Best Way to Connect Mac to Mackie Onyx Mixer (FW400) & External Drive (FW800, USB3)

[jalden3]

Thanks any recommendations.

I've been using Pro Tools 11 for about 6 months (on a Windows PC) with a Mackie 1640i Onyx Mixer (FW400 connectors) and Glyph Studio External Hard Drives (FW800 and USB 3.0 connectors).

I'm converting over to a Mac platform with a new Macbook Pro that has 2 Thunderbolt ports and 2 USB 3.0 connectors and am wondering how to connect the mixer and drive for best performance (speed/stability).

I resolved the Mackie driver issue with Yosemite so I have the system working just by daisy chaining the FW connectors on the mixer and drive to the FW-Thunderbolt adapter to one of the Thunderbolt connectors but I think that downgrades the drive to FW400 so wondering if I should do separate FW-Thunderbolt connection from the drive to the Mac or use USB 3.0 for best performance.

Thank you!

[Darryl Ramm]

Connect the Glyph via USB3. Your iLok in the other USB3 port or the USB port off a keyboard or a hub if you need more connectivity.

Connect the interface via an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter then a Sonnet Firewire 400 adapter (http://www.sonnettech.com/product/fw_adapter.html). Not all FW800 to 400 adapters are created equal.