Hi
I just asembled my MIDIboy and it doesn’t appear in Arduino as a serial port.
Powering it while pressing B doesn’t seem to work.
I’ve triple checked the mounting and it seems fine, the display show the Blockas logo.
Here are some pictures (I have chosen to assemble some of the components on the top of the board to make it more fancy 
)
Hey, it does not appear as a serial port to the computers, you don’t have to select anything in particular in the Port menu, it’s supposed to be autodetected.
I noticed most of your parts are on top side, instead of the bottom 
From what I can see, all the polarities seem OK.
There’s quite a few solder pads which have holes - please try reheating them and adding more solder, keep the soldering iron in contact with the part pin and its pad at the same time for a couple of seconds more after having added solder, so it has time to flow to the heated surface nicely.
Some pads connect to the Ground plane and require much more heating for solder to flow unto them, as the heat gets dispersed onto the plane, you should keep the soldering iron for a little while longer, until the solder flows nicely. Having a little ball of solder on the soldering iron tip helps distribute the heat more efficiently. Such pads look like this:
Thanks for your answer. The parts on the top side was intentional
I checked all solder pads and they all seem fine.
Here is the error message I get when trying to upload a sketch:
Arduino: 1.8.16 (Mac OS X), Board: "Midiboy"
/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries
...
I/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/Blokas/hardware/avr/1.0.6/variants/Midiboy /Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.6/cores/arduino/abi.cpp -o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/abi.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++ -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=20000000L -DARDUINO=10816 -DARDUINO_AVR_MIDIBOY -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DUSB_CFG_IOPORTNAME=D -DUSB_CFG_DMINUS_BIT=3 -DUSB_CFG_DPLUS_BIT=2 -DUSB_CFG_PULLUP_IOPORTNAME=D -DUSB_CFG_PULLUP_BIT=4 -DMIDIBOY=6 -DUSB_INTR_CFG=EICRA -DUSB_INTR_ENABLE=EIMSK -DUSB_INTR_PENDING=EIFR -DUSB_INTR_ENABLE_BIT=INT1 -DUSB_INTR_PENDING_BIT=INTF1 -DUSB_INTR_VECTOR=INT1_vect "-DUSB_INTR_CFG_SET=(1 << ISC11)" -DUSB_COUNT_SOF=1 -I/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.6/cores/arduino -I/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/Blokas/hardware/avr/1.0.6/variants/Midiboy /Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.6/cores/arduino/main.cpp -o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/main.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++ -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=20000000L -DARDUINO=10816 -DARDUINO_AVR_MIDIBOY -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DUSB_CFG_IOPORTNAME=D -DUSB_CFG_DMINUS_BIT=3 -DUSB_CFG_DPLUS_BIT=2 -DUSB_CFG_PULLUP_IOPORTNAME=D -DUSB_CFG_PULLUP_BIT=4 -DMIDIBOY=6 -DUSB_INTR_CFG=EICRA -DUSB_INTR_ENABLE=EIMSK -DUSB_INTR_PENDING=EIFR -DUSB_INTR_ENABLE_BIT=INT1 -DUSB_INTR_PENDING_BIT=INTF1 -DUSB_INTR_VECTOR=INT1_vect "-DUSB_INTR_CFG_SET=(1 << ISC11)" -DUSB_COUNT_SOF=1 -I/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.6/cores/arduino -I/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/Blokas/hardware/avr/1.0.6/variants/Midiboy /Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.6/cores/arduino/new.cpp -o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/new.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/wiring_pulse.S.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/WInterrupts.c.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/hooks.c.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/wiring.c.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/wiring_analog.c.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/wiring_digital.c.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/wiring_pulse.c.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/wiring_shift.c.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/CDC.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/HardwareSerial.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/HardwareSerial0.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/HardwareSerial1.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/HardwareSerial2.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/HardwareSerial3.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/IPAddress.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/PluggableUSB.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/Print.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/Stream.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/Tone.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/USBCore.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/WMath.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/WString.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/abi.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/main.cpp.o
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar rcs /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/new.cpp.o
Archiving built core (caching) in: /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_cache_101438/core/core_Blokas_avr_midiboy_6426ad23e90540195251952860fb4513.a
Linking everything together...
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc -w -Os -g -flto -fuse-linker-plugin -Wl,--gc-sections -mmcu=atmega328p -o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/FlappyBall.ino.elf /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/sketch/FlappyBall.ino.cpp.o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/libraries/Arduboy2/ab_logo.c.o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/libraries/Arduboy2/glcdfont.c.o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/libraries/Arduboy2/Arduboy2.cpp.o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/libraries/Arduboy2/Arduboy2Audio.cpp.o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/libraries/Arduboy2/Arduboy2Beep.cpp.o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/libraries/Arduboy2/Arduboy2Core.cpp.o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/libraries/Arduboy2/Sprites.cpp.o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/libraries/Arduboy2/SpritesB.cpp.o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/libraries/ArduboyTones/ArduboyTones.cpp.o /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/core/core.a -L/var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534 -lm
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-objcopy -O ihex -j .eeprom --set-section-flags=.eeprom=alloc,load --no-change-warnings --change-section-lma .eeprom=0 /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/FlappyBall.ino.elf /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/FlappyBall.ino.eep
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-objcopy -O ihex -R .eeprom /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/FlappyBall.ino.elf /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/FlappyBall.ino.hex
Using library Arduboy2 at version 5.2.1 in folder: /Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/Blokas/hardware/avr/1.0.6/libraries/Arduboy2
Using library EEPROM at version 2.0 in folder: /Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.6/libraries/EEPROM
Using library ArduboyTones at version 1.0.3 in folder: /Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/Blokas/hardware/avr/1.0.6/libraries/ArduboyTones
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-size -A /var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/FlappyBall.ino.elf
Sketch uses 10684 bytes (37%) of program storage space. Maximum is 28672 bytes.
Global variables use 1216 bytes (59%) of dynamic memory, leaving 832 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.
/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avrdude/6.3.0-arduino17/bin/avrdude -C/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avrdude/6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -cusbasp -PUSB -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:/var/folders/tv/767r9pr17lv23bkjq4tfwdhm0000gn/T/arduino_build_771534/FlappyBall.ino.hex:i
avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619
Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch
System wide configuration file is "/Users/pag/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avrdude/6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf"
User configuration file is "/Users/pag/.avrduderc"
User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping
Using Port : USB
Using Programmer : usbasp
Overriding Baud Rate : 115200
avrdude: error: could not find USB device with vid=0x16c0 pid=0x5dc vendor='www.fischl.de' product='USBasp'
avrdude: error: could not find USB device with vid=0x16c0 pid=0x5dc vendor='www.fischl.de' product='USBasp'
avrdude done. Thank you.
By the way, I’m on macOS Ventura 13.1
I’m still stuck. any idea why I have this error message when uploading a sketch ?
avrdude: error: could not find USB device with vid=0x16c0 pid=0x5dc vendor='www.fischl.de' product='USBasp'
Please go through all the marked pins in this post: USB Device Not Recognised - #5 by Giedrius - you have to make sure the contact and soldering is very good for those, as they are essential for the USB to function properly. Some people also find success if they place a USB hub in between the Midiboy and the host computer, or a different USB cable length. As the USB is emulated in the microcontroller’s software, it can be a little sensitive to the physical configuration.
Hi again
I’ve checked everything mentioned in the post. Did you also mean to do the UNO flashing process ?
Tried several MIDI cables, with or without hub. Still no luck. 
Do you think it can be linked to the OS?
Did you also reflow more solder onto the pins? I could see some pins that could use more solder, as visible from the top side, like the zener diodes - no shadows should be visible on the pin holes, it should be flush with the surface or even slightly more, so the solder forms sort of a cone shape.
As the Blokas logo is displayed, the MCU should be flashed correctly already.
It would make sense to try hooking it up to a different computer, just for an experiment.
i am currently having this same problem, same error:
avrdude: error: could not find USB device with vid=0x16c0 pid=0x5dc vendor='www.fischl.de' product='USBasp'
when trying to upload the floaty ball demo sketch. i have also tried on 2 different computers running ventura and catalina. tried 2 cables too. any ideas where i even begin to debug this? the blokas logo displays correctly.
Hmm, if the Blokas logo displays correctly, and the USB doesn’t get recognized, it should be an issue within the physical realm.
If visual inspection and fixing up any solder joints that look odd doesn’t help, would you be up to shipping us the kit so we can make some electrical measurements and gaining more insight on the issue? PM me if interested.
Thanks for your offer.
Not sure how I can pm you though.
I PM’ed you. It’s done by clicking on the user name and then the ‘message’ button.