Firewire problem - Tascam FW 1884 & FCP

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Firewire problem - Tascam FW 1884 & FCP

Hello, I hope someone can help me.

Im working on a latest new Imac runing latest updated Final cut studio 2. I´ve resently bought a Tascam FW 1884 interface to control the audio of my aundio and video projects.

The mixer-controller functions seem to work fine in logic, cubase, soundtrack. BUT, As i open any FCP project or just a few seconds after, the FIREWIRE led on the mixer-controller turns off, loosing my audio outputs as well as controller options. The soun mixer looses firewire conectivity.

I have to turn off, and on again and wait few secs fot it to recognize it again, but again after few secs connection gets lost.

I´ve read all the post related in the forum but not this specific case.
I´ve checked and installed the latest uptdates on both FCP and tascam. I´ve followed the setup intructions in tascam page (under FW1082), but still crashes.

Please someone has had this experience?????

thanks a lot for the replies.

ger
Spain

imac, Mac OS X (10.5.5), FCS 2

Posted on Oct 31, 2008 6:53 AM

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Answer 1

Studio X

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Oct 31, 2008 7:01 AM in response to gernav

Do you have any other equipment - hard drives, video decks, etc - connected via firewire as well?

x

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Answer 2

gernav Author

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Oct 31, 2008 7:08 AM in response to gernav

Thanks for the reply,

My tascam fw 1884 is connected via firewire 400, And i have also a lacie D2 Quadra connected to my FW800 port.

Is there any trouble with this?

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Answer 3

gernav Author

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Oct 31, 2008 7:09 AM in response to gernav

Just another thing,

Everytime i press play, the Tascam looses FW conection.== No audio, no DAW controller

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Answer 4

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Oct 31, 2008 7:11 AM in response to gernav

Try disconnecting the hard drive and see if it works.

fwiw - ALL (fw400 and fw800) firewire ports on a Mac on a mac share the same bus.

x

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Answer 5

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Oct 31, 2008 7:42 AM in response to gernav

How did the tascam work in FCP with the firewire external hard drive disconnected?

If things work as they should, you will be in a dilemma. You'll need to add a firewire card to create a second bus so the tascam can run independently from any other devices. Since the iMac has no expansion capability, there is no way to add a card.

You need a MacPro or MacBookPro. Both have card addition capabilities - the MacPro as a PCI and the MBP as an Expresscard34.

x

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Answer 6

gernav Author

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Oct 31, 2008 7:49 AM in response to gernav

sory for my delay,

had some trouble setting up scratch disk.....

You where right. Now it works without the external FW HD.
The bad thing is, That i work all my FCP projects trough that HD, it also has USB connection but it will go a whole lot slower.

Is there any solution? Cant i just Fool mac to think each FW goes to different Bus?

I only have this recently bought expensive Imac...

thanks

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Answer 7

Studio X

Level 7

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Oct 31, 2008 8:01 AM in response to gernav

I don't believe there is a way to "fool" the equipment to behave as though there are two buses.

It looks like you'll have to use the USB port for the hard drive - which is never recommended. You will likely run into dropped frame issues, both in capturing and in playback. However, it is a better solution than using the system drive which is your only other option with that machine.

fwiw - This is why I never recommend the iMac for editing, especially if it is your only machine.

If you just purchased it, is there any possibility of trading it back in to the dealer for either a MBP or MP?

x

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Answer 8

gernav Author

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Oct 31, 2008 8:19 AM in response to gernav

once again thanks a lot for solving my issue so fast!!!!!

too bad i really dont have a solution, i feel a bit dissapointed towards Mac. they include 2 FW options but on the same Bus??? too bad for the users.

No i cant give it back, i bought it about a month ago, in FNAC, and i only had 15 days to give it back, time is over!

if you sort out another solution pleas let me know.

Thanks

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Answer 9

gernav Author

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Oct 31, 2008 8:23 AM in response to gernav

hello again,

im thinking on gettin a MBP, the things is, of what i´ve heard, new MBP dont even have a FW conection on it.

Is it better to get a earlier generation MBP?

In both cases what would be my way to go with TAscam FW1884?

thanks

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Answer 10

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Oct 31, 2008 8:26 AM in response to gernav

i feel a bit dissapointed towards Mac. they include 2 FW options but on the same Bus??? too bad for the users.

Keep in mind you are using Pro software and external hardware on a consumer computer. 99 out of 100 iMac users will never need a second firewire bus (or even the First firewire bus) and those that do are working with Pro software/hardware that should be running on one of the Mac pro machines.

Good luck.

x

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Answer 11

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Oct 31, 2008 8:31 AM in response to gernav

The new MacBook has no firewire. The new MacBookPro 15" has a FW800 port and the older MacBookPro 17" has both a FW400 and FW800 ports - but again, both of them are on the same bus.

The MBP has an expresscard 34 slot which will accept a firewire card to create the second bus.

x

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Answer 12

gernav Author

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Oct 31, 2008 8:44 AM in response to gernav

ok, one thing, i live in spain,
I also have a dell laptop pc with Expresscard.

The thing is that over here in spain i havent been able to find any type of hardware (FW) to be connected in the expresscard slot. Just traditional PCMCIA.

Where can i get a fw expansion trough express card, even buying it in the US or somewhere in europe?

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Answer 13

Oct 31, 2008 11:00 AM in response to gernav

I just added a TASCAM Fireone FW audio interface to my system. It would loose it's FW LED connection if anything else, even a FW hub was plugged in with nothing on it. The solution was to add a FW 400 card to the Mac, for just the TASCAM. That is working fine as we speak.

Fault TASCAM for poor design. I spoke with TASCAM tech support who claimed it should work, and with the vendor of the FireOne who said that it won't. He was right.

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Answer 14

Oct 31, 2008 10:08 PM in response to gernav

You do have a possible option for a workaround.
Disconnect the Tascam during capture and capture via FW to the external.
Connect Tascam via FW and switch FW drive to USB port for edit and playback.
You may still get dropped frames but at least it will only be on playback and not on capture.

rh

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Answer 15

gernav Author

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Nov 2, 2008 1:30 PM in response to gernav

thanks to all!

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