HT202488: Apple Thunderbolt cables and adapters

Learn about Apple Thunderbolt cables and adapters
starboynz
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: Is there a Thunderbolt to IEEE 1394 Adapter?

Hi

 

Is there a Thunderbolt to IEEE 1394 adapter?

 

I would like to connect my soundcard (which uses IEEE 1394) to my mac (which has thunderbolt)

 

When I google Thunderbolt to 1394 adapter I see images of them, but at the store it tries to give me other thunderbolt to firewire adapters which have a different shaped plug.

 

Thanks

 

Matt

MacBook Pro, Thunderbolt to 1394

Posted on Jun 6, 2015 11:12 PM

by starboynz,Solvedanswer
starboynz starboynz
Level 1 (1 points)
A:

Hi

This is a 1394 cable, also known as Firewire 400

The apple-thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapter is for Firewire 800.

Different shape

 

I am picking that there is no apple thunderbolt to 1394 cable, I have purchased a Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 (as you posted) and Belkin make a Firewire 800 to Firewire 400 cable so have purchase that also.

 

IEEE-1394_6-pin_to_6-pin_Cable.jpg

Thanks!

Posted on Jun 8, 2015 12:32 PM

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starboynz

Q: Is there a Thunderbolt to IEEE 1394 Adapter?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Johnb-one,Helpful

    Johnb-one Johnb-one Jun 7, 2015 7:27 AM in response to starboynz
    Level 4 (1,879 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 7, 2015 7:27 AM in response to starboynz

    At a guess, if you're talking about Firewire then yes there is one. Apple makes one. Don't know if it works. $64.  yes-you are indeed right. there are different kinds of Firewire plugs-standard one  (sideways U shaped), Firewire 400 (4 pin) and Firewilre 800 (dunno) . My suggestion to you would be to take a picture of the soundcard's plug, take it with you to the store, and ask the person there :" I want an adapter that will do Thunderbolt to this" and then show him/her the picture. If he/she is smart and experienced enough (and they probably are)  they can recognize what kind of firewire socket you have  and if there's a thunderbolt adapter for it,  or if you can make it work somehow. There's also the option of a Thunderbolt dock which has Firewire ports built into it (among other ones)

     

    John B

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Jun 7, 2015 7:29 AM in response to starboynz
    Level 9 (53,486 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 7, 2015 7:29 AM in response to starboynz

    I can confirm that it does work.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jun 7, 2015 8:29 AM in response to starboynz
    Level 9 (60,719 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 7, 2015 8:29 AM in response to starboynz

    Faster versions of FireWire/IEEE 1394 (such as FireWire 800) are all designed to be widely backward-compatible. They readily fall back to slower speeds when cross connected to older, slower versions.

     

    Once you adapt the shape and number of pins in the connectors, it will plug in and work. Available "adapters" are all passive, and simply add or drop wires to accommodate the older, slower versions or lack of provided Bus Power. 4-pin [no power] 6-pin [400 Mbits/sec] and 9 pin [800 Mbits/sec] all cross connect and work fine.

  • by starboynz,

    starboynz starboynz Jun 8, 2015 3:05 AM in response to Allan Eckert
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jun 8, 2015 3:05 AM in response to Allan Eckert

    Just to clarify, are you saying that there is a thunderbolt -> 1394 adapter?
    Is it made by Apple? It doesn't seem to be in the store.

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Jun 8, 2015 4:15 AM in response to starboynz
    Level 8 (48,821 points)
    Jun 8, 2015 4:15 AM in response to starboynz

    IEEE 1394 is Sony's name for Firewire.

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Jun 8, 2015 6:07 AM in response to starboynz
    Level 9 (53,486 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 8, 2015 6:07 AM in response to starboynz

    Yes. Look at http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD464ZM/A/apple-thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapte r

  • by starboynz,Solvedanswer

    starboynz starboynz Jun 8, 2015 12:32 PM in response to Allan Eckert
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jun 8, 2015 12:32 PM in response to Allan Eckert

    Hi

    This is a 1394 cable, also known as Firewire 400

    The apple-thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapter is for Firewire 800.

    Different shape

     

    I am picking that there is no apple thunderbolt to 1394 cable, I have purchased a Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 (as you posted) and Belkin make a Firewire 800 to Firewire 400 cable so have purchase that also.

     

    IEEE-1394_6-pin_to_6-pin_Cable.jpg

    Thanks!

  • by Barry Stewart1,

    Barry Stewart1 Barry Stewart1 Dec 8, 2015 9:45 AM in response to starboynz
    Level 1 (129 points)
    Dec 8, 2015 9:45 AM in response to starboynz

    I'm wondering if an IEEE 1394 to USB converter would be a way of getting my video from a 2001-era vid camera onto my 2014 Mac mini?