New MBP Retina? USB 3.0 Ports and USB 2.0 Devices...

[telekom]

If you're waiting for a new MacBook Pro w Retina to arrive... you should take a look at this article on createdigitalmusic about the backwards compatibility of USB3.0 ports. In summary, some USB2.0 interfaces and controllers don't work properly in the USB3.0 ports of new Macs. Specific issues are highlighted with NI's Audio 8.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/06/u ... more-24316

Any thoughts/experiences/ideas? .....

[telekom]

Update: M-Audio has added to the article by saying that:

"M-Audio USB devices are not qualified for use on USB 3.0 ports at this time. If you are experiencing problems such as pops, clicks, crackles, dropouts, and distortion, or if your device is not recognized or drops offline, make sure your device is connected to a USB 2.0 (or USB 1.1) port."

Got that sinking feeling...

[chasting]

I have the new 2012 macbook pro 13" and NI's Kontrol Rig 3 does not work with the USB 3.0 ports. Only produces static.

Curt

[moonpie]

Update: M-Audio has added to the article by saying that:

"M-Audio USB devices are not qualified for use on USB 3.0 ports at this time. If you are experiencing problems such as pops, clicks, crackles, dropouts, and distortion, or if your device is not recognized or drops offline, make sure your device is connected to a USB 2.0 (or USB 1.1) port."

Got that sinking feeling...

In fairness, every piece of m-audio equipment Ive had has come with that sort of caveat. Replace "USB 3.0 ports" with vista/win7/osx 10.6.1/2/3/4/5/fullmoon/sun rising in east... :p (Any chance to stick the knife in!)

[telekom]

Sorry to hear about your Rig3 Curt. Moonpie, I know legacy devices are often left behind by new advances in hardware, but this was one case where USB3.0 ports were supposed to work with USB2.0 in glorious backward-compatibility. I'm not necessarily pointing the finger at companies like M-Audio or Tascam (both of whom deserve huge criticism for their attitude to "legacy" devices). I'm more concerned that companies like Apple are embracing this new technology with claims that it is fully backward-compatible - but even only a week or so after the new MBPs are released, older devices won't work.

OK, I know it's a first-world problem. But it does really stick in my throat to have the prospect of having to buy a new soundcard and controller.

[Anubis]

I have the new 2012 macbook pro 13" and NI's Kontrol Rig 3 does not work with the USB 3.0 ports. Only produces static.

Curt

Neither does the Komplete audio 6. Focusrite do have USB 3.0 drivers for their interfaces.

[chasting]

Anyone else able to test Rig Kontrol with the new USB 3.0 MacBooks?

Curt

[chasting]

TEMPORARY SOLUTION

OK, after much troubleshooting, I determined that the issue related to my Kontrol Rig 3 was 10.7.4 and not the USB 3.0 hardware.

I determined this by restoring my 2012 MBP to 10.7.3. After the downgrade the KR3 worked perfectly (it appears).

So DO NOT INSTALL 10.7.4 or the Macbook mid-2012 Update (it also installs 10.7.4) if you want to use Kontrol Rig 3.

Curt

[telekom]

That's interesting Curt. Glad you got a solution. However, does this mean we need Apple to address this issue in a future update? I'm wondering if the issue is specific only to your Rig or whether it's all usb2.0 devices with dedicated drivers? I'm just hoping that the usb3.0 ports on the MBP will work with class compliant usb2.0 devices so that my soundcard and mixer will work.

If Apple need to provide the fix for issues like this I reckon we could wait a looong time...

[chasting]

I only have the KR3 but the symptom seems to be similar across many devices...distorted output.

The big thing for me is that I believe the issue is not hardware related as the 10.7.3 OS works.

Curt

[H20nly]

That's interesting Curt. Glad you got a solution. However, does this mean we need Apple to address this issue in a future update? I'm wondering if the issue is specific only to your Rig or whether it's all usb2.0 devices with dedicated drivers? I'm just hoping that the usb3.0 ports on the MBP will work with class compliant usb2.0 devices so that my soundcard and mixer will work.

If Apple need to provide the fix for issues like this I reckon we could wait a looong time...

yeah, i'm pretty sure that Apple's stance is: you don't need USB 2.0 anymore.

[chasting]

I don't think that is the case.

USB 3.0 should be backwards compatible but they are not fully there yet.

Hopefully apple is motivated to fix this.

Curt

[strode420]

LOL holy facepalm. guess i won't be buying one of the new mbp's any time soon. Retina models are a very non-hilarious joke though imho

[Tracker102]

I have the brand new late 2012 13" MBP, installing 10.7.3 is not an option for me, as the hardware profiles are nonexistent pre-Late 2012 update. So I have to have the most current version for my machine to even boot to the operating system. (I certainly tried)

This is very unfortunate for me because I only have an Audio Kontrol 1, and the newest drivers just produce a hard distortion sound.

Damn.

[H20nly]

this may seem like a stupid thing to try, but maybe using a different USB cable could help. i've seen stranger things.