We are working on a driver update. Please give us some time.

Hello

Thank you for trying, but I am sorry to say that this update hasn't corrected the issue.

Marty

I would also like to know if there its any update.

I was in the market for a new firewire interface.  I can't go HD right now for multiple reasons, so I was looking for a unit that had out all.  Solid converters, strong clock, a couple nice pre's, flexibility and solid drivers among other things.  So I bought the UFX after my sales guy at Sweetwater told me how awesome it was. And I'm impressed. Seems like everything is tighter.  Punchier.  I also immediately noticed a clarity in the low end. I know I'll love this unit, but I am having some issues and this MIDI issue is one big one.

I'm running my UFX via USB. I'm actually kinda forced too because some of us can't use MIDI via firewire and I don't want to have to switch back and fourth all the time.  On my system, USB allows MIDI, but makes for a VERY unstable system. Pops, clicks, CPU errors left and right, ProTools critically low messages (something I've never gotten before). Basically a mess. I called Jeff Petersen, who is awesome by the way, a few times. He walked me through some stuff and help allot.  He suggested I go with internal sata drives vs a firewire session drive and a USB  fx/samples drive. It actually worked very well in regards to latency and Pro Tools seems more responsive, but... still having audio problems and CPU errors.  So that didn't really fix my problem.

So, mid day today I went back to connecting via firewire and, although its only been a few hours so I can't say for sure, I'm thinking firewire may have fixed the audio issues, and possibly the CPU errors. Time will tell, but...  I still can't use MIDI.

So, I really would really like to know when you plan on making the unit capable of using MIDI via firewire.  I need this option. I can't use USB (for all the reasons above).  Again, I want to love you guys (totally platonic, of course). I want to sing your accolades, and believe me I will, but its been a frustrating few weeks and right now I'm almost regretting my purchase a little.  I hope you guys come through on this one. 

Thanks for your help so far. I actually wish I never needed it, but you've been responsive so I'm satisfied.  I'm sure there's allot more to this fix than a magic wand. I know you're trying, but could you give is done idea of when we can expect this?  That may be enough to keep from cursing you out when we get inspired and want to play a bass line real quick while ruining firewire.  :-) 

Thanks
-Steve

Matthias,
I'm guessing youll be leaving the posts that are asking for help on the firewire/MIDI problem, correct?  Any new news for us?

Matthias,
Thanks for the update.  Would you like to use me as a system that reproduces the error?  Be happy to help.  Let me know what you need.

Also, my Sweetwater rep suggested the MOTU FastLane USB MIDI interface.  What do you (or the other guys on this post with this problem) think of this idea?  Have you tried it already?  Does it work?  Trying to find an answer...

-Steve

Thanks Matthias,
I received the MOTU Fast Track and it seems to be working perfectly to fix this issue (firewire/MIDI).  Maybe it's just this particular forum, but I don't recall anyone from RME just simply stating this before.  It certianly would have saved allot of headaches.  So to clarify, if you have firewire/MIDI issues, but the $70 MOTU Fast Track (or the like) and your issue will be solved.  That simple. 

Thanks,
-Steve

Certainly true.

I thought I would add one symptom: if the UFX is powered before the computer boots, there is a steady blue FW light, but the unit does not function (no sound, no response from meters, etc.). This may have nothing to do with the midi issue. This is like the midi in that the lights are on, but nobody is home.

M

Hey everyone,

I'm using a Macbook Pro, OSX version 10.6.5 with the UFX. Same kind of problem you guys seems to be having. No midi in when connected via firewire, the led's flash and recognize the midi controller and button presses etc but does no pass through to the software. All the drivers, both for USB and firewire are updated, so is the latest firmware. Midi Monitor isn't receiving any messages. Audio Midi Set Up sees the UFX but can't see the midi messages. I have the Fireface MIDI.plugin in the Library/audio/midi drivers folder. Can't run it via usb because those slots are being used. Have there been any developments on this? The midi does work when the UFX is connected via USB so it's has to be a software thing. After talking with Jim who is US support rep here he mentioned it might be a conflict within other software... I have a digi002 rack (which works fine, midi and all) and he mentioned that "might" be it. Has anyone had this issue and have been able to resolve it themselves?

AmLochley

Matthias I wouldn't have posted without trying the suggestion above and other options. Is the above post the confirmed solution for everyone with this problem? This did not work for me.

Hello Daniel et all - I have since updated to 10.6.8, reinstalled the latest drivers and flash update everything, still nothing. In my audio midi settings, it is not seeing the UFX (it is seeing it as an audio interface, just not midi). When I rescan, it doesn't find it. When I plug it in via usb, it sees it fine. How can I get my my cpu to see the ufx's midi section? I have the Fireface MIDI.plugin in my midi drivers folder, version 3.08. What could I be missing? The UFX is clearing working since the midi channels work with the usb, but I can't figure out why audio / midi can't find it when it scans...

Still not working for me either after trying the same. At one point my audio / midi set up wasn't even showing the RME but I realized I, at some point, must have put a copy of fireface MIDI.plug in midi driver in the "other" Library folder you find in the places sidebar on mac - not in the user folder which I guess is the main library. Deleted that and now in Audio / Midi Set Up the UFX is highlighted in the midi window but when I click "show info" the "device is online" box is not checked...

Again midi works fine when plugged in as USB, just not when plugged in via FW so I have no idea what the problem is. All updated with all the drivers and firmware etc.

+1

Same here. Would be really really great if RME focused on this issue. This is a $2000+ unit with a significant problem. Wondering why this hasn't been addressed.

Might be a driver problem. But as we were never able to reproduce it, there was no way to fix it so far.

hmm. Just found this thread. I am now having this issue also. its clearly registering Midi on the front of the UFX but the DAW is not seeing it. Haven't tried reinstalling drivers. going to try that now. sigh.

My problem seems to have gone away after I added a firewire hub between my iMac and the UFX. I also tried the UFX after a Firewire hdd but that only worsened the problem.

Ben

Forget my previous comment above about the firewire hub helping to solve the problem. It went bonkers again a few times since, and wouldn't receive midi whatever I tried. Finally after powering off/on all equipment it started working again. For now…

Yesterday I noticed in Audio/Midi setup that the UFX was greyed out, and after the above, it was black again. It was in another position though, and missing all the cables to my midi devices that I had placed earlier.

<rant>
Really flakey, and unfortunately no solution is forthcoming from RME. I had volunteered to test anything they want, but got no reaction to that. I ruled out the DAW. Midi over USB is working (the few times I tried), but not really an option for daily use.

I went with RME because of their reputation for rock solid drivers and support, but am very disappointed. We're now months later so it's too late to return the UFX.
</rant>

Maybe I'll buy another separate midi interface. I'm open to suggestions, need at least two midi in/outs. But four would be nicer.

Ben

I thought I'd give it another try, as the latest release notes mention a bug fix for midi under firewire. So I installed V3.22 of the firewire driver, and upgraded the firmware to v343. If anything, the problem has become worse. I have not been able to get midi receiving working a single time, I tried all kinds of combination of powering on / plugging in cables / etc.

(One thing might be different though. I seem to remember that the device wasn't visible at all in Audio/Midi setup with the older drivers/firmware. Now, it definitely is there. And I can send data out with Logic. So we're halfway there...) EDIT: nope, this was the same as before. See my earlier message.

I switched over to USB (V1.94), and midi works fine. So back to the external midi interface it is.

Ben

I have a late 2009 iMac 27", quad core i7, 16 GB ram, with OSX 10.9.2, Logic Pro X latest version, UFX v343 with V3.22 driver.

I also had some email contact with support@rme when I got the device, and I volunteered to test stuff, collect log files, etc, but they never followed up. My guess is that we're such a minority that they don't bother. Quite disappointed in that, because RME had such a good reputation before i bought the UFX.

Ben

Thanks Daniel, I will send you my email address separately.

Ben

A comparison of 'system specs' is useless. We have lots of different Macs and none shows the problem. That is also reflected in this forum: thousands of FireWire users and less than a handful have the problem. Sorry, but this way we will not find out why it happens. The only thing that would help is to get our hands directly on a system that shows that problem. Which might not happen in the forseeable future...

gkm, make sure that you're not having any OSC or midi control setup for port 2. (Not that this will help with the DAW not seeing any activity.)

Ben

i also get no midi signal into my lap, osx 10... before, a babyface nade no problems, now the ucx seems like dead. y cheap usb midi cable works fine...??

Here is my two cents worth. Just got the UCX, replacing a Fireface400 that is now going to another system. I have the most up to date firmware and drivers as of today - USB45, DSP240, FW25, kernel Driver 3.25. I am using Logic 9.1.8 with OS 10.9.5.

Connected via firewire. Sending midi to the UCX, the input light does work - but Logic does not receive the input. Midi output from Logic tracks can be sent to both output ports. Connecting a controller to another midi device (NI Maschine in this case), I can get midi into Logic that passes to the midi outputs of the UCX. Kind of disappointed with this issue.

I have a few hard drives - and my mac has only FW800 not FW400, so I go from FW800 to an external Lacie hard drive, then from that FW400 to the UCX. Of course you have to put the UCX at the end of this chain - unlike the FireFace400 which can come first (But it always worked best for me at the end of the chain). SO - I tested by simply going from the Mac using a convertor cable FW800 to FW400 straight to the UCX, and midi works exactly as it is supposed to.

SO - for those with this problem, I know it sucks, but don't put drives between the mac and the UCX. Because my problem is only with the incoming midi never getting to Logic, I can use the midi input on my Maschine instead, and still use the UCX outputs - because really, I do need to use those external drives.

I just bought this today, so have not tested extensively, but I really, really, really hope that the audio signal is in no way affected by the UCX being at the end of a firewire chain.

I hope this info helps?

One question I have: Is there any difference in performance using the UCX with USB vs FW400? Can you achieve the same low latencies and same low CPU usage. These are the reasons I bought the UCX.