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Hey guys, i've ran into a bit off a problem regarding the number of Firewire ports i have on my MacBook Pro, which as most off you will know is just 1. I have my Motu 828 plugged into my firewire port currently which is always going to be needed, but i need a way off connecting my Liquid Mix to my MacBook which also connects via firewire. I've got a firewire to usb adapter but whenever i use this my Mac says that its drawing too much power and turns off the usb port (the liquid mix is also mains powered). All my ports are being used, (Thunderbolt, Firewire, and 2x USB). I've got an Apple Cinema Display monitor which has two firewire ports on the back off it, however i don't like the idea off running my interface though my monitor as its going to be slow, also i doubt it would work as the usb adapter didn't. Anyone got any ideas, been racking my brains over this?

Cheers!

You'll probally need to connect a hub.

Technically there is no such thing as firewire to USB. USB can only be as fast as USB, not firewire. So it's not going to be fast enough for some devices.

azuk wrote:You'll probally need to connect a hub.

Yeah i've got a USB hub which is also mains powered?

fragments wrote:Technically there is no such thing as firewire to USB. USB can only be as fast as USB, not firewire. So it's not going to be fast enough for some devices.

There are adapters that you can buy that will convert the signal, such as this : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Firewire-1394 ... 23249d1cf2

If what you're saying is true how do these things work?

Cheers for the responses also!

They don't work. That's the thing.


I mean...they will work on some devices that don't require class compliant firewire speed, but I highly doubt that DSP device will work w/o it and I know the MOTU won't. But the part that matters is on the computer end...the USB port your are plugging into. It can only be as fast as it is. All that adapter is doing is changing from one shape plug to another shape plug. That's it. It's not converting signal or data or anything like that. There is no way a 2 dollar adapter is magically changing your USB hardware into FIrewire hardware. Ain't happening. It's like an RCA to 1/4inch adapter...it's not changing the kind of signal in anyway, it's just changing what you can plug into what.

Might look into a firewire hub if such a thing exists. Otherwise...new computer or fucked? There are firewire plugs on the back of the MOTU 828, but I think they are only for linking multiple audio interfaces together...

Vanity wrote:

azuk wrote:You'll probally need to connect a hub.

Yeah i've got a USB hub which is also mains powered?

Nah I'm talking about a FireWire hub.

Would you think that running an interface through a hub would be a good idea? Surely it would slow the audio signal down?

Vanity wrote:Would you think that running an interface through a hub would be a good idea? Surely it would slow the audio signal down?

I don't know to be honest. It never seems an issue with USB, but for that DSP device and the interface it may be an issue.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywor ... e9tyv7um_b


Looks like they exist. Dunno how well they work.

I think there's a small amount of latency, but it's not very noticeable.