Thunderbolt PC, Sonar X3e, and not finding the audio device , or losing it.

Hello.
I am running a Asus TB setup, and have been working more into the recording aspects, and playback...at the moment... I am diving into the effects, and stuff sonar has for eq compression, and bussing for mixing at the moment...and getting deeper into the software.
 
I have a small issue upon opening the software, and my firewire device for audio, through adapter to thunderbolt 2.port....new projects and old... selecting a template I have for my Allen & heath r16 Asio firewire audio device, which is now going through the Thunderbolt port, with a FW-TB adapter seems to be lost when opening sonar, and then found when commanded to play or record...only after closing the prompt window of sonar not finding it....does it then work....but sometimes loses it after...but that hasn't happened enough to say it is a problem.
 
This setup seems to have solved some internet nic issues, I was plagued with...and the system seems way more steady and solid...So I can work, and read online help when in Sonar, which was impossible before this new PC and TB port was built upon.
 
I believe I have turned off what needs to be off, and on what needs to be on...and done my setup routine to turn off security and firewalls...and redundant win 7 features, sounds, and visual effects....to get the most performance with out defeating services necessary for the OS...win 7 64 bit.
 
The issue I now face, is when opening a new project, the audio devices is lost...but nothing seems to pop up...until I press the play back button, or record button, for the first time in that project....a window opens saying "no audio device found".
I hit stop, and then redo the command to play and or record....and it then works, mostly with out issues...But has failed a few times after doing this, but recoups the same way...Although I have been fooling around with turning off the onboard sound card, and midi GM GS XG gets lost when doing that....And found something might be causing issues with some mix up detecting things or using the TB port correctly, or is not setup right....I have found no real help yet to do this.....
I still find when opening a new Project or ones already made, having the startup of the audio device delayed in finding? or not found, until I engage the play or rec command twice.
 
Not to many other issues found of yet with this setup and sonar x3e and my setup...and I am finding it less problematic, and stable .
 
And so I can get to using the features now....Just this little issue....which I found "the work around" for naturally....but I feel needs to be addressed....as it should not do this at all.
 
If anyone has any tips in setting up a PC Thunderbolt systems with firewire adapter for audio,...and has solved or experienced any of the above mentioned, and has solved the issue or knows what is going on with it, so I can address it correctly....could you please set me in the right direction....because I have found nothing on the forums addressing this Technology or this issue yet for PC.
 
Thanks.

 
Thanks Jim for the reply.
...Do you mean to install a firewire card, and use the thunderbolt port?
I have other systems here working with firewire cards, and I have noting but issues with many daws on them...clicks pops, and such, using PCIe 1x cards of said compatible said compliances echo Gina 20bit, M audio 1816/610, Focusrite pro 40, and  the A & L zed r16 lastly....So I believe it is windows sharing irq's, with that lot, using the PCIe 1x cards and the last system becoming unstable, or was because of many issues not working correctly with internet drivers installed, with the same allen and heath r16,  as I have tweak the snot out of them older builds, and gave up on trying to fix them and troubleshooting them with tweaks and tips to try to solve the 98/xp/win 7 issues with irq sharing, and now win 7 or what ever it does to cause these issues, with services running in background...., and cut services, and such, played with buffers, and different resolutions of recording....and playback....for years of hair pulling fun.
 
That is why I am trying this new build,...
 
I also bought a new mac, but I do not have the time right now to learn that machine....thunderbolt also, but I do not want to use the feature to install windows, to use on it, with sonar....as some may have it working...it is only problematic in the end..to someone who has no clue how to set It up.... am not skilled in that mac world yet...so in time perhaps that is another solution I may investigate.
 
The PC thunderbolt system, has helped me get audio with my desk, and sonar...and internet..working in tandum most stable and reliable..so I can learn online, and work with tech tips on how to use this or that plug in or feature, and watch movies on line, when I minimize sonar..Not sure why ...but it is working!
 
So to be done with it as you put forward...is only to cause this system grief, and my learning from different forums when I need a tip or trick to preform some technique  correctly...?...I am assuming...and do not want to go through crashing of OS, and possible rebuild or reinstalls of OS, and key codes....even a backup of the os, does not always provide those key codes when reinstalling from a backup or clone....So Let us think this through please, and address the issue with a fix or resolution for, other than Firewire cards Just yet please.....Perhaps setup information in Bios would be more a track to take or help with...?
 
With the audio desk I have, and the drivers of it, with PCIe based cards I own, that are said to be compatible, but the issue is with the internet nic drivers of any kind, and is part of the Draw back, the company discloses!...So no work around with that, and if I use the internet, I have to turn off the audio driver for the r16, and vise versa.
 
So...this is what is....and it ain't going to change much I guess for me?...if there is no tweak or fix I can do to the os, or Driver settings of the thunderbolt port..to make thing be recognized properly, or more quickly..that I have no clue about, and not much about it from techs yet on the PC platform...it seems...or anyone else complaining much about loss of drivers with TB on PC....I stand in it.
 
I will wait it out, and keep doing what I am doing with my work around, if there is no other solution other than Yours..But thanks again.....At least everything is saving, and opening projects alright  on this machine., other than the work around issue....and I have not had a crash at all with sonar x3e upon it yet....and it has been over 6 months I think...since my last hair pull with firewire card in these forums...don't send me back please to that nighmare...wink....also the buffer settings seem to go way lower with the TB port and my audio desk...with out any problems of clicks or pops at all....and that was impossible with the PCIe 1x based setups....again not sure why...but it is as it is known of older builds....So I should perhaps count my blessings...but perfection is something I dreamed of once upon a time in having a perfect system setup working flawlessly for doing Music....I am so close to this bliss...but always a step out somewhere.
 
Thanks for saying....something of merit....blessings!

Thanks Jim...
I do not think the PCIe firewire card is my best bet for my Audio solution I have....I tried it , and with turning off the internet through Bios.
Sonar and the A & L still had odd noises here and there, on the older build that was plagued with issues....I was trying to use Pro tools at first, but Tried Sonar x1...and then x2, then x3...and now, after toasting that system out, along with so many more on my end trying to get firewire working.....I gave up...and bought the PC TB Motherboard...and most of my issues are now gone....again You seem to think this is not possible, But I tell you it is....cause I am using internet, and running sonar with the A & L audio...Not any crashing, no problems opening projects, no bad saved files yet...everything is working...and That is I guess the best it will get....Going back now to firewire card I have for the A & L r16 is cause to issues with onboard internet, and it seems when I install the card, the irq it takes is always shared with something that cause problems, and cannot be Moved...no matter what slot I put the card in for it.
 
 
This is what is happening now.
 
IRQ 0 System timer OK
IRQ 8 System CMOS/real time clock OK
IRQ 13 Numeric data processor OK
IRQ 14 Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series SMBus Controller - 8C22 OK
IRQ 16 Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series PCI Express Root Port #1 - 8C10 OK
IRQ 16 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 16 Asmedia 106x SATA Controller OK
IRQ 16 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 16 Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series PCI Express Root Port #5 - 8C18 OK
IRQ 16 Intel(R) Xeon(R) processor E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core processor PCI Express x16 Controller - 0C01 OK
IRQ 16 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 16 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 16 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 16 Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series USB EHCI #2 - 8C2D OK
IRQ 17 Asmedia 106x SATA Controller OK
IRQ 17 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 17 Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series PCI Express Root Port #2 - 8C12 OK
IRQ 17 High Definition Audio Controller OK
IRQ 17 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 18 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 19 Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series PCI Express Root Port #4 - 8C16 OK
IRQ 19 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 19 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 19 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 19 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 19 LSI 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller OK
IRQ 19 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 19 PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge OK
IRQ 19 Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series SATA AHCI Controller - 8C02 OK
IRQ 23 Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series USB EHCI #1 - 8C26 OK
IRQ 81 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 82 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 83 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 84 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 85 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 86 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 87 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 88 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 89 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 90 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 91 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 92 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 93 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 94 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 95 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 96 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 97 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 98 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 99 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 100 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 101 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 102 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 103 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 104 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 105 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 106 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 107 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 108 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 109 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 110 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 111 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 112 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 113 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 114 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 115 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 116 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 117 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 118 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 119 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 120 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 121 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 122 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 123 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 124 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 125 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 126 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 127 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 128 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 129 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 130 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 131 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 132 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 133 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 134 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 135 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 136 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 137 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 138 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 139 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 140 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 141 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 142 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 143 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 144 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 145 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 146 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 147 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 148 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 149 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 150 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 151 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 152 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 153 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 154 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 155 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 156 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 157 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 158 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 159 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 160 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 161 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 162 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 163 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 164 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 165 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 166 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 167 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 168 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 169 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 170 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 171 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 172 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 173 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 174 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 175 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 176 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 177 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 178 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 179 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 180 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 181 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 182 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 183 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 184 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 185 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 186 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 187 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 188 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 189 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 190 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System OK
IRQ 4294967290 Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller OK
IRQ 4294967291 ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series OK
IRQ 4294967292 Intel(R) Management Engine Interface  OK
IRQ 4294967293 Intel(R) Ethernet Connection I217-V OK
IRQ 4294967294 Thunderbolt(TM) Controller - 156C OK
 
I Know things are still shared in some instances, but the system is stable....So, I would say why go back to the problems?....I only think this TB 2 port is being over looked, when Sonar starts up,..I do the work around, and sometimes for some strange reason I have not caught or figured the process that causes it yet, it looses the Audio after the work around, ....But that is solved with the work around done again any way, and hasn't happened much, no crashing, or bad freezes.
 
So something there in this system is making it better.....why?...not sure...could be the chipset?..But I want perfection....and it is so close to it, might as well just leave well enough alone, till more info is posted by MS or Tech heads looking into it, if it becomes more widely used on PC , and the problem is noted more by the users of.
 
Again thanks.
 
 

There have been numerous reported issues with the ZED and ground related noise.
I believe this was mentioned in another recent thread...
 
Why are you having issues getting the Firewire controller on a unique IRQ?
It's just a matter of picking the right PCIe slot.
Note that PCIe x1 cards can be installed in longer PCIe x8 and x16 slots... so you're not limited to just short x1 PCIe slots.
 
As mentioned, I (and many clients over the past nearly 20 years) have successfully used Firewire audio interfaces with zero glitches.  If the audio interface's driver is rock-solid, it really is as simple as picking a compatible Firewire controller.  
 
Obviously it's your machine... and your choice
From what you're describing, you've simply swapped one set of issues (symptoms) for another.  
 
 

Thanks JCschild for chiming in....I would agree with you both, but I am not alone with the clicks and pops issues in firewire anything some people are experiencing on the sonar x forums with win 7 or 8...and asking what is the best firewire cards to get..(buffers to use or set to stop the click and pop and drop out issues they have using the firewire solutions)..I got all the brand named TI and LSI cards...and have the hair loss to prove it...Yes there are issues with my older builds...Some had issues not disclosed until after buying, and many people complaining....one of such issues was with the  jm micron HD controller chips installed on some of the older Sata 2 boards. with the ssd cache ports.
There are many reasons why a system does not perform propely...and many tweaks some do to the os/bois/services that help get rid of  some of the issues, in some cases...but not all cases...and from what I have read something as small as a mouse choice, and video maker or brand of can ruin a well thought out build...
 
I do not know why my older systems would not produce crystal clear recordings, and be stable, as so many variables were happening at the same time..., I tried to follow instruction from Avid and here on the Sonar forums shortly after losing more hair with Avid techs on the phone...and even called in a MS remote viewing session to try to solve the issue of sharing with a chipset controller and the audio device...and putting them out of my mind, after tweaking the snot out of my system,...and then they put forward to me, and others on their Avid forums the issues we found to be here , and on many systems having issues with clicks and pops on audio recording using semi high end devices with firewire....They said it is a IRQ sharing issue, that even they could not resolve....because MS has made it impossible to move or make exclusive the IRQ Necessary to have that clear clean blissful state...in WIN 7.....
 
XP had the best sort of tweakable and movable IRQ resolving method I know of as of yet, and alternate configuration platforms available to be made for different setups to boot into... in past....The new build of Win 7, does not allow for, or  I never found out how to, if it does.
And So Avid backed out, and tipped their hats to me, and others....So is it so now?...I do not wish to go backwards and find out.
 
I have some older systems still using firewire, and it is still as I say...they are x58 boards...and they are not stable...So I do not use them anymore for recording.
 
But use one for mixing with pcie 1x UAD dual card which is probably why the system is more than likely unstable today with pro tools 11.1.1. ...Again perhaps the MB chipset is not doing something right in hand shaking with the win 7 os with the x58 brand and pci e buss, and any cards put on it...seems to be effected by video card priorities?...but this newer z87 board may have resolved something in channeling things? Wider Busses?, and resolving a irq conflict MS did not solve for, perhaps because of the chipsets being used back then in x 58s?....I do not know, but that is a fact I went through for years up until.....So, As it is, there is no real big problems with crashing or such, when I start doing the real important recordings and mixing and such...I will still turn off the internet on this z87...just to free up  a IRQ....But the work around will still be a part of this system I need to use to make it go....in Sonar....it does not happen in Sound forge or Reason 7, or FL studio..or Sibelius 7.5..So not sure why Sonar has the issue...but no worries....Perhaps Jim and you are well serving me in your attemts...THanks........But if a manufacture is doing high end RND on their products, They should know, what works with their products...and A&L do post listings of confirmed cards used by their techs in that RND process.....others also do this Surely?...what they do not disclose is the other devices they used, like video cards, mice, and such things a UAD cards....If one puts this into the fray....then there is no support from them on it....so we go round in circles until someone hits the gold bar solution....for some, but sometimes not all.
 
I have done the setup as required to get the adapter and audio to work...there are setting in the bios for the TB port, but not much in the manual of the MB on what these things are for in any details, as to what they do when selected....Sort of a hit and miss kind of approach I guess?...much is lacking in the manual...so more learning...when more people use and figure out the ins and outs....I imagine.
 
So I will keep the setup as is, until something comes more on the setup or tweaks necessary or fix?? if one is coming from MS or Cakewalk or Mac....thanks for the input....but sometimes one must sacrifice one issue for another...I think I made the right sacrifice!....As I am learning while this internet is working on how to use Sonar...and the plugins properly...and get them registered when I open them for the first time in a DAW....without any crashing!....
 
Just saying....nothing is perfect in PC land, when there are so many variables....and nothing has been totally routed out, because of the pace made by the OS maker to constantly make a new OS...to gain more money...always fixing something broken....always making new broken to fix...or it is getting better.....but never perfect./ it seems.
 
that is a blessing in itself.

I found this
 
https://developer.apple.c...hunderboltDevGuide.pdf

I am heeding their words...But I found in past builds, in XP and win 7 that firewire for me and my audio desk solutions I bought into...Do not work as intended here...while usb is in play, and internet are on...or when other cards like uad card is added in to the pot luck....irq resource management with win 7 is or has been iffy with me, and unaddressable...xp does no have the memory capacities I need...I also do video work, and animation is next.
 
All I need is to know this new build, and using TB and it's setup....I have the firewire adapter solution that works better than Pryor builds I made myself with those older systems....
This one I just made Z87 TB quad, is making very good recordings, an dplay back....if not stellar ones...and the midi works, and the usb is working ok...still a bit slow in showing things when I click on those drives...WD My book rendering up the content on them though..perhaps the dongles and ilok and code meter is also bogging down the usb?.
 
I mean no disrespect to anyone , but I thought I would try this out, to its  fullness of possibilities, asking others who might know how to, or more about it,... in setting it up right....and set it up as they say, or try to to see if it is better than pryor experiences...which I have confessed here on these forms I was witnessing,.... and now the things I am experiencing with TB...so others can draw from it as well.....if it is fruitful for others that is.
 
I have all the cards I need..(stated, to do that test they are asking I do)....I do not need to buy another Firewire card, as I have the one they are telling me works, and others I put in to the plié of old.., to gain the same problems in other builds...not saying it will happen here on this build with the z87...but I want to try the TB setup.
 
...And if I put a card into the PCIe x1 slot. well that is another IRQ used and shared..somewhere at random boot ups..Right?....why do that , when what I said about it, and MS win 7 are true...from other Coders words Like Avid, and even MS could not solve when they came in to try to solve the crashing, clicks and pops and drop outs that should not of been happening.....supposedly said by Jim and JCS, Bob, and Alex and others in past experiences told me to follow in....So forgive my fears please.....this troubleshooting cost a lot of bingo buttons.
 
Not mocking them, or disrespecting them, or the technologies that work for some......not going back is a good thing I think for now, so I can get some work done in doing what I bought all this stuff for...and learning how to...use for the intended purpose of making music.
 
Perhaps this Z87 Quad build will work better with firewire adapter this time..??..I do not know that yet? Seems I do know it is working better than previous builds,..... it seems to have no clicks or pops or dropouts at all...the way I am using it now...with the lowest latency buffer settings to the highest...again not sure why...but it is as I say here....perhaps not setting it up right is my solution for that?///lol.
 
Perhaps when I get the New Mac in place and setup in the booth as primary system for recording....I can then fiddle around, and play risk, and use this z87 for internet and such, and the Mac for the recording end of things or vise versa....depending on outcomes of testing this over that...when I have time to do so...and troubleshooting fool again hat put on....and make Bob and Alex frustrated in my muse again with Jim and JSC onboard?...and hate me again for telling the truth, they did not believe...but surely found to be true in the end with my old system and the conflicts and problems that arouse in that mead festing consumption of chaos, and hair loss, and burnout.
 
So thanks for the input, and info, and all that...Blessing and thanks are given....right now , I am testing TB and the adapter....Just that small problem, of little if any harm to the system or software state of working, and the work around works for now....So no worries, Just thinking perhaps I am missing something in the bios settings that might help Sonar find the driver faster, so it is not found un detected when opening or working in sonar ...as it has not happened lately, After the work around....the work around works when ever it happens....So, that is something working out, the not working so perfectly issue, to get it working....no worries yet found with it as such.
 
In the other state of past experiences...I could not even open old projects without crashing, or new ones made...freezing and getting corrupted files, and cpu spiking to extremes with nothing in the project....it is all posted in the sonar forms....if you want a detailed reference point of my experiences following techs here...to look deeper into..starting fresh with them, and installing the drivers...and it started all over again....till that system died...in troubleshooting foolishness....going round in circles...not saying it will happen here and now...but...let us be mindful of....
 
I am now using USB Motu Pre 4 and UAD on the Pro tools x58 Asus work station rig....Still buggy.
 
Not sure why....?...IRQ sharing, and services running in the background that cannot be turned off no doubt.... 
 
And now moved to this system as new trial with TB....and it is working pretty well as it is....So why tempt fait, and go backwards at this point of bliss?...is all I am saying to them?....Let us give it a go as is...it is working...no crashes!....and it is freaking fast with the ssd's....not like the old x58 build....that is now in the garbage pile.
 
So reflection dictates Improvements in technologies?..coding?...drivers?..bios?...conduct?,..and build, and newer chipsets and or new mouse driven bios implementation for the os perhaps has been done some how to make it better for me?.
 
Once the Bios TB is setup correctly....perhaps the OS and software will work perfectly?
 
As this is new to me, and I have no clue about it much....surely every word is my mind to listen to about it....and hang on in anticipation for!
 
I have enough Firewire cards to build a tank.....So no worries there....when the hat is put on for that fun roller coaster ride on this system, I will take notes for it again for it to be or not be, or just come and see what others have done to get it working....as there are many here and other places I know of with more than enough info on firewire cards on pcie buss slots and such....but thanks for the words to spur thought of doing if all else fails now.
 
 

I have very similar DAW specs. I built it back in February and after a few minor hiccups, I have it running like a top. I do run a very lean machine for audio use only and I have no AV apps installed either (I have a dedicated computer for web surfing). I use the onboard video (no extra video card), which is all you need for DAW work. I disabled all devices from the BIOS that I did not need for DAW work (extra USB ports, extra SATA ports, HD audio controller, Realtek LAN controller, etc. to free up IRQ's and resources). I do have a dedicated FW800 PCIe card (Sonnet Allegro), a UAD-2 QUAD PCIe card and a UAD-2 SOLO PCIe card installed. I also use an Apollo QUAD connected directly to one of the dual Thunderbolt 2.0 ports (BTW, the Apollo works flawlessly whether using the TB port or the FW800 PCIe card). Do you have the latest ASUS release updates for BIOS (1802) and Intel Thunderbolt driver (1.4.0.1)?  It looks like ASUS has just released a new "beta" BIOS update (2003). My advice is to disable all unneeded devices from the BIOS and make sure you have the latest MB related updates installed. HD audio controllers are notorious for creating issues with external audio devices and contributing to DPC latency issues (I've always kept it disabled in my DAW builds). Try disabling it and see if it helps. I was having high DPC issues with Win 8.1 Pro x64, but after I went back in and disabled a few more unneeded devices in the BIOS, it is practically non-existent now. You may have to go to a barebones DAW setup and start building up from there (adding devices one by one to see what works and what doesn't) and just experiment via trial and error, which is basically what I did over the first few weeks to see what worked and performed best. 
 
This is what I currently have connected to my DAW's external/internal ports:
External:
Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse combo: USB 2.0 port
Edirol UM-1S Midi Interface: USB 2.0 port
Frontier Tranzport Wireless DAW Controller: USB 2.0 port
iLok 2: USB 2.0 port
Apollo QUAD: Thunderbolt 2.0 port
 
Internal:
UAD-2 QUAD PCIe: PCIe 1x slot
UAD-2 SOLO PCIe: PCIe 1x slot
Sonnet Allegro FW800 PCIe: PCIe 1x slot
 
 
Full Thunderbolt DAW Rig specs:

-Win8.1 Pro x64
-Intel i7 4770k (3.50Ghz)
-ASUS Z87 Deluxe/Quad (BIOS 1802)
-16GB RAM (Corsair Vengence 1600 DDR3 8GBx2)
-Primary Display: 24" ASUS VH242 LCD Monitor 1920x1080 32-bit ("millions")
 -Internal SSD: (1) Corsair M500 240GB SSD (OS/Apps)
-Internal HD:(2) WD 500GB SATA (Samples)
-Internal HD:(1) WD 1TBGB SATA (Storage/Projects)
-External HD:(1) IDE to USB 2.0 enclosure
-ASUS DVDRW OEM SATA
-iStarUSA D400 Server case
-Corsair 600W CXMOD PS
-MS Wireless Keyboard/mouse combo
-Frontier TranzPort (v1.5.0.0)
-Edirol UM-1S MIDI Interface (v2.0.0.0)
-iLOK 2
-(1) Apollo QUAD w/TB I/O, UAD v 7.7 
-(1) UAD-2 QUAD PCIe
-(1) UAD-2 SOLO PCIe
-(1) Sonnet Allegro FW800 PCIe
 
Good luck,
 
Billy Buck

Also Billy claims he is using wi fi....Seems I read that wi fi is not something to use when working with audio...So is TB helping Billy achieve this ?...also filling up all those pcie slots with all the uad cards and others...wow....now that must mean something is newer in something with these boards...as something like that in older builds would be a nightmare to resolve irq issue in my mind....
 
win 8.1?...not ready yet to relearn the ins and outs of that...or pop another bingo button on yet....win 7 64bit Professional retail, and ultimate ,is about as far into this at this time, I think I need to go....?
I do not need touch screen, or use of applets....I also believe that a more robust video card solution with dedicated memory helps reduce MB memory issues....So I think my solution is of merit, and is working to some degree...although I  may be wrong.?...time will tell I guess...

Thanks Billy again for the input...I am seeking, but not getting, I will now go and do the bios update....with your affirming  of it being something with that?.....I still think I have to use the legacy selection in Bios to make the A & L zed work though.....I am waiting on some input from them at A & L on that.... I will post the info when they , if they reply to my ticket....so others may find something in that of use in setting up shop with TB 2 ports on PC.
 
Have a wonderful day all....and stay tuned in!.....

Thanks again Billy for that info you are posting...it will surely help me and others looking into this TB setup in future....
 
wireless MOUSE AND KEYBOARD?...HMMM...IS THAT NOT WI FI Connected?
 
Any hoot I have read about the bios 1802 just before doing this....it says something about upgrading the bios update, if one is using the 4th gen intel processor....I am using the same 3.50mhz you are, which is 3rd gen.
 
So do I do the updater update to update to 1802? or not to do that?...does it make a difference?
 
Just questions rolling around my head....so I do not screw it up....before I do!...lol ( I believe I should not) but I am always thinking to ask the techs first.
 
So Bill seeing as You have what I have in MB solution , and have updated your bios....what did you do in terms of the updater?

Oh...the new forth gen is suppose to be 4.mhz?...I got 3.50mhz....so what are they talking about?...new heat solutions fo rthis new processor? and such for this new intel based 4th gen 4mhz processor and this new updater?
 
I do not want to get this wrong...and screw up a perfectly good system, so forgive my apprehension and confusion ...before the swing to light speed.....I no longer have the box for my cpu, so I am assuming it is 3rd gen?...I forgot that detail...when I find out, I will put it in my descript...So I do not forget in future.
 

Ok I think I will do the updater update, and then do the bios...as I have a 4th gen processor....like you mention, but I did not read until now........and then install the new TB driver, and then setup the A & L zed....and get back to you all if resolved or not.
 
Thanks Billy Buck...for the info....I always thought wi fi was used for wireless devices, and internet wireless, so I never entered that domain.