Quite frankly, having to switch to 32-bit mode, to use My 0404 Audio interface, that is btw still being sold alongside competitor interfaces in the same price range (From Cakewalk, Tascam etc. etc.), that have OS X Lion (or at least intel native) drivers that allow their cards to be used with maximum efficiency, is completely unacceptable.
I wrote the tech support, and (like everyone else I've heard about) I got a copy/paste answer, saying that the tech-supporters in E-MU had no idea what the plans of the development team were, in regards to updating the drivers for the E-MU 0404.
Here's the reply I got from them, when I tried to get some clarity on all of this:
Thomas,
We are sorry to inform you at this time Technical Support has not been informed by product development, as to when
OSX Lion drivers will be available. Technical support is not the place where E-MU discusses or discloses upcoming
product development or non released features and functions. That is done via marketing, usually through an official
press release, and usually done at a trade show event and/or posted on our website.
Please remember the more information you provide, including previous correspondence in your mail, helps in troubleshooting and solving the problem you are experiencing.
Thank You
Casey
EMU Systems
Don't forget to check out http://www.EMU.com for your latest drivers, and updates, and EMU Products. E-MU is now featured on YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/user/EMUsupport and FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/EMUSystems
and I don't blame the tech-support. The entire thing has been thrown on their shoulders, as E-MU seemingly couldn't give enough of a !#€% to even update them about the situation.
I suppose this problem could have been averted a loooooooong time ago, by simply updating the drivers for the unit, when Apple went Intel (I suppose the 0404 is pre 2005, when Apple changed to Intel Architecture? If not, this is even more of an outrage).
As many others, the fact that the drivers were PPC and not Intel makes me wonder if I've been running the interface all this time, with un-needed latency.
This is definitely the last time I buy anything from E-MU, or Creative for that matter.