[PlanetCCRMA] hardware question - USB and Firewire

[Jan Depner]

On Tue, 2006-02-14 at 21:51 -0300, Charlls Quarra wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Jan Depner <eviltwin69@cableone.net> escribió:
>         
>         Firewire is iffy at best right now. No one really wants to
>         release
>         specs.
>         
>         -- 
> 
> This is a widespread myth which i found myself believing too just
> until a few days ago, BridgeCo released full specs about their
> software protocol
> 

    Nope, it's not a myth.  Only a few companies are using BeBoB and the
specs were just released.  Presonus is supportive and M-Audio may be
(I'm not sure on that front) but they don't build the boards so they
aren't really responsible for drivers for them.  I would call that
pretty iffy.  An important link for these devices is:


http://freebob.sourceforge.net/index.php/List_of_Supported_Devices

This is only the list of devices with BeBoB firmware so that they may
work with the FreeBoB driver in the future.  This page is a bit more
depressing:

http://freebob.sourceforge.net/index.php/List_of_Working_Setups



> http://www.bridgeco.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=110
> 
> Apparently some manufacturers shipping with BeBoP (like presonus and
> maudio) have also donated hardware to FreeBoB developers (but this
> could be also a myth :) )
> 

    I believe you are correct about the hardware.

> These devices will eventually get full support under linux as the
> drivers code evolve
> 

    The key word here is eventually.  As in, not now.

> The only manufacturers that are not releasing specs for their hardware
> is RME (which was previously known for its nice linux support until
> they started rel! easing firewire interfaces) and Motu. These
> interfaces will likely never be supported on linux unless those
> companies change their aptitude
> 

    I just wouldn't deal with RME or MOTU, although RME has been very
supportive with their PCI cards.

    The bottom line here is that, hopefully, in the near future, a lot
of these devices will be supported.  If you have the money and the time
and the programming experience you might want to buy a Presonus firewire
device and try to work on the driver yourself.  If you just want to make
music I would recommend getting an M-Audio Delta 1010 and having a good
time.


-- 
Jan 'Evil Twin' Depner
The Fuzzy Dice
http://myweb.cableone.net/eviltwin69/fuzzy.html


"As we enjoy great advantages from the invention of others, we should be 
glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours, and 
this we should do freely and generously."

Benjamin Franklin, on declining patents offered by the governor of 
Pennsylvania for his "Pennsylvania Fireplace", c. 1744