Level 1

0 points

Logic Pro 8.02 and Leopard 10.5.3 and M-Audio FireWire 410

I have an M-Audio FireWire 410 connected to my MBP. This setup used to work pretty well with Logic Pro.

Since installing Leopard 10.5.3, I'm having zero luck recording audio with Logic Pro or *anything else*, for that matter (I've also tried Soundtrack Pro and Audacity). I've installed, uninstalled, and reinstalled the latest version of M-Audio's drivers (version 1.8.3), but to no avail.

In Logic Pro, I can choose "FireWire 410 Multichannel", but I can't select any of the specific inputs on the 410 for a track.

Playback works just fine on everything, though.

I know this isn't a hardware issue, as I've BootCamp'd into Windows XP with the same hardware and have successfully recorded using Adobe Audition 2.0.

Anyone else having any luck with this particular combination? Or am I out of luck until M-Audio releases a specific driver for 10.5.3?

Thanks,
Scott
(frustrated)

15" MacBook Pro 2.4ghz, Mac OS X (10.5.3), 4GB RAM, 320GB WD boot drive, BlueSky EXO 2.1 monitors, fuzzy dice, fins.

Posted on May 29, 2008 10:05 PM

64 replies

Jun 1, 2008 9:33 AM in response to Bee Jay

Thanks Beejay, much appreciated....I just discovered Time Machine yesterday, and have it backing up my entire start-up disk which has OSX, all applications, system files, etc. When you say make sure to take a full mirror of that drive, is Time Machine enough, or do I need something in addition back-up wise? I just have never restored with TimeMachine, not even sure how to restore to be honest...

Your help is again greatly appreciated.

Bee Jay

Level 6

10,900 points

Jun 1, 2008 9:39 AM in response to Some Dude

Personally, I don't use Time Machine, I do full clones of my system drive with SuperDuper to a disk image.

I think Time Machine is more intended to let you recover files, rather than the entire drive etc, but I'm not sure on that. Check the Time Machine documentation, I guess...

jserafi

Level 1

0 points

Jun 1, 2008 10:16 AM in response to Some Dude

But can i throw a spanner in the works here please?

in order to engage in any 'futzing' the bloody fw410 needs to be recognised by the mac in order for the software interface to load up!

This is my problem...mine simply isn't. I've even reverted back to 10.5 but no difference...still not working.

I really don't know what to do but as a composer, my entire musical life has come to a stand still...i cannot record, i cannot compose, i cannot do anything.

do you think i'd have all this trouble with an edirol firewire because that's what it's getting to...me going out and buying a brand new soundcard which i really can't afford to do but i'm getting more and more angry and frustrated by the day with this ridiculous m audio fw410!!! AAARRGGGHHHH!!

Zuelito

Level 4

1,515 points

Jun 1, 2008 11:20 AM in response to jserafi

It's incredibly frustrating, I know. I went out and bought a MOTU Ultralite, which has rock solid drivers, because the M-Audio was giving me such hassles, but I still use the M-Audio a lot. (The MOTU is a great piece that sounds really good if you're really in the market for a new interface). I'm just wondering whether you've tried reinstalling the M-Audio Drivers. In the driver package there is an uninstaller, I'd run that and then reinstall. If the issue really is 10.5.3, and you've reverted to a previous version, then reinstalling the driver should work.

Good Luck!

Bee Jay

Level 6

10,900 points

Jun 1, 2008 11:52 AM in response to jserafi

in order to engage in any 'futzing' the bloody fw410 needs to be recognised by the mac in order for the software interface to load up!

Obviously that's a different issue - yours isn't working for some reason, and mine is working largely fine.

Uninstall all drivers. Turn off the computer. Disconnect the FW410. Boot up. Install the driver (either the beta 6 or the 8 driver). Turn off the computer. Connect the FW410 with the power switch on the front off. Boot up. Watch the blue light on the 410. It should be blinking fast (no firmware), then it should flash slowly (firmware updated, and powered off).

Then by pressing the power button, the blue light should go steady.

If you only get a fast flashing light, the firmware is not being updated. Check your firewire ports are ok. Try on a different port or with a different cable.

Jun 2, 2008 5:22 AM in response to Bee Jay

BeeJay, just to followup, I've installed Carbon Copy Cloner and taken a true disk image of the entire startup disk...feels better having that in addition to the TimeMachine backups. I have SPDIF working much better now after you're advice on futzing with it, and once locked, it does indeed work well.

I am still holding off on the 10.5.3 upgrade, things are just working too well right now to screw with it. If I'm feeling adventurous I'll jump into it, but my gut tells me to wait until M-Audio either releases a new driver package or at least comments on 10.5.3 compatibility.

Comments from anyone are welcome.

Sydtech Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 3, 2008 12:34 AM in response to Bee Jay

I've done the uninstall/reinstall thing to the letter. Still no dice - no recording capabilities in any app on 10.5.3.

The response I got from M-Audio tech support was basically to keep an eye out for updated drivers. No ETA, though.

Zuelito

Level 4

1,515 points

Jun 3, 2008 9:51 AM in response to Sydtech

BTW, M-Audio is notorious for this kind of thing. The always seem to be dragging their feet when it comes to driver updates. How long has 10.4.11 been out, and that driver is still in BETA??

S.ucks for all of us M-Audio users, but don't hold your breath. Hopefully a driver will come out before 10.5.4 comes out!

Bee Jay

Level 6

10,900 points

Jun 3, 2008 10:53 AM in response to Sydtech

Still no dice

That's zero feedback which is no help at all with troubleshooting. I wrote all the above about the blue light to give you a clue what's happening, and thus give us a clue how to fix it.

What's happening with your blue light?

Zuelito

Level 4

1,515 points

Jun 3, 2008 11:55 AM in response to Bee Jay

Just to throw one more idea in there. My startup routine is slightly different than Bee Jay's, although I'm not sure it would make any difference. I've always plugged in the M-Audio into my powered down computer, and then turned the M-Audio on BEFORE powering up my machine. I could be wrong, but I seem to remember that being the order of events when following the instructions from the M-Audio driver Install.

Of course Bee Jay's piece is working, so I'm definitely not trying to suggest that his order is wrong. But as finicky as these drivers are, perhaps a different order might produce a different result for you.

Regardless of the above, I definitely know that when you do the initial driver install, you HAVE TO power down your machine, and plug in the piece, and power up, before the driver is fully installed.

Bee Jay

Level 6

10,900 points

Jun 3, 2008 1:11 PM in response to Zuelito

My startup routine is slightly different than Bee Jay's

What I wrote was not a startup routine, it was an installation routine.

I've always plugged in the M-Audio into my powered down computer, and then turned the M-Audio on BEFORE powering up my machine.

I *never ever* hotplug the FW410 due to reasons I cannot talk about.

However, it doesn't matter when I turn it on - I can turn it on before booting, or with the computer on, it doesn't matter.

Sydtech Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 3, 2008 1:52 PM in response to Bee Jay

Well, you skipped part of the feedback where I said that I've uninstalled/reinstalled. To restate: I uninstalled/reinstalled the M-Audio 10.5.2-8 driver again - following the exact same steps you outlined a few posts ago to the letter. The blue power light behaved exactly as expected...the firmware updated properly.

The end result is...I still have no analog recording capabilities from any application. And M-Audio's response is still "wait for 10.5.3 drivers". Hence: "no dice". If I want to record any audio with my MacBook and the FW410, I have to BootCamp into Windows XP and use Adobe Audition. 😟

I appreciate the feedback, and I'm glad that it's working for you, Bee Jay, but I'm still dead in the water.

I'm seriously thinking of selling my FW410 and getting a Mackie or a Presonus or a MOTU or anything that has decent drivers and doesn't leave me high and dry.

Jun 3, 2008 2:03 PM in response to Sydtech

Just got the M-Audio ProFire 2626 and it works like a charm.

Sydtech Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 3, 2008 2:04 PM in response to Bee Jay

I *never ever* hotplug the FW410 due to reasons I cannot talk about.

Why can't you talk about them?

Bee Jay

Level 6

10,900 points

Jun 3, 2008 2:14 PM in response to Sydtech

I can't talk about why I can't talk about it. Sorry.

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Logic Pro 8.02 and Leopard 10.5.3 and M-Audio FireWire 410