Topic: FireWire 400 4 to 6-pin in Europe

So, Alva cables are recommended but the RME website does not sell the 4-pinto 6-pin model that I (and everyone with a laptop) needs. The Alva website shows me only a distributor but not a retailer for Ireland. And the UK retailer Synthax does not carry this cable either!

Anyone know where I can buy one in Europe, hopefully through a website in English? And hopefully fairly cheap?

-- robin

Re: FireWire 400 4 to 6-pin in Europe

Update: I have found some off-brands in the small (1m) length I need, but still no Alva or anything else I'd have confidence in.

Re: FireWire 400 4 to 6-pin in Europe

The ALVA line of FireWire cables is going out of production. We will update the RME website soon. If you canot find a cable in an online shop every FireWire cable with the specification will work. But i think you need a 9-pin (FW800) to 6-pin (FW400)? 

best regards
Knut

Re: FireWire 400 4 to 6-pin in Europe

Windows notebooks need 4-pin to 6-pin (both FW400). Mac laptops need 9-pin to 6-pin (FW800 <> FW400).

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.

Re: FireWire 400 4 to 6-pin in Europe

I have had some strange interference problems that effect my FireFace 400 but not my NI USB interface. That is why I want to ensure the best possible cable and shortest possible length, simply to eliminate one possibility. Of course a cable for digital signal should be bit-perfect, but I have read elsewhere that quality matters for interference. Perhaps that is wrong information.

Yes, I have a Windows laptop, a very excellent IBM machine that is rock solid. Got it for one-tenth the price of Mac and it has far more connectivity.

Re: FireWire 400 4 to 6-pin in Europe

Frankly, the 4-pin connection used on Win laptops sucks. It's inherently unstable, and can disconnect just by touching the cable. Higher-end versions should have a bit better fit.

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.

Re: FireWire 400 4 to 6-pin in Europe

You should have told me that before I hooked up the UFX to an old Acer's 4-pin port for a recording today... fryingpan rant
Seriously, though, I haven't had problems with these connections, although I admit I don't use them on a regular base. I guess it all depends, as usual...


Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Re: FireWire 400 4 to 6-pin in Europe

All Firewire connections suck. They are simply too small and fiddly. Only a larger locking connector can be trusted, but I guess laptops are not engineered to professional audio standards.

Then again I have gigged with 4-pin for years and no lost performances yet.

Re: FireWire 400 4 to 6-pin in Europe

RME Support wrote:

You should have told me that before I hooked up the UFX to an old Acer's 4-pin port for a recording today... fryingpan rant
Seriously, though, I haven't had problems with these connections, although I admit I don't use them on a regular base. I guess it all depends, as usual...

Yes, I used it a lot too, but I never felt safe. Out of the 3 FW connecter types this one is the worst. Maybe that laptop just had a loose port...

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.