USB ports and MacPro5,1

[stargazer]

I have some problems with my Macpro5,1 and USB peripherals.
I connect an iLok, a VSL key, an Apple Keyboard and a bluetooth wireless mouse receiver, each on a port of it’s own (4 of the 5 available ports), to my MacPro5,1.
Even if those peripherals don’t consume a lot of power the MP loses contact with some of them from time to time.
If I, for example, try to add/connect some (self-powered) hard drive and/or a usb midi controller, it makes Pro Tools ask for the iLok (or VE Pro ask for the VSL key), even if I use a powered USB hub.

Is this a known issue?

I’m not sure a new, better powered, USB-hub would help me since there seems to be enough power available on the USB buses.
And I don’t necessarily need more speed, but I want to be able to keep more devices connected at once without problems.
Any advice?
Thoughts on USB PCIe-cards?

[bartosz idzi]

Hi,
The powered USB hubs do help. I use company called Plugable. You can find them used. I have two usb hubs connected - one older USB 2.0, and one newer, with even stronger power supply USB 3.0 model. I also use two 10m extender cables (passive) to connect both hubs to the machine room. They mostly work fine. (btw, i do not endorse cheap usb-Ethernet adapters, they are crap)
The way i did this is with system information utility - (apple ->this mac->system report) I connected two hubs via 10m cables to the two different usb controllers as indicated by system information utility, then experimented with other dongles.
Initially i had everything on the hubs, but having some issues i moved the iLok and Syncrosoft dongles to the front ports of the Mac Pro 2009. That is pretty stable for me, works fine.
The things i have connected to the usb3 hub:
- mouse, keyboard, command 8, shuttlexpress, logitech web camera, usb media card reader
usb2 hub gets:
- emagic mt4, printer,maschine mikro, korg nanocontrol2
I have some free ports on the hubs. But found out by experimenting that dongles work better plugged directly to the front of the mac.

Hope that helps!

[stargazer]

Originally Posted by bartosz idzi

Hi,
I have some free ports on the hubs. But found out by experimenting that dongles work better plugged directly to the front of the mac.

Thanks a lot, bartosz idzi!

After some trial and error I also found out my dongles work better directly in a port of their own, especially the Steinberg/Vienna key.
It’s now plugged in directly to one of the three ports on the back of the Mac.
Hopefully this will be stable, so I don’t have to ”lose” one of the PCIe slots to an USB PCIe card.

[bartosz idzi]

on the Mac Pro 2009 (and up to 2012, I believe) the two back ports counting from the right are usb2. The leftmost port is usb1. Do not waste usb2 ports for dongles :) This is where the hubs are supposed to be. Check it out in system information - >usb.

[bartosz idzi]

I checked today, and actually my 10m extender is active:
https://allegro.pl/oferta/aktywny-pr...10m-8969837898


If you want maximal reliability, i think this is the ticket:
https://www.unitek-products.com/prod...xtension-cable

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by bartosz idzi

on the Mac Pro 2009 (and up to 2012, I believe) the two back ports counting from the right are usb2. The leftmost port is usb1. Do not waste usb2 ports for dongles :) This is where the hubs are supposed to be. Check it out in system information - >usb.

Actually all five USB ports on 2009 and 2012 MacPro's are USB 2.0 according to everymac.com https://everymac.com/systems/apple/m...ex-macpro.html

[bartosz idzi]

Originally Posted by musicman691

Actually all five USB ports on 2009 and 2012 MacPro's are USB 2.0 according to everymac.com https://everymac.com/systems/apple/m...ex-macpro.html

Not here, according to my system report: (and believe me, i checked with my devices)

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by bartosz idzi

Not here, according to my system report: (and believe me, i checked with my devices)

Then you have something odd going on as I doubt everymac.com is wrong