FireWire problem with MacOS 10.8.4 and MOTU UltraLite mk3

[Xagoth]

Hi all,

I have a MOTU UltraLite mk3 and a 13' MacBook Pro (early 2011) with OSX 10.8.4 (Mountain Lion).

I brought a firewire cable 400 to 800 to plug MOTU to my Mac, but the card is not recognized. If i plug throw USB and don't have trouble at all. In fact i see i message in MOTU LCD like "USB detected". If i plug the Firewire i see "FireWire detected" but my Mac don't recognize the card...

FACT 1: If i have my FireWire cable plugged on my Mac and Finder ask for my personal pass the Finder freezes. I have to unplug.
FACT 2: If i boot with FireWire plugged my Mac won't boot: White screen with circle loading icon...

I don't have other FireWire devices or cable to test.

What do you think? is the cable the source of the problem? is Mountain Lion causing this issue? What do you guys use to plug your MOTU through FireWire?

Thanks!!
Xag

P.S. My FireWire cable is this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/FireWire-Gold-P ... re+adapter

[Xagoth]

No one?

[spire10r]

Hey Xag,

It could definitely be a defective cable but it's impossible to tell without other devices to test.

You didn't mention which driver version you're running. I would give the latest audio installer from MOTU.com a run and see if that helps.

[mikehalloran]

Are you trying to run the Ultralite on bus power?

If so, that is probably your problem. Many Apple products no longer supply adequate bus power at the FW port. In fact, only one of the USB ports will have bus power if there are multiple ports.

[Xagoth]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies.

My driver version is 1.6 57985. I think it is the last one.

As for the bus power, i'm not running on it. When i plug Ultralite i have the AC adapter on, but if I turn AC off the card is powered (the green screen is on) while connect by FireWire.

Either way (bus or not bus powered) FireWire is not recognized. I'll try to plug with another cable.

Thanks again to both!

[Xagoth]

I updated now to v. 1.6.58373, and Firmware to 1.06 (again). Nothing new happen...

[mikehalloran]

Reset the PRAM. Hold down the P, R, Command and Option keys while starting - let the chimes ring three times before releasing the keys.

FW is very sensitive on the Mac. FW hubs crashed the FW bus on my G5 and my iMac when I tried to use them between my 828mkII and either machine. Resetting the PRAM fixed it each time. No idea why hubs crash the bus but my 828 runs fine plugged in direct - I just accept that's the way things work nowadays.

[Xagoth]

Hi mikehalloran,

I already did a PRAM reset before posting here. I did a reset, three chimes as you suggest, but nothing changed. Still not working.

Maybe this Sunday i'll can plug another cable (it's the original cable but with and FW adapter to 800) and i will see if cable is the problem.

Thanks!
Xag

[Xagoth]

Hi

Bought a new cable. Not a change, it's the same behavior. Now i have to find out if it's the Mac or MOTU.

Any ideas?

Xag

[gdubz101]

same issue, Mac mountain Lion/ mavericks wont pickup Motu Firewire Ultralite MK2. I have a 400cable with a 400-800 adapter running bus power. powers up downloaded drivers/ uninstalled new driver and tried older driver ect no problems fixed... not recognized under audio pref or the motu pref. Macbook pro 15" i7 firewire 800 connect!

[Xagoth]

My problem was with the Motu Card... I tested 828 Mk2 and didn't had any problem.

I replaced with another because it still was under warranty.