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User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME
Multicard Operation
OS X supports more than one audio device. Since 10.4 (Tiger) Core Audio offers the function
Aggregate Devices, which allows to combine several devices into one, so that a multi-device
operation is possible with any software.
The Fireface driver adds a number to each unit, so they are fully accessible in any multicard-
capable software.
24. Hotline – Troubleshooting
The newest information can always be found on our website www.rme-audio.com, section Sup-
port, Macintosh OS. A report about incompatible FireWire 800 controllers is found in the Tech
Info FireWire 800 Hardware – Compatibility Problems.
The unit and drivers have been installed correctly, but playback does not work:
• Is Fireface 800 listed in the System Profiler? (Vendor ID 2613, 800 MB/s).
• Has Fireface been selected as current playback device in the audio application?
The 8 ADAT channels don’t seem to work
• The optical output ADAT2 has been switched to SPDIF. As can be seen in the block dia-
gram, all channels and their assignments still exist, but the optical transmitter has been dis-
connected from ADAT2 and is now fed from the SPDIF output (channels 11/12). The ADAT2
playback devices are still usable by routing and mixing them in TotalMix to other outputs.
Playback works, but record doesn’t:
• Check that there is a valid signal at the input. If so, the current sample frequency is dis-
played in the Settings dialog.
• Check whether the Fireface 800 has been selected as recording device in the audio applica-
tion.
• Check whether the sample frequency set in the audio application (‘Recording properties’ or
similar) matches the input signal.
• Check that cables/devices have not been connected in a closed loop. If so, set the systems’s
clock mode to ‘Master’.
Crackle during record or playback:
• Increase the number and size of buffers in the application.
• Try different cables (coaxial or optical) to rule out any defects here.
• Check that cables/devices have not been connected in a closed loop. If so, set the system’s
clock mode to ‘Master’.
• Check the Settings dialog for displayed Errors.
Possible causes for a Fireface not working
• The FireWire cable is not, or not correctly inserted into the socket
• No power. After switching the Fireface on, at least the red Host error LED has to be lit.
Driver installation and Settings dialog/TotalMix work, but a playback or record is not possible
• While recognition and control of the device are low bandwidth applications, playback/record
needs the full FireWire transmission performance. Therefore, defective FireWire cables with
limited transmission bandwidth can cause such an error scheme.