Apogee Ensemble Installation Problems

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Level 1

45 points

Apogee Ensemble Installation Problems

Hi - I've recently changed from using Mac Os 10.5.8 and an Apogee Mini-Me soundcard to a new MacPro and an Apogee Ensemble. I've had a nightmare trying to install the firmware onto the Ensemble, using the correct updates from Apogee. It's a brand new soundcard, brand new Mac and Snow Leopard. Has anyone else had this problem?

I've decided to downgrade my OS to 10.5.8 again. Before I do this, I wanted to check with other Ensemble users: what is the most stable version of MacOS for use with the Ensemble?

Power Book G4 15, Mac OS X (10.1.x)

Posted on Oct 4, 2009 11:55 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 5, 2009 1:40 AM in response to ben wright1

Check their website for latest updates Ben

Better still give them call in the States. They've always been helpful when I've needed to call

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Answer 2

ben wright1 Author

Level 1

45 points

Oct 5, 2009 2:32 AM in response to welshwiggle

Thanks Welsh - already have spoken a number of times. Is anyone using Ensemble with Snow Leopard out there?

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Answer 3

Oct 5, 2009 4:42 AM in response to ben wright1

Ben,,

I have a mac pro with the ensemble running the latest SL. When I updated the firmware I had to do it a couple of time before it actually worked. All is working fine now..

AD2

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Answer 4

ThreeTwo

Level 1

5 points

Oct 5, 2009 5:31 AM in response to ben wright1

I have had some issues with the Ensemble on my Mac Pro but eventually got everything straightened out.

Make sure that the Ensemble is the ONLY firewire device plugged in when you are updating the firmware. Apogee tech support insists on this, and when I've forgotten it does seem to fail.

When I upgraded to Snow Leopard, the Ensemble was working fine -- until I installed the September 2009 update from Apogee. The new firmware caused my Ensemble to no longer lock to an external word clock. After much experimenting, the previous firmware with the new Maestro has been working great. Apogee says I was the first report of loss of word clock syncing with the new firmware... so it may have been a fluke, but it's too recent for me to attempt the new firmware again...

If you have to downgrade the firmware, there is a setting in the menu of the Apogee firmware updater that allows it.

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Answer 5

ben wright1 Author

Level 1

45 points

Oct 5, 2009 10:11 AM in response to ThreeTwo

OK, I'll give that a go. I've tried applying 'allow downgrades' in the firmware updater already...and have always made sure there are no other firewire devices attached. How did you know there was a wordclock problem? Was it the status light flashing blue? Thanks for taking the time to post.

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Answer 6

ben wright1 Author

Level 1

45 points

Oct 5, 2009 10:17 AM in response to ThreeTwo

One other question, threetwo: when you checked 'allow downgrades' in the firmware updater, was there any sign that the option had been activated? When I do it, the drop down menu appears and I select 'allow downgrades' and the drop down disappears; I have no idea whether or not the option is active...

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Answer 7

dougb256

Level 1

51 points

Oct 5, 2009 1:26 PM in response to ben wright1

Ben - I have an iMac running SL w/ an Ensemble and all works perfectly. Make sure you do have the latest firmware (v1.9.24) and Ensemble Maestro software (1.9.15) installed.

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Answer 8

ben wright1 Author

Level 1

45 points

Oct 6, 2009 12:07 AM in response to dougb256

Thanks for the info, Dough, glad everything's working for you.

Just to reiterate - I am trying to install the latest version of the firmware which I have downloaded from the Apogee website and is called 'Sept 09'. The computer has successfully installed Maestro version 1.9.15. The problem is with the firmware installation, which never finishes properly.

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