PLEASE! Update Mac FW-1884 drivers to 64 bit

[DJTemple]

HI, here's what is looking like the source code of Tascam FW series driver supported by Linux kernel >4.4 (2016) written by Takashi Sakamoto:
http://lxr.free-electrons.com/source/sound/firewire/tascam/tascam.c

Here some details (release notes IEEE 1394):
https://ieee1394.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Release_Notes#Linux_4.4

After reading for hours I think someone with Xcode skills can port this driver to OSX. Of course my information need to be validated by anyone competent just in case... but here's the link that seems suggesting to do so: https://developer.apple.com/library...ng/Conceptual/PortingDrivers/intro/intro.html

Please keep me informed, good luck!
James Temple

 

[TheGaffler]

Did anyone get anywhere with the Mac 64 Bit driver?? I have time and money I can donate to this cause! The FW-1082 is a beast! And it's not right that Tascam abandoned this driver just to make people buy new equipment. Shaaame! Shaaame! Shaaaaaame!!

 

[Everart]

Ok. I got an idea that "maybe" work!
1: Mac have a project called wine, is for run windows applications on Mac.
2: We have a 64bits version for Windows right?
3: Why not install wine and install the windows version and give a try to this?
This is the link explain step by step how to do it.

https://www.davidbaumgold.com/tutorials/wine-mac/#what-is-wine?

I will give a try next week, I am not home this weekend.

 

[TheGaffler]

@Everart I tried. It didn't work for me. I like the idea though! LONG LIVE THE 1884!

 

[Fernand]

It's summer 2020 and I'm still using my FW1884 as a Control Surface just fine in Logic 10.4.8 on my classic 2012 Power Mac tower running High Sierra. The trick is to use a PC running the 64 bit TASCAM FW1884 driver as a bridge for the FW1884.

The method, to review, in a nutshell:

• Get a PC running 64 bit Windows w/ TI chip Firewire and 1000BaseT Ethernet
• Connect FW1884, install Windows 64 bit Tascam FW1884 driver, Confirm local operation
• Install rtpMIDI on PC for Network MIDI, configure to remote the FW1884 control MIDI
  
  
• Get a Mac running 64 bit MacOS and wire to PC over 1000BaseT Ethernet
• Configure Mac Network MIDI in Audio MIDI Setup to connect to PC's port for FW1884
• Copy FW-1884.bundle file from within old e.g. Logic 10.0.4 and paste into
  /Applications/Logic Pro X.app/Contents/PlugIns/MIDI Device Plug-ins
• Open Logic and configure Control Surfaces to use the FW1884.

Done. Enjoy. What a lovely chunk of iron.

• Gigabit Ethernet is preferred, but 100BaseT works fine too.
• It should be possible, and easier to configure, to use an old 32 bit Mac w/ the 32 bit MacOS driver for the FW1884 instead of a PC.
• FW1884's Native Mode works best. Mackie mode works and does not require the FW-1884.bundle, but is inferior, e.g. no EQ or sends, etc, etc. "Sad".
• The FW1082 works this way too, but it lacks some buttons like READ/TOUCH/WRITE etc, so it demands some creative workarounds. Once you get your FW1082 working as proof of concept, best to look for a FW1884.
• Takes some fiddling to get the Network MIDI configured and working, but once it's set up, it all re-connects as soon as you boot up the 2 machines.
• Extra Credit: It's even possible to use the FW1884 on the PC locally as an audio interface, while the Control Surface works over Network MIDI on the Mac!
• AP Extra Credit: The scribble strip FW1884 app on the PC shows the tracks in use on the Mac. You can use a VNC session from PC to Mac to display it on the Mac desktop;-)

rtpMIDI is here:
https://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/rtpmidi.html