Firewire 410 Problems!!!!, arrrrrrrrrrgh!! Options

[mullethed]

i am rocking the firewire 410 on a black pismo g3 laptop running osx .3

however imputing the audio into logic express is proving a tad frustrating!!! actually its really ****ing me off now!

has anyone got any reasons why this might be happening before I throw it out the window!!!

with thanks

j*

[Riverdog]

Hiya...

Not sure if I can help...
But, I'm using a FW410 with Logic Audio Pro...
It was interesting to get it running...
But, once I figured it out - I have never had a problem with it since...

First off - i don't know how much of Logic Pro is in Logic Express...
But, First you need to install the driver...

The Trick with Logic Pro was to first use the 410 mixing software in conjunction with Logic's Mixer functions...
Best thing to do is to turn them both on at the same time...
I needed to learn how Logic was interpreting the 410's inputs and outputs...
Once I did that - i created a few "quick-load" sets with the 410 Mixer software... And Logic works great using the typical input assignments as usual...
Hope this helps... Write if you need more...

Riverdog

[mullethed]

could there be any issues with firewire??
alll I know is that I swithched the port - the pismo has 2 firewire ports but still no joy?

any more ideas??

j

[Riverdog]

Hmmm....
I originally had a Pizmo and I can't imagine that there could be any issues with FireWire on that machine...

Do you have the 410 using it's own power supply?
Sometimes if there isn't enough power "non-powered" units can get flaky...

AND - Make sure the 410 is direct into one of the firewire ports...
Are you using an external FW drive?
If so try to give the 410 it's own port... I've always found that to work better with my interfaces...

I found that using the Pizmo however with Logic 6 Pro was near impossible... Logic Gold 5 ran adequately - But that's when I decided to upgrade to one of the aluminums... Much faster...
I'm not sure how well the Pizmo will run with Logic Express...

Hope this helps...

[Riverdog]

PS - What IS happening???

- Does the 410 not work?
- Jittery sounds?
- Any Sound?
- Routing Problems...?

Let me know...

[mullethed]

I sat down today and installed logic on another pizmo with 500mhz processor and plenty of ram.

still nothing.

I installed the software as directed and followed it word for word. I went into jthe audio midi setup and changed it to the preferred device. I then primed the audio track in logic and something new happened! a graphic appeared to the left of the track which moved (seemingly) to my beat. however when I recorded the audio track I still got no sound!!!

what am I doing wrong?? Im begign to think that this whole digitsing thing was a mistake... im just not getting any joy?!

help!!

desoprado*

[Riverdog]

Ok that helps a little...
First verify that Logic sees the 410...
Go into the Audio preferences and make sure Core Audio is selected...
The 410 should be a selection right next to the checkbox...
I think the default buffers and everything should fine for the moment...

Now at the same time you have Logic open - Open the FireWire 410's control panel... You can find this in the MacOSX Preferences, or in the Applications folder...

From here go to Logic and select and audio track - Be sure you can see selections for the 410's inputs in the input section of Logic's audio "mixer" window... Select one of the inputs...

Here is my dilemma:
- If you are using the 410 with an entire system - ie: separate mixer like I do - when you select record, you should be able to see audio recorded in the main window... FOR ME: I just monitor the input through my external mixer it makes it easier to control...

- If you are using the 410 ON IT's OWN - ie: You want the sound to go into the 410 - AND THEN BACK OUT ONE OF THE OTHER OUTPUTS to monitor... You will need to fool with the 410's mixer panel...

I found it quite confusing at first... Working with Logic AND the 410 is a matter of finding the right combination if inputs and outputs using the 410's softare interface... Once you find the correct configuration that makes the 410 perform like you want - Save it as a setup in the 410's software... The 410 will retain this setting permanently - All you have to do then is call up a different setting if you want the 410 to funciton differently...

Think of the 410 as being a separate "entity" from Logic that works "in conjunction with Logic" instead of being an integrated piece of hardware "within Logic"...

I hope this helps...
Let me know your progress...

[Riverdog]

PS -
You can only use 2 of the 410's input at one time...
There is a button on the front of the 410 for each of it's inputs that move the priority from the front inputs to the back...

Make sure you can see green lights going directly into the 410 using your mic or synth before you do anything in the previous post...

[mullethed]

riverdog!!

Ill try those recommendations when I get back to london on monday.

please monitor this topic and Ill post my reply!!

(takes deep breath) It has to work this time!!

j*

[Riverdog]

Well...

Gathering by the fact that you haven't responded one of two things has hapened:

1. You are so frustrated that you decided to drag your setup out back into the brush and put a bullet in it's head...

2. You got home tried just a few last things and your system lit up like a Christmas tree...!

1 or 2??

[mullethed]

riverdog,

I wish eiher of those had happened but `Ive been too busy at work to even fire it up.

if you are london based hit me up via PM and we'll hook up

j*

[secondbridge]

guys - please keep this discussion public. I'm new to the forums and thinking about buying a FireWire 410 in the next day or so and would like to know how your experience goes.

Thanks so much!!

[OneKeyWonder]

Good info here guys.

I need help on my Firewire 410 and I'll try the things u suggested here tonight. Meanwhile, here's my issue:

Specs:
iBook G4 1Ghz proc. 256mb RAM
Firewire 410.
Software: I have Delta Live Bundle and been using GarageBand while trying to figure out if I should buy Logic or Cubase?

Use:
Mainly to record 2 vocals simultaneously while listening to instrumental track. Will need both mic inputs and both headphone jacks to monitor while recording.

Problems:
I got the FW410 2 nights ago. At that time I only used a mic input and plugged my headphones directly into the ibook. It worked great!!!

Last night, I decided to test the headphone jacks on the FW and when I fired it up I heard this screeaching noise coming from the ibook's built in speakers, despite having set the output to the FW in the Sound Prefs. The FW mixer was already open too! The sound didn't go away until I plugged headphone directly into the ibook.

I was low on power so I'll see if that changes the situation tonight.

Any ideas???

Thanks in advance for any help...appreciate it.

[Riverdog]

Eee Gads...

Was it only when you were turning it on????
I know when I turn mine on I don't even turn on my mixer until I see the lights 'cycle'...

I've heard the same issue but it has not effected my system at all...
It's usually only for a second or so right when my PB "grabs in to it"...

One thing you can do is go into the "Utilities" folder in Applications and pull up the "Audio MIDI Setup" program... It's an icon that looks like a piano... This will allow you to assign where your inputs and outputs take priority... IF you defualt your input and output to the FW410 when you plug that unit in - the computer will allways port the audio information to it first - If it's not available - The iBook should default to internal...
Keep an eye out for it though... Sometimes it will default back just to see if you're watching... But it should stay there - pretty much...

As for programs - I've always been a Logic proponent...
But understand whichever program you decide to go with - these programs are "MILES" deeper than Garage Band... Don't expect miracles initially... Granted there is MUCH more flexibility but it takes time to understand... I started way back in Logic 2 (?) and it took me nearly 3 days just to get sound into it... I don't think it will be that bad these days - But, take your time whatever you decide and work with it... You're going to be purchasing some pretty potent stuff...
Personally though, I think the combination of the FW410 and my Logic Pro6 has been the most enjoyable setup I've had and is unbeatable....

If you have questions - Just pipe in... I'd love to help...

SecondBridge - No Problem - i'm always glad to help...
If you're interested feel free to stop by my website and hear some of the tunes... http://homepage.mac.com/riverdog

Mullethed - I wish!!! I live in Michigan in the United States about 150 miles West of Detroit in Grand Rapids... I understand about your job! It's been a pain here too!!! Keep me posted though... I hope it works out for you...

Take care: More later...

[OneKeyWonder]

Riverdog, you're a saint man!

I just remembered that when I played songs from iTunes, there was no problem hearing them on the cans, only when opening GarageBand, did the probs occur.

I'll see what happens when I get back tonight. I'm actually thinking about go back on my lunch break to see. (PST here).

Thanks again man!

[OneKeyWonder]

Update:

I got it to work and figured out the noise.

Here's what I did:
1)Connect the FW410 and iBook before powering on.
2)Powered on and waited for FW410 to cycle and stop blinking.
3)Opened the FW410 mixer and reset to default settings.
4)Opened up Sound Prefs and changed both output and input to FW410.
5)Opened Garageband (you'll hear the screaching sound)
6)Opened GB audio prefs and changed both output and input to FW410.

Worked like a charm!

Thanks to everyone for their help.

[Riverdog]

Excellent!

Always glad to be of help...
Keep me posted - I hope this works out for people...
I really do enjoy the FW410 and hope it's as good a bargain for others...
I purchased mine for 350.00 on Ebay...
It was practically brand new and has done wonderfully for me since I bought it...

I also think the combination of Logic and the FW makes it just a tad more complicated than it could be... But I get great results...

Let me know...