• Registered: 2025-01-17
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Trying to revive very old multiface 1 system

I have a vintage Hammerfall PCI Interface Card v.1.8 + HDSPe ExpressCard + [img]Multiface[/img] system that I'm trying to revive if possible.

I also have an older Mac Pro (3,1 version, from early 2008) that has PCI slots that I hope would be compatible with the PCI interface card, but before trying to fit the PCI card in this machine I would like to know if this would be possible at all, or whether some solution exists that would permit me to use the HDSPe ExpressCard as a peripheral through firewire.

Of course, this would mean installing a compatible MacOS system in the Mac, and I would appreciate any data about the last compatible versions for MacOS and this RME system.

Your help will be very appreciated, as I can't find much on the internet at large...

Regards

Pablo

2 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2025-01-17 06:41:52)

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 5,087

Re: Trying to revive very old multiface 1 system

There is a driver 425 for MacOS 11 and up.
if you can install MacOS 11 or up this would be a solution for the PCI card.
The express card would need a special external box and I doubt such is to find with firewire connection.
Also there is no firewire driver for hdsp systems, an external USB box for express card could be a solution.
I would put the express card on the side and focus on the PCI card.
It should work.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2009-06-30
  • Posts: 230

Re: Trying to revive very old multiface 1 system

I have 3 old 1st gen madifaces with expresscard still running on win 11.
Lenovo t430 and p51 still have the expresscard slot, and one is running in a expresscard to thunderbolt enclosure by sonnett.
Maybe this helps.
Georg

  • Kubrak
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2023-08-03
  • Posts: 684

Re: Trying to revive very old multiface 1 system

waedi wrote:

an external USB box for express card could be a solution.

IMHO, USB box for Express Card cannot work, maybe some of USB4 sockets, if lucky.... Thunderbolt to Express Card should/could work.

FF UCX II, Digiface USB, Babyface Pro FS

5 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
  • Administrator
  • Offline
  • From: Germany/Thailand
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 25,852

Re: Trying to revive very old multiface 1 system

waedi wrote:

There is a driver 425 for MacOS 11 and up.
if you can install MacOS 11 or up this would be a solution for the PCI card.

No support for PCI. Only PCI Express.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Registered: 2025-01-17
  • Posts: 2

Re: Trying to revive very old multiface 1 system

Thanks for your answers!

From what I can make out from your replies, it does seem that I am out of luck. The Hammerfall cards I have are the ones you can see in this very old version of the RME site:

archiv.rme-audio.de / old / hdsp / cardpci.htm   (sorry, I separated with spaces since I see links are not allowed in posts)

It seems the PCI card has only an original PCI bus connector, not a PCI express, which means I can't install it in my Mac Pro, and that Firewire adapters for the laptop card are no longer manufactured...

Maybe the best to do is to try getting an older Windows laptop that still supports the expresscard, and then try installing a compatible version of Windows, etc. Or maybe try to get the more recent PCIe card that will work on the old Mac Pro.

Oh, well, it was a long shot anyway, these cards are nearly 20 years old by now.

I really appreciate your help, thanks!

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,914

Re: Trying to revive very old multiface 1 system

Links are fine, just not in a new account's first post. I have some hope that this new measure would reduce some automated spam posts. Post all the links you want now....

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website