DigiBiu
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Which Firewire Card Should I get
Ok, i see that my firewire card has a Via chip on it and I am having lots of troubles with the FW-1884, so I want to get a new one. The last one I bought cost me about $12, so Im thinking that might be the trouble. Where can I get one online, and which one do you guys think is the best.
Thanks
http://digitalbayoustudios.com/https://soundcloud.com/digibiuDavid Stuckey Sonar X3 Producer ,Windows 7 64bit ,6G Ram, Quad Core 2.6,3 1 UAD 2 card, 4 UAD-1 Cards, 2 Dell 24" LCD, ADAM ANF10, Avantones, Crown Power Amp, Great River ME-1, UA Solo/610, Distressor,Presonus ADL600,, RNC, RNLA, 2 PBC-6a, JoeMeek MC2, ART Pro Channel, Yamaha MO8,Korg Triton,M-Audio Keystation Pro 88, Custom Shop Fender Twin, 76 Randall Tube Amp, Custom Blue Runner Tube Amp, Lynx Aurora 8 FW Apogee AD8000 SE MixedLogic M24 Control Surface Yamaha Pro Mix 01
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CJaysMusic
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 18:10:27
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They have the Edirol FA66 24bit Firewire card for $279 on samash.com. I just bought one an hour ago.
CJ
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newfuturevintage
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 18:14:29
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word on the street is to find one with a TI chipset...that said, I'm using a VERY cheap VIA-chipped, generic card with my fireface, and it's working like a champ. It cost about the same as yours.
My inner child is an angry drunk.
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CJaysMusic
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 18:19:26
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Thats great, whats a TI chipset?????
CJ
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Genghis
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 18:25:30
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ORIGINAL: CJaysMusic
Thats great, whats a TI chipset?????
CJ
That means that the chipset used for the FireWire card was made by Texas Instruments. A TI chipset is most highly recommended by most of the FireWire audio interface manufacturers. (Whether it's onboard FireWire or PCI add-on, they still usually recommend the TI.) Original poster was asking about a FireWire card to connect their FireWire audio interface... not for another FireWire audio interface to try.
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altima_boy_2001
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 18:35:19
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ORIGINAL: CJaysMusic
They have the Edirol FA66 24bit Firewire card for $279 on samash.com. I just bought one an hour ago.
Didn't you just buy a different FW interface yesterday?? What's going on here? 
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CJaysMusic
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 18:46:01
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I cancelled the order for the alesis....altima boy
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calaverasgrandes
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 19:26:54
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plus one on the TI chips for firewire.
I have been thru 3 computers in the last 4 years.
Lucent chip kinda worked
Agere didnt work
Via completely didnt work
TI works great.
I really wish there was more info about why one chip does or doesnt work.
I have just gotten form answers from the companies I have asked.
"we reccomend...."
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Houndawg
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 19:51:51
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Not too long ago one of my clients was experiencing various issues with his FW-1884 losing sync with his computer. At the time, he was using an on-board VIA Firewire controller. I suggested a dedicated PCI Firewire controller card from Koutech that uses the TI chipset -- about $20 from Newegg if I recall correctly. He disabled onboard Firewire and installed the new PCI Firewire card... no more problems, solid, stable.
If you an open PCI Express slot on your motherboard, I highly recommend that over PCI. However, if you only have PCI slots, a dedicated Firewire controller card (using a TI chipset) is the BEST solution for you. By the way, please don't make the mistake of getting a "combo" PCI card such as one that has both Firewire/USB2 on it or even both Firewire 400/800... just a Firewire 400 controller is all you need -- others mentioned have been known to cause trouble.
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Jim Roseberry
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:01:35
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Adaptec 4300 for Frontier Design based stuff (Tascam)....
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:13:32
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Yep, anything with the TI chips will have a higher probability of working with firewire audio interfaces. In my experience with a bunch of firewire devices, #2 is VIA, but it doesn't have as good as results as some have indicated above. Unfortunately, the TI based cards are sometimes harder to find and it's not an "obvious" thing that companies advertise for their cheap little cards in a lot of cases... so it can be hit and miss sometimes. I've bought (and returned) a LOT of cards over the years... now I'm starting to get good better at identifying which ones have the TI chip from the pictures. :) But not always. :(
Also, stay far, far away from the Agere chips and avoid the Lucent chips when possible. #1 is TI, and #2 is VIA.
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:15:49
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ORIGINAL: Jim Roseberry
Adaptec 4300 for Frontier Design based stuff (Tascam)....
Adaptec 4300 If I'm not mistaken I think the 4300 has the TI chip on it. Great card. I think I have one of those in one of my machines. :)
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AdamF
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:16:30
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Hilarious;
While I was loging in, Jim beat me to it!!
+1 for the Adaptec Fireconnect 4300
Cost me $15. Works with everything! Even MOTU stuff.
Adam
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AdamF
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:18:48
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Man ya gotta be fast around here : )
Got smoked by eratu as well!
Yes the 4300 has a Ti chipset
Adam
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:20:03
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Yep, here's a closeup of the 4300... see that little TI logo on there? It's tough to see... but that's TI, I can guarantee it. 
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:22:59
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I just went through Newegg and they should have a few for you with TI on them... below is an example of a NO-NO... the Agare chip... do NOT buy that one:  EDIT: Sorry, I misspelled that.. It should be Agere... no buy Agere... no buy Agere. Just remember that. A lot of the ones at CompUSA are Agere...
post edited by eratu - 2007/02/09 20:44:44
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:26:03
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Here's VIA -- my #2 choice after TI: 
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:28:43
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Man, I'm having fun...here's an IOGEAR card, and under that sticker I'm 90% sure it's a TI chip... I think I have one of these in one of my machines. 
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:33:28
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AND, here's another TI on a PCI express card.... 
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Steve Mac
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:37:48
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Is anyone using Firewire 800 cards? The pictures look like FW 400 (I'm haven't jumped into the firewire world yet; I have a Delta 1010 with problems arising (buzzing capacitors on the outputs) and I might go the firewire route. However, I do have a lifetime warranty on the Delta. Decisions, decisions. . . .
Steve McNamara ~~ SignatureTunes Studios~~ SoundClick avatar courtesy of my son
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CJaysMusic
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:38:58
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ive been kinda following this thread, thanks for the good info. So, basicaly when my firewire card comes (tuesday) I can, but should not hhok it into my stock firewire port that came with my pc. I should get a pci express or pci TI chipset firewire thinga maging..And this will improve my latency by 1.00-2.5 ms..
Man, I learned more in this forum than my whole 16 years in school..
CJ
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LionSound
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:44:04
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Which PCIe card is that? I just bought a Belkin PCIe with a TI chipset ... I'vealso seen SIIG and Startech with TI chipsets for PCIe. ORIGINAL: eratu
AND, here's another TI on a PCI express card....
www.soundclick.com/lionsound FirstStrike 1.2 IS RELEASED! www.fsmod.com
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altima_boy_2001
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:48:19
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ORIGINAL: CJaysMusic
ive been kinda following this thread, thanks for the good info. So, basicaly when my firewire card comes (tuesday) I can, but should not hhok it into my stock firewire port that came with my pc. I should get a pci express or pci TI chipset firewire thinga maging..And this will improve my latency by 1.00-2.5 ms..
The type of chipset relates to stability and compatibility with a range of firewire devices, and not latency. Look at the device manager and see if the on-board FW port is TI chipset since it will probably say some place if it's TI, VIA, or something. Personally, I wouldn't spend money for something unless I need it. If the on-board is not TI then you have the option of trying what you have, or buying a fairly cheap TI card.
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:50:04
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ORIGINAL: Steve Mac
Is anyone using Firewire 800 cards? The pictures look like FW 400 (I'm haven't jumped into the firewire world yet; I have a Delta 1010 with problems arising (buzzing capacitors on the outputs) and I might go the firewire route. However, I do have a lifetime warranty on the Delta. Decisions, decisions. . . .
I do NOT use them. And I don't recommend them. TI 400 is the beast and is the most compatible. FW 800 might have matured a lot since my last round of testing, but just about nothing really takes advantage of it... and frankly you don't need it for even the RME FireFace 800! So don't get it unless your audio interface developer has given you approved hardware... for example, see the following: http://www.rme-audio.com/english/techinfo/fw800alert.htm Straight from RME itself, "Reassuring: FireWire 400 (1394a-2000) has always functioned properly. We tested PCI FireWire cards with chips from VIA, NEC and Texas Instruments. The communication between computer, Fireface 800 and external FireWire hard drive didn't show any problem. Worrying: With FireWire 800 (1394b), however, we encountered shaky communication, complete denial or strong temperature dependancy. Operating the Fireface and an external FW800 hard drive at the same time caused irregular bus resets, which were of course interrupting the audio signal."
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:53:09
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ORIGINAL: LionSound
Which PCIe card is that? I just bought a Belkin PCIe with a TI chipset ... I'vealso seen SIIG and Startech with TI chipsets for PCIe.
Dang! I forgot to type that in and I closed my NewEgg window... I think it was Startech, actually. Anyway, I got that picture from NewEgg so a little searching around there will turn it up again.
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 20:56:51
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ORIGINAL: altima_boy_2001
ORIGINAL: CJaysMusic
ive been kinda following this thread, thanks for the good info. So, basicaly when my firewire card comes (tuesday) I can, but should not hhok it into my stock firewire port that came with my pc. I should get a pci express or pci TI chipset firewire thinga maging..And this will improve my latency by 1.00-2.5 ms..
The type of chipset relates to stability and compatibility with a range of firewire devices, and not latency. Look at the device manager and see if the on-board FW port is TI chipset since it will probably say some place if it's TI, VIA, or something. Personally, I wouldn't spend money for something unless I need it. If the on-board is not TI then you have the option of trying what you have, or buying a fairly cheap TI card.
Right on Altima, CJays will not experience any latency improvement with TI. It will either work reliably with his current firewire chip or it won't. If it doesn't, then he just needs to pick up a TI-based card and he'll probably solve most of his problems.
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 21:00:07
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ORIGINAL: LionSound
Which PCIe card is that? I just bought a Belkin PCIe with a TI chipset ... I'vealso seen SIIG and Startech with TI chipsets for PCIe.
ORIGINAL: eratu
AND, here's another TI on a PCI express card....
Okay, found it... it's the StarTech IEEE-1394 FireWire PCI Express Card Model PEX1394_2 - Retail
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Jose7822
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 21:20:20
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To Jim Rosebarry or Houndawg,
Why is PCI Express better than regular PCI for FW-400 (1394a) equipment?
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...tóbal
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 21:49:08
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            Boy, am I confused now...
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eratu
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RE: Which Firewire Card Should I get
2007/02/09 22:05:26
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