Thunderbolt to FireWire adapters

Would any of you gentleman posting here (and ladies alike, of course) have a chance to try see if the Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter does work also under BootCamp running Windows 7? I've been lurking around for days, here and elsewhere, and I can't find any information about this.

Although I run all my audio applications from within Mac OS X via (powered) Firewire audio peripherals, in my job I'm forced to use a manufacturer-specific audio test + measurement suite that only exists in Windows and runs on proprietary hardware via Firewire. So far I ran it from my (late 2010) MacBook Pro 15 on 10.7.8 via BootCamp / Windows 7 with never a glitch or a stutter (the hardware unit is mains-powered, luckily).

Now my employer offered me to upgrade my laptop to a new MacBook Pro (Retina), of which the weight reduction is by far the most appealing feature to me, but with this machine the only hope it's gonna work for me is the Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter, if it'll ever work under BootCamp / Windows 7.

Money-back guarantee isn't an option, in my case, as unfortunately my employer sources all IT-stuff from a lease contractor with a take-it or leave-it formula. I live in a small town in Southern Europe, the only MacBook Pro on display here is glued to the desk at the local flavor of WalMart, and I can't have it on loan to take to the testing lab facility where the hardware is physically located.

Anyone here could test with any Firewire (powered) audio interface if this adapter also works under BootCamp / Windows 7?

Since I am not much aware about the thunderbolt to FireWire adapter, is the adapter on the FireWire side female.

I have ordered FireWire 400 to FireWire 800 cable with both sides male

You've got it right, the adapter has a female firewire side. And you'll need the firewire cable with those connections.

I can test an external hard drive or I can test an external DVD burner, but it's not an audio source. What either of thsee offers provide any direction?

Thank you for the generosity of your offer, Paul.

While none of these peripherals is functionally much similar to a firewire audio device per se, there's a very useful test you might try to run which would provide me a lot of information.

Could you please try to copy a big (1GB) zip file onto an external FW800 hard disk connected via the Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter to a BootCamp / Windows 7 machine?

Would the disk be readable onto a Firewire port on a different machine thereafter?

And, if decompressed, could the files it contains be opened? And, as far as your judgement goes, is the speed during copy or read function reasonable?

If you can, thanks wholeheartedly in advance.

Connected an external, dual partition, Maxtor enclosure with a firewire 800 to the thunderbolt to firewire 800 adapter. Transferred file back and forth readily between the Macintosh HD and the BOOTCAMP Windows 7 parition. Didn't go up to a GB, but a 500 MB copied EXTREMELY fast.

Thank you, Paul!

Quite a good indication that the device has a driver in BootCamp, and that possibly a Firewire appliance attached beyond it will be seen by Windows 7. Hopefully the audio feed to and from Firewire audio interfaces will run smoothly. As soon as the new machine is here, I'll post some comments based on experience.

It certainly looks like based upon my trial. Hopefully, you have the same results with the audio device. I am working on another interface problem with my daughter's MacBook Air. She want to connect her digital camcorder to it to upload clips. Of course, the camcorder's interface is Firewire 400. Tried one approach for short money and it failed. That was an adapter consisting of a female 6 pin Firewire to a male USB. I'm sure you know that the Air only had USB ports and a Thunderbolt connection.

Oh, she can connect with the analog output with a Roxio converter (USB) which receives three RCA male plugs: yellow, white and red. However, she wants better quality.

So, we're going to try a female 6 pin Firewire to Firewire 800 male adapter to an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 female. It's a couple of dollars, so another failure does not concern me.

In any case, keep us all posted!

Paul

Received the Firewire 6 pin female to Firewire 800 male adapter today. Chained this into the Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 female adapter. Plugging in the Firewire 400 6-pin male and lauched iMovie.

WORKS!

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That's a very helpful and considerate response, Ian. Your attitude creates an atmosphere where people are comfortable presenting issues and experiences in the discussion forums. Clearly, not all have achieved your level of academic prowess.

I examined the problem and developed potentially two modes for solution. The first adapter was $2.00 and I can afford that for a mere trial. For $2.00 it was worth trying. As a matter of fact, your insult is worth considerably less than that. Whereas, I can return the adapter for a refund and, unfortunately, you are burdened with your attitude and cantankerous disposition for life. So, is it a genetic condition or do you practice?

We get it: Ian was snarky and it made you angry. You have a right to be but one message is enough about it.

As for a USB to Firewire cable, Ian's point is still valid: you wouldn't expect to plug a telephone into an electrical outlet and make phonecalls. This is the same thing: different protocols. I didn't even know such a thing existed but looked it up and the 3rd google result is an Amazon page with about 40 reviews (that's just for 1 cable, there are others) saying it is a scam.

Glad your camera works though. Anything Firewire will work fine provided you have the drivers the device needs, and it doesn't require bus power to function.

Paul Klenk wrote:

I examined the problem and developed potentially two modes for solution. The first adapter was $2.00 and I can afford that for a mere trial. For $2.00 it was worth trying. As a matter of fact, your insult is worth considerably less than that. Whereas, I can return the adapter for a refund and, unfortunately, you are burdened with your attitude and cantankerous disposition for life. So, is it a genetic condition or do you practice?

You are correct. And the world would be a much better place if everyone could keep their snarkiness to themselves. But if they can't control their urges, maybe they could each buy a dog and just share it with him.

I thought that these forums are to help people? Why the sarcastic remark?? Calling someone an idiot is not called for at all. Shame on you.