I have a problem which I think is being caused by the Firewire 410 device.
I put together a new computer based on an ABIT KV8 MAX3 MB and an AMD64 3200+ CPU. The M-Audio Firewire 410 device features also appealed to me.
Since I have been using this combo I have blown out (2) Sony DV cameras by plugging them in to my firewire ports and now my Motherboard firewire ports don't work at all. I had to buy a new 3 port firewire PCI card.

I have never had any problems before by plugging in plug and play devices
such as camera to USB or Firewire. My new (exchanged) DV camera now works fine but I have NOT installed the Firewire 410 device yet and am afraid to because I think it blew out my other 2 DV cameras.
I think the FW 410 or its drivers are prone to blow up firewire devices.
You should be able to plug in any USB or Firewire device without fear
of it being fried or it frying other hardware. I use SONAR 3.1 and the device works and sounds great but like I said I am now afraid of putting it back into my system.

Anyone else had the same problems? If so I think M-Audio should send out a new device with this dangerously, expensive problem fixed.
Thanks for any ideas, suggestions, replys.
Pete Carr

I don't know Pete. I have heard simalar fron non-daw people about firewire. I calles a buddy that runs a company that does pro video (rodeos, boat drags) he says nobody he knows uses firewire, all usb 2.0, but did not know of specific problems with firewire. ...........JDW

I have the firewire 410 and have not had this issue.

However I would do a couple of things.

If you are plugging it into a 6 pin FW socket then don't use the power adapter that comes with the firewire 410. It will run off of the power from the firewire card in the PC. I have never used the power adapter.

If you want to use the power adapter so you can plug other firewire devices into the FW 410 then only plug it into a 4 pin firwire socket on the PC.

The only way I can see that the 410 would cause this issue is if the power polarities are different. For example if you are using a reveresed polarity power adapter this might blow things up.

best advice don't use the power adapter and it should work fine.

Hi Jammy, thanks so much for the reply.
Well, I have never used the supplied power adapter.
Some news. I just went to the M-Audio site and they have just posted (this month) a warning about ports and devices being made permantly inoperable
when using the FW 410.
They say there (M-Audio) "This has come to our attention lately..... ".

The post sounds like if you want to plug a IEEE 1394 device up to your computer like a DV camera etc. they say turn the computer off, plug it in, then turn the computer back on. That sound like a crazy way to utilize another firewire periferal on your system if you plan on using the M-Audio FW 410.
The new Belkin 3 port Firewire PCI card, I just had to buy, says right on the box ""Install devices with plug-in-play ease, without requiring you to restart your computer". Like USB PnP specs. Belkin is right about this spec.
IMHI the M-Audio Firewire 410 has a serious glitch in its design I think.

I need to use the 410 but I doubt if Best Buy would exchange another
burnt out DV Camera. This is my 3rd one. Plus now my MB FW ports are gone.
It may be something here but they now warn about it on thier site
so its not just me and my setup. I wonder what combo of MB, Chip Set etc.
could be causing this or is it mainly the FW 410's sole fault.
Took me weeks to figure out what was happening.
I never dreamed it was the 410 until I had to take back my 2nd camera.
The new one works great after I reinstalled XP etc without the 410 device.
Thanks again.
(By the way the new Sony DV camera is better than my older one
but I need to make some music also and I love the FW 410 otherwise.)
Pete

Hi John,
Thats a surprise because most people I know use IEEE 1394 for video.
In fact I don't think many Digital Video cams support USB 2.0 yet.
(Some do for mem stick pics etc but not for full res DV loading into a video app). Some brand new models do I suppose but none that have caught my eye. I have USB 2.0 and would have gotten one this week if I saw one.
But I don't have a big, big choice here at Best Buy, Office Depot etc.
Plus I like Sony for cams.
Thanks a million.
Pete

I found this site that seems to state the hot-swapping is a problem in all sorts of situations.

You may be able to gleen some insight from it. I'm scared now to ever do any hot swapping aggain.

http://www.wiebetech.com/pressreleases/FireWirePortFailures.htm

Its a good read for anyone using firewire devices anyway.

You should ask m-audio.
Does the FireWire 410 have a transient limiting circuitry on the Data lines at power up time, in order to prevent transients from causing damage to the host?

They should be doing this.

Hope this helps.

From the M Audio FW 410 Manual...

IMPORTANT:

It has come to our attention that problems have been reported with several types of IEEE1394 (“FireWire”) devices, including M-Audio FireWire devices. These problems occur when using a 6-pin bus-powered connection when plugging and unplugging external FireWire devices, when both the computer and external device are powered on. This is commonly referred to as “hotplugging”. In some cases the FireWire port on the host computer system is rendered permanently inoperable. In other cases the external FireWire device is rendered permanently inoperable. M-Audio does not want users of M-Audio FireWire products to experience such costly problems. Therefore, M-Audio must require that users of M-Audio FireWire devices refrain from hotplugging any M-Audio FireWire device. You must make your FireWire connection while both computer and FireWire device are powered off; then power on.

I was never aware of this before.

I just got a email on the 18th from M-Audio about hot plugging



You are receiving this bulletin as a registered owner of an M-Audio FireWire product.

Attn: IEEE 1394 "FireWire" Users

Thank you for purchasing an M-Audio FireWire product. Reports have come to our attention of isolated problems when hot-plugging IEEE 1394 (aka "FireWire") devices. (Hot-plugging refers to making 1394/FireWire connections when one or more of the devices--including the computer--is on.)

When hot-plugging, there are rare occurrences where either the FireWire peripheral or the FireWire port on the host computer is rendered permanently inoperable. While M-Audio products adhere rigidly to the FireWire industry standard and pass stringent internal testing, the possibility remains that hot-plugging your M-Audio FireWire interface with some computers may result in the type of problem described here.

We strongly encourage you to protect your equipment by refraining from hot-plugging any bus-powered FireWire device, including the M-Audio family of FireWire products. Connect your FireWire device while both the computer and FireWire device are powered off. Power on the FireWire device, then turn the computer on last. If you are using bus power (systems
with IEEE1394 6-pin connectors) make sure you make the cable connection first, then turn the FireWire device power switch on, and turn the computer system on last.

M-Audio is being proactive in investigating any issues that may adversely affect our customers. Please consult the Knowledge Base in the Support section at www.m-audio.com for updates on this important issue.


In case your M-Audio FireWire device is not detected by your computer on startup, try one or more of the following troubleshooting steps instead of hotplugging it:

1. Turn your M-Audio FireWire device off, wait 30 seconds then power it on.

2. Put your computer into hibernation mode, wait 30 seconds then reactivate it.

3. Restart the computer (don't turn it off) while the M-Audio FireWire device remains connected and powered on.

I'm not sure if this is really a "generic" problem or not but over the last 8 months I have hotplugged my CD burner and FW-1884 more times than I care to think about without any damage to MOBO or either device. I have 6-pin cables but the CD and 1884 requires thier own power cords do to excessive current draw I'm sure. Maybe there are other parameters involved.?.

Maybe there are other parameters involved.?.

Could be. Do you routinely find whole patches of four-leaf clovers underfoot? Do meter maids suddenly realize it's lunchtime just as they're about to ticket your car? Has Ed McMahon showed up at your door with a big check recently? If yes on that last question, did you know I'm your long-lost cousin? :-)