• Registered: 2012-07-08
  • Posts: 1

Topic: Firewire and Express slots are going away, so...

I have a Fireface 800 (working fine)  and a 2009 Macbook Pro with FW 800/400 and express card slot as well as a very old
Dell D800 with FW400 jack.

My FF800 works fine with these, BUT, I am wondering if there may ever be a "solution" for newer laptops
to be able to use the FF800 without having to buy another Macbook with (I think) this new fangled Thunderbolt
interface.

I have seen a Firewire to USB converter, I think, but I have no idea if drivers could ever work for a laptop without
express card slot or 1394 jacks.  Do I need to grab up old laptops now before they all go away ??

Thanks,
boB  (Washington state)

  • From: Connecticut, USA
  • Registered: 2011-08-01
  • Posts: 376

Re: Firewire and Express slots are going away, so...

Hi,
Macs will have at least one FW800 port for a awhile to come.

On newer PCs if they have on board FW at all will tend to only use low quality poor performing chip.

The USB/FW converters do not work for audio interface.
Your MAC Book Pro has 2 or 3 years or more of life left to it. It is more than fast enough to do most any audio work.

If you want a spare laptop to have then I'd recommend getting a used  used or refurbed Mac Book Pro. You can use it as a backup and install Boot Camped Win 7 on it and treat it as your PC.

There will most likely be Thunderbolt port expansion devices that will give you Firewire ports available at some point in the next year or so.

If you end up having to buy another interface that is USB and Firewire based like the Fireface UCX or UFX it won't matter what computer you use it with at that point.
The FF800 has a very good resale value but I would recommend if possible to keep it and use it as a AD/DA converter with the newer interface.

Thanks Chris

Chris Ludwig
North East USA Sales | Synthax/RME
www.facebook.com/RMEAmericas
Twitter @RMEAmericas

ChrisLudwig's Website

3 Reply by fl

  • fl
  • S/Mux specialist
  • Offline
  • From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Registered: 2007-11-12
  • Posts: 266

Re: Firewire and Express slots are going away, so...

With the number of Networking options coming down the pipe in the next few years - ADB, Ravenna, etc. - all using some form of Ethernet connection, I wonder if our older Firewire boxes will be able to use some sort CAT5 adaptor in conjunction with an ASIO driver.

It would be interesting to know if RME has any plans to offer a network based connection protocol on any new products.

It's always frustrating when your gear is made obsolete, not because it lacks capability, but because the connectors are no longer supported (anyone remember SCSI, for example?).

Frank Lockwood
https://LockwoodARS.com
Fireface 800, Firmware 2.77
Drivers: Win10, 3.125; Mac, 3.36

fl's Website