New RME Multiface and Carbus Drivers

hatshigh · Post by **hatshigh** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:07 am

What the fuck are RME Playing at!

I just got this gear this evening and tried to perform the new flash update on the old cardbus, now its been saying failed for the last 3 hours. So i decided to give up.

It says on the read me file oh just keep your computer on, FUCK OFF!!

I need to know is this card now fucked or is it the unit itself?, cus i bought this thing for a gig im doing this sat 26th may and if they dont sort it im gonna get a fuckin flight over and punch the ears right of someone. Why bring out an update that can kill your gear, thats just plain stupid. If something like that was to happen WHY DONT THEY PUT A BIG FUCKING WARNING AT THE TOP OR MAKE IT FOR NON USE OF OLD VERSIONS. RME YOUR WANKERS AND IM GONNA KNOCK YOUR FUCK IN.

So whats the story here to the solution, Do i need to buy a new cardbus or what?

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:07 am

umm...hello and welcome to the forum

Yes, they should put it in big flashing (sorry for the pun) letters that if you have a FLAT cardbus, there is no BIOS protection, and a flash update can indeed render the card useless. When it fails, you have two options:

1. Keep flashing until successful. If you reboot or if you take the card out, or stop power to the card in any way, it's a dead card, plain and simple. In that case...

2. Send it to your nearest Synthax dealer. In my case, when this happened, I contacted Dan Sabastian (a really nice guy) and for $30 and sending in the old card, he issued me another flat b-stock card that was programmed with the newest firmware. Here's his contact info:

Dan Sebastian
Area Sales Manager, Product Specialist

Synthax USA
5105 Market St.
Boardman, OH 44512

Voice: 330.259.0308 Ext. 101
Fax: 330.259.0315

Email: [email protected]

Unless you do some FedEx deal, I doubt you'll have a good working card by Saturday, but give it a shot. Good luck.

For the rest of you reading this, the newer cardbus (has a stub and a firewire interface) has BIOS protection so this failure won't render your card impotent. Also, if you can get the latest firmware working, it's TOTALLY worth it...stable as all hell, and sub 1ms latency.

hatshigh · Post by **hatshigh** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:14 am

hi thanks, sorry just abit pissed off that such reputable company can possibly release this type of shit, Im in ireland so i think theres a place over here im going to call tomorrow morning. See what happens. So is the multiface itself is ok? its just the card that is dead as i was doing this downstairs without lappy power and it did eventually turn off.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:21 am

Don't worry about it...you should have seen how pissed off I was

Yeah, the Multiface is just fine, but the card needs to be reprogrammed at the factory. If you choose that route, you'll send it to Synthax in Germany, and it'll run you around 100 Euros...I have that info too if you want it. For me, it was cheaper to work work with the local Synthax guys. Check the website (www.synthax.com) to see if you have a local person. If not, and you need something right away, your best bet is to get a newer cardbus...expensive, but at least you'll ensure that you won't have a BIOS failure again.

The other alternative is to buy it from a store that has a 30-day return policy, and on the side, send off the dead card, and then return it when you get the card back. Not the most ethical option, but it's one way to go.

If it was me, I'd pay no more than about $50 to get the older card fixed. Any more, and it's prolly worth getting a newer card, either used (check ebay - they are there fairly often) or brand new. The newer cards have a firewire to firewire connection, while the older ones are really flimsy and break easily with that plastic connector. Also, the BIOS failure will always have me worried about future updates.

Anyways, I wish you luck with this solution and with your gig.

hatshigh · Post by **hatshigh** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:26 am

Me, Il be paying nothing mate, or if i do i take them to court and recoup the expenses, Afterall i did this on the basis of their advice on the manual and the software they supplied (it never once during the whole time got by 33%). Surely after about 3 hours it would have worked. And to give a solution of just keeping the system running is just not satisfactory so i will proceed with legal action to claim back any money. This is worse than UK bank charges.

I also have the pci card here i havent even installed so if the multiface part is fully working then i should be able to install it, and hike my desktop with me to the gig, THANK YOU RME for my 1st wonderful experience with your kit.

Many thanks for your advice mate

hatshigh · Post by **hatshigh** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:30 am

On the newer cards, can they be used with the mk1 multiface?

yes if you have the germany details would be much appreciated. Just phoned that other number and its saying failed, not too sure whats happening there.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:56 am

Yes, the newer cards should work with the new multiface, as should the older cards.

Sorry about your experience...I had some good folks help me out here, but I was out about $300 too.

As for the pci card, it's great. You should be able to get that to work too.

hatshigh · Post by **hatshigh** » Tue May 22, 2007 3:11 am

yes i have the old multiface not the new one as stated ^^ is that still cool

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue May 22, 2007 4:25 am

hatshigh wrote:yes i have the old multiface not the new one as stated ^^ is that still cool

Yup, you'll be just fine with any of the PCI or Cardbus solutions.

hatshigh · Post by **hatshigh** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:48 am

Do you know the contact details in Germany, Again many thanks for your help

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:15 pm

For UK service, http://www.synthax.co.uk/index_comp.html

For German service, http://www.synthax.de/germany/index_gmbh.html

The folks in Germany that contacted me sent this email:

My name is Judith Stritzke. I am working in the service department of IMM Elektronik GmbH, the German manufacturer of RME products. We will flash your cardbus.

Before I can write you an estimate I want to know your complete address and the serial number of your cardbus.

Best regards,

Judith Stritzke
Service

IMM Elektronik GmbH
Leipziger Straße 32
09648 Mittweida

fon +49 (0)3727 6205-80
fax +49 (0)3727 6205-56

mail [email protected]
web www.imm-gruppe.de

Geschäftsführer Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Detlev Müller
AG Chemnitz | HRB 20383
Ust-IdNr DE 226 407 662 | Steuer-Nr 222 251 00814

New RME Multiface and Carbus Drivers

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