Echom Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Hi Can anyone tell me if the mackbook's firewire port will have enough power to run a focusrite saffire please? Echom Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/47771-macbook-firewire-power/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
solaar Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 I know that the MacBook outputs 8W power through the firewire which is definitely enough to power the M-Audio FW410. It should be enough for the Saffire as well. (Would be a bit strange if it didn't, wouldn't it?) Be aware though that phantom power is a no go with firewire only so you better keep the Saffire's PSU handy if you want to track with a condenser. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/47771-macbook-firewire-power/#findComment-342426 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echom Posted April 8, 2007 Author Share Posted April 8, 2007 Thanks solaar! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/47771-macbook-firewire-power/#findComment-342540 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerfoffle Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 'fraid not, bro. i got a core2 mbpro & saffire. not enough power thru the built in firewire port. havent tried from a expresscard firewire yet, might work this way. otherwise u stuck with the bloody wall wart psu. ah..forgot also to mention the powerbookg4 titanium i used to have ran the saffire on firewire power only, and i had phantom power with this.... so any of the oldskool g4 powerbooks should be nice mobile studio with the saffire. also if it helps the decision process, im still having problems with the intel drivers on the safffire. might be better looking elsewhere, bro.. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/47771-macbook-firewire-power/#findComment-343038 Share on other sites More sharing options...
solaar Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 'fraid not, bro. i got a core2 mbpro & saffire. not enough power thru the built in firewire port. havent tried from a expresscard firewire yet, might work this way. otherwise u stuck with the bloody wall wart psu. ah..forgot also to mention the powerbookg4 titanium i used to have ran the saffire on firewire power only, and i had phantom power with this.... so any of the oldskool g4 powerbooks should be nice mobile studio with the saffire. also if it helps the decision process, im still having problems with the intel drivers on the safffire. might be better looking elsewhere, bro.. I've heard this was a known issue with the Saffire and MBpro. Focusrite have since changed the specs on the more recent saffire serials to adapt to MacBooks. Go double-check but I bet if you buy a recent model you'll be fine (or at least you can have Focusrite exchange it for a working one). As for tracking with phantom on firewire only, well you can take the risk. It may or may not work with your mic but from what I've noticed, even if it looks like it works you can get those short dropouts which you're not aware of when you're in the middle of a session but which can become a major pain later at mixdown. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/47771-macbook-firewire-power/#findComment-343146 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another User Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 I have had the Focusrite Saffire for few days here. Was working fine with Macbook Weird it's broken under MBP. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/47771-macbook-firewire-power/#findComment-346691 Share on other sites More sharing options...
solaar Posted April 15, 2007 Share Posted April 15, 2007 It made me curious so I double checked on the Focusrite site. They state that the MBP has in fact lower FW output and apparently not enough power to boot the Saffire. I know for a fact that it does work on a Macbook. Bizarre... why would Apple do such nonsense? Or is somebody BS-ing here? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/47771-macbook-firewire-power/#findComment-347346 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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