preenfm Forum
PreenFM => preenfm2 and preenfm3 => Topic started by: Blaise on March 25, 2021, 08:31:47 PM
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Hi ! :)
I just finished my preenfm2 r6 build from van daal electronics, and when i power it, it does nothing. No audio, not even noises or cracks, and the OLED stays black.
Latest beta version : 2.20b1
If you have a PCB R6 SMD, you need this version to get any sound out of the preenfm2.
If you flash the PCB for the first time, please follow the steps here :
https://github.com/Ixox/preenfm2/tree/master/flash
And use the dfu file attached to the release.
Do I need to do this or is my PCB already flashed to the latest version ?
Cant wait to hear the synth :)
Ty
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Hi,
2 possibilities.
1. You put a jumper on Boot0 on the PCB
2. The firmware is not flashed
If the answer to 1 is "No", so you have to follow the steps you mentioned to flash bootlaoder and firmware.
But don't use 2.20b1. It was the first one that support the new DAC, use 2.21 instead :
https://github.com/Ixox/preenfm2/releases
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Ok so now every cell in the screen is lit when i power it normally, but if I hold a button i can access bootloader v1.11.
I guess next step is to install the firmware ?
I've been following these instructions : http://ixox.fr/preenfm2/preenfm/upgrade-firmware/
On my USB key there's a single folder called "pfm2" with DX7, scala folders and some .bnk files. And also a p2_2.12.bin file.
But when i press the flash button in bootloader mode it doesnt show any option.
Also i cant see my usb stick after pressing ENG in bootloader mode
As you mentioned the latest firmware is 2.21, i've downloaded the pfm2_2.21.zip from your github and copied it at the root of my USB key, but pressing flash still doesnt show any files on the synth.
Thank you for your time :)
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Sounds like a USB stick issue. You may want to try a different USB stick.
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Just to be sure i updated to bootloader 1.13 from the version 2.20 folder, and i tried to install firmware v2.21 with a different USB stick. It looks like it worked, but not totally.
Now when i power the synth normally it doesnt boot. I have to start it in bootloader mode, press the flash button, screen says "no /pfm2 folder, rebooting" and after reboot it works perfectly.
Also it looks like the synth is running 2.20, but im sure i put the p2_2.21.bin file in the /pfm2 folder on the USB key.
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Cool. Flashing the bootloader is more diffult part.
Also it looks like the synth is running 2.20, but im sure i put the p2_2.21.bin file in the /pfm2 folder on the USB key.
Firmware is not executed from the USB key, you have to flash it from the USB key to the preenfm MCU.
See (2) here :
http://ixox.fr/preenfm2/preenfm/upgrade-firmware/
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Hi :) Thank you for your help !
Okay so yesterday i bought a new USB key, then everything was working as expected.
My synth is now running v2.21 and everything works fine :)
I just have 2 little problems left :
- There's a lot of noise on the synth, but im powering it via USB so i guess maybe using an external power supply will get rid of that.
- It looks like i cant control the synth via midi IN cable. Is it supposed to work as soon as I plug something in ? I tried with an MPC One (MPC midi out to preenfm midi in), an electric piano (piano midi out to preen midi in) and via the midi OUT on a USB audio interface. Tried loading a combo on the preen then tried to send commands on channel 1/2/3/4 with external gear via the midi din cable. I expected to hear instruments 1/2/3/4 but nothing worked.
Hardware-wise, i've never soldered a midi cable before so maybe I missed something, but i've soldered IN 4/5 on the board to pins 4/5 of the midi IN connector, and pins OUT 4/5 on the board to the pins 4/5 of the midi OUT connector.
Almost there ! :)
And again thank you really much for your help !
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Thanks for the update.
Yes use a 9v DC in power supply to get rid of the noise.
Or find a good dedicated USB wall adapter.
Powering it from a computer is the worst.
You can define the midi channel in the Menu>Tools>Set.
Default is 1/2/3/4 for instrument 1/2/3/4.
And yes it should work immediatly.
You may have inversed pins 4/5 on the midi socket, double check that.
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Ok so i inverted the pins on the midi connectors and everything works fine.
And I also got rid of the noise by finding a good USB adapter and using midi to control the synth.
Merci Xavier :) Et bravo pour le synthé, c'est une super machine.
Honnêtement je savais pas qu'il fallait flasher le soft dessus, d'ou le dérangement (et merci pour ta réactivité d'ailleurs :)), mais à postériori je dirais que c'était vraiment pas très compliqué. Le kit R6 est vraiment simple à monter pour une machine de cette qualité. Belle itération. Franchement bravo.
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Ok so i inverted the pins on the midi connectors and everything works fine.
And I also got rid of the noise by finding a good USB adapter and using midi to control the synth.
Merci Xavier :) Et bravo pour le synthé, c'est une super machine.
Honnêtement je savais pas qu'il fallait flasher le soft dessus, d'ou le dérangement (et merci pour ta réactivité d'ailleurs :)), mais à postériori je dirais que c'était vraiment pas très compliqué. Le kit R6 est vraiment simple à monter pour une machine de cette qualité. Belle itération. Franchement bravo.
Cool thanks for the update and thanks for the nice words :)