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Post subject: Generic USB Midi Cable won't update
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:19 am
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I purchased a generic usb midi cable with a built in driver as it said. Windows installs a USB audio device driver for it without asking for a driver disk. I can play midi files through the GDec but I can't transfer presets or update my GDec with the cable.

I guess I thought a midi cable is a midi cable like USB cables. Is there any hope to use this cable or am I forced to purchase a $40 uno cable to update my GDec.

Amazon has a E-MU xmidi cable for $27 that gets great reviews. Better than the Uno cable for less money. I just don't want to buy another cable that isn't going to work with the amp. I like the amp but the update and preset hoops you have to jump through are very disappointing.


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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:44 am
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Crab--please clarify: there's no such thing as a "USB midi cable", and a "generic" one is even less meaningful.

G-DEC requires a midi interface box (or other attached hardware) which is connected to your PC via its USB cable. Then there is a midi cable which runs from that box into G-DEC. Assuming you have XP this midi interface box will be plug n play, but may also require its own driver.

There are a number of relatively inexpensive midi interface boxes connecting to your PC via USB, the Midisport UNO being the most popular ($40). You'll have to provide your own midi cable.

Once this system is correctly installed and in place, you can determine if the G-DEC will operate in an effective bi-directional mode.


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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:47 pm
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The USB Midi cable is manufactured in china by Konix Electronics model W-718. They are sold on eBay and various other places. Here is a link to the product page.
http://www.konix.cn/product_show.asp?id=1660
The interface is listed as a strictly plug and play not requiring any additional drivers.

When using the update software I have both ports showing activity on the interface box. There is no activity on the GDec as it just sits waiting for an update. The update process completes on the PC. As I said before I can play midi music through the GDec with this cable but nothing happens when I try to update the amp and when I try and download or dump presets. I am getting data when I use the dump feature and the SysEx logger in MidiOX but it is incomplete and not recognized by the preset editor. I am using windows XP professional.

I know about the Midisport UNO cable. I was also wondering about the E-MU Xmidi EM8780 cable being sold on Amazon Here is a Link.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JL ... B00007JRBM
If I have to purchase another cable I was wondering if this item would work. It is less expensive than the UNO and has better user reviews. Although none mention using it with a GDec. I watched the video on the Fender website in how all you need is an inexpensive USB to midi cable and thought what I have should work fine. My idea of inexpensive is $10 not $40. It would have been much better to have a standard USB port to update the amp since I have a dozen of those laying around.


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Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:05 am
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Ah, they only CALL them "cables", they have the same hardware simply imbedded inside the curved box in line.

Those "cables" simply have the driver in firmware, never a good idea since they can't be updated. Plug N' Play simply activates the install wizard and then the driver is installed off the firmware.

Why don't they work bi-directionally with G-DEC? Given the corners they cut to reduce price and physical factor, I'd put equal weight to their limitations and to either a procedural mistake on your part or a Fender hardware failure. Since you can't easily replace the Fender hardware, I'd say the next step was to blow off the cheap stuff and try the Uno.

Having said that, I want to commiserate with the many well-meaning folks who have tried and failed to make this highly-kluged, tedious and cost-based process of G-DEC PC/midi work. From having to buy the midi box, the cable, hunting for a simpatico midi player (Garageband won't work--no midi out!) and then hunting for midi files, this silly DIY process is rewarding for some to be sure.

But it would all go away with a simple USB connection and free software from Fender. Plus add the gigantic bonus of direct recording into a DAW. Fender is expecting far too much from their customers. And given the extremely poor presets, painting them into a corner with no place to go. Add to that the poor QC, hence the very many returns of the product noted in these pages and many others across the net forums.

The apparent "success" of the product line speaks to the nature of the product: Fender got the general concept right on. The execution is left badly wanting on many levels. A few have been addressed by G-DEC 30 with the onboard midi file storage--though it's far too tiny. JR's knobs really enhance Plug-in N' Play, and get past the lousy preset problem.

But the lack of online support and USB need to be addressed at Winter NAMM.


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Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:44 pm
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After additional testing on a Mac (in which the interface did install as a Generic USB Midi device) the process again failed on update and presets. I have chalked it up to the limitations of the device. With no available driver update I am giving up and moving on.

I purchased the E-MU 8780 interface cable on Amazon which has gotten great reviews by everyone who has purchased it. I found someone on the GDec Wiki spaces that had used this cable with success so I think I will be ok. To many people had issues beyond the GDec with the Midisport Uno for me to make the purchase for the higher price. I will post the results of the new interface when I receive it.


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Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 1:12 pm
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The problem may have been that since the first "Cable" hardware device had to use a generic USB driver which couldn't handshake properly with the Fender hardware. Good to hear the Emu midi interface device might work for you.

The EMU XMidi hardware for $30 (which I assume is what you're referring to as the "8780") does have an updateable driver so you're good to go there.


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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:36 am
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I am also having problems with a "Generic USB-MIdi interface. I bought mine off E-BAy for about $5...Looks just line the UNO model. Even has the transfer indicateor lights. And they are lighting when i try to play a song from JAMMER SONGMAKER. BUT, there is no music from the G-DEC. Is there something I have to do on the G_DEC? Would that be a interface problem (cable)or operator error. By the way, I am MIDI ignorant. I have the MIDI guide from FENDER. Still nothing works. How can I tell if a MIDI file is TYPE "0" or type "1". And how can I convert the two?

I THINK I have transfered the update but not so sure now. Is there some way to find the version number on the G-DEC?

Thanks to all for the help here. I have gotten a lot of answers so far from this forum.
Murph


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