So I never got the "daisy chain TB 2 --> TB3/USB-C with these adapters" thing to work.   What I instead two years ago worked reliably, and I'm still using it:

I ordered this TB3 to PCI Chassis (any similar should work) --

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075R … &psc=1

And I ordered a PCIe card with a TI-based FireWire chip (again, any similar should work) --

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R5 … &psc=1

So that got me running solid, no issues, and I've done tons of projects with this setup on both an iMac Pro and (later) an M1 Pro Max (Apple Silicon) MacBook Pro.  I'm running Monterrey 12.6.

All this to say: bets might be off after MacOS Ventura 13.0 ships.   If you go with the above solution, bear in mind you might need to keep that specific Mac on Monterrey for a long while (possibly forever if the rumors are true that Apple kills firewire drivers compatibility off in Ventura).

HTH & good luck!   This really is my favorite audio interface ever, and was worth the above spend & workaround.

Why is this a crazy thing? I’ve also read that Ventura is unlikely to support FireWire. I’d love to be wrong, though.

Absolutely. I rely on an old MOTU Ultralite Mk 3 fFireWire only) for gigs when I need to fly and my UFX+ is too big and heavy. The Ultralite is bus-powered via FireWire and it’s a fantastic alternative to the much bigger and heavier UFX+. Apple removing FW support would be a real pain in my behind.

Thank you Matthias, and can-confirm on my M1 based Mac-mini running the latest beta of Ventura: my RME FF800 still shows-up and gloriously works (Totalmix and all). 

Apple is about to seed the final builds in the next two weeks, so we're all kind of waiting to see what comes.   Apple is mum, but I'll be quite unhappy with them if they remove the FW capability.   I won't be mad at RME, who designed the best dang long-lived FW audio interfaces I have ever had the pleasure of using.   

Good luck to us all, see you in a few weeks when Ventura ships, to report back! 

No I don't have any news yet, I am one beta update behind but will install the latest onto my test machine, an M1 Mac Mini where my FF800 has worked fine (via my Thunderbolt PCI chassis w/ a TI Firewire 800 card in it) .  Final Ventura Release Candidate just went out, so will test with it...

I typically run my FF800 on my M1 Max MBP, but I have kept that on Monterrey. 

I am hoping for good news and will post an update.   Final Ventura release is coming in a week or so - I have heard.  But not sure if it will coincide with the iPadOS & iOS 16.1 release on Oct 26th or not.  Apple usually updates Ventura right after that, so I suspect  (if the Release Candidate works still) that we will have our answers soon, either way.

UPDATE: IT WORKS!   

RME guys, Mathias: IT WORKS!!  Fireface 800 WORKS IN VENTURA AT RELEASE TIME!

I am sitting here looking at Totalmix and Fireface settings, and playing a playlist in Apple Music (I still call it iTunes lol).   System audio is set to FireFace 800 and operating quite smooth, just as before (I was on Monterrey up to an hour ago, and now am on 13.0 Ventura).

So, I should restate my signal chain for anyone reading this -- because I am absolutely *NOT* using Apple's "Thunderbolt to Firewire" dongle thingy.   I am using a Thunderbolt PCI Express Chassis with a TI chip-based Firewire 800 PCI-E card in it.   From there, it's just Firewire 800 cable (very high-quality cable) over to my FF800.   From there my FF800 is connected to a Dangerous Music D-Box --> Yamaha HS-50s (and various headphones) for listening. 

I have never had 100% reliability with the Thunderbolt --> firewire dongles, but the PCI Chassis approach gets it done, every time. Trust.

And Apple left Firewire in Ventura!!

I am now going to turn up my music, sip a Cognac in celebration, and go to bed.

Enjoy the good news folks, Firewire is still on the (Ventura) menu... and boy am I happy.

RME you guys built a helluva product, and it's extended yet another year in the Apple world. 

Pics --

https://imgur.com/Ja7ko6a

https://imgur.com/Xbp22cj

https://imgur.com/5uTG5tQ

Great news!!!
Thank you very much!

I always advise waiting is best, often waiting until the ".1" update, but I had a driving need to upgrade for something else I'm testing (on Stream Deck) so I kind of had to move my own main rig forward.   And I have 2 other rigs I keep behind on OS, so I had an "out" to adjust if Ventura wasn't compatible.   But I am SO glad it is!   

FireWire 800 is still fully-supported in Ventura, at least from the standpoint of my own use-case: Thunderbolt PCI-E chassis enclosure + FireWire PCI card.

I can't speak for FireWire 400 but I have to imagine it's the same.  I think so long as a good Texas Instruments' chipset FireWire PCI card is used, you're assured Ventura can see it via a Thunderbolt Chassis approach.   I cannot comment on dongle use, or using an Apple Thunderbolt Display -- but I imagine that should work too.

Main thing is a good connection chain that you knew worked well on Monterrey +having a good FW driver that initialized in Monterrey = it should work in Ventura.

YMMV and always take care --- but in my case I am soooooo HAPPY that my FireFace 800 will carry-on awhile longer.   I can't tell you how much I love this interface, it's just insanely clear and allows my ears to get the data they need and the workflow I want.   Job well-done RME, this workhorse was built so well...

I will bite the bullet, started installing it now… I have M1 iMac ->TB3->TB2->FW (FF400) - all dongles from Apple - let’s see

All Good

Thanks RME! my Echo Audiofire died like two macos ago...

I use the same Adapters.
It works perfect.

Be careful using the adapters!

I always switch off the FF800 before i unplug the cable between MacBook pro and the FF. Unplugging without switch off FF can damage the FF!

You should use a short cable with quality between Apple and RME FF.
I tried it with any cables and there are great differences in dependable use with cheap cables.

Btw.: The FF800 works perfect with Ventura and my MBpro M1max and the RME Driver.