Win 8: no drivers for my hardware

You really need Windows 8 drivers. This is very important. 

 I was able to get my Frontier Design Tranzport to install using Windows compatibility mode. It works fine.
  An audio interface may be another story though. 
  

vladasyn


I built the computer with Win 8 Pro and now all my hardware is outdated. Fast Track Ultra 8R only has drivers for Vista. It says, "This will not install for any OS other than Vista 64." It was written before Win 7 or 8. Should I take my chances?
 
My other interface is Helix Phonic 18. Same situation. Any thoughts? thank you.  

Vlada, check your regular email, regarding Windows 7.


Bob Bone

Fast Track Ultra 8R only has drivers for Vista

The FastTrack Ultra 8R (audio interface) Win7x64 drivers work under Win8x64.
Some users have experienced BSOD... but it's worth a shot.

The issue with early migration to a new OS... (lots of small issues have to be ironed out with driver/firmware/software updates)

vladasyn


Jim, I just called Avid, they say Win 8 not released. What I found on their site for Fast Track was for Vista. Where do you see the Win 7 version, please?

Daveny, I do not see it saying for what gear/mixer this driver is. Is it for Phinic Helix 18 (first version)? They have many newer boards (well- few at least0- I see it says, FireWire, but for what? (Have to leave for couple hours- cant look it up yet. But thanks for the hope.

I was cinsidering all new gear but not all together and better- not right now. lol.

http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/download/Fast-Track-Ultra-8R-Drivers

vladasyn


Thank you for the drivers ideas. I sent e-mail to Phonic support asking if that driver would work for Win 8.

For the FastTrack- I would like to wait for Win 8 drivers. I used to be willing to install anything. I am just tired of unstable system. And this one is hand made from ground up- if something goes wrong with it- I am fully responsible. It just so hard not to have sound. I can use soft synth and hear them from generic motherboard audio. I installed USB MIDI driver for my main keyboard, so I can play keys and control soft synth, but I can not hear the keyboard itself because it not plugged in to onboard audio. Frustrating. Have no MIDI, no Audio- just plugins. :)

I wish I hadn't given mine away (to another forum person) - actually, I wish I had ANOTHER one to give away - a cheap 2x2 midi interface from E-MU.


There are some for between $25-$50 that would plug into a USB port and give you access to plug in 1 or 2 of your external keyboards to your computer, while you are waiting to take the plunge on something more expensive - or waiting for drivers.  It would be a temporary but pretty cheap way to get you up and running, somewhat.

And, while limited to using only 1 or 2 of your external synths, you would be able to use that setup to record unlimited tracks that used the soft synths that come with X2.

Would that work for the short-term?

Bob Bone

If you have win 7 drivers..... this is worth a go. it worked for my xv5050 when compatibility mode wouldnt..
 
1.From the Metro Start Screen, open Settings (move your mouse to the bottom-right-corner of the screen and wait for the pop-out bar to appear, then click the Gear icon).
 
2.Click ‘More PC Settings’.
 
3.Click ‘General’.
 
4.Scroll down, and click ‘Restart now’ under ‘Advanced startup’.
 
5.Wait a bit.
 
6.Click ‘Troubleshoot’.
 
7.Click ‘Advanced Options’
 
8.Click ‘Windows Startup Settings’
 
9.Click Restart and chooose disable driver signing when prompted (option 7 i think) Once restarted, Re install device using win 7 drivers and press install if you see a warning message.
 
It may not work, but worth a try. edit - sorry about format, paragpahs are not working in any of my posts.

I didn't upgrade yet cause no Win 8 drivers for my Saffire Pro 24.

Maarkr


I didn't upgrade yet cause no Win 8 drivers for my Saffire Pro 24.

http://us.focusrite.com/d...product=Saffire+PRO+24


  I have a Pro 40 . The new drivers work fine on Widows 8

One neat thing about Windows 8 is it comes with drivers for most gear. Not so much gear that we would have but much of the gear normally used. They added more support while having fewer different drivers. Windows 8 uses a driver types in a way that provides greater support for  devices at same time fewer files are installed. This is about printer drivers but talks about how they have fewer drivers and support more printers. From the MS blog on building Windows 8

John, you reminded me to test my printer! :)

I called Phonic and they said, the Phonic helix 18 driver will not work on Win 8, do not try.

I called Avid. they said- no drivers for Fast Track Ultra 8 R. I read some other forums- it looks like the driver for fast Track they install is Beta for Win 7, not even official Win 7. The unit is still sold, not discontinued, but for some reason they did not release official driver. I think, if it was working and was that easy- they would just release the driver officially and said, 'Woalah!"

I also wish i could install Unitor 8 MIDI interface. Do not feel like buying new unit. $250 is a lot of money after you spent on building computer and need new audio interface.

What if i plug the MIDI device and see what happens without installing drivers? is there a chance- some Win 8 drivers would work? Thanks.

yeah, see... I used to try installing things, and then my Sonar would crash for no reason. I wanted to start over and make sure I only use official drivers so there will be no one to blame if Sonar crashes as it always does. I had very bad experience with every version of Sonar.

@vladasyn If only life was so simple, official drivers can be buggy as well. So can Windows. So can faulty firmware and faulty hardware. You don't know who to blame until you diagnose the issue. In a lot of cases you don't know what is to blame after it's fixed (so people just blame whatever they feel emotionally attached to).

miguelito

This thread has a lot of conflicting information

 
This is a good point IMO. I'd really like to make the move to Win8 but I don't see a 100% commitment from RME regarding the UFX at least up till now. I've read that some are using it and for others it was a problem.
 
Bottom line for me, and I would think others, is if I can't believe in my drivers I'm not even going to think about making the move. It seems to me that the majority (though not all) of the problems I read about on this forum are generally caused by faulty drivers.
 
I use my DAW to record and produce music...I don't want to be in unreliable mode.
 
Regards,

I actually have discontinued use of some hardware products over lack of driver support, and now whenever I am looking at a new piece of gear, I check for driver history for the vendor right after deciding to potentially buy a given piece of hardware.  Some companies still do not have Windows 7 drivers for hardware that is still current, and that's just wrong.


Vlada - you are in a gray area, where you either wait for drivers - which may take months, or you try it and deal with whatever happens, which is never a fun place to be.  With all of your prior nightmares, I can only wish for you the best of experiences with your new computer, and a speedy gaining of stability and horsepower.

Bob Bone

Thanks for the good wishes. I want to try to install fast Track Ultra drivers, but I am scared. besides- it is only 8 tracks- I am looking in to FireWire devices like presonus with more Ins. I had 3 sound cards on my old system and it worked, but I had many crashes of Sonar (Win XP) especially Sonar X1 and X2. I heard many times that multiple sound cards are to blame, so- this time- I want one big sound card/mixer that would take all my keyboards. If I install Fast Track, then I will have more than one interface again. Not that I have money to but Presounus, but I might do something crazy.

John, thanks for looking up the driver, it is very helpful, however, this is the driver for MK II. I contacted Phonic and they said- it will not work for my original Phonic Helix 18. (There were 2 versions- my is first, 2004- also works good in XP).