• Registered: 2024-09-09
  • Posts: 8

Topic: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

Background -
I'm running a Mac from 2012 so the big caveat here is that the machine is on its last legs (in terms of software updates and technical help apple can offer) however my Mac / Fireface setup has worked well for the past ten years, not one issue ever.

Issue -
I last used the Fireface / Totalmix about 2 weeks ago and since then I've been away so my laptop has been shut down, yesterday when I switched on the Fireface was suddenly not recognised as an audio device, nothing has changed on the Mac - to the point that it cannot receive any software updates any more so I can't see what could have happened for this change to occur.
Note the Fireface is in AP mode and is recognised as a usb device.

Drivers -
I've tried installing the specified driver (for Mac up to 10.15) and following the extra instructions regarding 'security and privacy' - The 'allow' dialog is not appearing even when I follow these instructions. One instruction I didn't understand was to 'Start TotalMix and the Settings dialog from the Applications folder' - what is the settings dialog from the applications folder? How do I open this?

Following this I've tried uninstalling my drivers and even tried the older driver version (up to 10.13) this actually did allow the security prompt but once installed I got the message that the drivers had to be updated so now I'm back to driver for 10.15 but it is still not seeing the Fireface.

Flash / Firmware -
My Fireface is on firmware 116  but when I try to update via the flash tool and click 'update' it will not work. I think Im correct in thinking the driver has to work for the flash toward? It's at this point that I start getting lost as I'm not too computer tech savvy, I'm a musician and computers are a necessary part.

I'm stuck as to what to do so I've reached out to the UK RME tech help but heard nothing yet so I thought I'd post here, so thanks for any help you can give

New Laptop -
Aware a new computer is probably necessary and imminent but reading about all the processes for installing on Mac 0s11 or higher fills me with fear, it seems so complex, would it be this complex with other audio interfaces (genuine question)
I love my Fireface and want to keep using it but if its stuck on the old firmware would I even be able to set it up on a brand new Mac? It seems from my reading I'd need to update the firmware with an older Mac or something ... see I'm not too tech and feel lost at the moment.

Bottom line - I want to keep using the Fireface.


Many thanks in advance for any help.
Best
Ben

  • waedi
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  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
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Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

The settings dialog is an app called Fireface USB Settings.app
This is the driver settings for the interface.

The firmware updatetool FUT indeed needs a working driver for work.
You can perform the flash on every computer, try a notebook.

What is the driver version you installed ?

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2024-09-09
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Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

Ah I do know the usb settings window - that’s one thing then.

I installed the recommended version (up to 10.15) but I’m not able to get the ‘allow’ button to appear in the security and privacy settings tab

  • waedi
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Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

Then it is the driver version 3223, right ?

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2024-09-09
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Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

Well I only see one flash FUT update for fire face / Mac and I installed that

2024 / 7 / 19


Are there others?

6 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-09-09 10:40:41)

  • waedi
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Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

The FUT is not the driver
Please watch the driver web page to get the number of what you have downloaded

Try this one :
https://rme-audio.de/downloads/driver_usb_mac.zip

This is an old driver but your computer and MacOS is old too, so there is a good chance this will work for doing the FUT.
After success reinstall the new driver 3223

The thing with the allow-button is probably not important for you as this is a thing in the newer MacOS 11 and up.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2024-09-09
  • Posts: 8

Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

Ah ok - the driver web page ? Is that a page full of different drivers? I’m just going through the main driver page : putting in my model (fire face uc) and system (mac) and there are drivers for os11 and up, os 10 and one for earlier.

Thanks for the help I’ll try the driver you have linked.

  • Registered: 2024-09-09
  • Posts: 8

Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

waedi wrote:

The FUT is not the driver
Please watch the driver web page to get the number of what you have downloaded

Try this one :
https://rme-audio.de/downloads/driver_usb_mac.zip

This is an old driver but your computer and MacOS is old too, so there is a good chance this will work for doing the FUT.
After success reinstall the new driver 3223

The thing with the allow-button is probably not important for you as this is a thing in the newer MacOS 11 and up.


I installed the linked driver and for both ‘total mix’ and the ‘usb setting’ apps it tells me the versions need to be updated and the corresponding desktop icon has a cross through it. Tried the FUT with this version installed and still will not update.

Confusing

  • waedi
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Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

Oha may be my mistake Driver says 10.5 but your OS is 10.15

Then the 3223 is to use :
https://rme-audio.de/downloads/driver_usb_mac_3223.zip

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2024-09-09
  • Posts: 8

Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

This is the one I keep trying … so I’ve reinstalled this one but still no change and FUT will not activate when I click update

  • waedi
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Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

The problem is the firmware of the unit.
It needs firmware update to work with the actual 3223 driver.

You have to do the FUT on another computer.
Can be a Windows machine.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2024-09-09
  • Posts: 8

Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

Ok I should be able to try this so I would :
Set fireface to windows mode
Plug into a PC
DOWNLOAD PC version of the Flash update
Install / update
Set back to Apple mode
And from there it should hopefully be working ?


I don’t have a PC so will try once I have access and get back to you

Thank you for the advice so far

13 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
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Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

Using the UC on a different computer makes most sense to isolate the issue. It can not be the firmware as it worked before. But if the USB port got damaged, or the UC has whatever issue inside, it won't work on other computers too...

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Registered: 2024-09-09
  • Posts: 8

Re: HELP - Fireface UC / Mac OS 10.15.7 / driver issues and beyond

MC wrote:

Using the UC on a different computer makes most sense to isolate the issue. It can not be the firmware as it worked before. But if the USB port got damaged, or the UC has whatever issue inside, it won't work on other computers too...


I’ll bare this in mind but the UC shows up under system profile and the usb slots work. Nothing has happened physically to the setup. I’m aware my Mac is breaking down so I imagine it’s a problem with the Mac however the drivers aren’t playing ball with me.

I will try the firmware update via a different computer and maybe get lucky

Thanks again for the help everyone