1 (edited by raoul_rme 2008-01-12 20:19:20)

Topic: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Having enjoyed using my FF400 for several months now I?m now facing a very annoying problem where FF400 will go into a long zero db endless beeeeepp noise.
It it produced by applications because when I quit (a) application the beep sound will stop and the ff4000 will work again.
The applications I?ve seen doing this is logic 8 & itunes & Call of duty 2 .Maybe others too - so it isn?t one specific app that is the culprit.
I?ve re-installed the latest drivers but the problem is still there.

Some days I dont have the problem but other days it will happen several times a day.Even after re-starting the computer.

What should I do ?
Re-install the entire os is a disaster for me right now :-(

EDIT: Macbook , 2 gb ram , os 10.4.11

2

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Any errors shown in that state in the Settings dialog?

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

MC wrote:

Any errors shown in that state in the Settings dialog?

Dialog in "settings" ?
Where would I find something like that ?

4

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

In the dock you can access the TotalMix mixer and the Settings dialog. See manual with screenshot for FW error count.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Ah I get it :-)

Never knew there could appear error text there - above the "read" button,right ?
I will check it the next time I get haunted by the beep.
That would be the next step in solving this if I guess.

Hey and thanks for helping me !

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

So ... It just happened again.
Only logic 8 open - beeeeeeeeeeeepp.

No error text showing up.
Audio buffer is set to 1024 (in logic).

re-initiating logic makes things go back to normal.

Weird stuff indeed !

7

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

I fear that this behaviour is not caused by driver/Fireface...

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Thanks Matthias.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

I too have this ENDLESS BEEP(mac osx)..

No solution found yet...

All settings have been tested...

RME what should we do???????

Thanks

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

BTW Raoul ...do you have Ati X1600 inside your macbook pro??????????

Thanks

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

robocop wrote:

BTW Raoul ...do you have Ati X1600 inside your macbook pro??????????

Thanks

Hi Robocop.

I have the Intel GMA 950 graphics card if that?s what you?re asking ?
And it?s not a PRO - just the white macbook.

The apps that I will typically have open when I produce music is logic 8,Itunes,Mail,safari,Audio/midi setup and Rme fireface mixer and Settings and perhaps quicktime.
When the "beeping" occurs I will close some of those and it stops.
One could suspect that there?s something weird going on when RMe feeds audio from several apps at the same time.
But it IS very weird that the beep terrors come and go and not do not occur on a regular basis then.
Maybe it?s something with logic 8 ????

12 (edited by robocop 2008-07-20 19:30:24)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Hi Raoul :-)
I've got some good news for us "ENDLESS BEEPER", I hope so..., [---]and I would like a comfirmation from RME[---].
So I think we can prevent this nasty bug by starting the card with "BUS POWER" first and then SWITCH to "EXTERNAL" on the back of the card.

Bootcamp was a terrible experience, windows is such a mess, what an ugly OS we have here, It can take hours and hours to have a stable system, ...poor performances were at the rendez-vous, maximize/minimize window issue, BAD MIDI TIMING, and so on...also I had a heat problem with the macbook pro random shutdown :censored

I have been working all day on my LIve 7 project under OSX (and it's very HOT in the south of france in my studio with my mac at 70?c) because I was about to bring the card back to the store(don't want to use windows), AND EVERYTHING AS BEEN WORKING PERFECTLY ON OSX 10.4 ALL DAY :-)
So the power switch thing seems to be the way go....?
Have you ever use the "BUS POWER" back switch on your FF400?

Hope it helps.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

robocop wrote:

Hi Raoul :-)
I've got some good news for us "ENDLESS BEEPER", I hope so..., [---]and I would like a comfirmation from RME[---].
So I think we can prevent this nasty bug by starting the card with "BUS POWER" first and then SWITCH to "EXTERNAL" on the back of the card.

Bootcamp was a terrible experience, windows is such a mess, what an ugly OS we have here, It can take hours and hours to have a stable system, ...poor performances were at the rendez-vous, maximize/minimize window issue, BAD MIDI TIMING, and so on...also I had a heat problem with the macbook pro random shutdown :censored

I have been working all day on my LIve 7 project under OSX (and it's very HOT in the south of france in my studio with my mac at 70?c) because I was about to bring the card back to the store(don't want to use windows), AND EVERYTHING AS BEEN WORKING PERFECTLY ON OSX 10.4 ALL DAY :-)
So the power switch thing seems to be the way go....?
Have you ever use the "BUS POWER" back switch on your FF400?

Hope it helps.

Would that be something I should do every I boot up ?
I have only started to use "external power" recently - I must have thought like you ... I mean it could be that the rme f**** up somehow power-wise..
I think I have had one or two beeps lately (with external power) though.
This beep thing comes and go.
Since you use ableton live I guess we can rule out logic 8 as the problem.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

raoulmusic wrote:

Since you use ableton live I guess we can rule out logic 8 as the problem.

I had this problem using VLC only, so Logic has nothing to do with this problem ed:

Just boot with "bus power" then switch to "external", but again...! I am not sure..I'll be sure in a week without beep..

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

robocop wrote:
raoulmusic wrote:

Since you use ableton live I guess we can rule out logic 8 as the problem.

I had this problem using VLC only, so Logic has nothing to do with this problem ed:

Just boot with "bus power" then switch to "external", but again...! I am not sure..I'll be sure in a week without beep..

you?re right.
Sometimes there can be several weeks with no problems and then "bam" - it returns.

sad

16 (edited by robocop 2008-07-20 20:15:56)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

raoulmusic wrote:
robocop wrote:
raoulmusic wrote:

Since you use ableton live I guess we can rule out logic 8 as the problem.

I had this problem using VLC only, so Logic has nothing to do with this problem ed:

Just boot with "bus power" then switch to "external", but again...! I am not sure..I'll be sure in a week without beep..

you?re right.
Sometimes there can be several weeks with no problems and then "bam" - it returns.

sad

OHHHH! I SEE! ed:
I BOUGHT IT (last week) FOR LIVE ACT SO....I THINK I'LL GO BACK TO THE STORE TOMORROW THEN.

-1 for RME on this rant

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

robocop wrote:
raoulmusic wrote:
robocop wrote:

I had this problem using VLC only, so Logic has nothing to do with this problem ed:

Just boot with "bus power" then switch to "external", but again...! I am not sure..I'll be sure in a week without beep..

you?re right.
Sometimes there can be several weeks with no problems and then "bam" - it returns.

sad

OHHHH! I SEE! ed:
I BOUGHT IT (last week) FOR LIVE ACT SO....I THINK I'LL GO BACK TO THE STORE TOMORROW THEN.

-1 for RME on this rant

Yes it would be pretty devastating to have the beep played LOUD over p.a
Such a shame this issue since the sound quality and the incredible routing is super with this "card".

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Yes it would be pretty devastating to have the beep played LOUD over p.a
Such a shame this issue since the sound quality and the incredible routing is super with this "card".

Yes I was VERY HAPPY with the HUGE sound, perfect midi timing (wich is barely rare with usb/firewire card), routing...everything was perfect until,... BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

robocop wrote:

Yes it would be pretty devastating to have the beep played LOUD over p.a
Such a shame this issue since the sound quality and the incredible routing is super with this "card".

Yes I was VERY HAPPY with the HUGE sound, perfect midi timing (wich is barely rare with usb/firewire card), routing...everything was perfect until,... BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

Worst sound in the world (beeeeeeep) !
Makes me want to punch something every time smile

20 (edited by undercode 2008-07-20 21:08:05)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Guys... That beep is not a Fireface problem.
I got that beep under Windows XP SP2 with MME drivers (I didn't know that I was using them...The OS switched them after I installed a new PCI Firewire card) and since then I never had that beep again, ever, because I'm using only Asio drivers on the Windows.

Don't put your FF400 as default playback on the Windows or MAC OSX because they like to "own" whatever they like, even on the most serious situations...A live act is one of those situations...Use the onbord audio card or get a damm cheap one and route it into the FF with a simple cable. This is the beginning of the end of lot's of problems.

I'm using my FF400 on a Asus PK5 board with native Firewire and with my intel macbook 2,2 and I never had it again or even a beep error like sometimes can popup.
I think that that beep is something wrong with your DAW's guys...Check it out before starting to blame RME for something that isn't their fault...

Cheers.

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

21 (edited by robocop 2008-07-20 21:22:01)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

undercode wrote:

Guys... That beep is not a Fireface problem.
I got that beep under Windows XP SP2 with MME drivers (I didn't know that I was using them...The OS switched them after I installed a new PCI Firewire card) and since then I never had that beep again, ever, because I'm using only Asio drivers on the Windows.

Don't put your FF400 as default playback on the Windows or MAC OSX because they like to "own" whatever they like, even on the most serious situations...A live act is one of those situations...Use the onbord audio card or get a damm cheap one and route it into the FF with a simple cable. This is the beginning of the end of lot's of problems.

I'm using my FF400 on a Asus PK5 board with native Firewire and with my intel macbook 2,2 and I never had it again or even a beep error like sometimes can popup.
I think that that beep is something wrong with your DAW's guys...Check it out before starting to blame RME for something that isn't their fault...

Cheers.

VLC MEDIA PLAYER is not a DAW ?

I think it is related with Macbook+OSX+Bus/Ext power that's all...

I have tested the default playback thing at first on osx with no result, sorry..

But it is true that The Fireface 400 hasn't stop yet since this morning when I start it with Firewire BUS POWER then switch it to External Power ,so... let's see HOW LONG it will stay like this??????

Regards

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

undercode wrote:

Guys... That beep is not a Fireface problem.
I got that beep under Windows XP SP2 with MME drivers (I didn't know that I was using them...The OS switched them after I installed a new PCI Firewire card) and since then I never had that beep again, ever, because I'm using only Asio drivers on the Windows.

Don't put your FF400 as default playback on the Windows or MAC OSX because they like to "own" whatever they like, even on the most serious situations...A live act is one of those situations...Use the onbord audio card or get a damm cheap one and route it into the FF with a simple cable. This is the beginning of the end of lot's of problems.

I'm using my FF400 on a Asus PK5 board with native Firewire and with my intel macbook 2,2 and I never had it again or even a beep error like sometimes can popup.
I think that that beep is something wrong with your DAW's guys...Check it out before starting to blame RME for something that isn't their fault...

Cheers.

The beep occurs ONLY with Ff400 so yes it is related to that card.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

VLC is a program, not a DAW and it's on 0.8.6 version.

If the problem is what you said, I don't know how my Macbook+OSX+FF400+Bus/Ext power works perfect, with bus or external power.

Cheers.

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Yes, the beep is from the card.
The beep means that there's something corrupt (for the card) that the OS/drivers/chipset is trying to do.

Cheers.

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

undercode wrote:

VLC is a program, not a DAW and it's on 0.8.6 version.

If the problem is what you said, I don't know how my Macbook+OSX+FF400+Bus/Ext power works perfect, with bus or external power.

Cheers.

So we can now safely assume that anybody that claims to the contrary is wrong ?

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Nope.

Does the FF beeps in the stand alone mode?

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

undercode wrote:

VLC is a program, not a DAW and it's on 0.8.6 version.

If the problem is what you said, I don't know how my Macbook+OSX+FF400+Bus/Ext power works perfect, with bus or external power.

Cheers.

I hope mine is going to work like yours so....maybe this card needs to be Bus Powered sometimes to initialize well with the Mac.RME SHOULD REPORT IT SOMEWHERE IN THE MANUAL THEN.

Cheers

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

undercode wrote:

Nope.

Does the FF beeps in the stand alone mode?

Hmm good question.
I use it for daw work only.

29 (edited by robocop 2008-07-20 21:38:32)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

undercode wrote:

Nope.

Does the FF beeps in the stand alone mode?

The fact is that when the beep come, 'Physical' In and Out on the FF400 still work.Only the core audio/software playback is affected.
So IT IS related with FF400 and MAC 10.4 & 10.5(tested both),I didn't have the beep AT ALL with bootcamp.So it is not even the MACBOOK, IT IS A OSX+FF400 PROBLEM.
We need RME on this.

Cheers

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

That bus power initialize that you're talking doesn't add up...
VLC is a nice free program but don't trust it as a benchmark or test program, if it's still 0.8.6 version, it's because they don't have all problems solved...
...and you want a fireface to work with logic, right?
If that beep strikes me in a stand alone working mode, that's something to worry. In DAW work, it certainly means that it's a Firewire(protocol)-OS problem.

Anything more, add me on your msn so we can speak more quickly and open. I'll be glad to help.

Cheers.

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

31 (edited by robocop 2008-07-20 21:54:17)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

I think you are right about the Firewire(protocol)/OSX(10.4/10.5)core audio problem.
A driver update will fix this for sure..let's hope.

Thanks for your help Undercode

Cheers

BTW:I use VLC for about 10 years now,and I can tell you it has never crash reading a MP3 before.:lol:

32 (edited by robocop 2008-07-20 21:57:39)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

MC wrote:

I fear that this behaviour is not caused by driver/Fireface...

I fear it is.

Regards

Robocop

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

@robocop:

I have a cinema 23" screen connected to my macbook and I run 2 lacie disk on the one firewire port (in the back of the screen) and the ff400 on the other.
I have an Ilok and my mouse/keyboard and a korg microkontrol on the usb ports.

Any similarities to your setup here ?

Just grasping straws here .... smile

34 (edited by undercode 2008-07-21 05:28:10)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

I know how you feel about that. It's great to buy such a nice and functional audio interface and sudden...the fear of audio fiasco. I had that same problem, that's why I'm so serious talking about it.
There's an old post in here where I talk about the problem. At that time I only had a P4 3.0 GHz with 1 GB and I even tested to change the ACPI layer from multiprocessor pc to single pc and the problem stopped. The problem with single pc is that not all motherboard resources are correctly mapped and there's no unique IRQ's for everybody...not to mention that no multi-threading works or dual core.

Is your Fireface set as default audio device on Windows or OSX? I think this is very important...

Cheers.

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

35 (edited by robocop 2008-07-21 09:48:31)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Hi again :-)

1.Never had the BEEP under Bootcamp...The only problem with XP was ,bad performances(after installing bootcamp drivers I think), coudn't minimize/maximize the Live7 window without a sound glitch, and jitters with the MIDI clock(no jitters on OSX :-) )...the usual things indeed, nothin to worry about lol
Tried the KBMGR OFF/wireless OFF/Background Process was clean/Best Performance in the Graphic settings/Write thing(don't remenber the exact name) OFF.....but still....no good result...bye bye XP.

2.Since YESTERDAY the FF400 IS WORKING LIKE A CHARM ON OSX, ROCK SOLID, AND I CANNOT MAKE IT CRASH. fryingpan
I can run my LIVE7 project (12 MIDI TRACKS & 5 AUDIO TRACKS) and AT THE SAME TIME I can play a MP3 with VLC using the FF400 Core audio,NO PROBLEM,..open firefox and browse the web,NO GLITCH,..The clock,the sound,and synchro WON'T MOVE AT ALL..IMPRESSIVE :-O

So I think I'll stay like that for some days and see what will happen.....

Thanks for your support Undercode , it is nice to know that there is people like you on this forum.

36 (edited by robocop 2008-07-21 10:07:39)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

raoulmusic wrote:

@robocop:

I have a cinema 23" screen connected to my macbook and I run 2 lacie disk on the one firewire port (in the back of the screen) and the ff400 on the other.
I have an Ilok and my mouse/keyboard and a korg microkontrol on the usb ports.

Any similarities to your setup here ?

Just grasping straws here .... smile

When I first had the BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP rant I decide to make a test with ALL MY EXTERNAL GEAR UNPLUGGED, only the FF400 and the Macbook pro.I ran a mp3 and after 2 minutes without touching the computer at all...guess what.....BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP rotfl

YOUR EXTERNAL GEAR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE "BEEP".
I think it is the Firewire Bus Power protocol on OSX that is to blame.

Cheers

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Thanks Robocop, you're welcome.

You still didn't asked my question about the default audio device.
Can you trace down the before and after the beep in more detail? This is important for other users.

Cheers.

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

38 (edited by robocop 2008-07-21 11:26:03)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

robocop wrote:

I can run my LIVE7 project (12 MIDI TRACKS & 5 AUDIO TRACKS) and AT THE SAME TIME I can play a MP3 with VLC using the FF400 Core audio,NO PROBLEM,..open firefox and browse the web,NO GLITCH,..The clock,the sound,and synchro WON'T MOVE AT ALL..IMPRESSIVE :-O

I mean I think there is no conflict between the DAW and the core audio with your FF400 set as default on the Mac OSX system prefs.

Almost 2 days now without beep...I think switching to "Bus Power" did it for me, I can switch to "Ext" and it still work,so....people with the "beeeep" should try that first.

Hope it helps

39 (edited by undercode 2008-07-21 11:34:27)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

To sum up, the beep just gone and you have no clue how, right? Or if you don't use that wicked trick with the power the beep returns?

I find that very strange because I randomly use my Fireface with bus or ext power...

Cheers.

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

undercode wrote:

To sum up, the beep just gone and you have no clue how, right? Or if you don't use that wicked trick with the power the beep returns?

The beep is gone :-)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

By the way, what's your Fireface firmware?

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

v1.67

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Q:what is better, Bus or Ext power?

Thanks

44 (edited by undercode 2008-07-21 11:44:03)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Ok then. Let's hope that the Beep of Death don't return again... I speak for me too...

External power. Bus power can degrade performance on heavy firewire load. I think that on medium load isn't a problem...

Cheers.

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

undercode wrote:

External power. Bus power can degrade performance on heavy firewire load. I think that on medium load isn't a problem...

Cheers.

OK that's clear.Thanks.

I'll keep you inform about futur beeps.And hope we won't see this thread rise again up in this forum.

I'll go and check your tunes Undercode ,now that I can use sound AGAIN :roll

Cheers

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Ah...Those...Ain't nothing special. Need to recycle my showcase.

Cheers.

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

hi guys :-)

Good to hear that it works robocop. As I have said earlier in this post my beep comes and goes in "waves" of good and bad weeks.I hope this will not be the case with your setup.

@undercode: I see now that I have actually had system output routed to "Built-in" for months now.That?s what you are suggesting,right?Or is it also quicktime and itunes ?
Good mixes on myspace btw ! ;-)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

raoulmusic wrote:

Good to hear that it works robocop. As I have said earlier in this post my beep comes and goes in "waves" of good and bad weeks.I hope this will not be the case with your setup.

I hope so...
Raoulmusic, do you use bus or external power?Did you try my workaround(switch)?If I could release you from this horrible beep forever,I'll do it for sure. wink

@Undercode
I like your sound too :-)

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

robocop wrote:
raoulmusic wrote:

Good to hear that it works robocop. As I have said earlier in this post my beep comes and goes in "waves" of good and bad weeks.I hope this will not be the case with your setup.

I hope so...
Raoulmusic, do you use bus or external power?Did you try my workaround(switch)?If I could release you from this horrible beep forever,I'll do it for sure. wink

@Undercode
I like your sound too :-)

I?ve had external power on for 2 weeks now I think.
I?ve had 2 beep encounters since then.Let?s see how it goes..

Re: FF 400 goes into "loop" (endless beep sound)

Thanks guys for the positive feedback on my tracks. It's always encouraging.

I'll post here my setup so you can have a picture:

PC Intel Dual Core 1,80 GHz - 1 GB Ram - Asus PK5 - Asus EN8500 GS - Windows XP SP2 - Fireface version driver 2.89 (I'm using this one because I don't need Vista updates. If ain't broke, don't fix.)

Macbook Intel Dual Core 2,20 GHz - 2,5 GB Ram - Intel GMA X3100 - Mac OSX 10.5.4 - Fireface version driver 2.62

I constantly (not all the time, of course) switch the Fireface connection between the two computers. I even have a external hard drive connected to the Fireface hub. Zero beeps. Zero Errors.

On the PC, the default audio is the internal realtek audio device. On the Macbook it's the built-in sound module. iTunes, QuickTime, VLC and Skype, all using the default audio interface on both computers.

Anything more, just ask.

Cheers...burp!

Fireface 400 + DIGI96/8 PAD. It's old but works.