ZynScreen and Rpi 5 - white LCD [solved]

Hi,

I bought a rpi 5 and got the idea that I could revive my old project. So I combined three things that I have:

  • ZynScreen 3.5 (v1)
  • Raspberry pi 5
  • Behringer 404 HD

In webconf, I got everything working as expected.

HARDWARE

Raspberry Pi 5 Model B Rev 1.1
Audio: Behringer UMC404HD
Display: ZynScreen 3.5 (v1)
Wiring: MCP23017_ZynScreen
I2C: MCP23017@0x20
Profile: v4_studio

SYSTEM

Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Build Date: 2024-09-11
Memory: 32% (1306M/4045M)
SD Card: 13% (14G/115G)
Temperature: 54.9ÂşC
Overclock: None

MIDI & UI

Tuning: 440 Hz
Master Channel: Off
Preload Presets: On
ZS3 (SubSnapShots): On
Power Save: 10 minutes
Audio Levels on Snapshots: On

SOFTWARE

zyncoder: oram-2409 (71de6d2)
zynthian-ui: oram-2409.001 (df2facc)
zynthian-sys: oram-2409.002 (4c4ce51)
zynthian-data: oram-2409 (ddfa009)
zynthian-webconf: oram-2409.001 (88fc358)

LIBRARY

Snapshots: 15
User Presets: 1
User Soundfonts: 0
Audio Captures: 0
MIDI Captures: 3

NETWORK

Hostname: zynthian
Wifi: ON
IP: 192.168.88.136
VNC: On
MIDI Services:

The only problem is, ZynScreen is white and nothing is visible on it. When accessing via VNC everything works. I can load selected snapshots, play midi, all without problems. Only white on the LCD panel…

I turned on UI log and this is what I found:

Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian systemd[1]: Started zynthian_debug.service - Zynthian User Interface (DEBUG).
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: X.Org X Server 1.21.1.7
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: Current Operating System: Linux zynthian 6.6.47-v8-16k+ #1794 SMP PREEMPT Thu Aug 29 16:30:28 BST 2024 aarch64
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: Kernel command line: reboot=w coherent_pool=1M 8250.nr_uarts=1 pci=pcie_bus_safe bcm2708_fb.fbwidth=640 bcm2708_fb.fbheight=480 bcm2708_fb.fbdepth=16 bcm2708_fb.fbswap=1 smsc95xx.macaddr=2C:CF:67:A6:70:73 vc_mem.mem_base=0x3fc00000 vc_mem.mem_size=0x40000000 root=PARTUUID=e249d476-02 rootfstype=ext4 fsck.repair=yes rootwait console=tty1 logo.nologo modules-load=dwc2,libcomposite
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: xorg-server 2:21.1.7-3+rpt3+deb12u7 (https://www.debian.org/support)
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: Current version of pixman: 0.42.2
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: to make sure that you have the latest version.
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Wed Dec 18 16:56:17 2024
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: (==) Using config directory: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d"
Dec 18 16:56:17 zynthian startx[1773]: (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1779]: ----------------------------------------------
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1779]: Linux Version: bookworm
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1779]: Kernel Version: 6.6.47-v8-16k+
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1779]: ZynthianOS Version: 2409
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1779]: Virtualization: none
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1779]: Hardware Architecture: aarch64
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1779]: Hardware Model: Raspberry Pi 5 Model B Rev 1.1
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1779]: ----------------------------------------------
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1808]: /zynthian/config/img/fb_zynthian_boot.jpg is a 480x320 JPEG image, color space Grayscale, 1 comp, Huffman coding.
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1808]: Zooming image by 100%...done
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1808]: Merging...didn't find evidence of prior run.
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1808]: done
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1808]: Building XImage...done
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_gui_config.<module>: ZYNTHIAN-UI CONFIG ...
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_gui_config.<module>: Wiring Layout MCP23017_ZynScreen
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: ZynCore: Configured 8 x Logical Zynswitches...
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: ZynCore: Setting-up 8 x Physical Zynswitches...
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: ZynCore: Setting-up 4 x Zynpots (zyncoders)...
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: ZynCore->gpiod_start_callbacks: Callback thread created successfully
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_gui_config.config_zynpot2switch: zynpot2switch => [0, 1, 2, 3]
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_config.set_midi_config: MMC Bank Change CCNum: 0
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_config.set_midi_config: MMC Bank Change UP: None
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_config.set_midi_config: MMC Bank Change DOWN: None
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_config.set_midi_config: MMC Program Change UP: None
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_config.set_midi_config: MMC Program Change DOWN: None
Dec 18 16:56:18 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_lv2.load_engines: Loaded engine config with timestamp: 1734540069.566483
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: Started libzynaudioplayer using libsndfile-1.2.0
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_engine_audioplayer.zynthian_engine_audioplayer: Supported Audio Codecs: ['aiff', 'aifc', 'au', 'caf', 'flac', 'mp3', 'vox', 'opus', 'ogg', 'wav']
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_main.<module>: STARTING ZYNTHIAN-UI ...
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_state_manager.__init__: Creating state manager
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: Started libzynmixer
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_chain_manager.__init__: Creating chain manager
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_engine_alsa_mixer.get_controllers_dict: MIXER CTRL LIST: ['UMC404HD_192k_Output', 'Mic_0', 'Mic_1']
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_engine_alsa_mixer.get_mixer_zctrls: ADDING ZCTRL LEVEL: Mic 1 (Mic_0) => 100
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_engine_alsa_mixer.get_mixer_zctrls: ADDING ZCTRL LEVEL: Mic 2 (Mic_1) => 100
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_engine_alsa_mixer.get_mixer_zctrls: ADDING ZCTRL LEVEL: UMC404HD 192k Output (UMC404HD_192k_Output) => 100
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: Started libzynseq
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_engine_alsa_mixer._send_controller_value: set 'UMC404HD 192k Output' 'Playback' 100% unmute
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: Started libzynsmf
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_state_manager.start: Opened temperature sensor '/sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/temp1_input'
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_state_manager.start: Opened undervoltage sensor '/sys/class/hwmon/hwmon2/in0_lcrit_alarm'
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_state_manager.start_vncserver: STARTING VNC-UI SERVICE
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_engine_alsa_mixer._send_controller_value: set 'Mic' 'Capture' 100%,100%,0%,0% unmute
Dec 18 16:56:19 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_engine_alsa_mixer._send_controller_value: set 'Mic' 'Capture' 100%,100%,0%,0% unmute
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_autoconnect.init: Initializing 24 slots for MIDI devices
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_akai_apc_key25_mk2' for devices with ID 'APC Key 25 mk2 MIDI 2'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_akai_apc_key25_mk2' for devices with ID 'APC Key 25 mk2 IN 2'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_akai_midimix' for devices with ID 'MIDI Mix IN 1'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_akai_mpk_mini_mk3' for devices with ID 'MPK mini 3 IN 1'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_duopiano' for devices with ID 'GENERAL IN 1'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_korg_nanokontrol2' for devices with ID 'nanoKONTROL2 IN 1'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_launchkey_mini_mk3' for devices with ID 'Launchkey Mini MK3 IN 2'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_launchpad_mini' for devices with ID 'Launchpad Mini IN 1'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_launchpad_mini_mk3' for devices with ID 'Launchpad Mini MK3 IN 1'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_launchpad_pro_mk2' for devices with ID 'Launchpad Pro IN 1'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_launchpad_pro_mk3' for devices with ID 'Launchpad Pro MK3 IN 1'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_launchpad_x' for devices with ID 'Launchpad X IN 1'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_ctrldev_manager.update_available_drivers: Ctrldev driver 'zynthian_ctrldev_riband' for devices with ID 'riband Bluetooth'
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_autoconnect.midi_autoconnect: Connected MIDI-in device 0: system:midi_capture_1
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_autoconnect.midi_autoconnect: Connected MIDI-in device 1: ttymidi:MIDI_in
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_autoconnect.midi_autoconnect: Connected MIDI-in device 2: ZynMaster:midi_out
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_autoconnect.midi_autoconnect: Connected MIDI-out device 0: system:midi_playback_1
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_autoconnect.midi_autoconnect: Connected MIDI-out device 1: ttymidi:MIDI_out
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_autoconnect.midi_autoconnect: Connected MIDI-out device 2: ZynMaster:midi_in
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_autoconnect.midi_autoconnect: Connected MIDI-out device 3: ZynMidiRouter:seq_in
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_config.set_midi_config: MMC Bank Change CCNum: 0
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_config.set_midi_config: MMC Bank Change UP: None
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_config.set_midi_config: MMC Bank Change DOWN: None
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_config.set_midi_config: MMC Program Change UP: None
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_config.set_midi_config: MMC Program Change DOWN: None
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_chain_manager.add_chain: ADDED CHAIN 0 => midi_chan=None, mixer_chan=16, zmop_index=None
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:selector_events.__init__: Using selector: EpollSelector
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: INFO:zynthian_gui_patterneditor.get_custom_keymap: MIDI channel 0 has not synth processors.
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: DEBUG:zynthian_gui_brightness_config.get_backlight_sysctrl_fpath: Display brightness control file: /sys/class/backlight/soc:backlight/brightness
Dec 18 16:56:23 zynthian startx[1810]: WARNING:zynthian_gui_brightness_config.init_ctrls: Can't set display brightness!

Well, my observation matches the UI log, the brightness is the problem.

Please can someone advise me what to do with this?

Is there really no one here who uses ZynScreen v1.5 with a raspberry pi 5?

When I replace the raspberry pi 5 with a rpi 4 in the setup, ZynScreen works and displays normally. The error “zynthian startx[858]: WARNING:zynthian_gui_brightness_config.init_ctrls: Can't set display brightness!” remains, but zynthian is full functional…

short summary:
ZynScreen + Rpi 5 → LCD is white.
ZynScreen + Rpi 4 → LCD displays normally.
Zynthian works in both cases.

A shot in the dark here: Are you using an adapter cable to handle the different size connector on the RPi5 for the screen? Have you tried swapping the cable?

Dear friend @tunagenes,
your shot was full of light. thanks.

Of course I was lazy and connected the rpi to the second connector on the cable.
Strangely enough, it worked with the rpi 4.
I connected it to the first connectors from ZynScreen and everything works. Uff. I attach pictures of my mess :slight_smile:


Conclusion: Check your cables and don’t be lazy to connect by the shortest route.

6 Likes

Far out!

Wow: that is an impressive prototype, for a multi- Zynth desk-station form factor. :ok_hand: :grinning: