Ableton Forum

Hello Abeletons

I need to enquire wether or not you have had any users reporting problems using the Edirol FA-101 with Live. I am having alot of performance issues with mine when running Live, the signal breaks up completely when playing back sets, these sets play back much better when I am using a USB interface.

Also I must ask for better Mac optimization, please.

I am using OS 10.3.8.

Thanks
j

someone posted a while ago in the forum how the drivers for this interface use up to 15% cpu and is one of the reasons.plus its also USB which is prob the worst when comining to performance..

Hello

Thanks for the reply! Actually the FA-101 is firewire and it's performing less well than my USB interface. I saw that post, but they were on PC and the Apple driver version is actually made by Apple. I see others running the same speed of machine getting great results, but not with Live necessarily.
Maybe its my 4200 speed HD and the firewire having trouble getting along?
Also I just checked and when Live is open with a new empty set I've only got about 60 MB of RAM left...could be that. This interface is great with Reason, iTunes etc. Having troubles with both Live and DP.

Does Firewire require more resources?

Thanx
j

sounds like your system is to slow, 60 meg of Ram left is not enough and also with the slow HD it will have even more problems.reason and itunes are going to be very easy on the cpu cant really compare with them..

Vince watson is ur man to message about working out firewire problems in live hes gone through hell with his set up and hes tried just about everything... give him a PM for some tips..

Hello iskander!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the advice. Thanx!

I do realize that iTunes and Reason are not comparable but they show me that the device itself is not having problems but that it's the system or interaction of drivers or Live/DP.

Yes, I have seen some of Vinces posts, his solution seems to have been PCI/RME Multiface which is not an option for me.

Thanx Again.
j

j wrote:Hello iskander!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the advice. Thanx!

I do realize that iTunes and Reason are not comparable but they show me that the device itself is not having problems but that it's the system or interaction of drivers or Live/DP.

Yes, I have seen some of Vinces posts, his solution seems to have been PCI/RME Multiface which is not an option for me.

Thanx Again.
j

yo....it is indeed my solution, but im afraid if you want faultless audio, its one of the only solutions.

in my experience, you need at least 1gb ram minimum to smooth out your system on osx

good luck

Hello and Thanks Vince

I reall appreciate the feedback. I see it is not easy to find an interface.
I do like the FA-101 (size, ins/outs, lightweight yet tough, and just barely affordable) although it makes my pbook squeal and is not performing so hot with Live. As I stated previously, the performance issues may be due to the setup on my pbook (4200 RPM drive/512 RAM).

Which of these would you upgrade first?

Did any of the firewire devices you tried cause this squeal (which is stopped by disabling NAP in sys preferences)? Is PCI the only way around this? Is PCI less demanding on the system? And one last question...do you think the new ECHO audiofire 8 will be bus powered, or is the PCI version the way to go if I decide to send the FA-101 back?

It is great to see someone who is thouroughly pleased with their 17 inch pbook, I hope to get there too.

Any advice at all would be most appreciated and thanks for your time.
j