iMac / MB / MBP with Agere firewire chipsets can be troublesome (okt 07 till feb 08)

[Geert van den Berg]

Originally Posted by rockinrocker

isn't that just in the portables?

We don't know for sure yet...

[Bluemoa]

Originally Posted by Geert van den Berg

We don't know for sure yet...

the suspense is killing me! This is what comes up in leopard OS system profile
*FireWire Bus:*

Maximum Speed: Up to 800 Mb/sec

*Built-In Hub:*

Manufacturer: Unknown
Model: Unknown
Maximum Speed: Up to 800 Mb/sec
Connection Speed: Unknown
I dont know if it would display anything different in windows but it might. I guess instead of a solid answer we might just have to wait until people report problems

[Bluemoa]

Looks like the mac pro desktop is TI!!! YAY!
Apple - Support - Discussions - Can someone with an "early 2008" mac ...

[rockinrocker]

yeah, like i said mine is working fine....

[fizzler]

By pressing "Apple-S" (single user mode) while booting you can see some information about the firewire chipset.

my mid 2007 iMac 2.16 says "Firewire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5811..."
my new MacBook 2.2 says "Firewire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5811..."

are there Lucent chipsets in both machines or am I getting something wrong?
I don't want to install bootcamp on neither machine to identify the chipset in windows.
btw. there are no problems with "M-Audio FW1814 / FW Audiophile" on my new MacBook 2.2 bought on 24.11.07 -

[2A Batterie]

Aw jeez... I was just about to buy a MB too. I am still running a Digi 002 for mobile recording and editing. Should I hold off and buying a new MB/MBP?

[lespaul666]

Originally Posted by 2A Batterie

Aw jeez... I was just about to buy a MB too. I am still running a Digi 002 for mobile recording and editing. Should I hold off and buying a new MB/MBP?

I just recently bought a new 003R and 2.4ghz Santa Rosa 17" MB Pro setup. I'll post here with results after I take the computer out of the box and run them together...It *seems* that there are no issues from this configuration, that I have heard so far.

[orpheus]

i received my mbp 15" 2,4 , 2 gig about a week ago and when i booted with apple s it said:

firewire (somecode i forgot) TI and more numbers and code i didnt care to remember.

so it seems they already changed the fw device back to TI or am i getting this wrong?

by the way no probs with 828mkII

[aquafreak]

that is indeed an interesting development. wish apple would come out w/some official news. their forums are alive w/discontent re: this issue.

[benoïde]

I'm switching from PC to Mac in the next few weeks. Hopefully a MacPro, but maybe an iMac 24" if finances don't allow. Reading this thread, are iMacs problematic? I'm using PTLe 7.4 on a digi003r, and will also be using Logic Pro on the mac (hence the switching).

Anybody gat an answer on this? I checked the duc and apple forums, but haven't found much info.

[whinecellar]

So I took my two MacBook Pro's into the local Apple Store to demonstrate the bad firewire issue (I have a 1st gen MBP that works fine and a brand new MBP with the newer FW chip that causes problems). I brought a Presonus Firebox with me because it's bus powered and class-compliant (no drivers needed - plug it in and the OS immediately sees it). I've had mixed success with other brands of interface, but problems with most.

The results were interesting. Of course it worked fine on my 1st-gen MBP, as well as every Mac Pro tower AND new iMac in the store (the iMacs surprised me as they're supposed to have the new Agere chip as well).

But of course the Firebox would not work on any MacBook or MacBook Pro in the store. Needless to say, I had most of the store (employees) gathered around me in shock, as this is Nashville and most of these kids have some sort of audio interface. According to them, I was the first to bring up this issue.

Long story short, they encouraged me to spread the word and have everybody politely use Apple's feedback page so this issue gets proper attention. It is simply retarded that their entire laptop range is useless with many (if not most) firewire audio interfaces. I'm hoping it will be fixed in the next round of MBP's, supposedly slated for imminent release.

A few other interesting tidbits: I showed the store "Geniuses" (hmm) how to boot in single user mode (Apple-S). Interesingly, the iMacs showed them using a Lucent FW controller. My new MBP claims it's using a TI chip, while my 1st-gen MBP simply says OHCI controller - none of which makes any sense and seems backwards given these issues! Things that make you go "hmmmm..."

Anyway, if you're a MacBook or Macbook Pro user affected by this issue, here are the feedback links:

Apple - MacBook Pro - Feedback
Apple - MacBook - Feedback

Here's hoping!

[timmah]

Originally Posted by orpheus

i received my mbp 15" 2,4 , 2 gig about a week ago and when i booted with apple s it said:

firewire (somecode i forgot) TI and more numbers and code i didnt care to remember.

so it seems they already changed the fw device back to TI or am i getting this wrong?

by the way no probs with 828mkII

I've got a 2.4ghz santa rosa MBP with a TI chipset (i think from the apple-s thing)
and no problems with an RME FF400

[gdoubleyou]

Originally Posted by 2A Batterie

Aw jeez... I was just about to buy a MB too. I am still running a Digi 002 for mobile recording and editing. Should I hold off and buying a new MB/MBP?

From what I've seen Macbooks are not affected, machines with firewire 800 are.

The work around is to place another firewire device in the chain. A hard drive or firewire hub.

Picked up a black Macbook a couple of weeks ago no problems with my MOTU 828.

[dezai]

benoïde and others wondering about the aluminum imacs,

I have no major problems using my 24" Leopard 10.5 imac ---> firewire harddrive ---> TC Konnekt24d interface daisy-chained, running Cubase 4.1.

[benoïde]

Ok Thanks for the precision, dezai. I had read about that on the apple forums. Will probably go for a macpro though, but it was helpful.

[drewgrass]

not trying to be a conspiracy theroist or trouble starter. but does the apogee stuff work i see that they are claiming complete apple intergration on there website. and they are pimping there stuff in logic ads. could this be a move in the direction, to lock logic in with a given hardware manufacture. like digi interfaces with pro tools, i know there would be much more needed for them to do it but it is a valid question. when apple bought logic i doubt that they wanted it to be number two or whatever rank it is to you, behind protools forever. apple likes being the best. and i do not use logic but ive heard the new version was a jump ahead. maybe they are starting to get serious about there investment. just a question not trying to push anyones buttons

[whinecellar]

Welcome to the conspiracy theorist club ;-)

...but no, thankfully Apple's not playing that game. Ironically, the Apogee stuff has had problems with the new Firewire controller as well. That gives me hope that they are working on a solution.

In related news, a friend at M-Audio (who happens to be a former Apple employee) knows all about this issue and claims that it CAN be fixed in the software realm. Incidentally, the M-Audio brand is one of the few that DOES work with the new chipset, so there might be some truth to that. Here's hoping!

[drewgrass]

if it has not been asked i have read through a bit of the thread, so dont mean to ask the same questions. are the newer imacs 24" also affected. called apple and asked what chipsets they had in them and they told me they could not give out that info

[drewgrass]

ok i read the name of the thread sorry im a fu$*ing loser

[joeflyer59]

I have a Presonus firebox and the new MBP and of course, my Firebox does not work. If you plug it in with the AC adapter it will "jumpstart" it and it will work then, but of course, this seriously hinders portability - which is the whole point.

Just thought I'd chime in that I've tried both an Express/34 Firewire 400 card (with a TI chipset) and it still doesn't work. I've also tried connecting it via the FW800 port with a cable 800/400 adapter - and nothing.

So I'm pretty screwed until a firmware update (hopefully) shows up.

joey b

[whinecellar]

Well, read up a few posts - it seems the new iMacs DO work with some interfaces, but they also use a non-TI chipset as well (Lucent). When I took a Presonus Firebox to the Apple Store, it didn't work on any of their laptops (MacBook & MacBook Pro), but it worked fine on towers and iMacs.

As for the Firebox itself, I tried plugging in pre/post wall wart, and it made no difference - they are completely incompatible with all current Apple laptops. Also tried TI-based Express Card FW adapters and using the FW800 port as well - nothing.

I also brought some high-end Firewire diagnostic cables with LED status indicators for bus power and signal: on the current Apple laptops, the signal indicator blinks rapidly, whereas on older models (pre-November 2007) it stays solidly lit. That agrees with RME's findings that the Firewire controller is issuing bus reset commands constantly on the new machines.

Good times...

If you haven't already, be sure to send Apple some polite feedback if you're affected by this issue (use the following link and choose your product):

Apple - Feedback

[blue monk]

are mac minis (the current model) also affected?

[whinecellar]

Haven't tested them, but as far as I'm aware (and have heard), it's just the MacBooks, MacBook Pros and some iMacs that are affected.

Jim

[PreventThis]

I just bought my Santa Rose Macbook new about 2 weeks ago. I started up using apple "s" and I seen Firewire 400 Lucent OHCI or something along that line. Is this the bad Firewire you guys are talking about or will it work. I currently don't have a Firewire interface but I plan to get one eventually. Thanks.

[whinecellar]

Well, the new iMacs also use the Lucent chips, and those seem to work more reliably than the Agere-based models. It all seems to depend on what interface model you plan to use - I'd try to test one with your machine before buying, or at least buy from a dealer with a good return policy.

Hope that helps,

Jim

[edwinhurwitz]

My November of 2006 MBP started smoking on Thursday, so I took it into the local Apple Store and they replaced it with a brand new MBP. I came home delighted with the upgrade and not looking forward to all the reauthorizations and having to deal with Leopard. I had completely forgotten about this issue and ran across it with horror. To find out my fate, I restarted in single user mode and discovered that it identified the chipset at TI. So, I think someone at Apple was listening.

Crisis averted.

Edwin

[whinecellar]

Hi Edwin,

So here's the big question - is your new machine working with a Firewire interface? The reason I ask is that my new MacBook Pro (bought November 2007) also claims to have a TI chip when I boot in single-user mode. BUT, it has all the problems of the Agere-based models - it will not see many brands of Firewire audio interface...

Hope you have better luck!

Jim

[2A Batterie]

I have waited tp purchase a MacBook/MacBook Pro, largely in part to this thread. Does anyone know if the new models released today have the same faulty firewire set?

[whinecellar]

I think we're all wondering the same thing. It's going to take someone trying one out until we'll know. As soon as I get a break, I'm going to take a few interfaces to my local Apple Store and find out for myself.

If anyone can stop by a store and boot one in Single User mode (hold down Apple-S while booting up or restarting) - let us know what chipset is reported as the firewire controller!

Here's hoping...

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by whinecellar

Hi Edwin,

So here's the big question - is your new machine working with a Firewire interface? The reason I ask is that my new MacBook Pro (bought November 2007) also claims to have a TI chip when I boot in single-user mode. BUT, it has all the problems of the Agere-based models - it will not see many brands of Firewire audio interface...

Hope you have better luck!

Jim

Well, it works with my Metric Halo 2882 +DSP. No go with my Digi 002R, but that might be more of a function of Digidesign and Leopard. It says hardware in use, when it's not.

Edwin