Problem with Firewire, Audio on new MacBook and MacBook ProI March 2, 2008
Posted by Damon Sink in : Digital home recording studios , trackback12-13-08:UPDATE
Haven’t heard much about this problem in a while–I think things are pretty much sorted out. If anyone has other info, please add a comment. [Damon]
[ORIGINAL POST] Be very careful if you are in the market for a new MacBook or MacBook Pro to use for audio production. It seems one of the chipsets Apple is (was?) using (Agere) is not compatible with audio functionality from anybody(!) MOTU, Presonus, RME, Windows, Mac–nothing. There is apparently a “workaround” but it doesn’t seem to be possible for all users. If you were thinking about pulling the trigger on a new macbook, make sure to find out if the unit you are looking at has this hardware–it could save you a big headache.
Apple – Support – Discussions – New Agere firewire chip …
The recent firewire audio interface issues on the new iMac are now a problem on the new MBPs. According to RME this is due to the Agere fw chip used on those machines which causes a firewire bus reset when starting playback in isochronous mode. The problem also manifests on Motu and other devices.
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[...] The Studio Files wrote an interesting post today on Problem with Firewire, Audio on new MacBook and MacBook ProHere’s a quick excerptApple[...]
Now, I am a big big big Apple supporter (and I own two Macs)
But, what the heck?
Between Leopard being super buggy for audio programs (including Apple’s own Logic Studio) and now high-powered laptops that can’t run audio interfaces, I just don’t understand these things…
This problem could be fixed if the unit you are looking at has a Texas Instruments (TI) firewire chipset. You can check to see by booting in single user mode (hold down command-s) then scroll down to see what the firewire indications are. You could easily do this at an apple store.
Good day Connoy!
I am going to be a new student on Sound/Audio Recording. I’m looking into a new macbookpro but have been hearing a bad rap in the recording scene with it. I’m a pc user with an M-audio FW 1814 which is an m-powered interface(just typeing on the top of my head, correct me if I’m wrong) but the thing is I’m one of those people who gets the latest and bestest so I’m opting to buy a PT rig with an Mbox pro 2 with the MBP. I’m torn right now as wether to switch or not, although at the school that I’m going to is a mac based PT kinda school, because it is the industry standard. Is there any hope with the new MBP?
correction
Connor not Connoy