Using a Texas Instruments Firewire Express Card to run Presonus products

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 02/08/2010 06:41:24

Hi.

I am running a PC laptop, trying to set up a DAW. I have an express card port - 34mm. The chipset for this express card slot is Intel QM57 Express chipset LPC interface controller - 3B07. If I purchase a Texas Instruments Firewire express card, will it be able to run PreSonus Firewire products without error?

Thanks in advance.

Hi:

You'll find a list of compatible chipsets here:

http://www.presonus.com/media/pdf/hardware_compatibility.pdf

Hey Wesley,

thanks for that list, but it doesn't answer my question. I know that a Texas Instruments Firewire card is compatible - what I'm wondering about is my express card reader chipset. I've heard certain express card readers won't work with Presonus products, even with a TI firewire express card in use.

Hey SeigelC

Your question isn't one that comes with an easy answer and it isn't Presonus products only. The info you're referring to comes from some research a respected system builder did on a pretty high end HP notebook and some other low end units using approve TI expresscards. He found that the HP would not work with firewire properly because of the Ricoh brand chipset for the PCI-E bus which also controls the expresscard. This phenomenon is potentially either isolated or more widespread amongst chipset makers. My guess based on so many people using the cards successfully in their notebooks is that it is isolated. You should be fine.

Worst case make sure you buy from a place you can send back to.

Oh man that sucks. I just got my FireStudio Tube and ordered the Startech express card to use with my HP LAPTOP WITH A FRAGGING RICHO EXPRESS CARD CONTROLLER! What do I do?

Are you actually having problems with it working? You might still be able to get connection and be able to work just not with full capabilities.

If it does then we might be able to squash this issue as a problem with just that one machine and then folks will know what not to buy.

Waiting for the StarTech express card to arrive any day and then I will know. I hope it works. I have a gig Saturday to record.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya. Lemme know if it connects. If it does there is hope.

Ok I got the startech and did an inital recording with my HP laptop. I was able to record 1 track without issue. So maybe the Richo express card controller will work in my EliteBook 8530w. I am going to try recording 3 tracks today.

Ok this is wierd. I tried to do a 3 track recording with it and S1 Pro kept acting very sluggish. Once I got some stuff recorded it had a hard time playing it back thru the FireStudio Tube. It would stutter and pause and the entire GUI did not want to react. So I took out the StarTech Firewire Express card and just used the built in Ricoh firewire port and it works perfect. Recorded 4 tracks at once. Played 3 back and record a 4t. Etc. It seems perfect.

So the question is what's up with that. I thought the Ricoh firewire interface chips didn't work. Based on the Presonus info I purchased the StarTech card when I ordered the FireStudio.

A few other things. It would keep connecting/disconnecting the interface and sometimes the Control Surface would pop up and then disappear. It seemed to be in time with the light turning red.

This is on an Hp Elitebook 8530W dual core with 4 gig ram running Windows 7 32-bit Ultimate.

The Ricoh are a gamble at best. Most often they do not function. The flashing in and out is the interface connecting and disconnecting.

As far as the card not working, even with it you had a gamble. I would try throwing it back in and taking another shot at it.

There are a several firewire testing tools in the old forums that can help troubleshooting from this point, just do a search for them. The card is usually your better option as there is at least a TI chipset in it. Have you done any other tweaking to the notebook like turning off wireless networking, or disabling processes? Could answer some questions about S1 being sluggish.

xzb6np wrote:A few other things. It would keep connecting/disconnecting the interface and sometimes the Control Surface would pop up and then disappear. It seemed to be in time with the light turning red.

This could be a problem with the express card not being fully inserted or the FW cable not being fully inserted. I know I had that problem the first time I tried using my express card largely due to me moving the laptop around alot while connecting and disconnecting cables and turning SL and computer on and off.

Ok I think I might have fixed the problems. I changed the driver for the StarTech to legacy and I have been playing back 4 tracks and recording 6 tracks from mics for hours and it's been stable and responsive.

Good to hear its rolling. How's the latency looking?