how can I know if my mac is truly communicating with the MD?

[jeffbeckib]

I've tried using the MCT, but I can't tell if it's really even seeing the MD. It will respond the same way weather I have the MD turned on or not..
Is there any other program I can use to try and re-load the firmware and bootloader?

[dmitri]

Why do you even think you need to reload it? If you have an electrical problem on the board and it malfunctions, there is no way you can re-load firmware with anything.

[kimouette]

jeffbeckib,
Make sure you have the latest firmware installed and then in MCT go to :
Options / Configure
In the "Midi Devices" area , chose "Megadrum" as your input and output device.
That's all you need to know if your MD is recognized by your computer!

If you dont see "Megadrum" from the dropdown menu in MCT, read this :

Try installing this:
http://www.mandolane.co.uk/dlPlumstone.html
For installing (in Tiger OS, which has java 1.5) you only need to copy plumstoneserv.jar to /Library/Java/Extensions

For more info please read this:
http://lists.apple.com/archives/coreaud ... 00214.html

If you have more questions about the compatibility Mac/MCT, you can follow this thread :
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=400

[jeffbeckib]

all this documentation goes back to 2004. I'm runnin OSX Leopard latest version on a brand new intel macbook pro. Shouldn't be any problem running java sound. But the the only options I see in the drop down menu under config are Real time sequencer and under midi out I have java sound synthesizer too. I don't have any Midi as an option.

jeffbeckib,
Make sure you have the latest firmware installed and then in MCT go to :
Options / Configure
In the "Midi Devices" area , chose "Megadrum" as your input and output device.
That's all you need to know if your MD is recognized by your computer!

If you dont see "Megadrum" from the dropdown menu in MCT, read this :

Try installing this:
http://www.mandolane.co.uk/dlPlumstone.html
For installing (in Tiger OS, which has java 1.5) you only need to copy plumstoneserv.jar to /Library/Java/Extensions

For more info please read this:
http://lists.apple.com/archives/coreaud ... 00214.html

If you have more questions about the compatibility Mac/MCT, you can follow this thread :
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=400

[dmitri]

all this documentation goes back to 2004. I'm runnin OSX Leopard latest version on a brand new intel macbook pro. Shouldn't be any problem running java sound. But the the only options I see in the drop down menu under config are Real time sequencer and under midi out I have java sound synthesizer too. I don't have any Midi as an option.

Before being able to see MegaDrum in MCT or any other MIDI aware program, make sure you can see it in "System Profiler->Hardware->USB". If it's not there then it has not been detected by Mac OS X which means your MegaDrum, and PIC18F2550 USB in particular, is not working properly. No point doing anything else until hardware problem is sorted.

[jeffbeckib]

No, I do not see it under system profiler. Let me ask you this, if it is the pic18f2550 is ok, and the usb connector is ok, what else is required on the board for it to show up under system profiler? and if the pic icu is failing, would this cause the lcd to be blank?, or would the atmega32 chip still display something, assuming it doesn't have any issues.

all this documentation goes back to 2004. I'm runnin OSX Leopard latest version on a brand new intel macbook pro. Shouldn't be any problem running java sound. But the the only options I see in the drop down menu under config are Real time sequencer and under midi out I have java sound synthesizer too. I don't have any Midi as an option.

Before being able to see MegaDrum in MCT or any other MIDI aware program, make sure you can see it in "System Profiler->Hardware->USB". If it's not there then it has not been detected by Mac OS X which means your MegaDrum, and PIC18F2550 USB in particular, is not working properly. No point doing anything else until hardware problem is sorted.

[dmitri]

No, I do not see it under system profiler. Let me ask you this, if it is the pic18f2550 is ok, and the usb connector is ok,

Either one of above or both of them are not ok, so ...

what else is required on the board for it to show up under system profiler?

...nothing else will make it to show up under System Profiler.

and if the pic icu is failing, would this cause the lcd to be blank?, or would the atmega32 chip still display something, assuming it doesn't have any issues.

Take PIC18F2550 out of the socket and see if it has anything to do with the blank LCD. If it is still blank, then something else is at fault.

[kimouette]

Just want to rectify something I said... Cuz I gave you the wrong link! You're right Plumstone wont be any help.

After you're 100% sure that you're Megadrum is fully working, to allow MCT to detect it you will need to install this :

download and install MMJ (v0_87 for future reference)
http://www.humatic.de/htools/mmj.htm

copy mmj "mmj.jar" and "libmmj.jnilib" to your java extension folder:
/Library/Java/Extensions

And that's it! Forget about Plumstone, that was for something else, sorry about the confusion!

[jeffbeckib]

took out the pic18F out and lcd still lit, but blank

No, I do not see it under system profiler. Let me ask you this, if it is the pic18f2550 is ok, and the usb connector is ok,

Either one of above or both of them are not ok, so ...

what else is required on the board for it to show up under system profiler?

...nothing else will make it to show up under System Profiler.

and if the pic icu is failing, would this cause the lcd to be blank?, or would the atmega32 chip still display something, assuming it doesn't have any issues.

Take PIC18F2550 out of the socket and see if it has anything to do with the blank LCD. If it is still blank, then something else is at fault.

[dmitri]

took out the pic18F out and lcd still lit, but blank

Is it Synthex's kit? If yes, that is Atmega came with a bootloader, and still without pic18f in the socket, hold the key LEFT while powering MegaDrum up (or while plugging it into USB). Still nothing on the LCD even if you look at it at extreme angles?