FIREWIRE - AUDIOWIRE same thing or not

[BLISS]

A friend of mine ordered a 2408MkII online, he received the unit and power cable, but no AUDIOWIRE cable.

Now, from what I've gathered myself from having a 2408MKII & 828, is that the AUDIOWIRE is different from FIREWIRE
(am I correct in stating this)

or can he just buy a FIREWIRE cable, if this is true then my bad, if I am correct, could someone call the chick at the receptionist desk
at MOTU and let her know 'THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING"

[echohaus]

The cable is the same. The protocol is not. Do not plug an Audiowire and FIrewire port together on the same cable.

[James Steele]

Audiowire is the protocol for interfaces that plug into a PCI-324, 424, and various other flavors of that card. I have read that you can use a firewire cable but that sometimes people shave back the plastic molding on the connector that goes into the PCI card as a stock firewire cable doesn't quite seat all the way in. Either way though, I'd have your friend still contact the place he bought it from and tell them he wants an audiowire cable just the same. Or maybe MOTU might send him one if he explains the situation.

[BLISS]

Well I told my friend to do as such: contact the seller, but I was trying to get in contact with someone at MOTU
I couldnt get through to TECH SUPPORT 617-576-3066, but the receptionist at 576-2760 took a moment and said as such "they are the same thing sir"

I then said, no they are not, a FIREWIRE cable isnt the same as a AUDIOWIRE, she then told me to hold on, I waited for about 7 minutes, she came back and said, "it's the same one that they ship out" I then asked her can I purchase it, she stated " we dont sell any accessories sir".

dumbfounded as well as mad, I kept quiet and just said, o.k. then, hung up, knowing her info wasnt too accurate. Or have I been lead astray to know differently. I dont know, but what I do know is on both of my units (2408 & 828) the (grey)"AUDIOWIRE CABLE" does look exactly like a FIREWIRE cable, but through my workings, I also know you cannot use a standard FIREWIRE to connect them.

I know, I tried to help my friend with a FIREWIRE cable to connect his 2408 to his Mac, DP didnt see any I/O
the computer saw the PCI-324 though.

[echohaus]

I've been using a standard Firewire cable for two 2408MKII's for the past two weeks at a recording session, and have had zero problems. Just get a Firewire cable and be done with it.

[1nput0utput]

PCI-324 and PCI-424 interfaces use a standard 6-pin FireWire cable to connect to the rack units (2408mkII, 2408mk3, 1296, 24I/O, etc.). The only special consideration is cable length. If I recall correctly, MOTU recommends a maximum AudioWire cable length of 15 feet for PCI-324 cards and about 50 feet for PCI-424 cards.

[BLISS]

ECHOHAUS
are you serious, I tried a standard FIREWIRE cable, (rephrase that) I used a FIREWIRE cable from my external HD case. It may have been only 5ft or so

compared to what "INPUTOUTPUT" says of a 15" or 50 feet, I've neeeeeeeee-ver knew that

[James Steele]

PCI-324 and PCI-424 interfaces use a standard 6-pin FireWire cable to connect to the rack units (2408mkII, 2408mk3, 1296, 24I/O, etc.). The only special consideration is cable length. If I recall correctly, MOTU recommends a maximum AudioWire cable length of 15 feet for PCI-324 cards and about 50 feet for PCI-424 cards.

Are you sure about this? It sounds odd. Did MOTU change something to the 424 cards so that the signal can travel the longer distance without degrading???

[echohaus]

ECHOHAUS
are you serious, I tried a standard FIREWIRE cable, (rephrase that) I used a FIREWIRE cable from my external HD case. It may have been only 5ft or so

compared to what "INPUTOUTPUT" says of a 15" or 50 feet, I've neeeeeeeee-ver knew that

Yes, I'm totally serious.
I'm having a difficult time understanding all the angst over something that isn't rocket science.

1. Go to electronics store
2. Find Firewire cables
3. Take cables to register
4. Pay for cables
5. Go home
6. Open packages cables came in
7. Install in audio system
8. Record

[BLISS]

ECHOHAUS

I'm not saying I dont believe you, I'm just shocked (I didnt know you could)

I'm specifically going out to purchase a 6 pn FIREWIRE cable and try it, (from RADIO SHACK) that way if it doesnt work, I can take it back

[echohaus]

If you have a Best Buy or MicroCenter around, better to try them. I have very little idea where RS gets their stuff, these days.

Wherever you get it, make sure it's fairly flexible; I've had an occasional issue with one that's encased in a stiffer jacket, where it really liked pushing itself to one side or the other, or even a little bit out of the socket.

[toofar]

Been using firewire cables for years. No problemo.

[1nput0utput]

PCI-324 and PCI-424 interfaces use a standard 6-pin FireWire cable to connect to the rack units (2408mkII, 2408mk3, 1296, 24I/O, etc.). The only special consideration is cable length. If I recall correctly, MOTU recommends a maximum AudioWire cable length of 15 feet for PCI-324 cards and about 50 feet for PCI-424 cards.

Are you sure about this? It sounds odd. Did MOTU change something to the 424 cards so that the signal can travel the longer distance without degrading???

I knew I had seen this on motu.com at some point:

http://www.motu.com/techsupport/technot ... ble-length