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[Maxime Gamache]

Hello,

I have a RME Fireface 800 that is used as a Qlab sound card and everything worked great with a Thunderbolt 2 computer until the computer didn't want to work anymore. We bought a Mac mini with the M2 chip and I found on the RME website that they have made a driver to make it work on the new apple chip. The problem for me is that there's no way to go straight to firewire from Thunderbolt 4. I've bought a Thunderbolt 4 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter as explained on their website and everything seems to be working fine. I have sound, I have midi..

I'm wondering about the stability of 2 Apple adapters one after the other. My entire show relies on that since I'm cueing video and light as well.

I know that there's no other way for the firewire to work and I know a new sound card would be the best option but is the two adapter configuration is acceptable or do you think it is too risky?

Thanks!

[Erik Jerde]

Hello,

I have a RME Fireface 800 that is used as a Qlab sound card and everything worked great with a Thunderbolt 2 computer until the computer didn't want to work anymore. We bought a Mac mini with the M2 chip and I found on the RME website that they have made a driver to make it work on the new apple chip. The problem for me is that there's no way to go straight to firewire from Thunderbolt 4. I've bought a Thunderbolt 4 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter as explained on their website and everything seems to be working fine. I have sound, I have midi..

I'm wondering about the stability of 2 Apple adapters one after the other. My entire show relies on that since I'm cueing video and light as well.

I know that there's no other way for the firewire to work and I know a new sound card would be the best option but is the two adapter configuration is acceptable or do you think it is too risky?

Thanks!

With a judicious application of etape and maybe some popsicle sticks to make sure the connection doesn't flex I think it'll be just fine.  My only concern is the usual one with consumer level non-locking connections.

[Dave Garoutte]

With a judicious application of etape and maybe some popsicle sticks to make sure the connection doesn't flex I think it'll be just fine.  My only concern is the usual one with consumer level non-locking connections.

Hot glue?

[Maxime Gamache]

With a judicious application of etape and maybe some popsicle sticks to make sure the connection doesn't flex I think it'll be just fine.  My only concern is the usual one with consumer level non-locking connections.

The setup is in a closed rack mount so nothing is moving. My question is more about the signal and the stability of it. I'm not afraid it will disconnect, I am afraid it will crash electronically.

Thanks!

[Tim Weaver]

I use a Tbolt3 to Tbolt1 adaptor then plug in a Firewire800 adaptor and then use a FW800 to 400 cable to get from my Macbook Pro to my Focusrite Saffire 56 interface. It works fine. No issues, no extra drivers or anything.

I did buy apple branded adaptors as I read of other's having issues using cheap adaptors. Mine just worked right away with no issues.

How you make it secure in a rack is up to you, but I wouldn't be too worried about it. Buying backups of each of these dongles would be pricey though.

[Brian Jojade]

The Apple adaptors do work effectively for Firewire DATA connections.  However, if you have bus powered devices, you're out of luck, as the Thunderbolt to Firewire adaptor is limited to 7 watts (True firewire spec is 45 watts) and the Thunderbolt 2-3 adaptor doesn't power devices at all.

Apple announced the 'death' of Firewire back in 2008. The last model they made with it was the 2012 Macbook pro.  There's no telling how long Apple will continue to support the protocol in the OS.  Planning for a new interface sooner rather than later wouldn't be the worst idea.

[ProSoundWeb Community]