Possible 3rd party drives for M-Audio ProFire 2026 to Mac silicon

[openears]

I'm making this post for a friend.

He wanted to upgrade to a new Mac, but his old M-Audio 2626 Interface does not have drivers for the new silicon macs. Are there any groups out there making 3rd party interface drivers? I'm guessing he is going to have to bite the bullet and just upgrade to a new interface, but he likes the pre amps on it. I think he might be able to still use them, but it would be nice if he could get a driver. That seems like a long shot though.

[ken long]

I'm making this post for a friend.

He wanted to upgrade to a new Mac, but his old M-Audio 2626 Interface does not have drivers for the new silicon macs. Are there any groups out there making 3rd party interface drivers? I'm guessing he is going to have to bite the bullet and just upgrade to a new interface, but he likes the pre amps on it. I think he might be able to still use them, but it would be nice if he could get a driver. That seems like a long shot though.

The main problem will be the firewire. New Macs haven't supported it for 15 years or so. You can get converter cables but because there were a few different mac connection types in that time, he'll need to daisy chain which won't be ideal and probably not recommended. If I were him (and in fact, I'm currently in a similar situation with a Mac mini / Ensemble combo from 2009), I'd try to stretch the budget to include a new USB interface.

[James Perrett]

Setup the Profire 2026 so that it works in stand-alone mode and then use something like an RME Digiface USB as your computer interface. That's what I've done with my old Focusrite interface from the same era.

[openears]

Thanks Ken. I see this being a major issues with the clocking. I don't know

@ James

I'm kind of curious about what you said. So ADAT I think you get 8 channels @ 88.2, but there are 8 ADAT inputs. So is that like 64 + 2 channels in that thing.
Here is my confusion: I'm guessing the M-Audio 2626 would still be doing the conversion and utilizing it's pre amps, so the Digiface is sort of like a pass though of both the pre amp and (now) digital?

On a side note. How is the clocking and jitter handled? I have an RME UCX II and I know the clock seems to be a big deal/ topic with accuracy of the conversion.

[James Perrett]

The Digiface USB has 4 optical inputs and 4 outputs. Each of those can handle 8 channels of data at 44.1/48kHz or 4 channels at 88.2/96kHz. I have my Focusrite interface set to 96kHz so it uses 2 optical inputs on the Digiface. The Focusrite is the clock master and it sends word clock to my Audient preamp/ADC as well as the embedded clock in the optical connection to the Digiface.

I've not checked the Profire manual but, as it is based on the same chipset as the Focusrite, it should be able to work in a similar way.

It is usually best to have your main ADC (the Profire) as the clock source and have everything else follow that. A well designed ADC should sound equally good on either internal or external clock but, thanks to a few badly designed convertors, a whole folklore has built up around clocking.

[openears]

Sounds like he would have to run at 44.1/48kHz to utilize all 16 channels.

If he records at 88.2/96kHz, then he is only getting 4 channels per ADAT. But I think there are only two ADAT OUTS and two INS on his ProFire 2626. So if he wanted to use all 16 pre amps, he would need to run at 44.1/48kHz?

---- I got the instruction on configuring all this ----

Assuming Google AI is accurate.

To prepare the ProFire for use with the RME Digiface USB, follow these steps:
1. Connect to the old computer: Ensure the ProFire 2626 is connected to the old computer via a FireWire cable and has its power supply connected.
2. Launch the control panel: Turn on the ProFire and open the control panel software on the old computer.
3. Configure standalone mode: In the software's "Settings" tab, find the "Standalone" section and set the sample rate (e.g., 48 kHz). It is also critical to set the "Converter Mode" to "A/D - D/A".
4. Route inputs to ADAT outputs: Navigate to the "Router" or "Mixer" section of the software. Map the analog inputs (mic/line inputs 1-8) to the ADAT optical outputs (1-8). For example, route Analog In 1 to ADAT Out 1, Analog In 2 to ADAT Out 2, and so on.
5. Set sync source to external: The ProFire should be set as a "slave" clock and use the RME as the master clock signal since it is newer and more accurate.
6. Verify settings are saved: Power down the ProFire 2626, disconnect the FireWire cable, and then power it back on without the computer connection. The blue sync light on the front panel should now be solid, indicating it is correctly operating in standalone mode and generating its own internal clock.

Connecting to the new Mac with the RME Digiface
Once the ProFire 2626 is configured, you can connect it to the new Mac:
1. Optical cable connection: Use a single ADAT optical cable to connect the ProFire 2626's "ADAT Out" port to one of the "ADAT In" ports on the RME Digiface USB.
2. RME settings: Connect the Digiface USB to the new Mac and open TotalMix FX. Set the clock source for the Digiface USB to the ADAT input that the ProFire is connected to (e.g., ADAT 1 In).
3. Input monitoring: You should now see the 8 microphone preamp inputs from the ProFire 2626 appear in the TotalMix FX mixer, ready to be routed to your DAW. 

[James Perrett]

Sounds like he would have to run at 44.1/48kHz to utilize all 16 channels.

The Profire only has 8 analogue channels in each direction so you should have no problem (assuming it will do 96kHz in stand-alone mode).

[openears]

My friend said it had 16, but now that I look at the picture, it looks like it only has 8. I wonder if he sent me the wrong model number. Anyway, I also wanted to fix something Google AI said in the instructions I posted above that was wrong.

Google said to set the Profire 2626 clock to internal, which did not sound correct to me. You want the RME DigiFace as the master since it has a newer more accurate clock. I'll try to fix it above.

[Martin Walker]

Google said to set the Profire 2626 clock to internal, which did not sound correct to me. You want the RME DigiFace as the master since it has a newer more accurate clock. I'll try to fix it above.

No, see what James has already said:

It is usually best to have your main ADC (the Profire) as the clock source and have everything else follow that. A well designed ADC should sound equally good on either internal or external clock but, thanks to a few badly designed convertors, a whole folklore has built up around clocking.

A 'newer' device won't necessarily have a more accurate clock either. Hugh wrote an informative Q&A on which clock to use if you want more in-depth information:

https://www.soundonsound.com/sound-advi ... ock-master

[openears]

Thanks for pointing that out to me Martin, I was too quick to read over that. And thanks again James.

I have to say, this SOS forum has some of the most mature and knowledgeable people I've ever had the privilege to be taught by.

[James Perrett]

Google said to set the Profire 2626 clock to internal, which did not sound correct to me. You want the RME DigiFace as the master since it has a newer more accurate clock. I'll try to fix it above.

Google was probably right. The accuracy of the clock only matters when it reaches the convertor chip where a jittery clock signal will result in a slightly less focussed sound. There could be all kinds of other stuff between the clock input and the chip itself to add (or reduce) jitter. RME make great claims about their low jitter clocks but that's fairly meaningless when you are using external convertors. You can be feeding the most accurate clock in the world to a convertor but the convertor's internal circuitry could turn it into a jittery mess if it wasn't well designed.

[openears]

All the above makes total sense. I wonder how much you would notice jitter if it was just slightly off. I think the inexperienced engineer might possibly mistake it, thinking it was just an EQ issue when it fact it was the result of Jitter.

[James Perrett]

In my experience jitter makes things sound slightly fuzzy but it is usually a very subtle effect. Many convertors will regenerate the clock signal using a phase lock loop (PLL) or something similar so the jitter on the internal clock signal bears little relation to the jitter on the external signal.

Many interfaces from that era boasted JetPLL clocking - I'm not sure whether the Profire was one of those.

[dB15]

Sorry, I don't jave a solution, but a related question.

I have a 2004 Powermac G5, PowerPC. I bought a Profire 2626 thinking it would work qith that machine in Garageband, but it needs the software. Does anyone know if that software is available anywhere? I was told by a Mac specialist it qas class compliant and would work. He failed to mention I needed th DAW software, and that it was virtually nonexistent. Thanks!

[Kwackman]

Sorry, I don't jave a solution, but a related question.

I have a 2004 Powermac G5, PowerPC. I bought a Profire 2626 thinking it would work qith that machine in Garageband, but it needs the software. Does anyone know if that software is available anywhere? I was told by a Mac specialist it qas class compliant and would work. He failed to mention I needed th DAW software, and that it was virtually nonexistent. Thanks!

Hi,

Garageband IS a DAW, there are many DAWs out there- Cubase, Logic, etc etc.
There is (driver?) software on the M-Audio site, https://www.m-audio.com/support/legacy-downloads
Scroll down to the bottom and there's a download for the M-Audio Profire series.
Good luck

[dB15]

Thank you for the info. It is my understanding that the Profire doesn't have drivers per se, but the install disc included with the unit loads a specific DAW, and that the only way to get that unit to work is through that DAW, and then into any other DAW from there. It would be great to find an install disc. Thank you for the link, I'll keep trying!

[Kwackman]

It is my understanding that the Profire doesn't have drivers per se, but the install disc included with the unit loads a specific DAW, and that the only way to get that unit to work is through that DAW, and then into any other DAW from there.

I'm not 100% certain as I don't know that particular interface, but I'm pretty sure that information isn't correct.
There's no mention of that on the SOS review, and nowhere on the M-Audio site.
That software linked to will probably be a virtual mixer/router for the Profire.
Why not just try it, it's a download specifically for a Mac.

the SOS review
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/m- ... ofire-2626

and from the M-Audio site
https://www.m-audio.com/legacy/profire-2626.html
where it says "Compatible with major audio software including Pro Tools*, Cubase, Logic, Sonar, Live and GarageBand"

[Wonks]

Certainly it's not a DAW-specific unit, and whilst it may have come supplied with a 'lite' version of a DAW, it will work with any DAW that will run in your G5.

Finding a version of a DAW that will work with the G5 is another matter. It's going to be hard to find really old versions of Logic or Cubase or similar and in addition, Cubase will need an old e-Magic dongle and driver software.

I did briefly have a used G5 just after Apple switched to Intel hardware, but even then it was relatively slow and licensing issues led me to give up on it and stick with a PC. Nowadays, it really is a slow machine and you are missing out on a lot of brilliant software opportunities trying to run a DAW on such an old computer.

[James Perrett]

Thank you for the info. It is my understanding that the Profire doesn't have drivers per se, but the install disc included with the unit loads a specific DAW, and that the only way to get that unit to work is through that DAW, and then into any other DAW from there. It would be great to find an install disc. Thank you for the link, I'll keep trying!

That's not correct. The Profire is a normal audio interface that works with any normal DAW. Firewire devices don't have the same class-compliant properties that USB interfaces have so you need a driver for it which Kwackman has linked to.