USB MIDI controller "unplugs" itself when launching VB

[kati]

Hello,

However I got a new MIDI keyboard that generically shows up in Windows Device Manager as "USB Audio Device". It's using a generic Microsoft driver. As soon as I launch VirtualBox then Windows continually makes the "device unplugged" sound every 2 seconds and the "USB Audio Device" disappears from Device Managerr. As soon as I close VirtualBox then Windows makes the "device plugged in" sound and it shows back up under the Device Manager.

I have another MIDI keyboard with a generic MIDI->USB controller that works fine in VirtualBox. It's using the same generic Microsoft driver.

Even if I am unable to use this controller on a virtual machine, I see no reason why simply launching VirtualBox Manager should "unplug" the device. I'm not even booting up a VM.

I'm running Win7 x64 with these specs:
VirtualBox 4.2.18 w/extension pack
AMD Phenom II x4 965 3.4ghz
8gb ram
nVidia GeForce GTX 660

[mpack]

"As soon as I launch VirtualBox" - are you referring to the UI, or do you mean a VM? If the latter, make sure you haven't created a USB filter that might match that device.

[kati]

I'm referring to the UI. As soon as I launch the UI then the midi controller seems to "unplug" itself...I get the windows "usb unplugged" sound playing every few seconds. As soon as I close the UI then makes the "usb plugged in" sound and starts working again.

[mpack]

I have no idea why that should be. The UI is just a GUI. It shouldn't do much before you actually launch a VM, in fact you don't need to run the UI at all - the VM can be launched from a desktop shortcut. Also, no-one else has reported this - but of course the MIDI device is not something everyone has. Do you think the latter has good quality drivers?

[kati]

It's just using a generic windows midi driver...the same driver in fact as another midi controller that doesn't have this issue. so i'm guessing it's something weird with the firmware of the controller...i could see how with a VM there can be potential driver issues but there shouldn't be a problem just launching the UI.

[jorgensen]

You can try to remove the Virtualbox driver for the MIDI controller with USBDeview.

[kati]

You can try to remove the Virtualbox driver for the MIDI controller with USBDeview.

That utility is cool, I like it, but unfortunately uninstalling did nothing to help the problem...thankfully the manufacturer is now looking into it to see if it's firmware-related.