Messages

16

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: Flashing the Bootloader in a Mac with Mavericks

« on: January 03, 2014, 05:35:35 PM »

Ok, I just checked my internal usb cable and had soldered a terminal wrong (soldered terminals 2 and 4 instead of 3!)+

Now my Mac sees the dfu PreenFM2.

All I need now is to issue the dfu-util commands to flash the boot loader first and firmware second.

Problem is, the .cmd files in my download are set to popen in windows notepad (from my virtualised Windows install) and I have no clue how to just tell dfu-util to flash from the boot loader file I have.

From the instructions, it just says to "run install_bootloader.cmd from the firmware zip file", well I do not know how to do that...

17

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: Flashing the Bootloader in a Mac with Mavericks

« on: January 03, 2014, 04:09:06 PM »

My dfu-util is the latest, 0.7. It was downloaded yesterday.

I enabled and saved the option to USB midi in/out in the PreenFM2´s´menu.

Is there an easy way to test USB midi? Or directly test the cable?

I am not a big usb midi user. Mostly had this usb to DIN midi adapter for my synths. I do have a mac with Garageband if it is any use, and an iPhone with the usb accessory (which works ok with the usb to din adapter).

As an aside, I followed the JP3 way because that is how it is explained in the instructions. If there is another, easyer way, please do explain and I could try. Of course I would like to have a fully functional, usb-midi enabled PreenFM2 so I would like to fix my cable if it is faulty.

I am kinda in the dark when it comes to usb and flashing with the command line, so please be patient with me!

18

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: Flashing the Bootloader in a Mac with Mavericks

« on: January 03, 2014, 03:08:05 PM »

Thanks both Xavier and 6581punk for holding my hand through this.

Ok, first tried and I guess succeeded in installing macports.

Then after reading the first reply, went ahead and installed with the brew method.

I now see that I can enter the dfu-util commands in the terminal window.

I have shorted the JP3 and have connected only the usb from the PreenFM2 to my mac.

I only see blocks on the screen (must be the contrast or brightness) but I guess that is normal as per the description.

I don´t see the orange led flashing and the dfu-util does not list the device when I perform the dfu-util -l command. Nor does it perform the boot loader update with the command described in the instructions because it says there is no dfu device.

Any pointers as to where to go from here?

19

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / [Fixed] Flashing the Bootloader in a Mac with Mavericks

« on: January 02, 2014, 05:09:10 PM »

Hi!

I read your interactions on flashing the Bootloader, and for a complete noob like me, it is not immediately clear what and how to have everything set up in my Mac.

I have X code, and downloaded Macports too. Installed both.
Guess Macports is not a windowed program, because I see no Macports Icon.

I downloaded latest dfu util, unzipped the .tar file, and now I am stuck as to how to install dfu util with Macports.

Another question is how you know what boot loader version you have in your PreenFM2.

The whole point for me upgrading the boot loader is to be able to manage my USB stick without having to open the case every time in case anyone wonders why a noob would want to mess with a bootloader!

20

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: New Preen Build from PCB

« on: December 30, 2013, 08:34:06 PM »

Hi Shiftr nice to see you here.

I love to see a different color of PreenFM2 for a change!

Nice hex screws too.

Cheers

21

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: A new Preem2 in Buenos Aires

« on: December 30, 2013, 02:10:45 PM »

Incidentally, what is the function of the orange led we solder on the pcb?

I ask this because I have not noticed this led lighted, and I don´t want to replace it (or resolver it) again before checking it´s function.

Thanks and keep up this great work!

22

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: A new Preem2 in Buenos Aires

« on: December 30, 2013, 03:10:47 AM »

I swapped the knobs for some white ones. These have a set screw.

I like how they complement the white buttons for an all black and white look.

I scraped the indicators which were printed on top for the encoders.

So far so good!

PS: I have higher res. photos if needed!

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23

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: A new PreenFM2 in Buenos Aires

« on: December 28, 2013, 09:53:35 PM »

Finished PreenFM 2

USB stick is a freebie I got at a convention, 4gb capacity and so far works ok! I like it because it is very compact.

I wonder what the P1, P2 and P3 areas are on the PCB, ended up with no pins soldered there, as per the assembly instructions. The photo of the instructions does show some pins sole red there but no jumpers.

My screen has some slight unevenness in it´s back light, bay be I will try to loosen the two bottom screws for the screen a bit to see if this improves.

Another detail is the volume pot, which I think is a bit too long, it could be at least some 5mm shorter.

But these are minor details in a very well thought out kit!

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24

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / A new PreenFM2 in Buenos Aires

« on: December 28, 2013, 09:46:44 PM »

Hello all!

I received my PreenFM2 kit yesterday. Box was pretty mangled up, thankfully contents was unscathed.

Just finished building and testing satisfactorily. Only minor issues I had was the plastic halves that come with the mini usb for the short cable from pcb to arm did not click together, and one 12mm m2.5 screw was really hard to put a nut in and therefore had to replace both of them from the top panel for some black hex screws I had laying around. It looks ok I think in the end.

It sounds great!

Now I have to read the manual a bit to familiarize myself with it´s innards since I am an FM newbie.

Will follow up with some more photos, and might try swapping some knobs I have around here for the kit´s ones, because they are really tight and don´t go down all the way (afraid to push too hard!). I will also try to shorten the Midi cables a bit, and put them the other way round so the plugs have the "top" on the top!

Thank you Xavier for doing this wonderful synth and also for the little extra detail added to my bottom panel!

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