cant see firewire device

T

thestudentisrea

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I have an old 828 audio interface I've been using for years on my pc.
just switched to mac with dual intel macmini running os x 10.4

I went to MOTU's website and downloaded os x drivers, and installed them... but I still can't get the computer to see the device. Profile or whatever shows the firewire ... yet device doesn't show up

All advice I've been able to read says just plug and follow directions.

Is there nothing like scan for devices on that port I can do in os x?
 
Can you tell us specifically which MOTU 828 you have? mk2, mk3, which mod?

If you open your System Preferences/Sound pane
Does your interface show in either Input or Output?

Open your Applications/Utilities, then Audio MIDI Setup (your main audio hardware config utility)
Does your interface show as a choice in any of the drop-downs?
 
I believe it is the original 828
It doesn't say anything else on it

No, it doesn't show in either of those places... only the built in in/out

I went to MOTU's website in order to download drivers. Their options confused me a bit. They all seemed to be describing updates to drivers... I assume the drivers themselves are contained in the downloads.

I thought the one I needed is their MOTU Universal Audio Install- OSX... the first one on the page firewall/usb2 install page under the mac section.

I tried to do that one several times, but my system gets hung on the install every time.

I tried to contact motu to see what the issue is there, but they wanted me to register the product first. Well, I bought it in a store about 10 years ago... and apparently someone else used this serial number to register on their site already, so they won't let me in, and ask the question

I then tried the last one on the page which says
MOTU Firewire Drivers and Consoles OSX

That one installed, and I can see various items in the app folder, but they too indicate when I go to open them that no device is present.

device was working fine a week ago on my pc. so was the cable. I have already tried switching the cable.
 
I have not used this firewire port on this computer before and will see if a friend has a camera or something I can test it with

If the issue is there, I know all the usb ports are fine if there is a way to convert

mac says firewire 400, device says firewire 1394 My understanding is that these are the same, so there is no compatability issue there... unless I am mistaken
 
I don't see a "command" key on keyboard for resetting the PRAM

I see opt, control, and alt/apple symbol... and something that looks like a page of text with a pointer on it
 
i think that's the same one from their site... but I reinstalled anyway to be sure... still no dice.

When I go to apps and try to launch the Motu firewire audio console, the box that says launch console when device detected is checked...

... no device detected apparently

Is there a way to convert firewire to usb and try those ports?
 
I know the device works.. just used it a few days ago on my pc... so all I can think of is bad port on mac or cables damaged in move to new house... will try to plug another device later today when I can find friend with camera or something and their own cable...

any other avenues to chase down in meantime?

... and thinking ahead... if i try to plug a camera into that port and can't get it to recognize device... what then? does that mean the port needs to be replaced? mac bought second hand... can any local shop do that? and any idea as to rough cost or things to look out for?... or is there still another software possibility at that point other than physically replacing the port?
 
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Try this installer. Choose a custom install, and select only the USB-Firewire install.
It's considerably newer than that other link that I found.

If that doesn't let you detect that interface, then it's likely a hardware incompatibility, your older 828 may not be supported on newer OS X systems. The audio support files are considerably different than prior to Leopard, and then Tiger.
 
reading up on firewire variations... i believe both are 400 variety... but is it possible there is a compatability issue with cable due to different pin configs?
 
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