FW issues

[JLM1]

Hello all,
I'm considering replacing my PC, which is getting old (2007), but I remember some horror stories about compatibility with IFFW card. Fortunately, I never had any issues in that respect, but I don't want to start having problems now.
Any ideas, comments or suggestions on this subjects?
Thanks and regards
JLM

 

[cmaffia]

Tip 1 - Transfer the firewire card that you're using in your current PC to the new PC (if possible). If not, you'll have to experiment with either a TI or VIA based chip-set replacement card to see which plays the nicest with your new motherboard. Fortunately they're cheap enough so you can experiment. Return the one that appears to be the least reliable or if both work, keep as backup.

Tip 2 - Always use the Legacy firewire drivers provided by Windows.

 

[JLM1]

The FW card iss built-in the MoBo (Intel DP965LT)... I tried to get info on the chipset, but I couldn't.
I've seen another thread where AudioWave praises the Sonnet Allegro. Maybe I'll give it a try...

 

[cmaffia]

The Sonnet recommendation was no doubt Mac centric. Not saying it won't work but really it comes down to the motherboard and the FireWire chipset. Sigma makes good FireWire cards as well. You will really need to experiment. You asked for tips right?

 

[Gerk]

The Sonnet Allegro cards are very Mac centric ... but that's because they use a good Ti chipset that has built-in support in OSX. Which in turn means that they are good cards to use for audio stuff so it's not just because it's Mac centric. They work as well in windows as they do in Mac.

 

[AudioWave]

I know first hand that the Sonnet Allegro FW800 card works just as well with Mac's as it does in Windows PC's. I've used with 100% reliability the Allegro cards in several PC's with the UAD Apollo which is a UAD qualified and suggested FW800 card. Apollo FW800 being far more demanding as it uses much, much more FW bandwidth than the Tascam IFFW card does.

I mention the Apollo FW as it like several other FW audio interfaces, the UAD Apollo FW and Tascam IFFW card both use the same family FW interface chipset from TC Technologies.

 

[JLM1]

The Sonnet recommendation was no doubt Mac centric. Not saying it won't work but really it comes down to the motherboard and the FireWire chipset. Sigma makes good FireWire cards as well. You will really need to experiment. You asked for tips right?

Absolutely, but, although I'm accepting a dose of experiment, I'm not ready to spend a year crying over my lost buffers, glitches and clicks and whatnot. That's why I gladly accept informed suggestions. I must admit I don't understand the interactions between MoBo and FW card.
Honest, if the Sonnet is a "certified" or "Tascam-approved" choice, I have no issues forking the extra shekels. Life's too short to do IT instead of music!
Anyway, I haven't yet made a choice on the new MoBo and processor...so many options...

 

[Arjan P]

If I were you and you, I'd first simply give the onboard MoBo FW a go (if they still have that). In my case - admittedly 5 years ago - the Asus P6TD Deluxe motherboard with onboard VIA VT6308 firewire has been working fine without any problems. And follow Charlie's tips!

 

[cmaffia]

Just to be clear, there are no "Tascam Approved/Certified" firewire cards only recommended chipsets which are listed in all of the FireWire driver release notes. I believe they also list chipsets which are known to have issues.

 

[JLM1]

If I were you and you, I'd first simply give the onboard MoBo FW a go (if they still have that). In my case - admittedly 5 years ago - the Asus P6TD Deluxe motherboard with onboard VIA VT6308 firewire has been working fine without any problems. And follow Charlie's tips!

I don't understand your comment.
I have NO issue with my current FW connection based on the internal controller of my Intel DP965LT.
I'm just considering building a new PC and soliciting tips about the available FW interface cards.

 

[JLM1]

Just to be clear, there are no "Tascam Approved/Certified" firewire cards

I understand that; that's why I put the words between quaotes.

only recommended chipsets which are listed in all of the FireWire driver release notes. I believe they also list chipsets which are known to have issues.

that's EXACTLY what I was expecting. Now, I'll check these release notes. Thanks!

 

[Arjan P]

I'm just considering building a new PC and soliciting tips about the available FW interface cards.

Yes, and my point is that you might not even need a separate FW interface card, depending on FW being available onboard your new motherboard.

 

[JLM1]

Just to be clear, there are no "Tascam Approved/Certified" firewire cards only recommended chipsets which are listed in all of the FireWire driver release notes. I believe they also list chipsets which are known to have issues.

After all, I've checked the release notes on the Tascam site. I haven't seen anything regarding chipsets...Maybe I'm not looking in the right direction?

 

[cmaffia]

Sorry the info it is in the IF-FW/DM MKII Owners Manual which is downloadable from Tascam's site:

FireWire Chipset Compatibility 1394a (FireWire 400) ports:

The IF-FW/DM MKII is designed to work with 1394a, a.k.a. FireWire 400, S400 or Sony i.LINK.
VIA chipsets are widely used and are a good match for the IFFW/DMMKII.
The IF-FW/DM MKII has been noted to perform badly with some NEC and TI branded chipsets.

A later manual revision got more specific as to which chipsets work best:

• Agere/LSI FW323
• VIA VT6308
• TI TSB43AB23 (Personally I find this one is the most reliable)

 

[JLM1]

Thanks a lot!
Intriguing, isn't it? How Tascam generically discourages TI and you find one of their chipset to be the "best"...

 

[cmaffia]

They don't discourage. They simply state "some" don't work yet list the specific TI chipset that does work (which I've had a 100% success rate regardless of what PC's I've used). What's funny is the worst performer for me was the VIA chipset in every system I've used. This is why I suggest buying one of each and experiment. Anyway, I think you now have enough info in this thread to narrow down a working FW card if you ever upgrade. I bought PCI and PCIe versions of this chipset for future use. I don't know how available these cards are now. You're best bet may be to purchase from eBay.