RME Audio Fireface 400, User Manual

Page: 49 / 100

User's Guide Fireface 400
© RME
49
Multicard Operation
OS X supports more than one audio device. Their simultaneous usage within one program had
been limited to Motu's Digital Performer until 10.3.9. Since 10.4 (Tiger) Core Audio offers the
function
Aggregate Devices , which allows to combine several devices into one, so that a multi-
device operation is now possible with any software.
The Fireface driver adds a number to each unit, so they are fully accessible in any multicard-
capable software.
24. Hotline – Troubleshooting
The newest information can always be found on our website
www.rme-audio.com , section Sup-
port, Macintosh OS. A report about incompatible FireWire 800 controllers is found in the Tech
Info
FireWire 800 Hardware – Compatibility Problems .
The unit and drivers have been installed correctly, but playback does not work:
•
Is Fireface 400 listed in the System Profiler? (Vendor ID 2613, 800 MB/s).
•
Has Fireface been selected as current playback device in the audio application?
The 8 ADAT channels don’t seem to work
•
The optical output has been switched to 'SPDIF'. As can be seen in the block diagram, all
channels and their assignments still exist, but the optical transmitter has been disconnected
from ADAT and is now fed from the SPDIF output. The ADAT playback devices are still us-
able by routing and mixing them in TotalMix to other outputs.
Playback works, but record doesn’t:
•
Check that there is a valid signal at the input. If so, the current sample frequency is dis-
played in the Settings dialog.
•
Check whether the Fireface 400 has been selected as recording device in the audio applica-
tion.
•
Check whether the sample frequency set in the audio application (‘Recording properties’ or
similar) matches the input signal.
•
Check that cables/devices have not been connected in a closed loop. If so, set the systems’s
clock mode to ‘Master’.
Crackle during record or playback:
•
Increase the number and size of buffers in the application.
•
Try different cables (coaxial or optical) to rule out any defects here.
•
Check that cables/devices have not been connected in a closed loop. If so, set the system’s
clock mode to ‘Master’.
•
Check the Settings dialog for displayed Errors.
Possible causes for a Fireface not working
•
The FireWire cable is not, or not correctly inserted into the socket
•
No power. After switching the Fireface on, at least the red Host error LED has to be lit.
Driver installation and Settings dialog/TotalMix work, but a playback or record is not possible
•
While recognition and control of the device are low bandwidth applications, playback/record
needs the full FireWire transmission performance. Therefore, defective FireWire cables with
limited transmission bandwidth can cause such an error scheme.