OSX Tiger 10.4.11 Ableton 7.0.7 M-Audio FW410

Anyone have a similar setup using an M-Audio Firewire device?

I'm experiencing several ongoing issues with this setup and have not found a solution on either M-Audio or Ableton's Support. Had similar issues with Leopard as well and thought I might solve them by going back to Tiger.

Macbook Pro 2.16ghz, 4gigs RAM, Most recent M-Audio FW drivers released a week or so ago. Novation Remote SL.

Open Ableton

Select FW410 as Input and Output

Presto! Everything appears to work just fine for about 5-10 minutes, at which point I randomly lose sound/output. Sometimes it happens when just stopping and restarting playback, other times when clicking around or even doing nothing.

After this happens, clicking around in Ableton causes lags noticeable with the mouse as well as the spinning pinwheel.

Playback hangs and the timer does not run.

If I attempt to load a plugin or preview and audio file through the browser, the app hangs for a few minutes and either:

a. doesn't play back the audio preview

b. crashes Ableton.

c. Clicking or selecting options or paramenters cause the CPU to spike like crazy; jumping around 80%-120% CPU spike.

As well, Live appears to be using ~8% CPU while idle with an empty session and anywhere from 10%-30% CPU while idle with a minimal session (few AU's and a Single Drum Trak)

My Live preferences are set as default with a 512 buffer size, 44.1, have tried 16 and 24 bit recording, and enabling and disable Multiprocessor support. If I switch back to Internal Core Audio, the app plays and appear to function just fine. I''ve also had no issues selecting and using a Digidesign M-Box Micro USB. In addition I experience similar issues while using the FW410 in Logic Pro 8.

I also have an External Lacie using Firewire 800 which I have disconnected but still run into the same issues.

The OS is a fresh install with minimal apps installed, I've gotten all updates and most recent stable drivers. Uninstalled/Reinstalled etc...

Resetting the drive through its control panel does nothing. If I send midi to an external synth I can see Inputs 1-2 lilght up and are receiving audio, however no sign or sound of any output at all. I'm able to get it back to a functional state for a few minutes if I reboot the computer.

Can't think of much more to describe the issues I'm dealing with.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated aside from "Buy a new sound card!" (which I'm seriously tempted to do at this point)

I'm experiencing similar problems with a Presonus Firepod and Ableton Live 7. Runs fine until the master just stops outputting sound. Happens without even doing anything, just playing back. And only happens on certain songs. I have no problems with CPU whatsoever and I'm also using 512 buffer size.

I really need some help with this as well.

I wouldn't buy a new soundcard immediately if I were you anyway.

m-audio has this support thread regarding firewire devices, but as i said previously... i've removed my Lacie Firewire 800 drive... which did appear to help out while using the FW410 in Logic Pro, but not Live.

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=suppor...f89704091cab226

  acridavid said:

I'm experiencing similar problems with a Presonus Firepod and Ableton Live 7. Runs fine until the master just stops outputting sound. Happens without even doing anything, just playing back. And only happens on certain songs. I have no problems with CPU whatsoever and I'm also using 512 buffer size.

I really need some help with this as well.

 

I wouldn't buy a new soundcard immediately if I were you anyway.

I feel for you mate, i had a firebox the exact same thing happened with me. Runs fine and then just cuts out for no reason, no cpu overload or anything. In the end i just fucking snapped, bought a cheap desktop and a nice pci soundcard. Presonus couldnt help at all, i even sent it back to be 'fixed' but to no avail. I recently reformatted the laptop that i used to use it with, and i havent tried the box since, i'll give it a go and let you know whether that sorted the problem.

  Amen Warrior said:

  acridavid said:

I'm experiencing similar problems with a Presonus Firepod and Ableton Live 7. Runs fine until the master just stops outputting sound. Happens without even doing anything, just playing back. And only happens on certain songs. I have no problems with CPU whatsoever and I'm also using 512 buffer size.

I really need some help with this as well.

 

I wouldn't buy a new soundcard immediately if I were you anyway.

 

 

I feel for you mate, i had a firebox the exact same thing happened with me. Runs fine and then just cuts out for no reason, no cpu overload or anything. In the end i just fucking snapped, bought a cheap desktop and a nice pci soundcard. Presonus couldnt help at all, i even sent it back to be 'fixed' but to no avail. I recently reformatted the laptop that i used to use it with, and i havent tried the box since, i'll give it a go and let you know whether that sorted the problem.

Hmm shit.. that doesn't sound good. A friend of mine doesn't seem to have any problems with it though, he runs Windows. I'm on Mac myself. How about you?

Anyway, I don't wanna hijack this thread :P We're still helping sysex also ;)

The more I read about other user's experience with the FW410 on OS X, the more it appears that the FW410 is just buggy as hell... I still haven't found a solution and m-audio isn't much help in responding to support mail.

One thing I haven't tried yet is to rollback Airport Wifi Driver (.kext). Evidently the latest Apple Security update installed a new wifi driver that has been causing a lot of issues with FW Soundcards... However, I have disabled both Airport and Bluetooth but with no resolution.

I spose I can give the driver rollback a shot and see what happens with that.