I noticed while I was peeking at the new logic that Apple had done away with firewire 400 ports.. Is there a cable or adapter? I don't see many interfaces with firewire 800...yet.
New macs
- Thread starter Via Noctis
- Start date
Yeah, apparently they come with an adapter to plug a FW400 cable into the FW800 port - still a pretty annoying move on their part though :Smug:
Anyone use the cable yet? Is it buggy? I am kinda surprised that there aren't more firewire 800 interfaces yet.
sash poask
Member
- Mar 24, 2008
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yep a friend of mine used it, says it works flawlessly, im with you though, wish they kept the layout of old macbook pro's 400 and 800, that way you can have your interface on the 400 and a decent hd on the 800, oh well
I noticed it because I was thinking about getting a mac pro. Keep my macbook pro but because it is tiger osx. I was going to get one and have the other for mobile recording but then I looked at it and thought... wait a minute.. it doesn't have a 400 port. But if the cable works, sweet!
ze kink
THE BLACK WIZARDS
This (interface in FW400, HDD in FW800) always fucks up my interface, though I've only used a FP10 and a Profire 2626. Causes dropouts when the HDD activates and other nasty stuff. Plugging the HDD into the ass of the interface works flawlessly though.
So personally I do see the point, since you only avoid problems with having only one, and you can link FW devices anyway.
Doesn't the Fireface 800 have a FW800 BTW? I wonder how that works, and is it an improvement?
Yeah both on my G5 and PBG4 I just run the HDD into the back of my 8Pre... never had a single problem that way - thus, I have no complaints about there being a single FW port, and with a 800>400 adapter there's no reason to bitch...
gabriel g.
Member
I think the firewire 400 and 800 ports are on the same bus.
So you only have 800mbit/s for both ports....
So you only have 800mbit/s for both ports....
chdrummer
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- Oct 24, 2007
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So basically if your running a firewire interface and a firewire 800 external hardrive it's kind of pointless? You could just run a usb harddrive and you would be getting the same speed?
AudioGeekZine
arsehole know-it-all
FACT: You can't combine FW 800 and 400 devices.
You need the Firewire 800 (9 pin) to 400 (6 pin) cable. I called half a dozen places around here and only the Apple Store had them in stock, made by Belkin. Works great with all my gear.
There's only the Fireface 800 that has an 800 port, BUT there is no difference in performance using that port.
FW800 port on computer -> FW 9-6pin cable->hard drive 400 port 1
Hard drice 400 port 2 -> audio interface.
or the other way around.
You may find that turning off the drive will disconnect the interface.
It's best to make all connections with the computer and all devices off. Turn on hard drives, turn on interface, turn on computer.
A MacPro has PCIe slots so you can put in another FW 400 card.
You need the Firewire 800 (9 pin) to 400 (6 pin) cable. I called half a dozen places around here and only the Apple Store had them in stock, made by Belkin. Works great with all my gear.
There's only the Fireface 800 that has an 800 port, BUT there is no difference in performance using that port.
FW800 port on computer -> FW 9-6pin cable->hard drive 400 port 1
Hard drice 400 port 2 -> audio interface.
or the other way around.
You may find that turning off the drive will disconnect the interface.
It's best to make all connections with the computer and all devices off. Turn on hard drives, turn on interface, turn on computer.
A MacPro has PCIe slots so you can put in another FW 400 card.
gabriel g.
Member
So basically if your running a firewire interface and a firewire 800 external hardrive it's kind of pointless? You could just run a usb harddrive and you would be getting the same speed?
Yes it is. I looked into my mac and it is written one FW 800 (but I have one 400 and 800 input)
But with most FW interfaces you can dasy chain the HD with them...
I bought a Lacie express card, to connect my MBP with my Lacie HD with eSATA.
So I have 3gbit/s
Yes it is. I looked into my mac and it is written one FW 800 (but I have one 400 and 800 input)
But with most FW interfaces you can dasy chain the HD with them...
I bought a Lacie express card, to connect my MBP with my Lacie HD with eSATA.
So I have 3gbit/s
AudioGeekZine
arsehole know-it-all
Loren Littlejohn
Lover of all boobage.
Kazrog
Kazrog, Inc.
I use a Sonnet Tech Firewire 800-400 adapter with my new MacBook Pro. It makes all my old Firewire 400 cables compatible with my computer, and costs far less than buying a new cable. Look on eBay for a good price on this adapter, it's the best one and Sonnet is a badass company in general, I highly recommend anything they make, years of positive experiences with their products here.
That, and +1 to everything AudioGeekZine said.
That, and +1 to everything AudioGeekZine said.
