Hello.

I have a Fireface 400 that I bought one month ago. It is plugged to my Macbook Pro 13 (3rd generation) with a 400/800 Firewire cable. I have installed the most recent RME drivers on my computer.

Whenever any sound is played in any program (Ableton Live for example), there is a slight high pitched noise coming from inside the Macbook, near the Firewire plug.
I tried all the sample rates available in the interface, the noise frequency is different for each setting but still the noise is there. If I raise the sample rate, the frequency of the noise raises as well.

I tried my Fireface 400 on several other Macbook Pro 3rd generation (13, 15, 17 and Mac Mini) and the same problem occurs also. I tried two other soundcards (Presonus, Saffire), but that noise is present only with the Fireface 400.

I compose electroacoustic music so I need to work in a quiet environment. The noise is low but nevertheless audible.  Under those conditions, that parasite noise is a real problem to me.

- Does anybody would happen to know the origin of this problem?
- Is there a way to make that noise disappear?
- Is it a problem that could be solved by a future driver upgrade?
- The problem seems to come from somewhere near the Firewire, and since the Macbook Pro has Firewire 800 connectic and the Fireface 400 has Firewire 400 connectic, could switching to a Fireface 800 make the noise disappear? If so, is there a way to exchange the soundcard? I bought it brand new from Univers-Sons, a serious french store.

I love working with the Fireface 400 which is an awesome card. Still, It is not possible for me to work with this noise. So I would really appreciate if a way to solve that problem could be found.

Thanks in advance for your answers.