Is the RME fireface 400 reliable?

[galo]

Was just about to upgrade from my apogee and came across a number of posts on the internet about rme fireface users experiencing critical issues especially on new driver sets

http://www.rme-audio.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7060

Currently I am running a MacBook3,1 OSX 10.5.8 and ableton 7 due to a few disaster gig experiences running ableton 8 and snow leopard, I was wondering if any of you guys are running a fireface 400 with a similar system, and whether any issues had arose

[B-S]

honestly, if i would be on mac would better check for Motu and not Rme.

[Tarekith]

Mine's working pretty well, only a few downsides. The biggest one for me is that if I disconnect it from my MBP, I need to reboot the MBP when I reconnect it if I want the volume knob to work. Still works fine as a soundcard, I just lose that hardware volume control (still adjustable via the software mixer too). Never had any issues that would make me not feel comfrotable using it live.

While I love my FF400 and think it was well worth the money, I truly do not understand all the comments I've read over the years about how good RME is with driver updates.

[galo]

In the past I had always heard that rme was the way to go but the rme forum currently seem like a pretty disgruntled lot, which is totally understandable if you are paying out that money for a unit that doesnt work tbh. I have had some real bad experiences upgrading equipment of late, though this one is pretty much forced on me, and overall sound quality playback is a real issue due the systems that it will be used on, but reliability is my number one concern

[Tarekith]

Well, just like on the Ableton forums, you get more people complaining than praising, so I wouldn't go too much by what you read there. IT is a support forum after all. Honestly, mine's stable as can be except for the volume knob issue, and in a live setting I can't see myself needing to unplug my FF400 anyway to trigger that.

[glitchrock-buddha]

If you're on a mac, do you need to update your drivers at all?

[galo]

Well, just like on the Ableton forums, you get more people complaining than praising, so I wouldn't go too much by what you read there. IT is a support forum after all. Honestly, mine's stable as can be except for the volume knob issue, and in a live setting I can't see myself needing to unplug my FF400 anyway to trigger that.

Yeah in an ideal world it should never be unplugged, but cables have a habit of popping out at the most inopportune times to me. The fact that i could'nt just plug it and play scares me a bit

I am unsure as to whether these issues have only occured for the current drivers or where they always there?

[Tarekith]

Let me clarify, I CAN just plug my card in and it will play fine, I just have to use the software mixer to change the overall volume if I do this without rebooting. Not sure why you'd need to adjust the soundcard volume midset if this happened, so for me it's not a big deal.

No idea what the history is with this, I've been using an Ultralite until just a few months ago.

[nuxnamon]

i have a FF800 on the same OSX as you and has not given me any problems (i assume it's comparable to FF400).. the only thing I did was make sure I upgraded my firmware to the latest.. I didn't have to upgrade my driver as I am still very reluctant to upgrade to Snow Leopard.. From what people say, RME drivers are better written on PC, but I've had no problems whatsoever OSX.. It's like when people say MOTU drivers are better on OSX, but I am sure there are plenty of windows users that use MOTU.. but regarding the RME, I don't take it out cuz I use the ultralite for that.. so i wouldn't know how reliable it is on the road (sturdiness wise)..

[Tarekith]

Sorry, I should add that I am using Snow Leopard, not Leopard, and it sounds like that's what's causing a lot of the issues for people.

[galo]

thanks for the info

[Atomikat]

I used a Macbook Pro with a RME Multiface and they totally rock, very stable on the road, the only downside is that I had to use an adapter for the PCMCIA to Expresscard and one day this adapter broke leaving me with the need to use my old Firewire Audiophile while I get the replace for the adapter (I can't get it in this country I'm in right now).

[aqua_tek]

Sorry, I should add that I am using Snow Leopard, not Leopard, and it sounds like that's what's causing a lot of the issues for people.

I was having all sorts of trouble with my FF 800 and Snow Leopard, until I installed the latest driver update from RME. Works fine now.

[Tarekith]

Latest driver here same issue. Not a biggy though.

[zalo]

yes, the only time i have ever had a problem with mine is when i downloaded the drivers for snow leopard

funny thing is there was nothing wrong with the drivers from leopard so i just reverted back

i dont have the knob issue