Topic: 802 Firewire and newer Mac OS

Greetings!
I am considering upgrading from a mac mini osx to a new Mac Studio M2 os 13 or 14 Ventura or Sonoma.

Is my 2017 RME 802 Firewire computable with these newer Mac systems?

Thank you!

Re: 802 Firewire and newer Mac OS

To be compatible for the future, you should update the firmware of the Fireface 802 to make it compatible with the new DriverKit USB drivers. Apple will stop supporting the kernel extensions, which includes the Firewire driver, in the future.

Regards,
Audio AG Support

3 (edited by Docmus 2024-04-10 16:33:43)

Re: 802 Firewire and newer Mac OS

Thank you.  Am I correct in assuming i can continue to run my 802 via the USB output using a Thunderbolt adaptor?

4 (edited by oli77sch 2024-04-10 21:56:48)

Re: 802 Firewire and newer Mac OS

Docmus wrote:

Thank you.  Am I correct in assuming i can continue to run my 802 via the USB output using a Thunderbolt adaptor?

No thunderbolt adapter! Simply an USB-B to USB-C cable or a common 'old style' USB-B to A cable with an adapter to USB-C.
The combined ports on the Mac accept USB connections as well as thunderbolt. Both technologies share the same plugs and ports but are different furthermore. So actually you also could use the FireWire port on the 802 and connect it this way to the Mac, using the assumed adapter. But I wouldn’t suggest that because for firmware updates you need the USB connection anyway. Also there are only kernel extension drivers for FireWire but not the 'new generation' driverkit ones.
Important is the already suggested firmware update (over USB) to make your interface ready for the new driver versions!

UCX - FF 400 - Babyface pro - Digiface USB - ADI-2 (original)
Mac mini M1 - Macbook pro - iPad Air2

Re: 802 Firewire and newer Mac OS

Thank you!