Using Older MOTU Firewire Devices + Newer Macs / Thunderbolt 4

[Maxx]

New Macs with Thunderbolt 4 are no longer support Firewire so, I am looking for workarounds so I can use my older MOTU Audio Interfaces with my new mac (via Thunderbolt 4 ports)

I. I have an Older Motu 8 & Pre & 828. Both have Firewire and ADAT Optical.

2. I have a newer Mac Pro coming soon (Thunderbolt 4 connectivity)

My current workaround:

1. Pick up an Audio Interface with USB | Firewire ports With ADAT Optical and connect to my 8 Pre.

It appears that Larger, More expensive Audio interfaces have ADAT connectivity both directions (in/out)

It appears that more compact, Less expensive Audio interfaces either don't have ADAT optical ports or, they have only one way connectivity (IN only) versus in / out.

Does such a device exists: A Compact, USB / Thunderbolt Device with ADAT capability to get my Computer talking with my older MOTU Audio Interfaces ?



Thanks
Max

[mikehalloran]

Many of us have our older MOTU Audio interfaces working on our TB4 Macs. Read this recent thread.

viewtopic.php?t=74108

The Apple FW–TB adapter is discontinued but I counted 82 on eBay last week.

[stubbsonic]

You should wait until your new Mac arrives to run some tests before investing in new equipment.

It might be useful to clarify if something has changed about Apple's "approach" to firewire. I.e., will it absolutely not work, or does it's tolerance of firewire connection continue to be 'vestigial"? IIRC, Apple has long stated that it no longer supports FW, while FW continues limping along (my woes not withstanding). Apple does occasionally pop-up veiled threats: "There is a system extension that will stop working in a future OS update." (or words to that effect) then it shows the driver for my FF800.

I have a specific model of OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock that has a firewire port (I believe there are newer models of the same name do not ?) I don't know if that FW port runs on the dock's driver, or if in order to be accessed by the interface, it has to go through some core FW elements in the Mac OS.

Here are some screenshots of my system report:

System Report Firewire

Firewire.png (234.45 KiB) Viewed 1270 times

System Report TB4

TB4.png (259.47 KiB) Viewed 1270 times

[mikehalloran]

The Thunderbolt/USB 4 spec supports most of FireWire except for bus power. This is why it still works. You will need the Apple adapters linked in the other thread.

That said, Fast USB 2 protocol handles more bandwidth and is faster than FW400, the only FireWire protocol ever used by MOTU. No one here will tell you that your gear is better than the newer units out there.

You mentioned AudioWire in your OP. Forget you ever read that term—it does not apply to this discussion. Apple has not made a Mac in over 12 years that supports AW devices that you do not own.

Likewise, if you’ve been reading armchair idio… er “experts” about how TB3/4 is no longer backward compatible with TB1/2, ignore that as it only applies to Windows. I and others have tested all of this. In my case, it’s my M2 Studio with my 828mkII (FW) and MTP AV USB (USB 1.1) over TB4 and (far less expensive) USB4 cables.

Besides FW400 the one thing that raises a red flag is that your interfaces are over 25 years old. The adapters and correct driver will get you working but won’t overcome any hardware deficiencies.

MOTU still builds audio interfaces that use the driver required by your ancient hardware. Yes, these drivers may become incompatible someday but that day isn’t here and not expected soon. I expect that, when it comes, there will be new drivers based on ARK (don’t worry about it) or else a whole lot of current MOTU hardware will also stop working.