ArtBus Transmogrifier and Flash on Windows XP
The Transmogrifier, TM is a small application that lets Max/MSP, Pd, Flash, and others talk to the ArtBus.
This page is about using the Transmogrifier with MS Windows. For the complete picture and more details, see also the Mac-centric view on the TM here.
The statements here have been tested on Windows XP, Home Edition.
The AB_TM_Windows.zip file contains three zip files that have stuff in them for connecting an ArtBus to your Windows computer. Also there is a stand-alone Flash movie to run for testing. For details on using Flash, see Using ArtBus with Flash. The files are:
"Single"
a Flash demo/test movie.
The three zipfiles are:
"CDM 2.06.00"
This is the Windows driver for the FTDI serial device. The FTDI serial device connects ArtBus to the USB port on your PC. The first time you plug in the ArtBus cable, Windows may say that it has found new hardware and that it wants to install a driver. If Windows wants a driver for the FTDI, unzip the "CDM 2.06.00" folder and tell the New Hardware wizard where to find the folder. I just do it all on the desktop then delete the folder.
If you have Arduino installed, you already have the FTDI driver, and Windows won't bother asking for it.
"ArtBus Transmogrifier"
The Transmogrifier, TM is a small application that lets Max/MSP, Pd, Flash, and others talk to the ArtBus.
Unzip the folder. It has lots of files. Put the folder in your Documents folder or any other folder you may prefer. Make a shortcut to Transmogrifier.exe, and put the shortcut on your desktop.
Check to be sure that the TM launches when you click the icon.
There is one quirk under MS Windows that looks strange but is harmless. The When you double click on the TM icon, TWO windows open. One is black. It's part of the app, but not a functional part. The two windows open and close together. If you close one, the other closes, too. Yes, we want to fix this.
The TM opens with defaults set for Max/MSP. To to change to Flash mode, click the "TCP" button.
Two drop-down menus want attention: "Serial Device", and "Baud Rate". These need to be set to good values.
Choose a serial device. How to find your COM port:
1. Close the Transmogrifier application and Unplug the USB cable.
2. Without the USB cable plugged in, start the Transmogrifier. Look at what Serial Devices Windows is offering. I get COM1 and COM3 on my PC.
3. Close the Transmogrifier again.
4. Plug in your FTDI. Start the Transmogrifier again. Look at what Serial Devices Windows is offering. I get COM1, COM3, and COM5. This means COM5 was added when I plugged in the FTDI.
So COM5 it is. The Baud is always 115200. Those are the settings.
"termv19b" Bray's Terminal
This is a terminal program. It lets you communicate directly with ArtBus devices with no media applications running. The terminal is used for setup (optional) and testing communication with the ArtBus. There is only one file in the zipped folder. Drag Terminal.exe onto the desktop and it's done. The program settings in the image are correct examples to use.
http://sites.google.com/site/braypp/terminal
The Explanation
COM (COMmunication) ports are connector plugs from legacy dial-up modems and other serial devices. Windows still thinks that it always has one or two serial ports at hand. They are numbered COM1, COM2, etc. Since we don't always have a real hardware serial port when we need one, we can use USB to emulate one. The interface in this case is the little brown USB to Serial adapter module. It's based on a chip by a company called Future Technology Devices Incorporated (FTDI). The FTDI is a "serial device". (Technically, it's a virtual COM port). When you plug in the FTDI adapter, Windows makes a new COM port and adds it to its list of available ports. When you unplug the USB cable, the COM port disappears from the list. On my computer Windows already has COM1 and COM3. When I plug in my ArtBus, Windows adds COM5 to the list of available serial ports. The exact numbers will vary from computer to computer, and occasion to occasion.