usb ports not detecting devices

[drennan]

I run audio from my PB through a usb audio interface (a synth) and into my stereo. Sometimes when i boot, the synth powers up from the usb but the sound comes out of the PB onboard speakers. When i check sound prefs, the USB interface is not listed. I also get this sometimes where a USB HD (on the other usb port) is not on my desktop when i go into OS X. A reboot sometimes resolves but sometimes doesn't, in which case I reboot with the devices disconnected and connect them once into the OS and they pick up ok. Do any of you guys know why this happens? Are USB power and 'data' dealt with seperately as i initially though if the PB successfully powered the devices, comms would also be ok. Is there any way to 'refresh' USB detection from within the OS, cos i reboot a lot and this keeps happening. I mean similar to refreshing devices in windows device manager.

thanks guys, dren.

 

[kolax]

Did you get any drivers for the synth? Sounds like it might need a better driver, or that your USB port might be dodgy.

 

[drennan]

actually, i haven't installed a driver for it. the os detects it as an audio interface without drivers. i'll download one from novation if you think it might help. i dont think its the port as the other usb port does the same. thanks, dren

 

[kolax]

I own an Alesis Multimix Firewire Mixer, and it gets configured as a sound card.

But I had to install the drivers that allowed this. It added an option in System Preferences under "Other".

However, it is a bit of a pain in the arse to get working fully. Sometimes it won't word as a sound card, sometimes it even triggers a Kernal Panic (although that might've been because I opened Parallel's and my computer got confused).

You aren't meant to have it plugged in when you start your computer, plug it in once everything has booted up.

 

[drennan]

thanks mate. i installed the driver and same problem. its only about 50% of the time though so i can deal with it.

do you know if theres a way to refresh devices from os x so it polls the ports for devices? there must be a way to get the port to 'wake up' from within the os.

thanks dren