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6-pin firewire to usb c

Hello.


I just bought the new MacBook with the usb c input. I use an audio mixer that outputs through a 6-pin FireWire cable. I have the usb c to standard usb adapter. I have a dongle to convert 6-pin firewire to standard usb. When I try to plug in through this chain, I get a message that my USB ports are being disabled because they're sucking too much power.


I previously had a 2012 MacBook Pro with retina. It doesn't have a FireWire port, so I used the Apple-sold FireWire to thunderbolt connector. That would work just fine without getting any messages about too much power. Any idea why the current set up is causing issues? What can I do to connect the mixer to my computer?

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jul 3, 2015 9:07 AM

Reply
11 replies

May 5, 2017 10:24 PM in response to tcfleming

Here's your problem: Your usb port is the one you're using like a thunderbolt adapter. Not going to work. Standard usb-c is called lightning, and while it will function normally with thunderbolt, it's current rating is much too low for firewire. If you have a thunderbolt controller attached to that, usually means you have usb-c at usb3.1, with thunderbolt 3 controller attached, which has more capability to adapt to the thunderbolt connector, and provide enough power for your thunderbolt to firewire.

One other fix:

Try plugging the firewire device into it's own power source first (if it has one), then turn it on, and then plug it into your adaptor. You shouldn't get any problem with power as the device already has power and will bypass the firewire power output path altogether. Outside of that, get a small thunderbolt hub if you can find one, make sure it has a power plug, and use your adapter for that, then plug the firewire adapter into the hub and your device to the firewire adapter. Seems like a lot of trouble to go through for one piece of hardware though.

Jun 28, 2017 11:08 PM in response to tcfleming

From my understanding, USB is not compatible with FireWire. You cannot use an adapter between them.


You can think of it like this. USB is like petrol (gas). FireWire is like diesel. The two fuels are completely different and not exchangeable.


There is Thunderbolt and a little confusion over it. We can think of Thunderbolt as crude oil; it can be refined into any fuel. Thunderbolt 3 uses the same physical connection as USB-C but they are completely different after that. Thunderbolt can be refined into USB-C. USB-C is already refined and cannot support Thunderbolt 3 (or any other protocol).


So while a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to FireWire adapter will physically fit in a USB-C port, it will not support FireWire.

Jul 3, 2015 5:31 PM in response to a brody

3rd Party devices seemed to cause problems in the past in the form that the USB device does not get recognized.


To be honest, forget it. You purchased the wrong product.

What you've got is: a better iPad (larger SSD plus a keyboard)

What you need is: MacBook Air minimum with a Thunderbolt Bridge to connect http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter?f node=51 since Apple dos not have a USB to TB adapter, and 3rd party is not fully supported, you'll probably need a new device.

6-pin firewire to usb c

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