# Anyone use Serial Control on MAC?
**URL:** https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/t/anyone-use-serial-control-on-mac/2905
**Category:** How do I ...?
**Created:** [March 12, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/t/anyone-use-serial-control-on-mac/2905 "2023-03-12T15:15:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Simon](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/u/Simon)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/t/anyone-use-serial-control-on-mac/2905/1 "2023-03-12T15:15:17Z")
Hi All,
I try to build some additional Controls using the serial control interface of Vista.
I know tried several Serial Ports (all are detected by the OS and are accessible by other Apps) but Vista always shows “No serial ports detected” in the User Preferences → Serial.
I can’t find anything about the Serial Control in the Web beside the little Appendix in the User Manual and [this](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/t/serial-communication/1162) not answered Forum Thread.
In the Logs of vista I can see Vista the Port is recognised but closed after a few ms.
```auto
- 16:12:29.669 INFO : (MacUsbDeviceCallback ##3b8e920) Vista USB device detected: VID/PID: 0403:6001
- 16:12:29.696 INFO : (openHandle) called ftdi_init, ftdi_rc: 0
- 16:12:29.697 INFO : (openHandle) called ftdi_usb_open_dev, ftdi_rc: 0
- 16:12:29.697 INFO : (ftdiOpen) ftdiOpen: called ftdi_setflowctrl, rc: 0
- 16:12:29.698 INFO : (ftdiOpen) ftdiOpen: called ftdi_set_line_property, rc: 0
- 16:12:29.698 INFO : (ftdiOpen) ftdiOpen: called ftdi_set_baudrate, rc: 0
- 16:12:29.698 INFO : (ftdiOpen) ftdiOpen: called ftdi_set_latency_timer, rc: 0
- 16:12:29.698 INFO : (ftdiOpen) ftdiOpen: called ftdi_write_data_set_chunksize, rc: 0
- 16:12:29.698 INFO : (ftdiOpen) ftdiOpen: called ftdi_read_data_set_chunksize, rc: 0
- 16:12:29.698 INFO : (existingHardwareConnected) uuid:61781116 type 20 (UD512)
- 16:12:29.698 INFO : (onHardwareConnected) device UUID: 61781116 (type: 20 UD512) reconnected: 1
- 16:12:29.698 WARNING: (doSendMessage) UsbDmxDriver: ignored message type 55
- 16:12:29.698 INFO : (run ##1a7881e0) starting
- 16:12:29.699 INFO : (~JArchive ##308fb80) discarding 1 redundant objects
- 16:12:29.699 INFO : (rescanDevices) Finished rescan
- 16:12:29.700 INFO : (~JArchive) discarding 1 redundant objects
- 16:12:29.700 INFO : (~JArchive) discarding 1 redundant objects
- 16:12:29.700 INFO : (~JArchive) discarding 1 redundant objects
- 16:12:29.700 INFO : (~JArchive) discarding 1 redundant objects
- 16:12:29.700 INFO : (~JArchive) discarding 1 redundant objects
- 16:12:29.700 INFO : (~JArchive) discarding 1 redundant objects
- 16:12:29.700 INFO : (~JArchive) discarding 1 redundant objects
- 16:12:29.700 INFO : (~JArchive) discarding 1 redundant objects
- 16:12:29.736 INFO : (~JArchive ##308fb00) discarding 1 redundant objects
***Message repeated at least 10 times, ignoring further repeats!***
- 16:12:31.621 ERROR : (sendHeartbeat ##ca929ee0) socket error
- 16:12:34.621 ERROR : (sendHeartbeat ##ca929ee0) socket error
- 16:12:34.825 INFO : (ftdiClose ##1a7881e0) UsbDmxDriver::Impl::ftdiClose() - closing FTDI device (s/n:AB0PWSH1)
- 16:12:34.826 INFO : (ftdiClose ##1a7881e0) ftdiClose: calling ftdi_deinit
```
Im using Vista 3 R3 (build 21919) but the new R4 Public Beta has the same behaviour.
Any help/tips appreciated
---
### Author:  [@HighSolutions](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/u/HighSolutions)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/t/anyone-use-serial-control-on-mac/2905/2 "2023-03-13T19:16:52Z")
I also tried to make an app for it but my guess would be it needs a dedicated vista hardware serial port to receive serial.
So: “no (vista hardware with a) Serial port is connected” is more likely. Just a guess tough.
I could not get a virtual serial port connected.
---
### Author:  [@Simon](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/u/Simon)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/t/anyone-use-serial-control-on-mac/2905/3 "2023-03-13T19:59:16Z")
I didn’t thought about this, but maybe it’s the case.
What’s strange, in [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/lightingdesign/comments/denffd/does_anyone_know_how_to_map_midi_faders_or_nobs/f7fzyhr?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3) reddit thread I found someone explained it by also using a virtual serial port.
Did you tried it on a Mac or on Windows? What did you use to create the virtual serial port?
---
### Author:  [@ben.coleman](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/u/ben.coleman)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/t/anyone-use-serial-control-on-mac/2905/4 "2023-03-13T20:19:33Z")
There hasn’t been any updates to serial in Vista because it is rarely used. From what I understand from Jands, only the Keyspan USB to Serial device was supported within Vista.
---
### Author:  [@HighSolutions](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/u/HighSolutions)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2023, 7:49am UTC](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/t/anyone-use-serial-control-on-mac/2905/5 "2023-03-14T07:49:27Z")
I’m a mac user and i used a python library and a serial testing app. But don’t know the specifics out of my head
---
### Author:  [@Greg](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/u/Greg)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2023, 1:22am UTC](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/t/anyone-use-serial-control-on-mac/2905/6 "2023-03-18T01:22:22Z")
Hi, have used serial control for a few projects with v2 & v3 over the years. Vista should accept any serial device that windows sees as a serial port - look at device manger - ports, make sure it’s plugged in and working before selecting in vista (I use Arduino regularly which is another easy way to see if it’s working). If vista opens the showfile and it’s configured for serial but doesn’t see the adapter, it won’t keep looking for it ie you’ll probably need to restart vista. Note serial ports can only be used by 1 thing at a time, so if your serial testing software is open and using the port, vista can’t use the port. On mac, I found updates have made it harder and harder to use serial ports, to the point I can’t use Arduino anymore, i just use windows coz it still works. No doubt there’s a way but would probably be a bit of mucking around.
---
### Author:  [@Simon](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/u/Simon)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2023, 10:20am UTC](https://vistaforum.chroma-q.com/t/anyone-use-serial-control-on-mac/2905/7 "2023-03-18T10:20:22Z")
Hi Greg,
So you’re using the Arduino to send serial signals into vista? That’s exactly what I’m trying to do 🙂
I will try to get it working on Windows in the next few days and then maybe will buy the keyspan adapter and try if that works for Mac as well.
Thanks for your input!