GM5: Least-cost USB-MIDI Interface Chip for 4.50 EUR

[widdly]

Finished my 5x5 interface on the weekend.  It worked first time whooot!!

I soldered 10 midi cables.....never again.  Take TK's advice and buy some cheap ones instead.  I used a plastic case and mounted those metal panel mount sockets on the front.  It all sits around the back of my rack so need for it to be pretty.  Now every one of my rack units has an individual in/out. 

Thanks ploytec and TK. 

One question, is the firmware in the GM5 upgradable or is it masked?  I'm wondering if a fix for the device names from eprom is feasible.

[Therezin]

I picked up  a couple of 10Mbit 1U hubs/switches this week for £5. They have nice internal power supplies if needed, and can be 'repanelled' with some alloy. I was lucky, they we on their way to the skip

That's exactly what I'm doing with mine (if the bulk-order goes to a second round). We recently disposed of some old IT gear at work, including a couple of Planet Ethernet (urgh) 24-port switches in nice shallow 1U cases. As soon as i saw it I thought "GM5".

I'm thinking of bodging up a simple MIDI activity light system, (probably pulse stretchers based around 4069s). Is this of interest, and are separate in and out lights best?

Activity lights sound pretty useful to me - especially one pair of I/O lights per port.

[gavgomad]

Speaking of cannibalizing other gear....

I have an old MOTU MIDI Express Mac (serial version) which, for many years, has been relegated to glorified thru box as there have never been any drivers for USB use. Old 4-in, 6-out beast.

Well, it seems kinda handy.... 6+4 = 10. 5+5 = 10. I know, the math is astounding! ;-P

I even have the board mounted jacks there to cannibalize, although I'll need to space things correctly on my boards to line up....

I must say that I'm very interested in the activity lights idea.... Already have the front panel room for that too! ;-P

Gav.

[SLP]

i'm kinda thinking of an integrated Midimonitor..

I still have to figure out how to switch between the 5 ports..

[napierzaza]

Hey, I got my package (sometime last week) and I've assembled it. Noticed that it had a 5v in. Is this actually necessary? It looks as if it's actually forcing bus powered usb anyhow (not jumper).

I'd like to know if I might have issues if I want to go 100% bus powered.

[mrcam]

Hey, I got my package (sometime last week) and I've assembled it. Noticed that it had a 5v in. Is this actually necessary? It looks as if it's actually forcing bus powered usb anyhow (not jumper).

Not finished mine. But are you talking of J7 5v OUT ? from usb power as explained at:

http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_usb_gm5.html

[dstamand]

Got mine today ! Thanks for the prompt delivery.

[RobR]

Hi,

New boy here. Can I still add my name to this list, or is this opportunity missed now?

[Enth]

Hi,

New boy here. Can I still add my name to this list, or is this opportunity missed now?

You can add your name to the bottom of the list for the (possible, need 250) second run.

http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/tk_gm5_bulkorder

[Sebo]

I received mine yesterday.

Thank you TK and Screaming Rabbit.

[Kartoshka]

Discussion about manufacturing of GM5 5in-5out expansion boards

[napierzaza]

So we have to cut the jumpers if we have no eeprom correct? WOndering if anyone has done this yet. I've built mine and it still connects to the computer even if in "eeprom" mode without a stuffed eeprom. Will it not actually send data though?

[ilmenator]

It's the other way round (and in that aspect, the PDF documentation is a bit unclear it seems): don't touch the board if you don't use the EEPROM, cut the "jumpers" if you do use the EEPROM.

[napierzaza]

That's nonsense! "1" seems to mean jumper on to me! Well if it's opposite day I guess I'll leave it! Thanks!

[TheAncientOne]

That is because they are 'pull down' links - the link grounds the input, resulting in a '0'. Don't worry about getting confused, it happens a lot, worse when someone uses a similar convention for DIP switches so that link 'off' = switch 'on'.

[Kartoshka]

don't touch the board if you don't use the EEPROM, cut the "jumpers" if you do use the EEPROM.

Teaser for the upcoming GM5 Windows driver

the application is still to be released

[levon]

Whats happening about the Australian order, has this been sent to Wilba yet?

[strophlex]

I got my order finally :)

[Screaming_Rabbit]

I got my order finally :)

;)... Greets, Roger

[tomcody]

wich will be the pay options?

[ilmenator]

read the thread

[strophlex]

I just completed my first gm5 module and it works great!

Thanks TK and screaming rabbit!

[Sebo]

Hi:

Anybody finished the design of the expansion board PCB for DIY etching?

There were some people working on it, and they even post some previews, but I don´t think

I see the finished ones (eagle files, jpg, pdf, or whatever).

I already have the chips and PCB by Ploytec, and I will start soldering soon (I need to practice

a bit in SMD soldering). Later I want to start with the expansion. My idea is to mount the

original pcb in a tiny enclosure to use with my notebook, and have a connector for the expansion

(mounted in a bigger box) to use in my studio.

Anyway, if somebody finished the design of the PCB, it will be great to have it.

Thank you.

[strophlex]

Hi:

Anybody finished the design of the expansion board PCB for DIY etching?

There were some people working on it, and they even post some previews, but I don´t think

I see the finished ones (eagle files, jpg, pdf, or whatever).

I already have the chips and PCB by Ploytec, and I will start soldering soon (I need to practice

a bit in SMD soldering). Later I want to start with the expansion. My idea is to mount the

original pcb in a tiny enclosure to use with my notebook, and have a connector for the expansion

(mounted in a bigger box) to use in my studio.

Anyway, if somebody finished the design of the PCB, it will be great to have it.

Thank you.

Did you look here?

http://www.midibox.org/forum/index.php/topic,12155.0.html

[Sebo]

Did you look here?

http://www.midibox.org/forum/index.php/topic,12155.0.html

Yes, I look there, but that is a project to do a professionally made PCB, double sided, that is meant to

solder the Ploytec chip directly on it, and there is no eagle files, jpg or pfd of the PCB design only an overview.

Thanks anyway.