Getting started with VMUSIC2

Step 5 TODO: Firmware Commands

This is going to be rather lengthly, so will get updated as I have time.

Here are a few quick commands to try:
DIR (Lists the files in the current folder)
CD <directory name> (changes the current directory)
VPF <filename> p(lays the MP3 file <filename>)
VP (pause and resume)
VST (stops playback)
V3A (Play all files in current directory)
VF (Skips to the next track)
VB (Skips to the previous track)
VSV <byte> (sets the volume. Valid values are between $00 max volume and $FE min volume - that's hex. That's 0 to 254 decimal. It doesn't say it, but I bet $FF is simply MUTE.)

Now, check out the Vinculum website and download the Vinculum Firmware User Manual. This one manual covers several different firmwares. It is laid out well as a reference if you are already aware of a few things. First of all, most of the firmware varieties are based on the generic VDAP firmware, and special firmwares simply extend upon that. The VMUSIC2 uses the VMSC firmware, which provides commands specific to MP3 playback and communication with the VS1003.

Section 6.8 of the firmware user manual is specific to the VMSC firmware. This is the section you will be most interested in. Sections 6.0 to 6.8 are universal commands, mostly for disk access, file access, and maintenance. There are also some bits of information about using other peripherals in the USB port, such as printers, HID devices, etc.. Table 3.1 lists the various device classes supported by each firmware.

Only port2 is connected on the vinculum, so limit your exploration to that port. It should be noted here that plugging your computer into the USB port on the VMUSIC may result in damage to either the VMUSIC2, your PC, or both. The hardware in the VMUSIC does not support this, even though the VNC1L chip does.

Also, the VMUSIC module should be able to support just about any USB Mass storage device. I have only tried it so far with a USB flash drive, but according to the manual, it should work with USB Hard drives, Cameras (in mass storage mode), card readers, etc... There are some restrictions, however. These are explained in the firmware user manual.

It supports FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32, but FAT32 long filenames are not supported. Sector size must be 512; various cluster sizes seems to work fine. I tested this with an 8GB USB disk with no problems, but some of the commands will not output correct values when the drive is larger than 4GB.

Right now, we are mainly concerned with the VMSC specific commands as well as a few of the VDAP commands (for navigating the file system.)

Again, I will revisit this section to help make some sense of all this. But, you now have enough information to start playing around with your module. I would basically be retyping the user manual, anyway, as it is pretty clear once you know where to look. I have successfully created a text file in the format of an INI file, inserted data into the separate sections, and then read it back one section at a time, all using hyperterminal only. It is very easy and I bet you'll have it all figured out before I even update this!

Have fun!

Comments

[joegangi]

Thanks so much for making up for the inadequacies of the manufacturer's documentation. I have two of the VMUSIC2 modules and neither one seems to be functional. Can you tell me if in a new, and presumably unprogrammed VMUSIC2, does the panel LED light when you apply only 5 VDC and Ground to these connector pins. The documentation implies that it should, but knowing what I know about this sort of stuff, the LED may be a programmed LED which will only light when it is told to. I went thru all of your instructions up to the point of putting the FTRFB.FTD file onto the USB drive ( a CRUZER 2GB) and plugging it into the VMUSIC2, applying 5 VDC, etc exactly as you describe and "No Dice" on either of the two units I have. Do you know if others have experienced out-of-the-box failures with these? Any ideas for my situation? Thanks Much, joegangi

[RetroPlayer]

If you haven't figured it out already (sorry for the late reply) make sure you download the VPROG REFLASHER utility in the links above. There is a manual included that will help you along. It does mention a jumper,but doesn't tell you what jumper they are talking about. The jumper is next the USB port inside the case (labeled CN4). Normal mode has the jumper on the top two pins and program mode has the jumper on the bottom two pins (if I remember correctly, try also removing it completely for programming.)

You are correct that the LED is under program control and will only light up if the firmware is running.

To do this process, you are going to need a serial converter based on a FT232RL that gives you access to the CTS and RTS signals and it will need to be installed with the CDM drivers instead of the normal "virtual serial port drivers." I bought a nice breadboard converter that allows me to use 2.5v,3.3v,5v, or any level voltage for conversion. I believe I paid $20 for it on ebay.

I have the predecessor to this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-serial-UART-TTL-RS232-Converter-Adapter_W0QQitemZ260340621837QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_Electronic_Components?hash=item260340621837&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[joegangi]

RetroPlayer, Thanks for your reply. I did NOT see CN4, thanks for pointing it out and describing its function. I did get my two modules working. The trick was this: the CTS# and RTS# signals on CN2 need to be connected together. Once they are connected a monitor prompt will be sent on the TXD output at 9600 baud. (I forget the exact composition of the prompt, it goes away once you've downloaded the operating system firmware.) Once that prompt was showing on my HyperTerminal set-up, (I do have a 3.3 V to RS-232 converter box from previous projects.) then when I plugged in the USB drive with the FTRFB.FTD file, the action started!!! The V-Music2 panel LED started blinking as well as the USB drive LED. I let the thing take its course as you described, and after a few minutes the drive prompt displayed (i.e. "D:") and I was able to use the commands as you described. In no time at all I was playing MP3 files! I have previously dealt with FTDI on a USB project I designed for a client about a year ago. FTDI's documentation is amongst the poorest I've encountered. Voluminous for sure, but it certainly skips over, or hides, important details that can waste hours of your time trying to discover thru trial and error. I even spoke with their application engineers when I was doing the USB project. They were as equally confused as the data sheets. Eventually, I discovered the secrets on my own and got it to work. So, I am extremely grateful for the trail blazing you did on the VMusic module. You are a Prince to publish your findings. Highest Regards, Joe Gangi Pottstown, PA.

[RetroPlayer]

Thanks for the kind words. I wonder if your need to connect RTS and CTS together has anything to do with the need to connect CTS to ground. Since I did it the "hard way" the first time, and turned off flow control in the process, that might have kept me from having to connect the two together when I tested the above instructions. Thanks for the information.

[alquimus]

Hi, about the cluster size. I found your instructive very helpful. I was trying to upgrade the firmware with no results. Then I realize that my cluster size was 2014 bytes, so the VMUSIC2 module wont respond to it. After reformatting my USB memory and everything was OK. So, if any of you is having that problem, that may be helpful. Greetings from PERU