M-Audio Profire Lightbridge + Pro Tools M-Powered + Apogee converters troubleshooting

[tomv-k]

Hi

Further to some other, older threads about the Lightbridge like this one and this one I'm trying to get to the bottom of issues I'm experiencing with this interface.

I am using it with and Apogee AD16 (16 ADAT ins), 2 Aphex 141 DAs (16 ADAT outs) and an Apogee SPX-100 (spdif stereo in and out).

Running Pro Tools 7.4.2 M-Powered

new iMac, 10.5.5, latest combo update, firewire networking off.

I was running an LE setup which was working fine and rock solid.

I ideally want to clock from one of the Apogees, I have them all connected in a loop with wordclock cables so I can change the clock in the chain and see what happens.

My symptoms are that basically it is very unhappy syncing from anything other than it's internal clock, when clocked to either of the Apogees it induces digital clicks on the Digital outputs.

I have been on the phone to M-audio support and I've tried going backwards through the Lightbridge drivers (8.4 to 8.2) and updating to the combo version of OSX.

After a lot of testing it seems that another firewire device was inducing some of the problems, though unfortunately that's my external audio drive. It seems happier running sessions off my computers HD but I'd rather not do that.

Still when working off internal clock and sessions of my computer HD it occasionally has a click, the clocks on my Apogee point out the error. I was recording the other day and we lost a take to digital crunching.


Is anyone running the Lightbridge successfully maxed out working with M-Powered? Are you running other firewire drives OK and clocking externally? I'd really like to continue using PT 7.4 and not 7.3.


Any help and advice or if you know anyone using the Lightbridge please ask them to report what system/driver etc is working

Ultimately I could have a faulty lightbridge but my experience with interfaces before is that problems tend to me more to do with software and drivers.


Thanks in advance!

[undertone]

I can't really help you directly, but if you dig a little more on these forums, you'll find a lot of other threads that complain about the Lightbridge reliability and the possibility of damage caused by it's simultaneously being powered by both Firewire and it's power supply; in early models this was known to cause damage that resulted in flaky operation. I remember when I was considering one, I even found a notice about this on the M-Audio site. I don't think there's any way to know for sure if the unit is afflicted by this particular problem without hardware diagnostics that only M-Audio can perform.

But there was also never a notice that this was fixed in later models. This just points to an under-engineered product and manufacturer duplicity, so I stayed away. It also makes buying a used one a gamble. It's a shame because it really does fill a market niche at a reasonable price. Sorry I can't help you more.

[tomv-k]

Thanks for the reply

I was aware of the power supply thing, it actually says in the manual not to use it if you are using 6pin-6pin firewire so I am not, for the purpose of troubleshooting I have tried connecting it but it makes no difference. I have seen the other posts about this. And the ones about wordclock. M-audio tech said it is "happier" not being a slave, join the club right so maybe I should give up on clocking off my apogee, though I still need to be assured of absolute stability.

I wonder if using a 6pin to 4 pin to 4 pin to 6 pin firewire cables and adapters would take away the power from the firewire connection and let the machine run off the AC power with more stability and no conflict. it seems to be something electrical as occasionally turning something else on in my studio causes a word clock error, it is a ridiculous problem.

The PFLB really is the only device of it's kind, there MUST be ways to get it running as it is intended.

[undertone]

Your OP says you've connected the wordclock in a loop: technically I don't think that should be the case. There should be only one master and the way you connect wordclock to several devices is typically by using T connectors and terminating the last one:

Master------Slave-T to----Slate-T to----Last Slave-T-Terminated

IOW the wordlock signal travels along the "same" cable tapped to each slave. The terminator is simply a metal plug that connects to the last female of the T and connects 75 ohms to ground. You shouldn't be connecting in-to-out-to-in-to-out...etc. I'm no expert, but this is what I've read.

[espasonico]

I sync the Profire to the ADAT port. It works great this way. Maybe you can try to sync your converters to wordclock and the PFLB to ADAT or SPDIF.

[Kappi]

G5 Quad
PTMix ADAT24
Lightbridge
Apogee Rosetta 200
Rosendahl nanoclocks

I use a PCIe FW400 Card which just the Lightbridge in!!!, because all the internal FWconnectors on the G5 front or back are said to be on the same bus.(hearsay???)
G5 Quad PT M-Powered 8 into ADATBridge/PTMix and a Rosetta 200, all 3 (PT-MIX,Lightbridge, Apogee) are clocked via WC to a Rosendahl as Master .Works great, the only thing i never can do is to connect the Apogee's out to the Lightbridges in (spdif) which gives me trouble and clicks. But the Apogee works great with the Mix via AES/EBU.
I also record to a separate internal drive !!.
my 2 cents

[therecordinghous]

i am running the lightbridge with pro tools 7.3 on tiger. i have a macbook pro, and found the lightbridge fussy if ANYTHING is on the same fw buss. when it is on its own, it is fine. it is a power issue, not a bandwidth issue.

i have been syncing the lightbridge to my isochrone ocx via wordclock and recording 32 tracks with no problems. i put my fw drives on an expresscard, but you have an imac, so you may be out of luck.