Ableton Forum

Hi all,

please help me out...

I just got a new powerbook, 15" 1.67 model.

I plug in my Novation Remote 25 controller keyboard, and it just seems to flash on the screen, as though it's constantly trying to reboot.

The novation worked fine on my older 667 mhz powerboook (just with usb power) and it seems suprising that it doesnt seem to work on the new machine.. I've got the latest drivers and Novation OS in the machine and am running tiger.

Does anybody know if apple has dropped the USB power in the new machines? or heard anything to that effect? Or could i have a faulty machine. Otherwise the machine seems to work fine, although once or twice i thought i noticed the screen 'flicker'.

Many many thanks

keitho

:(

it definetly have absolutely nothing to do with bus-power. That much I can tell you. Whether its a communication problem or just the novation is fucked up, i dont know. But the Bus is definetly not the problem, unless its fried or something.

I have the exact same problem.

I ended up using batteries in the Remote so I wouldn't have to have another powercord while performing.

Same Powerbook model too. Hmmm....

rob.

thanks for the replies guys.. damn.. robtronik perhaps is it just this model.. faulty usb controller or something?? can anybody else with another 'new' powerbook confirm this?

how much life do you get out of the batteries rob? ie, how many hours?

My novation boots fine on the other powerbook, so I know it's not the novation.. perhaps some el-weirdo usb thing?????

rob, did you post anything to novation?

robtronik, do you have a 128mb video card? mine does... wondering if that makes any diff..

I got this reply from novation (very fast reply too, i might add)

"
We are getting an increasing number of mails on this topic.....Unfortunately the newer MAC laptops do not supply as much power to the USB bus as the older ones did. You will need to give the Remote additional power for the boot-up process. You can use batteries (rechargeable batteries can be charged by the ReMOTE itself); a power adapter which, if you're in the UK will cost £19.95 inc. delivery; or you can buy a PP3 9 volt (square) battery, and connect it to the terminals for the boot up process. The ReMOTE should be completely happy to power from USB once it has booted.

all you need to do is get two bits of wire wrapped around the terminals of the PP3 battery and attach to the terminals in the battery compartment. feel free to spread the news.
"

Looks like if you can get past the boot sequence then you are fine. I'll be sticking a little 9v batter + a switch in my novation.. seems a shame about this though. A friend with an Xstation (by novation) and identical machine finds it loads fine.

grrr apple.

but at least there is a solution.

hope that helps some people,

Keith

thanks for posting that. It does help to know what the issue is.

I guess I've bypassed that problem by just using batteries. So far I haven't had to replace them and I've used the unit for probably 10 hours in total. Not too bad.

We'll see how long the batteries last.

It would be nice if the batteries power was bypassed if a USB cord was connected after it booted, but that function probably doesn't exist in the keyboard.

rob.

why not just get re chargables ,, the you can charge them via USB ( as far as i know ,, tap GLOBAL buton once and scoll to the top there is some charging funtions there

Thanks to this thread i didnt try to kill the person who sold me my powerbook

Basically heres what i did to get the remote (or anything else that needs more power)to work

Take any usb hub plug in to powerbook,find an A to A usb cable so you can plug
one end to your hub and other to your other usb port on powerbook

Then plug remote to the hub and it should work and leave you a couple of ports
if it was a 4 port ect

No need for batteries!!!!!!

Cheers for letting us know