Megadrum intermittently stops transmitting

[jaidhar]

I just purchased a new Megadrum Lite kit and assembled it without issues; pads seem to be registering fine, however the module stops transmitting very frequently, to the point where it's not usable (happens about once every 10 minutes). It's possible that it's soldering, however I'm watching the port in Device Manager and it never drops/reappears. I have tried two different machines and the same thing happens (one Mac and one PC).

Are there any logs that I can collect that would help dig into what's happening?

[dmitri]

When it stops transmitting:
1. can you still navigate through the LCD Menu?
2. do VU-Meters on the LCD continue to react to pads/cymbals hits?
3. does the MIDI LED continue to flash when you hit pads/cymbals?
4. Is MDM still able to communicate with MegaDrum?
5. Does the MDM MIDI Log still show activity when you hit pads/cymbals?
6. Are you using separate MegaDrum USB MIDI ports in MDM and your soft synth?

[jaidhar]

1. I don't have buttons hooked up, but think answers below take care of this one...
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. No, no SW tools can communicate (DAW or MDM)
5. Due to 4, no
6. Yes, though this happens without soft synth even running, just MDM

[dmitri]

1. And you never hear the sound of a USB device being disconnected/reconnected?
2. When you plug it and just leave it idle for 10 or more minutes and try to communicate with it after that, does it respond?
3. If you use it without ever launching MDM, does it stop responding as well?
4. Did you try a different cable?

[jaidhar]

Spent quite a considerable amount of time on this; had to pull everything out of the enclosure to debug what was going on, and now the device fails to enumerate altogether. It started off being intermittent and now is to the point where it never enumerates.

It displays the Mega Drum info on the LCD, but I notice it's quite a bit delayed compared to when it would enumerate. Eventually it gets to the VU meters but no enumeration.

To rule out my cabling, I re-soldered the USB to 4-pin connector 3 different times and it didn't work, and then even took another USB cable and soldered to a different 4-pin and it still doesn't work. I couldn't use the included 4-pin to USB-B adapter since the wires broke off so easily due to lack of strain relief.

Even included a picture of the cable assembly I made; not sure if there's a pinout issue but did meter it out a few times to confirm (colors are standard USB-cable coloring).

[dmitri]

I can only suggest:

1. Double/triple check USB wiring to find breaks/shorts or incorrect pins connections.
2. Send the kit back to me for troubleshooting.

[DonGui]

Hi Jaidhar, hi Dmitri,

I've had a similar problem ever since I bought my megadrum, only less severe. I'd say megadrum stops transmitting once every hour on average.
My setup : PC laptop, Windows 8.1, AD2, megadrum 56 built by Dmitri (STM32F103RCT6).

A few observations on my case :
- Not an audio issue : triggering pads with mouse still produces sound
- AD2 stops receiving midi messages, but VU meters on MD LCD move, midi activity led on MD lights up
- Tried changing USB cable
- Has happened with multiple configs : macbook with OS 10.6 and AD2, current laptop with SD2, EZdrummer, BFD3.
- MDM loses connectivity (can't remember if it appears in the UI or if I just get an error message once I try changing things)
- No USB device unplugged sound in windows
- If I do not launch MDM it still happens
- Has happened with all firmwares since I bought it

Easiest workaround I found : In AD2, Audio midi setup, uncheck and recheck megadrum midi input checkbox.

I've lived with it up till now (year and a half) since I don't do live and don't play in bands with megadrum, but I'm really all ears if a solution can be found.

Best,
Guillaume

[dmitri]

I'd say megadrum stops transmitting once every hour on average.

Same question as for jaidhar: when you plug it and just leave it idle for 10 or more minutes 1.5-2 hours and try to communicate with it after that, does it respond?

[Tatoupulus]

Hi all,

I have a similar issue - i can't figure out when and why it happens...
It happens not very often.

We have different threads for this now:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2836

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2796


Maybe there is anything in MD that is the reason for that.

Greetings!

T.

[dmitri]

We have different threads for this now:

http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtop ... f=3&t=2836

The above thread is irrelevant because it was caused by an (unintentional) MIDI Loop.

http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtop ... f=3&t=2796

You were wrote there:

no issues with MDM closed till now - I will keep testing it

Why didn't you update it there if you were still having the problem?