1 Topic by TX-Jdub (edited by TX-Jdub 2024-09-16 20:28:25)

  • Registered: 2020-12-15
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Topic: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

It's that time of year again where those faithful, non-upgrading, stubborn and adoring fans of the FireFace 800 (all 3 of us maybe, haha) take the dive on one of our Mac audio workstations, and report our findings.  Here we go...

So I just upgraded to MacOS Sequoia 15.0 on my Mac Studio, and I am pleased to report that my FireFace 800 indeed still functions perfectly. **

** you likely need a dedicated PCI Express FireWire 800 card, to successfully use the FF800 at this late date: less and less success is experienced using Thunderbolt-to-FireWire adapters on Intel or Apple Silicon macs.   **And you must also enable Kernel Extensions on your Mac, requiring a change made to your boot security (see link at bottom). 

YMMV, but if you are intent on still using this product or the FF400, the above hassles are required!

My data connectivity path, and gear, is:

Mac Studio M2 Ultra --> Thunderbolt 3/4 Cable --> Startech TB3 PCI expansion Chassis (TB31PCIEX16) --> Ableconn PEX-FW107 PCIe Firewire card (w/ TI XIO2213 chip) --> FW 800 Cable --> Fireface 800.   

Any decent Thunderbolt to PCI Express Chassis rated for Macs should work, but here's what I use to host my FireWire PCI card:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075R … 8&th=1

And here is my FireWire PCI card (TI chip, VERY important!):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R5 … 8&th=1

The FireWire PCI Express card needs to be Texas Instruments XIO2213 chipset, it's the only chipset you want to use.  And there are probably only 5 FireWire PCI Express cards using it at this late date.

Special Note below on enabling Kernel Extensions on an Apple Silicon Mac

https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ar … e-silicon/

  • waedi
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

Thanks for this report it's very useful for many owners of these FF800 and Ff 400
Do you have any insights why this Ti chip is the only chipset we want use ?

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

3 Reply by TX-Jdub (edited by TX-Jdub 2024-09-17 03:01:51)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

Not a lot of insight, per se, just hard-won experience.  I went through several years / various FireWire setups, on both Windows and Mac platforms, and the "it just works" factor was in the corner of the TI Chipset on 3 different PCI-E cards I used over the years.  On any "built-in Firewire" PCs from the early aughts, with the ports on the motherboard, it was always some kind of oddness or issue.  Rather than perform endless driver searches, or other troubleshooting IT during audio deadlines, someone told me about the gospel of the TI XIO2213 chipset, and I have never looked back.  smile

It just works, and since I already am now dealing with abstracted connectivity on my Mac Studio (of a TB3 cable --> PCI-Express chassis device --> PCI-E FireWire card) I want to leave nothing to chance. 

So my advice on anyone still wanting these to work with modern late-model Macs, and doing a data connectivity chain like the above, I think it's best to use a TI XIO2213 chipset.

  • Apfel
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

Okay, so I will wait with this update for reports from people who have a still working flawlessly simple configuration like mine: iMac M1, Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter chain, Fireface 800.

iMac M1, Fireface 800, Logic Pro X
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

Hi everyone, dear neighbours, I'm Lukas and I am facing a weird issue in here. You might want me to post on a new topic, so I can handle that if you like. I've searched the forum for my specific macOS version and ended up in this topic.

I am familiar with the installation process and made sHure everything was correct ; but my HOST light is definitely static on my ff800/M1 setup, using all the necessary adapters (FireWire 800 to thunderbolt adapter to type c usb adapter to Mac thunderbolt port).

Followed the whole process a few times verifying each step carefully, and ended up posting on a forum just to check if anyone else concluded Sequoïa 15.5 was the last acceptable version for Firewire support.

I'm prepping a downgrade partition because I prefer TotalMix than any other driver software and audio interface hardware.
As an Alsacian I can confirm Deutsche Qualitat is no jokes wink

However Apfel Qualitat is starting to look suspicious if you ask me: cannot locate firewire mentions in System Reports.

Cheers and thank you very much.

6 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2025-12-29 01:31:31)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

lucasroane wrote:

cannot locate firewire mentions in System Reports.

Because Firewire was dropped out of the products long ago, while the functionality kept remain until MacOS Tahoe.
As long you stay in MacOS sequoia you can use the firewire interface with the adapters.

system report shows USB and thunderbolt ports

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Apfel
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

lucasroane wrote:

… if anyone else concluded Sequoïa 15.5 was the last acceptable version for Firewire support. …

I'm on Sequoia 15.7.3 at the moment and my setup with the Fireface 800, iMac M1, connected with the adapters is working fine as ever. And this will likely be the same with all Sequoia updates to come (depending on the hardware staying intact).

Just don't upgrade to Tahoe.

iMac M1, Fireface 800, Logic Pro X

8 Reply by lucasroane (edited by lucasroane 2025-12-29 13:27:45)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

this is awesome! smile

I'm on Sequoia 15.7.3 at the moment and my setup with the Fireface 800, iMac M1, connected with the adapters is working fine as ever.

Hmm, I might not have stated very clearly I was trying to do a *fresh install* on Sequoia 15.5, I'm quite glad to read that Apfel (the user, not the brand! tongue) was able to run with the exact same setup as me (iMac, M1, ff800 and adapters + Ableton Live)

Just a quick question though, had you Sequoia updated from an older 15.X version to 15.7.3?

Because I am trying to get things started with my own FF800, hence the little downgrade project I'm working on.

Thank you very much gentlemen for answering that quickly!
Have a very nice day and piece of week before 2026!

cheers.

9 Reply by Apfel (edited by Apfel 2025-12-29 14:06:42)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

lucasroane wrote:

Just a quick question though, had you Sequoia updated from an older 15.X version to 15.7.3?

I don't remember what the OS was when the M1 was new a few years ago. But all OS versions after that were updates only, never a fresh install. So yes, the current 15.7.3 is just an update from the previous version. BTW, I never had to reinstall the driver for the Fireface or reconfigure something on this M1 with any of the updates. And I haven't done fresh installs of any MacOS on any Mac for decades now, always just updates. Always without problems.

iMac M1, Fireface 800, Logic Pro X

10 Reply by lucasroane (edited by lucasroane 2025-12-29 16:51:36)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

I don't remember what the OS was when the M1 was new a few years ago

I think that was Big Sur back in that time.


updates only

Got it. Thank you!

I'll focus on my downgrade project, I'll draw a few tests and try to upgrade back to Sequoia 15.7.3 just like you did, if necessary.
If you guys think that's relevant, I'll post my results on a newer topic.

But AFAIC ... I believe that I'm cooked on my existing 15.5 macOS version, except if anyone successfully fresh installed everything from that version, I'll sacrifice myself in that particular setup.

screenshot of my system report won't mention any "firewire" occurrences

https://ibb.co/cSsyRZM9

anyone else in my situation?
thanks a lot for your time.

  • Apfel
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

In my case the system report says this:

Thunderbolt/USB4-Gerätebaum ("Device tree")
Thunderbolt/USB4-Bus 0
    Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter

It is not under "USB".

To be honest I have never been thinking about or looking into this because it just worked from day one.

iMac M1, Fireface 800, Logic Pro X
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

To be honest I have never been thinking about or looking into this because it just worked from day one.

this completely is understandable, why would anyone bother in searching for a solution for a non problem lol!
I am now fighting against Apple to install an older macOS version on my very own m1 iMac.

and it doesn't look good: things cannot be that simple for Macs, I've got a bunch of 702 errors preventing me from installing on an external drive and I might have to erase my whole internal disk with DFU just to allow this.

I don't even believe my 2 old Macs are brave enough to handle anything.

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

OK so suddenly things are happening. Dear admins, sorry for the double post, but I have news:
I went for one more verification on the system report 24 hours later (as you can read), and the HOST light had gone.

- So, I opened TotalMix and boom, there it went, new window. Happy.
- Then, I went to check on my Apple Sound Settings and finally FF800 appeared. Happy again.

- Later, I went to any YouTube video and Ableton to keep testing, but whenever I'm listening to a playback sound, I have this weird bit crushed "breathing" sound happening at exact time intervals...

- I went for the RME settings and have seen a RME Fireface firmware mismatch, so I'm rushing now to the downloads to install the other package I haven't done yet.

If everything works, I'm keeping this machine just for that use case, as disappointing as it would be.

Shall I let you guys know? I can assure you this behavior occurred 24h later and I've had not touched anything else than the pkg files following the exact recommendations to try again, viewing numerous video tutorials following the official documentation smile

Fingers crossed now. Let's deep dive into the driver's abyss.

  • Apfel
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

Of course you should use the latest firmware and driver for the Fireface 800. Again: this is not a Sequoia problem. No need to downgrade. Hopefully the hardware including the adapters isn't faulty.

iMac M1, Fireface 800, Logic Pro X

15 Reply by lucasroane (edited by lucasroane 2025-12-31 17:03:44)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

I've been trying a few stuff but indeed, but this whole operation is getting quite complicated:

- this macmini2,6 is struggling to upgrade, maximum I could go for was Mac OS Catalina, which is no use for these latest drivers.
- Intel/Silicon won't allow me to attempt exporting MacOS to an external SSD for the M1 to boot up, obviously.

Mac OS Big Sur seems to be the most conciliating operating system to run
-RME Settings
-Ableton12
- TotalMix.

Catalina was installed using OPLC (some GitHub project) because Apple won't allow me to proper 'createinstallmedia' for an Intel target Mac.

Last chance is to borrow the latest 2019 Mac from somebody else to create the Big Sur USB bootable key to revive the macmini6,2 and enjoy Ableton12 + today's RME drivers smile

- I still have the clicking/glitching sound on M1 but I reckon the simple installation was a miracle lol, I'll try fixing that "next year" ahah!

Happy End of Year to you mate, thank you for keeping chatting.

  • waedi
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

You have a M1-Mac, upgrade this Mac to the latest MacOS by normal online upgrade, no OPLC or migration, make clean install.

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

17 Reply by Apfel (edited by Apfel 2025-12-31 16:37:59)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

I'm afraid, I don't really understand what you are doing there anymore. And I think at this point I'm out.

You have a MacMini M1? That one should officially support Sequoia (and even Tahoe).
Is there anything you are planning to use that is not compatible to Sequoia?

The latest driver for the Fireface 800 is 3.41 from 2021 which is for Big Sur up to Sequoia. And there is the latest firmware from even 2012, which is the latest that still works (I'm not sure if this newest firmware is needed to use the latest driver, but I updated the firmware way back in 2012 – I'm using the same FF 800 since 2005 – can you believe it?). There won't be any driver and firmware updates for the FF 800 in the future. This is a discontinued product. You won't be able to use the Fireface 800 after Sequoia, because of the lack of Firewire support from Tahoe on.

Anyway – a Happy End of Year and a Happy New Year for you, too. Hope you get everything sorted out.

iMac M1, Fireface 800, Logic Pro X
  • Apfel
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

waedi wrote:

You have a M1-Mac, upgrade this Mac to the latest MacOS by normal online upgrade, no OPLC or migration, make clean install.

BEWARE! Not the latest (which would be Tahoe) under any circumstances! Sequoia is the latest OS supporting Firewire for use with the Fireface 800!

iMac M1, Fireface 800, Logic Pro X
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

@apfel, I am indeed running MacOS Sequoia 15.5 and tried installing the RME drivers + totalMix on my M1 iMac just like you
@waedi, Looks like Sequoia is the latest version possible, ever. I've had focus rite USB drivers installed there but CPU overload was frequent and I think RME interfaces handle that better.

@Apfel, The fact that all of these incompatibilities are colliding to each others is making everything extremely difficult, but it kind of worked out (except my newest M1 glitch sound happening).

The experience I'm seeking is just a regular installation just like the good ol' days, but maybe with an Ableton 12 usage as well.

I also understand it is time to upgrade, (I am sure everyone agrees that any RME vs Focusrite setup is, an upgrade), and I still have a way out if I install windows on the macmini6,2 to enjoy the firewire support and latest Ableton software.
I'll just keep trying till I find anything relevant and post on a newer topic as I said, thank you for your time.

  • waedi
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

Apologize ! Mistake by me of course do not upgrade beyond Sequoia.

CPU overload on the M1 ? Not from the interface alone, right ?
This was an Ableton project overloaded with instruments plugins ?

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

21 Reply by lucasroane (edited by lucasroane 2026-01-02 19:18:57)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

Hi, happy new year! *<:^)

CPU overload on the M1 ? Not from the interface alone, right ?

Not especially, of course, I had other stuff going on, like 3 Elektron Overbridge instances, but that's all. I'm not truly a VST guy, tho

Apologize ! Mistake by me of course do not upgrade beyond Sequoia.

Right now the most stable OS version I have running for a macmini6,2 is Catalina, made with some patcher, but it's too old for the drivers and Ableton12. Trying to upgrade that machine to Big Sur may bring more CPU/GPU issues

Downgrading the M1 is not an option yet
So I just think I'm stuck between two generations, like zoomers and boomers in a waiting room lol

I'm going to keep trying until I get anything to work decently with this Interface.
It's a quality device that deserves to live 20 like more years!

22 Reply by Apfel (edited by Apfel 2026-01-02 20:57:25)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

lucasroane wrote:

… I'm going to keep trying until I get anything to work …

Stop this nonsense and make straight and official installations. Then things will work.

Once again: I have an iMac M1, the adapters, a Firefice 800 with latest firmware and driver, the latest version of MacOS Sequoia and the latest version of Logic Pro X. Everything works flawlessly from day one with this hardware setup and configuration (and before). I never had to do any system clean re-installs, driver re-installations, re-configurations, hacks, tricks or whatever.

iMac M1, Fireface 800, Logic Pro X
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

I got TotalMix and Ableton to work running on macOS Monterey on my older Macmini6,2, I've had used it for a while on as a TV desktop and digged it out to DFU to tweak upgrade MacOS and finally get up to date software.

Stop this nonsense and make straight and official installations. Then things will work.

Sorry man, but I just kept respecting das Verfahrenstechnik until I eventually posted here + got confused with Apple's mind games.
- Whenever I got the driver to work with both my adapters, I cannot not see my input tracks on the DAW
- I couldn't figure out what the glitch noise on the output was either, and still is happening on that "brand new" 2020's M1 computer.

Once again: I have an iMac M1, the adapters, a Firefice 800 with latest firmware and driver, the latest version of MacOS Sequoia and the latest version of Logic Pro X. Everything works flawlessly from day one with this hardware setup and configuration (and before)

You definitely got lucky from your previous installation which got me thinking, how the heck could you prevent Apple from removing your FireWire drivers while you kept updating and upgrading your setup?

IMHO it all comes from 'updating' your configuration using the built-in tools.
I'll keep geeking around till ff800 works on my non-fresh install, I can keep you updated if you like. I understand the fatigue tho

24 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2026-01-03 05:27:11)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

lucasroane wrote:

how the heck could you prevent Apple from removing your FireWire drivers while you kept updating and upgrading your setup?

Apple does not remove your installed stuff. they don't clean up the mess of the customers in their computers.
The firewire driver needs some kind of infrastructure in the MacOS to work, in the new Tahoe this part has vanished.
Good luck for your plan.
I also think it would be great to use the FF800 for longer time, may be as an Adat converter in standalone-mode at the end.
As long you have a computer that works for this interface you can upload a Totalmix setting into the unit for this use case.

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

25 Reply by Apfel (edited by Apfel 2026-01-03 09:41:54)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

lucasroane wrote:

… I'll keep geeking around …

You are obviously more interested in "geeking around" than simply having a working setup. You have a broken system and that is your own fault and responsibility.

At the same time you are telling me my setup only works because I did something wrong and it was only luck? The Earth is flat and only you know it?

lucasroane wrote:

… You definitely got lucky from your previous installation which got me thinking, how the heck could you prevent Apple from removing your FireWire drivers while you kept updating and upgrading your setup? …

Regular system updates do not remove something the user installed.

lucasroane wrote:

… IMHO it all comes from 'updating' your configuration using the built-in tools.

That is the right thing to do. I have been using Macs for 35 years now going the straight way without any problems. No hacking, geeking, fumbling. Because I had to earn my living with these machines every day.

I can't imagine you will find someone here who will help you with your attitude, but I wish you good luck.

I'm out anyway.

iMac M1, Fireface 800, Logic Pro X
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

I'm out anyway.

I was OK with that literally years ago, but you keep commenting so politely, this topic definitely needs your very opinion because it turns out I've had followed the procedure properly but I concluded I got a bad material: the glitch sound occurring on M1 is also happening on the other computers I've tested the sound card, so it might be a PSU issue sad turns out I was doing the right things lol

You are obviously more interested in "geeking around" than simply having a working setup

- Nope. Absolutely not, I am geeking around *because* I want a normal solid setup so I can geek around my synths.
- Using an older Mac mini was simply a way out, as of installing Windows there enjoying the firewire plugs.

Regular system updates do not remove something the user installed.

- Apple already did that plenty of time. Wouldn't surprise anyone. Like for example, removing any 32 bit support from Catalina lol.

At the same time you are telling me my setup only works because I did something wrong and it was only luck?

I never said you did something wrong: I beg ur pardon for being a Fresh Install Guy, which is  kind of a thing in IT I believe.

The Earth is flat and only you know it?

Now. Tell me about having an attitude...

You have a broken system and that is your own fault and responsibility.

Ahh yes. More internet policing.
Not to mention I've read your declaration with my best accent. My bad!

I'll investigate those high frequency audio glitches now and hope for the best.
Happy new year again.

27 Reply by lucasroane (edited by lucasroane 2026-01-03 14:14:37)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

waedi wrote:
lucasroane wrote:

how the heck could you prevent Apple from removing your FireWire drivers while you kept updating and upgrading your setup?

Apple does not remove your installed stuff. they don't clean up the mess of the customers in their computers.
The firewire driver needs some kind of infrastructure in the MacOS to work, in the new Tahoe this part has vanished.
Good luck for your plan.
I also think it would be great to use the FF800 for longer time, may be as an Adat converter in standalone-mode at the end.
As long you have a computer that works for this interface you can upload a Totalmix setting into the unit for this use case.

Yeah, now that I've got the Mac mini working I can also try to activate the standalone mode just to hear if I have those glitches again.
Thank you for your help, this page definitely helped a lot understanding the weird ways Apple is dealing with its own protocols, and man, this is annoying....

I would have loved a regular firewire usage on the most recent architecture, I should anticipate this material would be reliable for another 20 years so I can blame the next gen users tongue

cheerz! thanks a lot and we wish you a happy new year big_smile

  • waedi
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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

Get an old iMac with firewire port, put Reaper on it and together with your FF800 it is a wonderful music studio, and it can last for another 50 years, no problem.
Your requests are too much at once, cancel out Ableton and new Macs and it will come to work.

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

29 Reply by lucasroane (edited by lucasroane 2026-01-04 00:38:54)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

I got that macmini6,2 running without the adapters (it has been patched to macOS 12, though, because it's not running up to date programs otherwise, including RME drivers, right?).

The glitch happening has the almost the same tone for any sample rate configuration on both Macs, even though I'm testing with the system sounds and any DAW (I'm reading the docs to get the playback running without a DAW at the moment), I'll try on some old friend's firewire computers too, see if that unit is faulty.

I haven't mentioned I had an even older iMac from early 2007, it also has a firewire port but the OS version would be too old for Reaper, right?

...50 years, no problem. Your requests are too much at once, cancel out Ableton and new Macs and it will come to work.

I reckon using old hardware does have its limits, I'm trying my best to acquire a 802 and get rid of these issues.

At this point even Audacity would be worth trying tongue

30 Reply by MC

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

lucasroane wrote:

I got that macmini6,2 running without the adapters (it has been patched to macOS 12, though, because it's not running up to date programs otherwise, including RME drivers, right?).

Translated: Mac Mini 2012 with Intel CPU, OpenCoreLegacyPatcher used to run a later, unsupported OS (Monterey). This kind of stuff can not be supported by us. So what works or not you have to find out yourself...

Regards
Matthias Carstens
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MC's Website

31 Reply by lucasroane (edited by lucasroane 2026-01-04 02:12:20)

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Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

So what works or not you have to find out yourself...

Got it! That was my geekery mention earlier.

Sorry I thought the macmini6,2 was clear enough since it's the actual exact model name implying Intel CPU and late 2012.
Anyways thank you for answering fast, I'll let you know, as I said, what will be working flawlessly for similar ff800 users.

Last question, do you still provide older drivers for these old computers (2007, 2012 Apple) ?

I've now tested the unit on other Firewire computers and may detail everything about these glitches happening all the time, that'll be another topic which is now unrelated to M1/MacOS 15.X  configurations (translations won't be necessary!)

Thanks again. A lot!
Cheers

32 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2026-01-04 05:49:27)

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 6,935

Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

lucasroane wrote:

I had an even older iMac from early 2007, it also has a firewire port but the OS version would be too old for Reaper, right?

No, you can download Reaper 32 bit for MacOS Intel computer
or download a LogicPro 8 version from somewhere.

For downloading older versions of RME drivers simply edit the version number in the download link.

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

33 Reply by lucasroane (edited by lucasroane 2026-01-05 02:42:03)

  • Registered: 2025-12-28
  • Posts: 16

Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

Hey guys,

Thank you for your help, I have managed to make something sound good on my M1 Sequoia iMac running Ableton.
I gotta believe all the tweaking was somehow useful!
I've been able to flash update update my sound card and test different hardware audio input tracks, and I got to dive a bit with Total Mix FX docs, but I definitely will not comprehend how those glitchy noises were happening, and somehow the trip was nice:

- In the beginning I could not hear anything,
- Then I got the horrible noises,
- Tried on older hardware, no adapters,
- Tried on various OS configs,
- Finally got the occasion to flash update and run total Mix to standalone mode.

I'll keep testing and diving into the unit and see whether it is indeed faulty, or if just me being impatient, or stoopid (likely both)

I once again thank you for your support and own patience!
Happy 2K26

34 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2026-01-05 06:35:02)

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 6,935

Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

In standalone there is no Totalmix available.

You can store a Totalmix configuration mixer setting into the unit.

For testing the analog inputs and outputs you better connect the interface to a computer, one that works with Totalmix.

How can one find out where exactly the horrible noise got created ? Not easy to make tests in standalone where all the software playback channels are cancelled out.

At the end, best is to send in the device to an RME service partner in your country.

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

35 Reply by lucasroane (edited by lucasroane 2026-01-06 04:01:44)

  • Registered: 2025-12-28
  • Posts: 16

Re: FF800 and MacOS Sequoia 15.x on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, etc)

You can store a Totalmix configuration mixer setting into the unit.

Got it. I'll dig the manual and see how snapshots and workspace differ.

For testing the analog inputs and outputs you better connect the interface to a computer, one that works with Totalmix.

Yup, I got Digicheck working on the M1 as well, so everything works now.

How can one find out where exactly the horrible noise got created ?

Do you think that could have come from the firmware flash mismatch after all?
I never really have worked with Firewire before but my friends told me about that protocol being quite peaky in both senses.
Things clearly got better once I could get that flash working fine! smile

At the end, best is to send in the device to an RME service partner in your country.

I'll do that if it glitches again, which I hope not!

cheerz