Choosing a firewire input device

Will I notice a significantly better sound if I spend the extra money on a Presonus Saffire rather than the considerably cheaper Presonus Inspire 1394. Alternatively, does anyone have any other suggestions. The Saffire is right at the top of my budget. I use Garage band and am just about to upgrade from Logic Xpress 7 to Logic Xpress 8

The Saffire LE (I don't think you need the non-LE version with DSP) gives you more I/O, and I believe the preamps will be better, but as far as the AD/DA converters go, your monitoring and room acoustics will have far more influence on the sound you notice than the nuances of converter quality. In your place, I'd think the extra $100 would be worthwhile for the sake of a bit more I/O flexibility unless your projects are mostly using VIs within Logic.
Good luck!

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My old Intel-Based iMac is no longer recognizing USB wired input devices; it only recognizes Bluetooth. What happened?

My friend's old Intel-Based iMac is no longer recognizing USB-wired input devices (Kensington TrackBall, Logitech Mouse) plugged into any USB slot at the back of the computer.
They were working before and for many years.
All of a sudden, A pop up window came up. IT said no Bluetooth mice could be found. We don't know what set off that window to pop up and look for a WL mouse. It never has before in the 5 or more years my friend has been using this computer.
I supplied a wireless Apple mouse and his is back running again.
But want to know why his USB-input devices (Except his keyboard) are not being recognized. He would prefer to use his Trackpad (Wired), but can't find anything in SYstem PReferences to allow that. The computer only seems to want a Bluetooth input device.
Anyone have an idea what happened and if this can be reversed?
I think he is still running Mac OS X 10.5.8.

Hi Carol, lets try this...
reset FW bus, same goes for USB reset...
Reset the Firewire bus
If your Firewire or USB isn't recognizing any device. A solution which has worked for some whose hard drive became invisible in 10.4 was simply to follow these four steps to reset the Firewire/USB bus:
1. Shut the machine down.
2. UNPLUG the power lead to the computer and any firewire/USB drive/devices.
3. leave it for 10 minutes.
4. Connect back up and reboot.
http://www.macmaps.com/firewirebug2.html

Multiple Channels with Firewire Input

I posted this in the podcasting forum, and it occurred to me I might have better luck getting a response here. Apologies if you've seen this one before! I quote:
I have a feeling this is a stupid question, but I'd hate to go without asking, so... I'm using a Behringer Eurorack UB1202 with a Behringer F-Control firewire interface to record a podcast with 3 (sometimes 4) microphones. Is there a way I could use that setup to split the audio onto 3 (or four) separate tracks? I'm assuming the answer is "no," since it ultimately dumps into one firewire input and therefore (I guess) one signal. I imagine I might be able to split off left and right channels, yes? But with 3 mics, that would put one on one track and two on another? (I'm using an iBook, by the way, so I've only got one firewire port to work with...)
Thanks for any advice!
Quicksilver G4 | G3 iBook Mac OS X (10.4.4)

..just because all the signals go
into my computer through one cord, that doesn't
necessarily mean that they can't be divided
out again, with the right equipment?
Yes exactly right. They make firewire audio devices that accept multiple analog inputs and have many analog outputs and it keeps it all straight.
Firewire is MANY times faster than a digital audio stream so the data can be "multiplexed". In other words, it only takes a few microseconds to send a few milliseconds of audio data so it sends some data from each channel, one channel at a time and then maybe some data to/from the disk(s) all on the same cable. Same goes for USB and Ethernet. Kind of like a hiway - every car does not need it's own road.
Figure that audio sampled at 96K is about 2MB/Sec and firewire can handle 400MB/sec Even 16 audio channels is only 32MB/Sec, well within Firewire's ability (but maybe your disk drive could not handle that rate?)

Logic Pro 8 won't allow me to select Novation nio 2/4 as input device...

Hi
Can someone please advise about this problem? It used to work fine a while back, but I don't know what's happened since then - under Preferences > Audio > Devices > Core Audio the nio 2/4 shows up, but when I try to select it as my input device for for an audio track all I get to choose from is Input 1 and 2 - no nio 2/4...
I'm stumped... Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks,
Eye.

Hey Erik
After fiddling around I discovered that I can actually use the Nio - I just have to select Input 2 - it doesn't show up as Nio 2/4 like it does in Garageband... Can't remember if it ever did to be quite honest - as I said I haven't worked in Logic for a while so I really need to get up to scratch!

Installed Yosemite om my MacBook Air, resulted in no Sound at all. No input devices no output devices. What can do? Have had 2 meetings with Apple support with no results.

Recently, I installed Yosemite on my MacBook Air. After that I had no sound. Not even the start up chime. In Sound preferences there are no input devices and no output devices. I have had three meetings with Apple support with no results. Can anyone help? This seems to be a regular problem.

Try these in order testing your system after each to see if it's back to normal:
1. a. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
    b. Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
2. Restart the computer in Safe Mode, then restart again, normally. If this doesn't help, then:
     Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the
     COMMAND and R keys until the Utilities menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the
     computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager
     screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
3. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
4. Reinstall Yosemite: Reboot from the Recovery HD. Select Reinstall OS X from the Utilities menu, and click on the Continue button.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
            because it is three times faster than wireless.
5. Reinstall Yosemite from Scratch:
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
How to Clean Install OS X Yosemite
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
            because it is three times faster than wireless.

CP4 Post-patch, program fails to properly recognize audio input devices

I am using Captivate 4 on a 64 bit PC running Windows 7 and a RealTek sound card. I have installed both the general patch and a specific patch from Adobe marked as addressing the issues with recognizing RealTek sound cards but to no avail.
Captivate still will not appropriately recognize my input device. I have not even been able to calibrate it. I've included a screen capture of the settings dialogue box below. The Audio Devices drop-down menu is always unavailable for selection ("greyed out") and always shows the device "Volume". Choosing different options does not alter this availability and selecting "Calibrate Input" does nothing.....the program literally takes no action whatsoever.
When I have attempted to record test pieces the Record, Stop, Advance, etc. functions also do not operate appropriately.
Any ideas on how to fix this issue?

Solved.
It was trivial: I cleaned the drive twice with a special kit.

Multiple input device recording/mixing help in Audition 5.5

I'm presently evaluating Audition 5.5 and haven't been able to find any information pertaining to what others MUST do everyday.
I'd like to use Audition to record simultaneous tracks from different sources (microphones). I'm using several USB sound card dongles (each with a single 3.5mm stereo microphone input and headphone/speaker output) as quick and convenient method of creating an array of microphone inputs. Each dongle appears as a discrete audio device with a corresponding input and output.
Fine so far.
Where I'm struggling is in trying to map each microphone to discrete mixer channel. I choose Edit->Preferences->Audio Channel Mapping, but it seems that only channels from any one particular sound device may be mapped to mixer channels at any time. If I assign the microphone from sound card A to Track 1, I can't assing the microphone from sound card B to Track 2. When I try, it alters the hardware device selection and negates any prior channels I've mapped that aren't part of the same device. I hope I've explained the situation clearly.
I'd like to map the microphone from sound device (dongle) A to Track 1, the microphone from device B to Track 2, C to 3 and so forth. But I cant' seem to figure out how to make Audition simultaneously recognize more than any one sound device at any particular time.
Is there a way to do what I'm trying to achieve? Does Audition not support simultaneous mixing/recording from multiple hardware devices? If not, do other products exist that DO support the configuration I'm trying to create which I can use as a front-end - to later mix-down in Audition?
I'd greatly appreciate any helpful insight, guidance, suggestions or recommendations.
Thanks!

remford wrote:
I'm not having any SYNC problems that I'm aware of...
Of course you're not - that's because the system prevents you having them by limiting the physical sources you can use!
Here is a brief explanation of the sync problem - I hope it makes sense:
When an input device digitises a signal, it has to provide a clock source for its A-D device. Normally this clock is locally derived, and the device outputs a digital stream at that rate. But if you have two devices (let's say that they were two external USB ones) both trying to be the input device, then their clocks won't be synchronised - inevitably. Audition, and all other software come to that, can only record at one rate, and if another device provides an input that isn't exactly at the same rate and phase as the one providing the master clock, then fairly soon, you get to a point where the data being inputted won't coincide with the main clock any more, and a bloody great click occurs. On older systems where you could use multiple devices, some allowed for the clock sources to be externally synchronised, and a lot of pro gear still does - it helps a lot when you are using digital mixers and external digital preamps if you can feed everything from a master clock, rather than daisy-chaining it.
When it comes to ASIO, Steinberg made the relatively easy decision not even to try to implement it for multiple devices. Instead, they suggest that you use a single device which is capable of supporting as many inputs as your PC can manage. As an example of how this works, my MOTU device that I mentioned above has eight analogue inputs, and also an 8-channel ADAT input. So, without too much trouble I can connect an external 8-channel digital preamp to it and have 16 inputs in total. It uses an optical connection for the ADAT, but to use it I either have to provide sync from the MOTU to the preamp, or use the preamp as the sync source for both itself and the MOTU, replacing the internal clock. With the only digital preamp I have it's this latter option that makes sense, as there isn't an easy way to get sync from the MOTU back to the preamp. (I should perhaps explain that the preamp has got a sync input, but the only sync output from the MOTU comes from its ADAT output, and that isn't easy to feed back in).
Yes, until you get used to it the concept of syncing devices takes a bit of getting used to - Steinberg's idea was to keep it as simple as possible, even though on the face of it, it's rather frustrating.

10.4.10 Update kills most USB audio input devices for iChatAV

I have a Logitech Quickcam 5000 Pro that has a built in Mic. The UVC compliant camera still works, but under 10.4.9 the mic worked also; however, it no no longer shows up as an audio input device.
Intel Mac Mini 2GB RAM / MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Add another to the pile, slightly different: No audio support for my FIREWIRE based audio interface.
Running 10.4.10, software update installed.
OSX recognizes it, at any sample rate I want to use it at.
Sound setup, everything else (my whole entire studio) recognizes it.
iChat AV, when I go to the video tab to select "microphone" will give me default of none and then my device name (mLAN audio network). As soon as I select my device, the microphone option disappears completely. The only way to get the selection option back is to restart iChat, upon which the problem repeats itself.

HT3625 audio input device is not ready to use

My audio input device is not ready to use. Any idea? I have one macbook pro 13".
Thank you for your help.

MacBook Pro 13" Mid 2012. – And as the link you provided says, the products affected are all pre 2012. After that (or at least in my mac from mid 2012) there is no "'Use audio for:' menu selection" to choose anything from.
Message was edited by: Aarnipuu

I am having trouble with input device and Presonus Studiolive mixer.

Trying to integrate a Presonus Studiolive 16.4.2 mixer/interface into Logic Pro 8.
All the tutorials I've found/watched/read illustrate a window under audio preferences and the user switching the input device (or output device) to the Firestudio Mixer or something along those lines. This was a feature updated in Logic 9, and so my audio preferences are a little different. I still have an input device but not output and when I bring down the menu my only two options are "built-in device" and "built-in microphone" and the mixer isn't showing up. I am wondering if it's possible to integrate it this way? Is there perhaps an order to starting them up? Or is it even possible to use it with this version of Logic? Universal control is installed and operating (responding on screen to stimuli on physical mixer); running osx 10.6.8

Yes, just checked the Presonus release notes for Universal Control 1.7.2 (the latest), and it has removed support for Snow Leopard (OSX10.6.8), so that may be a possible source of the problem - might be worth contacting Presonus Tech support to confirm.
You could update your OSX, but I'd be a bit careful there - not sure if Mavericks supports Logic 8. If not, I believe there are places where you can still get hold of Mountain Lion (which is supported by UC1.7.2) - a quick net search should do the trick.
Also, I've just re-read your post and notice you ask about the start up order. The Presonus manual says to switch the desk on first, then fire up the computer. This used to work with me, but I've recently updated to a new Macbook Pro and had to start using a firewire to thunderbolt connector, and I found that I could now only get the Studiolive to show up in Logic if I start the computer first, then fire up the desk then open Logic. I raised a tech support ticket with Presonus and they were baffled by this, and couldn't see any reason why it should be, but nonetheless, it's the only way it'll work for me, so probably worth giving it a shot.

Logic does not see my hd omni as an input device. Any ideas? I've been told to reinstall logicpro - but apple won't let me because it says its already installed on this machine.

Logic does not see my hd omni as an input device. Any ideas? I've been told to reinstall logicpro - but apple won't let me because it says its already installed on this machine.

I'm having the same issue with a file called IMG_2353.MOV that was imported into iPhoto from my iPhone and also have to manually select the items to import (so the rogue file doesn't error everything out). I've tried using Image Capture to locate/delete the file directly from my iPhone, but even though I can SEE it in Image Capture, I can't delete it or anything. This is VERY frustrating! My friend/Apple guru's only suggestion was to backup my phone then restore it through iTunes. Risky but should do the trick. I'm too scared to try, though!

Problem with Set/Get volume of input device with single channel

from Symadept <[email protected]>
to Cocoa Developers <[email protected]>,
coreaudio-api <[email protected]>
date Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 2:45 PM
subject Problem with Set/Get volume of input device with single channel
mailed-by gmail.com
hide details 2:45 PM (2 hours ago)
Hi,
I am trying to Set/Get Volume level of Input device which has only single channel but no master channel, then it fails to retrieve the kAudioDevicePropertyPreferredChannelsForStereo and intermittently kAudioDevicePropertyVolumeScalar for each channel. But this works well for Output device.
So is there any difference in setting/getting the volume of input channels?
I am pasting the downloadable link to sample.
http://www.4shared.com/file/169494513/f53ed27/VolumeManagerTest.html
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Mustafa
Tags: MacOSX, CoreAudio, Objective C.

That works but the the game will not be in full screen, it will have an empty strip at the bottom.
I actually found out what's the problem. I traced the stageWidth and stageHeight during resizing event. I found out that when it first resized, the stage width and height were the size with the notification bar. So when I pass the stage into startling, myStarling = new Starling(Game,stage), the stage is in the wrong size. For some reason, I can only get the correct stage width and height after the third resizing event.
So now I need to restart Starling everytime a resizing event happened. It gives me the right result but I am not sure it is a good idea to do that.
And thanks a lot for your time kglad~I really appriciate your help.

Where can I find an adapter that will let me use my firewire 800 devices with a thunderbolt only ported macbook air?

Been looking for a way to use my firewire 800 devices with my macbook air - which has only usb and thunderbolt ports. I've seen internet pages for an adapter from sonnet but have not found anywhere to actually purchase such a thing. Would love to be able to at least try to use the thunderbolt port - for something - or trade the thing in for something with present day usable firewire 800 ports. Is this thunderbolt technology already getting shelved? I see like 5 items on the market that actually use this port... really? That's it? Thank you for any guidance!

Sonnet has an TB-capable expresscard adapter.
http://store1.sonnettech.com/product_info.php?products_id=392
FW800 Expresscard
AND
TB cable sold seperately

How do I set up multiple midi-input devices:WX5 wind & keyboard controllers

Hello,
I'm trying to setup my system to utilize two midi input devices.
1. Novation Controller Keyboard connected through USB
2. WX5 wind controller connected via VL-70 tone module with midi out cable to channel 1 of my Motu midi interface.
As it is currently setup I am able to play both my Wind Controller and MIDI Keyboards fine, but for some reason whenever I finish playing the Wind Controller, the MIDI Keyboard no longer plays sound (it plays midi fine according to the transport, but no sound is created until I load another patch of the EXS).
What am I doing wrong? Should I be switching between inputs in Logic somehow? How can I setup my system to be able to jump back and forth between my midi keyboard and wind controllers? I have done no setup besides cabling the devices in the AudioMidi setup (outside of Logic).
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide!

This is just a guess, but if the last thing your wind controller puts out is a volume message of zero (as I think it would do as you stop playing the last note) then you would need to send a volume message to the sound module to reset it to the desired volume.

Can I use a MIDI keyboard as an input device for a software instrument?

I have a Casio CTK-2100 that I am currently playing around with in Logic Pro 9. It can record and playback the different instruments fine using MIDI tracks. But I was wondering if it is possible to use the keyboard as an input device for a software instrument instead of the "Step Input Keyboard".
Is it? If so, how do I set it up?

Yes, the terminology can be a bear, many, many years ago when I started using Logic the manuals were written completely by the programmers, while they were quite humorous in places the were also really hard to understand so I learned/realized.. you can't really do anything so wrong it's going to destroy your computer so why not go ahead and experiment. I learned the basics of Logic without a manual, months later when I went back to find some some details I could figure out the manual made a lot more sense.
Logic has been somewhat Appleized but it's not really an Apple program, it was purchased almost as developed as it is now... a lot of the additions a fluff to make it easier to understand for new users while at the same time there are some real improvements.
This is personal opinion: With all of the forums/online tutorials...etc...etc. It seems users are learning (but not understanding) the same things, plus everyone wants to use it right away so nobody takes a deep breath and investigates on their own. Logic is a deep, deep program, while learning don't be afraid to go off on a tangent and explore the program without any other input, it can actually be inspirational. One other thing good about the manual or "Online Help", in looking up a function you will invariably come across a related concept that will provide further insight.
And..... have fun.

Choosing a firewire input device

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