Emagic (AMT8/UNITOR) MIDI Interfaces Timing Out

I've heard of this happening to others, but I have experienced no problems with my AMT8 with either my old Powerbook Panther/Tiger and my Macbook Pro Leopard. It is usually hanging of a powered hub.

Try connecting it directly to the computer, and seeing whether the time out thing still happens. Make sure to try all USB ports if your computer has multiple ones, as different ports have some different characteristics.

Lastly, you could try trashing the MIDI drivers, resetting the MIDI cache and AMS prefs, giving your machine a nice clean reboot, then reinstalling the drivers (from the GB or Logic disks again) to see if that clears up any odd behaviour.

Also, check the firmware of your interface and update it if a newer version is available.

Thanks for the feedback, Bee Jay -
(This is the OP. Apple has been "gracious" enough to restore my original ID.)

But nothing, so far, seems to have corrected the issue. Since we have similar setups, can you describe how your equipment is configured?

If I can't get this working in the next day or so, I will be picking up a new MIDI interface. I'd like to avoid that if possible.

Since we have similar setups, can you describe how your equipment is configured?

I've had my AMT8 on my Powerbook with both Panther and Tiger, and on my MBP with Leopard. It's connected via USB, and has worked connected directly, connected via a small Belkin 4-port hub, and is currently connected to a Kensington 7-port hub. No problems.

EmagicUSBMIDIDriver.plugin (the MIDI drivers that come with GB or Logic) is version 2.2, and my AMT8 is version 2.04

Other things to try:
Uninstall/Remove any audio and MIDI drivers you may have installed.

Check and remove:
/Library/Audio/MIDI Drivers/*.plugin

Remove the AMS preferences here:
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.AggregateDevices.plist
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist
/Users/ YOU/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio/AudioMIDISetup.plist
/Users/ YOU*/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.MIDI

Reboot and then reinstall the MIDI drivers from the GB or Logic Installer...

Does the CoreMIDIServer display any warning in the console when your AMT dies?

Did as you suggested and got some weird observations...

1) On the Logic Studio Installation disc is Emagic MIDI driver v1.11 (dated 8/15/07)

2) No warnings from the CoreMIDIserver. Only indication I get is when I power cycle the AMT8.

Firmware is 2.0.4 (via Unitor8 Control). Here is all the other info I can dig up on the AMT (via About This Mac)
AMT8:

Product ID: 0x0001
Vendor ID: 0x086a
Version: 0.01
Speed: Up to 12 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Emagic GmbH
Location ID: 0x5d100000
Current Available (mA): 500
Current Required (mA): 0

I must really be missing the mark on something here. Thanks for the assist.

JG

1) On the Logic Studio Installation disc is Emagic MIDI driver v1.11 (dated 8/15/07)

Where are you getting the version info from?

On your system, try going to:-
/Library/Audio/MIDI Drivers/EmagicUSBMIDIDriver.plugin

Select it, and do a Get Info on the plugin file - what version is reported?

That's where I'm seeing the info. (Double checked it with "Get Info".)

Seems pretty odd to me, as well. But...

Can't understand why Apple doesn't simply have the driver AVAILABLE for download! This is ridiculously frustrating. (Whew! - OK I feel better now.)

Any other tips?

That's where I'm seeing the info.

Ok, so it seems your driver is old. The next step would be to get the current driver and see whether that fixes your issue.

Can't understand why Apple doesn't simply have the driver AVAILABLE for download!

Largely because it comes with GB which is installed on every Mac sold - so everyone should already have it. The same reason Apple don't offer individual downloads of any other random system files or drivers.

I don't have my LS installer disks to hand so I can't check which version is on them.
I'm looking at the GB installer - bear with me...

Edit: Interesting - the EmagicUSBMIDIDriver.plugin that comes with iLife 09 is version 2.0.
I have 2.2, and I don't know where it came from - can anyone else with their installer disks handy and Pacifist check which version of the driver ships on the disks?

I'll also have a look at the contents of the 8.0.2 update to see if that come with 2.2...

Well, I guess it does get "curiouser and curiouser". The version I have is directly from the 8.0 install disc. Worse, for Apple to assume that consumers have the latest version of iLife is ridiculous. (I happen to only because of a SEPARATE purchase having nothing to do with my home machines.) The basic premise is "Want the latest drivers? Buy the latest software - even if you don't like, want or need it." Not cool.

I'll grab my copy of iLife and report back shortly.

Thanks for all the help so far!!

JG

The version I have is directly from the 8.0 install disc.

Ok - remember, that version is, what, a couple of years old now. There have been two Logic updates since then, and I expect them to have more recent driver versions. When my (re-)download is finished, I'll be able to report.

Worse, for Apple to assume that consumers have the latest version of iLife is ridiculous

Wow - hang on, let's not get angry and jump to incorrect conclusions.. I'm telling you what's included in GB because it's the first thing I had to hand.

Apple don't require any Logic users to have GB. **t if you do use GB, you probably also want to use any MIDI interfaces you have, which is why the driver is also bundled there. This version of iLife is much more recent than the original 8.0.0 Logic release two years ago, so it stands to reason that if any drivers were updated, they would be more recent versions than the versions stamped onto your disks two years ago.

The basic premise is "Want the latest drivers? Buy the latest software - even if you don't like, want or need it." Not cool.

Sorry, I think you're trying to find reasons to get upset for no real reason.

My download has finished - the Logic 8.0.2 installer does indeed have the version 2.0 (same version as iLife) so if you've been keeping up to date with updates, you should have it already.

8.0.2 is a free update to all LP8 users. No "buying the latest software necessary." This is totally cool.

If you are not running 8.0.2 already, then download and install the update, it should update your driver, reboot, and try it out.

I realise you're frustrated, but let's not try to find reasons to shout at Apple unnecessarily - it raises everyone's blood pressure, and I'm trying to chill on a nice Sunday afternoon... 😉

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What's interesting is I have 2.2 on my system, dated "6th Dec 2007" (184K) "Copyright 2004-2009", whereas the 2.0 on the 8.0.2 and iLife 09 installers is dated "13th Jan 2009" (248K). "Copyright 2004-2007".
The size differences look due to my one only having the english localisations, the other languages having been deleted.
I don't know where my 2.2 came from (ProApp Support update perhaps) and why it has a date two years earlier than the 2.0 version. Weird. Maybe the Klopfgeist has come loose and is running amuck in my system? Or maybe it's just fupped..? 🙂

Nope. I'm not trying to be "anti-Apple". Let me break it down...

I've been running 8.0.2 since it was released! LOL - Straight from the Apple site and I keep things fairly current. (I don't rush headlong into updates, because I need a stable system. But I after the waters have been tested, I do update accordingly.)

I re-downloaded the 8.0.2 update (since it was quicker than any other solution) and have since updated the driver to version 2.0. But it baffles me to know there are newer versions that are not part of it's flagship audio app.

But it drives me a little batty when there is an update for something integral to operations (ie - drivers) and it's not offered as at least a #.#.x update for a Pro App.

Alas - you are right to just MELLOW OUT! 🙂 It is a drizzly Sunday EVENING (over here) and I just wanna get back to making music. I'll let this run for a while and hope that it clears things up. I sincerely appreciate your insight and assistance thus far!

More to come (?)
JG

I've been running 8.0.2 since it was released! LOL - Straight from the Apple site and I keep things fairly current. (I don't rush headlong into updates, because I need a stable system. But I after the waters have been tested, I do update accordingly.)

Ok, so it seems your driver update didn't take for some reason.

I re-downloaded the 8.0.2 update (since it was quicker than any other solution) and have since updated the driver to version 2.0.

Cool.

But it baffles me to know there are newer versions that are not part of it's flagship audio app

It's entirely possible that new stuff comes along, but it's not retrospectively bundled into "old" software. A Logic update is due, Apple just choose to time them according to it's own schedule, not just because new stuff is available.

But it drives me a little batty when there is an update for something integral to operations (ie - drivers) and it's not offered as at least a #.#.x update for a Pro App.

But it is - it's in the 8.0.2 update.
(Forget my version, dunno where that's come from - for now it'll remain a mystery... 🙂

I'll let this run for a while and hope that it clears things up. I sincerely appreciate your insight and assistance thus far!

No probs - let us know how it works out for you...

Hi again Bee Jay -

After about 24 hours, everything seems to be working 100%

Two things:

1) Thanks for all your patience and assistance!!!
2) You have no idea of the grief this eliminates for me and a stateside partner with the same issue! Great save on this one.

Muchos gracias amigo!
JG

After about 24 hours, everything seems to be working 100%

Awesome. I'll save a link to this thread in case this comes up for other people. Thanks for the feedback.

1) Thanks for all your patience and assistance!!!

You're welcome. I'll accept a packet of choccy HobNobs in the post (dark chocolate only, please, none of that ghey milk chocolate malarky...!)

2) You have no idea of the grief this eliminates for me and a stateside partner with the same issue! Great save on this one.

No probs, glad to have helped 🙂