will use two GM5x5x5 and if I will solve I will post here .

With the EEprom configuring will be the same?

What I have to do to have two different configuration in EEprom, I toke a look at the special app in the repository

but as I am not very into programming I dont know how to modify the code to configure two device.

Or better : what is the part of the code I can modify who make the difference from two devices?

At this point is interesting to me to try it.

Best regards

Antonio

Shuriken · February 17, 2013, 8:14am

Antonio,

The contents of the eprom is defined in eeprom_content.c

The default id value is:

0x16c0 & 0xff,        // Vendor ID 16C0 --- sponsored by voti.nl! see[http://www.voti.nl/pids](http://www.voti.nl/pids)  0x16c0 >> 8,          // Vendor ID (MSB)
  1022 & 0xff,          // Product ID (LSB)
  1022 >> 8,            // Product ID (MSB)

So VID = 16C0 and the PID = 1022

You could just burn this to an eprom as it does not match the current PID and VID that are defined in the midibox.org_gm5.inf file, the [DRIVER_DEVICELIST] or [DRIVER_DEVICELIST.NTAMD64] section)

That section currently looks like:

%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_16C0&PID_03FE ;midibox.org GM5
%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_0A4A&PID_E501	;out only
%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_0A4A&PID_E510	;input only
%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_0A4A&PID_E511	;1 port
%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_0A4A&PID_E522	;2 ports
%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_0A4A&PID_E533	;3 ports
%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_0A4A&PID_E544	;4 ports
%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_0A4A&PID_E555	;5 ports
%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_0A4A&PID_E521	;eeprom demo
%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_0A4A&PID_E5E5
%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_0A4A&PID_E5CB

You should then add a line to it:

%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_16C0&PID_1022

For the next device you could just increase the PID to 1023.

Antix · February 17, 2013, 10:46am

Hi Shuriken,

Thanks for your reply

%DevName%=MIDIDEVICE,USB\VID_16C0&PID_1022

I have to add this line at the end of the section

and add a new line increasing the PID for each new GM5x5x5 module

Then install the driver in my computer

Right?

Only one thing is not clear for me:

have I to change the PID in the eeprom too or this procedure is anyway for use without eeprom?

Thanks and best regards

Antonio

P.S.

Actually I use two GM5x5x5

The first

MIDIbox.org ( J8 closed )

and the second

Ploytec. org ( J8 opened )

Only for midibox one I can obtain a name change as I wanted in the .inf file

I.E.

WDM.MIDI_1.szPname=“MIDIbox SID (1)”

WDM.MIDI_2.szPname=“MIDIbox FM (2)”

WDM.MIDI_3.szPname=“MIDIbox SEQ (3)”

WDM.MIDI_4.szPname=“MIDIbox Stribe (4)”

WDM.MIDI_5.szPname=“Keyboard (5)”

For the ploytec one I have to keep the names assigned automatically.

Is there a chance to rename the ploytec range too?

Shuriken · February 17, 2013, 11:12am

The procedure i described is only if you use an eprom. I will check on my end with changing the names. I haven’t tried it yet.

Just checked. I connected a GM5x5x5 with JP8 open. Then a GM5 board with JP8 closed open as well. It seems to be working. I see all 10 ports in MIOS Studio.

T.K · February 17, 2013, 7:56pm

As far as I remember, the GM5 driver will only work with VID 0x16c0 PID 1022 (MIDIbox) or with Ploytec VID (0x0a4a) and any PID

Best Regards, Thorsten.

Antix · February 17, 2013, 8:06pm

It seems to me a OS problem.

With XP computer 4 GM5x5x5 w/o any problem ( other usb socket on the rear and ATM I cant access them to test more than 4)

With Windows7 computer ATM only 2 GM5x5x5 ( only jumper configuration - no EEprom )

T.K · February 17, 2013, 8:21pm

Hm!

In this case the EEPROM definitely won’t help…

Best Regards, Thorsten.

Antix · February 17, 2013, 9:59pm

I think the same…

Probably Windows7 need a new driver optimized .

Do you think may useful report to ploytec this issue ( after I wil test on other OS and computers )

or I will loose my time ?

Shuriken · February 18, 2013, 5:09pm

As far as I remember, the GM5 driver will only work with VID 0x16c0 PID 1022 (MIDIbox) or with Ploytec VID (0x0a4a) and any PID

Best Regards, Thorsten.

The .inf file says VID 16C0 PID 03FE

I think the same…

Probably Windows7 need a new driver optimized .

Do you think may useful report to ploytec this issue ( after I wil test on other OS and computers )

or I will loose my time ?

I am using Windows 7 64 bit. Maybe try to totally remove the driver first and then reinstall?

Antix · February 19, 2013, 9:07am

I am using Windows 7 64 bit. Maybe try to totally remove the driver first and then reinstall?

already done.

To me two modules ( 10 MIDI ports ) works fine like yours.

May you try with 3 or 4 .

Anyway I will test soon with a OS upgrade

Regards

Antonio

Shuriken · February 19, 2013, 6:50pm

already done.

To me two modules ( 10 MIDI ports ) works fine like yours.

May you try with 3 or 4 .

Anyway I will test soon with a OS upgrade

Regards

Antonio

Thats a bit hard. All the Ploytec IC are still seperated from my red gm5x5x5 pcb

eptheca · May 25, 2013, 7:48pm

I have just finished 3 GM5’s with 5 OUT and 1 IN

I use W7 64, all 4 jumpers closed

They all come up in Device Manager like this

In SendSX like this

and in Live like this

Two GM5’s are connected to a double USB 3.0 internal hub in my laptop, and the third to a single USB 2.0 internal socket in my laptop

I am not sure why it comes up like it does, because it understands that it is 15 midi ports

Also strange that port 1 on each unit comes up as Ploytec GM5, and not MIDIIN 1/6/11

At least I can use all the 15 ports, even if the names are a bit strange

I will try to connect them to one HUB later, and see how that works

eptheca · October 7, 2013, 12:14pm

I have now connected all 3 GM5’s to a generic USB hub (a Belkin 7 port Bus powered)

1 - uninstalled the Midibox GM5 1.0.10 driver

2 - connected the GM5’s one at a time so I can see them in Device Manager (Ploytec…)

3 - installed the driver

They are listed in Mios Studio/Bome’s Send SX/Ableton Live as:

GM5 Port 1-5

2 - GM5 Port 1-5

3 - GM5 Port 1-5

I think what caused the strange behavior earlier was that I installed the driver first, then updated the driver for each device.

Installing the driver with all 3 connected worked better.

(W7 64)

Altitude · October 8, 2013, 12:36am

I see the same behavior as antix. I run 3 sometimes 4 GM5s and occasionally one (not always the same one) will disappear. Unplugging it and plugging it back in brings it back. I have tried everything I can think of (different midi ports, hubs, etc) and nothing makes a difference. This behavior has been around as long as I have used them (on Win7 now)