1 Topic by mjfe87 (edited by mjfe87 2019-05-29 18:56:27)

  • mjfe87
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Topic: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

We're getting dropouts and glitchy noises over time on a 2012 Mac Pro with decent specs despite using a 2048sample buffer with a XT. Weirdly some of the clicks are only audible when monitoring through Reaper, not on playback.

Are some USB 2.0 ports better than others on a cheese grater Mac for 16 channels at 96/24?

The other potential culprit is a USB 3.0 extender which we're currently using to keep the Mac out of the control room. Is this not recommended for USB 2 as well as 3? And if we abandoned the extender is there a limit to usb cable length?

Thanks...

Eastwood Records
www.eastwoodrecords.co.uk

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  • ramses
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Re: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

USB2 approx 5m
USB3 approx 3m
BUT .. with a good shielded USB3 cable 5m are possible:

https://www.forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopi … 89#p138489

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
  • mjfe87
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Re: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

ramses wrote:

USB2 approx 5m
USB3 approx 3m
BUT .. with a good shielded USB3 cable 5m are possible:

https://www.forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopi … 89#p138489

Thanks, so are 10m/15m for USB 2 channel counts (eg https://www.amazon.co.uk/UGREEN-Printer … mp;sr=8-7) a non starter?

I haven't seen an official answer from RME despite reading several threads, including one where MC used a 10m cable successfully with a Babyface.

Eastwood Records
www.eastwoodrecords.co.uk

mjfe87's Website

  • ramses
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Re: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

http://www.yourcablestore.com/USB-Cable … _42-1.html

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
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Re: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

ramses wrote:

USB2 approx 5m
USB3 approx 3m
BUT .. with a good shielded USB3 cable 5m are possible:

https://www.forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopi … 89#p138489

@ramses

The Amazon-Link for a working USB 3 cable pointed me to a Lindy USB 2.0 cable. I suppose this would be the right one for USB 3?

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07F6W … &psc=1

I really want to get my RME Madiface XT working with the Mac Studio and a 5m distance. It would be very welcome for the workflow.

6 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2023-11-26 19:08:14)

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Re: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

Hi trubadix.

Maximum USB3 cable length, according to standards, only up to 3 m!
I tried 5 m, but this turned out to be not reliably working.
KaiS added to this, that sometimes even 3 m (although within the standards) may fail.

What works well is a combination of Startech active USB cable (3,5 or10m) and Lindy Cromo Line cable with triple shield.
If you want to be on the very safe side, choose max 2 m for the passive Lindy cable. As you can see below the active cables can also be connected (maximums: 4 active cables in series and a maximum length of 20 m; not sure whether the 20 m include the passive cable, ask Startech Support to be on the safe side).

3 m active + 3 m passive cable = 6m in total work very well here. I chose this combination because I already had the 3m Lindy cables and at the end of the day, the 3 m active cable is cheaper. Works very well for UFX III and also ADI-2 Pro FS, because the Startech cable is also USB2 compatible.

Startech USB3 extensions:
3m: https://www.startech.com/de-de/kabel/usb3aaext3m  Up to 4 of these cables can be connected in series so that the connection range can be extended to a total of 12 meters.
5m: https://www.startech.com/de-de/kabel/usb3aaext5m - Up to 4 of these cables can be connected in series so that the connection range can be extended to a total of 20 meters.
10m: https://www.startech.com/de-de/kabel/usb3aaext10m - Up to 2 of these cables can be connected in series so that the connection range can be extended to a total of 20 meters.

Lindy USB 3.2 gen 1 cables, Cromo Line, triple shielded cable, 10y warranty:
0.5m: https://www.lindy.de/0-5m-USB-3-2-Typ-A … ;ci=800504
1m: https://www.lindy.de/1m-USB-3-2-Typ-A-a … ;ci=800504
2m: https://www.lindy.de/2m-USB-3-2-Typ-A-a … ;ci=800504
3m: https://www.lindy.de/3m-USB-3-2-Typ-A-a … ;ci=800504

P.S.: with corning cables I made bad experience, after 5 month not working anymore and the cables do not lay well on the floor, nothing but loops, drives you crazy. 1st I thought they provide even galvanic isolation, because they claim to be an optical solution, but there are thin copper connections to transport power .. so not really fully galvanic isolated IMHO.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13

7 Reply by trubadix (edited by trubadix 2023-11-27 03:52:04)

  • Registered: 2008-07-08
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Re: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

Hi Ramses,

thanks for the quick reply! So, 3m maximum for reliable USB 3, but if you use the right kind of active extension, it does work for you? I already got an active extension, but it does not have a an addtional socket for a power supply. Are you actually using that or just the extension? These are quite expensive, however, I will swallow that, if that is what makes it finally work!

What makes me wonder: Before I have used the exact same cable with my Hackintosh. Initially, I had huge problems with that as well, which got solved by using the Sonnet USB card (also thanks to your advice). And now I have a Mac Studio and cannot use any PCIe cards any more. I am not sure: has the bad connection to do with the cable or just the USB interface of the Mac Studio ... well, that is what I still have to find out before ordering a new cable. What I would stlll like to know from you is: do you use the power supply on the extension cable?

edit: I just tested out some different cables I have. If found out this ...

1) Every cable (down to 2m) I plug into the Mac Studio's own USB 3 Port shows me the Madiface as a USB 2 Interface (I have to reboot, then it's ok). When I plug it into the the USB-port of the Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 hub (with USB 3 ports), that problem does not occur.

2) In every case I get a small audio drop out when switching on Total mix FX. If this only happened for this incidence, I would be fine with it. However, I have never noticed anything like that before and that is why I don't trust it ... I might be wrong, however, and this is just normal on Macs due to some USB security or whatever!

3) However, with the USB-Port from the Hub, I get occasional glitches in audio when listening to longer pieces of music. And at least with the longer cable. But it could also be with the shorter ones, I would have to listen longer to wait if something happend ...

So, you see why I am not yet ready to pay that much for a cable, as it might be different reasons than the cable. As far as I can see, the cable length does not even make a difference (at least up to 5m). I don't even have a USB-port on my Mac that seems to work properly with the Madiface XT ...

8 Reply by MC

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Re: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

2) is fully normal. On start of communication between driver and TM FX data streams are shortly interrupted.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

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9 Reply by trubadix (edited by trubadix 2023-11-27 14:23:31)

  • Registered: 2008-07-08
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Re: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

Ah, ok! I am relieved! I interpreted this as a sign that the connection is not stable. Good! I will then try the active extension. But is it a known fact that Mac (Studio) internal USB ports produce 1)? Even with a very short cable? Is there something like a thunderbolt 3/4 hub which USB 3 ports are known to work well with RME hardware?

10 Reply by Ninbura (edited by Ninbura 2023-11-27 23:18:32)

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Re: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

Tripp Lite also sells Fiber optic USB A to USB B 3.0 cables. I've been interested in trying them.
https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Activ … c47c48c32f
https://tripplite.eaton.com/usb-active- … m~U328F15M

MADI FX, Fireface UFX+, ADI-648, HDSPe RayDAT, ADI-192 DD
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Re: USB cable length limit for MADIface XT?

Thanks, but these are currently not available in Germany. So, I went for Ramses advice.