I have seen a similar problem with my FF400 running on XP SP3, with FF400 1.70 and driver 3.031.  I was previously running 3.015 and updated to 3.031 two days before my last field recording described below.

I used my usual set-up for this job.  My Nagra V records the main mic pair, and then the AES out from the Nagra goes to the SPDIF (FF control panel - SPDIF preferred sync source - sync indicated) where the additional microphones are added to for the multi-track recording using REAPER.  Sampling freq 44100 all round.  Same set-up used many times before. The mix was monitored during recording using TotalMix but the monitoring location is not good so monitoring is mainly for confidence and production reasons.

On playing back in my DAW, I heard occasional 'pops' which on investigation were coming only from the stereo track of the main pair/SPDIF input.  I checked the Nagra recording of the same signal and they were not there, so they occurred between the Nagra output and the recording in REAPER via the SPDIF.  I do not normally monitor the FF control panel during recording, so at the moment I cannot say if there was any loss of sync shown on the SPDIF link at the time.

I have concentrated so far on restoring the recording for broadcast, so I have not forensically investigated the nature of the 'pops' but will do so in future.  However, the nature of the problem described above seems prima facae to be the same as I have experienced, hence this report.   The recording setup can be precisely replicated for diagnostic purposes if you have any suggestions.  Sounds like rolling back to the previous driver could be the first step.

(SPDIF is the only area I have encountered problems with the FF400 - remember the 'sync to 96K' issue a couple of years back?)

Further to my report above, I have now compared the Nagra file with the copy recorded digitally in REAPER via the SPDIF, which was set as preferred sync reference, and shown as in sync.   Sample rate was 44100

Aligning exact points in the waveform at the start and end of the two files, I noted that in a period of approximately 35 minutes there were approximately 18100 more samples in the REAPER file than in the Nagra original (a time difference of about 400ms). This implies that despite the FF400 being synced to the Nagra, REAPER appears to have been clocked by the FF400 driver at a slightly higher frequency.    Inspecting one or two of the clicks shows waveform discontinuity, but so far I have not been able to determine if data is missing or data is being repeated compared to the original, and how much.

As the FF400 has not been used since the original recording gig, the next step is to reconnect everything as per original recording, which I can even simulate by playing back the original Nagra recording.  Other commitments have not made this possible, but I hope to try it in the next few days.  Trying it with the previous driver (3.015) is also a possibility.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone other than Jamil has recently experienced a similar occurrence when using SPDIF input as sync reference during recording.

this is deplorable! why has this gone unanswered?

i have a fireface 400 and am running an apogee Mini-ME into it by SDIF coaxial.

you can send a signal through the apogee and monitor it through the fireface. you will here these high fuzzy 'pop' sounds... almost like an old skool open hihat sound from early analog drum machines. it's a hissy sort of scratchy crackle every few seconds... RENDERING THE DEVICE USELESS.

HELLO? is there an answer. i bought a FF400 which has a SPDIF listed and i got a FF400 without a SPDIF because it's useless.

has this been figured out on a different thread? i've goodled a good bit and found nothing.