Device Not Recognized by Spike Recorder: How to fix FT231X Driver Issue?

Software
1

If you’ve connected your Heart & Brain SpikerBox, Neuron SpikerBox Classic, or Human-Human Interface to your computer and the device is not recognized by Spike Recorder, this guide will help you resolve the issue.

When you check Device Manager, you might see an entry such as:

660×688 63.8 KB

FT231X USB UART with a yellow exclamation mark. This indicates a driver issue.

These devices use FTDI VCP (Virtual COM Port) drivers. FTDI (Future Technology Devices International) is the manufacturer of the USB interface chip used in these boards. VCP drivers allow the USB device to appear as a COM port on your computer. Without the correct driver, the operating system will not recognize the device.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fix the Driver Issue

Step 1: Download the Correct Driver

Visit the FTDI website to download the VCP driver:

FTDI VCP Drivers Download Page

Choose the appropriate version based on your operating system and CPU architecture:

  • For Windows, download driver version 2.12.28.
  • Choose:
    • x86 for 32-bit systems
    • x64 for 64-bit systems
    • ARM for Apple Silicon processors (M1, M2, etc.)
      1795×292 5.03 KB

Once downloaded, the driver will be saved as a .zip file in your selected directory.

Step 2: Install the Driver

You have two options for installation:

Option A: Automatic Installation

This is the recommended and simpler method.

  1. Download the FTDI CDM setup executable from the same FTDI driver page.
  2. Run the setup .exe file.
  3. Follow the installation process outlined in the official guide, pages 6 to 9, Chapter 3.3.

Important:
Plug in your SpikerBox only after the setup .exe has been executed. This ensures proper device detection and driver configuration.

Driver Installation Guide (Windows 10/11):

Option B: Manual Installation

If the automatic method does not resolve the issue, you can install the drivers manually.

  1. Follow the step-by-step manual installation instructions in the same guide.
  2. Refer to page 8, Chapter 3.3, of the PDF for detailed instructions.

Final Notes

Once installed correctly, the FTDI driver will allow your device to appear as a COM port in Device Manager, and Spike Recorder will be able to interface with it.

If the device is still not recognized:

  • Double-check that you have used the correct driver version for your architecture (x86, x64, ARM).
  • Ensure that the device is connected only after the software installation is complete.
  • Make sure no other conflicting USB or COM port drivers are interfering.

For further assistance, feel free to reach out to our team, we’re here to help.