How to connect a FireWire Audio Interface to a Mac or PC with Thunderbolt 3/USB-C

does this work SS USB C?

Adapter needs to have Texas Instruments chipset…

I'm still using my M-Audio Profire 2626 which is firewire. When I brought it, I was on Windows 7 x64. Now, I'm on Windows 11 and it's worked on every version in between and works perfectly on Windows 11 Pro. I do have a TI Firewire card installed as well which has been there since I built this audio machine. I upgraded the motherboard and processor in 2021 to an ASUS Tuf motherboard and Intel Core I9-9900KF processor and 64 GB of RAM and just humming along. I did think that I would have problems when I upgraded from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Pro, but no problems whatsoever. Windows 11 Pro was just fine with the drivers. The control panel thinks it's Windows Vista so that's funny but otherwise, everything runs just fine, and I'm able to run with buffers at 64, with no dropouts or anything.

Hi Scott thanks for the extensive testings! I am recently considering getting a PCIe usb c 3.2 card to reduce latency with my presonus studio26c interface, wondering if you have any thoughts on that?

Anybody know if this still works with the latest Mac OS X Sonoma or the previous Ventura? Rumor has it that they actually removed the legacy Firewire driver itself from within the operating system.. thus rendering the actual physical connection irrelevant. Anybody tried it?

Let me begin by saying... wanna hit up a strip club?? This is my way of saying thank you! I am so glad I came across this video. I followed your steps, went to microcenter, got what I needed and BOOM! Everything worked as explained on this video. I have a PreSonus FireStudio Tube Audio recording interface and its connections are FW400. I am all windows and well, FW became obsolete over the years as tech kept it moving. Years later, almost a decade later I was close on buying an Apollo the new Quantum from PreSonus, and then boom I came across your video.

I have a Lenovo T470s with Thunderbolt 3 connection - I was so excited to see this can be possible I just to try it. THANK YOU!

Disclaimer:

Just as you mentioned, the company has to offer some support in terms of drivers for W10 64-bit OS (or higher as W11 is new). If not, this will not work. However, the beauty of windows is, even if you still use Windows XP 32b, you can still install that same old driver and will install as 32b on your W10 64bit OS. For example, I have an old m audio mobilepre usb audio interface, all drivers are 32b and m audio stopped supporting this device for drivers more than a decade ago. I just installed it on my lenovo laptop (windows 10 64b and it also works. Just food for thought. Thanks again, man I highly appreciate your effort and time you took to figure this out!

You think this would work on the presouns 24.4.2

have You vor M-Audio FastTrackUltra Audio Interface , Imac 27" zoll Qward-Core Intel Core i7 macOS Catalina Version 10.15.7.sory vor my spick. thenk You

Any help?? Hey guys anyone know if you’re able to run Logic Pro X with the boot camp windows setup for this? I’ve never used boot camp before and got it all setup but was wondering if I am able to record audio in logic using this interface

The FireWire solo had 32-bit drivers. I’ve been able to use it a little longer with a set of repackaged drivers from an old forum, but eventually, the process was really cumbersome and the cost of adapters went beyond the remaining value of the interface… 64-bit and then Apple silicon made it even less compatible. As to Parallels: it has no FireWire support so even if you can physically connect the Solo, it wouldn’t communicate at all. - I’m still trying to link this interface to my newer interface via SPDIF but so far no signal comes through. The hardware itself is still working fine, so I could link it via line out/in but eventually, it no longer does some58ng useful to me.

So bad Firewire got obsolete, was a good standard for sound cards... at least they could have kept up with the adapters, eg. USB-C to Firewire 400... IMHO, the best option is to buy a used Mac (around 2012) and use that with the old Firewire interfaces, could get even cheaper than buying all the adapters

Thanks

It is difficult, I have tried hours, it worked for 30 sec then it was lost, I tried Maudio and allen & heath mixer wirh a lenovo p52, no chance. The only reliable connection is ti chip pcie card from amazon . Softwaree of maudio works fine ableton mpc and renoise works, same for ubuntuu were the jack installation was okay. Renoise on linux works. Vmware on linux works also with windows 10. Problems are the chain of Thunderbolt to Firewire. I only used apple adapter. So alternative notebook with rme usb adat, or smallest desktop pc with pcie slot and silent. Or old adat rme9652 on linux. big question, no decision yet😊

...ummmm....how abour iOS iPads?...

Very thorough video Scott, thanks. I have a M-Audio Ozone and am connecting via USB (for MIDI controller and as a pre-amp for my speakers). I've recently bought a Mac M1 laptop and can't get it to connect or install the old drivers. If I connect via midi cable will that work? Would I still be able to use it as the interface for my speakers?

what if i have a windows 10 pc with usb 2 and usb3? i am using a Digi 003

hello Scott, following which model of this Dell notebook? Is your usb-c port 3.0 or 3.1? or is it really thunderbolt 3? I have a lenovo yoga 520 with a usb-c 3.0 port and I couldn't get it to work, I used the original apples adapters too...

thanks for the video. Is it possible to run fw solo card in Monterey version?

Hi, actually, I have one of the configuration that you mentioned in your video.
On my Apple iMac 27-Inch "Core i5" 2.8 (Mid-2010) I have installed Windows 7
I have the intention to change the HDD to SSD, the standard 4GB of RAM was changed for 4 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM (16 GBs total installed)
So, I want to utilize the FireWire 800 port for an additional SSD drive and or connect my Sony HDR-SR7E camcorder

Hey how do you enable the firewire device because for me its showing up in my hardware but not audio midi or daw

Rebirth for my M-audio ProFire 2626🔥

Thank you Scott for your videos!!

I have a new windows desktop pc with a FireWire card installed , so I can use my Rme 400 sound interface.. paid lots of money for this pc, but it keeps on getting random blue screens. Sometimes one a day and sometimes once a week… I now have a feeling it’s the FireWire. I disconnected for a day now and it did crash once, 3 minutes after I disconnected it and since then everything is fine. I’m thinking something in the drivers isn’t installed right. It’s windows 11. Maybe you could help

What the H??
Man, you the same sound card and monitors I have 😅😅

This was a very informative video, thank you so much!

Just ordered a laptop with TB3. Fingers crossed I can resurrect an old pair of firepods. The adapters are a lot cheaper than a new interface and an adat preamp

Why is it that I won't be able to get an adapter from USB C to USB A? Is there any work around is this is the only input in my pc...

Hi Scott! Thanks a lot for this video! I'm trying to get my fireface 800 to work with a thunderbolt 4 dell PC running windows 11 and the apple adapters. I read that windows 11 removed support for firewire, but it is possible to install a legacy driver. I also read that the legacy driver might not work with the adapters, but I have found mixed information about this, so my question is if you have tried it with windows 11 or if you think it could work, with or without the legacy driver. Thanks!!

Hi there, I have Lenovo X280 where should be Thunderbolt 3 port. Could you give me an advice, which adapter I'll need for connecting with Focusrite Saffire 40 Pro ? Because you have 2 adaptors . Thank you

hi friend thanks for the video. Do these adapters work well? Is there any delay in data transfer?

This is the best video that I have seen on this subject. Thank you for taking the time to show this.

I have an Alexis Multimix 16 mixing console that has unfortunately no 64 bit drivers. Lost on M1?

Thx for doing all this….what was the final result if you have an Apple MacBook Pro with the new Thunderbolt 3 connections.?Sure, I know you can use the two adapters shown, but will the driver’s still work for the newer Mac OS ? i.e Monterey or Ventura. I’ve been using my MacBook Pro 2015 model with Big Sur with a Thunderbolt 2 to Firewire 800 adapter and then a cable with Firewire 800 on one end and Firewire 400 on the other going into a PreSonus Firestudio interface. Works great, but have been dreading upgrading to a newer M1 Apple computer with Thunderbolt 3 on account that I would not want to have to buy all new gear when the firewire gear works just fine.

GREAT!!!
Thanks

What was the model of the computer with windows 10?

You are awesome Scott.. taking the time to investigate, and present with such clarity. I'm so appreciative! QUESTION: Is it possible to use the coaxial out into usb?
I have a Macpro now that only has usbC, and would so love to use the solo again.

My man 😫…. You may be a lifesaver 🙏🏾🤞🏾🙏🏾

Hi Scott! Finally you could install the drivers? I´m facing exactly the same problem
Thanks!

I just bought a new Mac Book Pro, it has Thunderbolt 4 (usb c) connections, I need to connect a Presonus mixer which has firewire 800 ports. But I've had no luck finding thunderbolt 4 to firewire 800 adapters. Will thunderbolt 3 to firewire 800 adapter work.

I thought FireWire 800 was 9-pins?

I recently bought a new M2 MacBook pro 13" with thunderbolt 3. I have a camera with a FireWire 400 export. With my 2014 Mac mini I was able to capture video with a FireWire 400 to thunderbolt 2 adapter. So my question is instead of going from FireWire 400 to 800 to thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3, can I go from FireWire 400 to thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 and still capture? Or maybe FireWire 400 to usb 2/3 into a thunderbolt 3 hub? (Trying to capture with premiere pro but can still capture my old way with iMovie). Thanks!

Hello - so I have a 6pin Firewire 400 and a MacBook OS X version 10.6.8 with 2 usb ports and a minidisplay port only. Is there anyway to connect my Tascam fw-1884. This is the only computer that I have working that would allow me to download the software because it is a discontinued item. I really need some help.

Another option: my FW interfaces have adat. Buying a new usb c / TB interface with adat allows optical daisy chaining of older interfaces. Yes it's more expensive, but for semi pro or pro audio, it's another viable solution to increasing input count at lower cost. Many thanks for your excellent instruction!!!

Hi friend tank u so much ! And i have a question, i used the same adapters to connect my firestudio project audio interface to my laptop zbook hp but dosnt appear on my windows any help

Anyone tried hooking his firewire interface with succes on an Alienware laptop with thunderbolt 3?

excellent tutorial. I will try it on my old Saphire pro 24 audio interphase

Super helpful! Thank you.

Hi Scott, thank you so much, I have a dell notebook with win11. With your solution I've managed to run an old Edirol FA-101, from last year until recently. Unfortunately now the pc can't detect anymore the audio interface. The interface is ok, because it still works on my old pc with firewire 400 port. Any suggestions? Thank you. I ran the bios, everything seems ok, i changed the cable, still doesn't work

Thanks for the information and your time.