Mbox 2 Pro crashes mac mini with 10.9

[onosendai]

I just got a new Mac mini6,2 and it was born with 10.9 Mavericks. I'm running PT 10.3.8 using my bus-powered Mbox 2 Pro that is connected to the mini's FW800 port through a FW400->FW800 cable. The system is optimised according to Avid's guidelines and the system is set to never sleep.

Sound plays fine and PT's runs without a hitch. However, I'm experiencing some nasty OS crashes that forces the mini to instantly reboot. The OS shows a picture that looks like a Kernel Panic and then reboots.
I have tried connecting and disconnecting (hotswapping) hard drives and other FW devices through the mini's FW800 and everything is working as it should i.e. not crashing. However, whenever I connect the Mbox or connect or disconnect a hard drive through daisy-chaining the OS crashes. After the reboot mbox and hard drives are functioning fine and I'm able to work until I have to disconnect the hard drive.

I have manually uninstalled the Mbox drivers, that Avid states is supported for Mavericks, and reinstalled the latest Mbox 2 pro 10.3.3 drivers and the problem persists.
I have looked through all the other duc threads regarding this issue (mbox's + Mavericks + crashing + not working), but in my case I'm running the mbox directly through the firewire port and not a TB adaptor.
I initially discovered theses crashes before I had changed the OS's energy savings settings, so when the mini awoke and the mbox lights finished initialising the OS crashed.

This very much points to a voltage issue of some kind, however I'm not sure whether its the mini and Mavericks or the mbox and its drivers that are causing it.

It should be stated that I have been using this mbox for many years on a Macbook Pro running Snow Leopard and I have never experienced this issue. I really hope it's possible to fix this through a patch or firmware update.

This is what the latest crash report says after reboot:

Anonymous UUID: AC33A0AE-BA2F-004A-8573-A1E3A391C7AE

Tue Jan 14 20:50:20 2014
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff80282dc19e): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7faa0efaf7, type 13=general protection, registers:
CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0x000000010a4d8000, CR3: 0x000000002a756000, CR4: 0x00000000001606e0
RAX: 0x4fd8bea50693005c, RBX: 0xffffff8048dcf408, RCX: 0xfffffffffe2520c0, RDX: 0x7fffffffffffffff
RSP: 0xffffff81f8f8bfa0, RBP: 0xffffff81f8f8bfb0, RSI: 0x0000000000000002, RDI: 0xdeadbeefdeadbeef
R8: 0x0000000000000385, R9: 0x00000000cccccccd, R10: 0x0000000000000159, R11: 0xffffff802864b980
R12: 0xffffff804a799450, R13: 0xffffff8048b2bb20, R14: 0x0000000000000000, R15: 0xffffff8048b2bb20
RFL: 0x0000000000010282, RIP: 0xffffff7faa0efaf7, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010
Fault CR2: 0x000000010a4d8000, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x0

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff81e8838c50 : 0xffffff8028222f69
0xffffff81e8838cd0 : 0xffffff80282dc19e
0xffffff81e8838ea0 : 0xffffff80282f3606
0xffffff81e8838ec0 : 0xffffff7faa0efaf7
0xffffff81f8f8bfb0 : 0xffffff80282d6aa7
Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
com.digidesign.fwfamily.driver(9.0f4)[EA9004EA-D8CD-1CA7-6281-17C82B2AF0EF]@0xffffff7faa0e1000->0xffffff7faa102fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireAVC(4.2.2)[90DCC875-0911-3857-8D4E-838CA0149D3F]@0xffffff7faa0c8000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.9.4fc11)[5077FB4F-0903-3D79-8280-5B2341E93BF3]@0xffffff7fa8b35000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily(4.5.5)[C83215A8-3406-35EC-8C24-A1746E9565DF]@0xffffff7fa8c04000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
13B42

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Thu Sep 19 22:22:27 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2422.1.72~6/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 1D9369E3-D0A5-31B6-8D16-BFFBBB390393
Kernel slide: 0x0000000028000000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8028200000
System model name: Macmini6,2 (Mac-F65AE981FFA204ED)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 323892442861
last loaded kext at 236121811454: com.digidesign.fwfamily.driver 9.0f4 (addr 0xffffff7faa0e1000, size 536576)
last unloaded kext at 321535153324: com.apple.filesystems.msdosfs 1.9 (addr 0xffffff7faa0ba000, size 57344)
loaded kexts:
com.digidesign.fwfamily.driver 9.0f4
com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.snowleopard 5.8
com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower 1.6.6
com.digidesign.iokit.DigiDal 10.3.8f123
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.2.0f6
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 124
com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.14.11
com.apple.driver.ApplePlatformEnabler 2.0.9d1
com.apple.driver.X86PlatformShim 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.60
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.5.3fc1
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.13
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.1.12
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.0d1
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 2.5.3fc1
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHD4000Graphics 8.1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltIP 1.0.10
com.apple.driver.AppleHWAccess 1
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.7.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelFramebufferCapri 8.1.8
com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSB Transport 4.2.0f6
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCPDRC 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 325.7
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTyp eDataless 1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTyp eZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache 35
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 650.4.4
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.4.0
com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 700.20.22
com.apple.driver.AppleSDXC 1.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.9.9
com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 3.6.9b9
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.9.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 650.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBXHCI 650.4.3
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClien t 216.0.0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 153
com.apple.security.quarantine 3
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 216.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireAVC 4.2.2
com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.7
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.5.3fc1
com.apple.vecLib.kext 1.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.9.4fc11
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.14
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.2.0f6
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 91
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.11d1
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.5.3fc1
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.5.3fc1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.12d1
com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2 98.7.1
com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl 3.4.12
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.3.6
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransp ort 4.2.0f6
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.5
com.apple.driver.X86PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.6d1
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.5.1d27
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHIDKeyboard 170.15
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard 170.15
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 3.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 3.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.6.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 650.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPInAdapter 2.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPAdapterFamily 2.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 1.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 650.4.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 650.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltNHI 1.9.2
com.apple.iokit.IOThunderboltFamily 2.8.5
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 600.34
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController 1.0.3b3
com.apple.driver.mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b4
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.2
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 650.4.4
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 650.4.4
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox 278.10
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 7
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 371.1
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.9
com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 21
com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.8
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4
com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0
com.apple.kec.pthread 1
Model: Macmini6,2, BootROM MM61.0106.B03, 4 processors, Intel Core i7, 2.3 GHz, 16 GB, SMC 2.8f1
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Built-In, 1024 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x85F7, 0x483634314755393747313630304700000000
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x85F7, 0x483634314755393747313630304700000000
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x10E), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.22)
Bluetooth: Version 4.2.0f6 12982, 3 services, 23 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en1
Serial ATA Device: APPLE SSD SM256E, 251 GB
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: USB2.0 Hub
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: Mass Storage Device
USB Device: DataTraveler SE9
USB Device: USB Laser Mouse
USB Device: Keyboard Hub
USB Device: iLok
USB Device: Apple Keyboard
USB Device: CodeMeter-Stick
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: IR Receiver
USB Device: BRCM20702 Hub
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller
FireWire Device: Rugged FW USB3, LaCie, Up to 400 Mb/sec
FireWire Device: Mbox 2 Pro, DIGIDESIGN, Up to 400 Mb/sec
Thunderbolt Bus: Mac mini, Apple Inc., 23.4

[jes]

Happening with me as well, on a Mac Pro, same thing. Especially if I try using my UAD-2 Satellite at the same time, same FireWire crash.

Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
com.digidesign.fwfamily.driver(9.0f4)[EA9004EA-D8CD-1CA7-6281-17C82B2AF0EF]@0xffffff7faa0e1000->0xffffff7faa102fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireAVC(4.2.2)[90DCC875-0911-3857-8D4E-838CA0149D3F]@0xffffff7faa0c8000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.9.4fc11)[5077FB4F-0903-3D79-8280-5B2341E93BF3]@0xffffff7fa8b35000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily(4.5.5)[C83215A8-3406-35EC-8C24-A1746E9565DF]@0xffffff7fa8c04000

[rymarchant]

I'm getting it exact same crash, except I'm connected to a Mac Pro through a Thunderbolt > FW800 adapter and then a FW800>FW400 cable.

Any luck with either of you guys sorting anything out?

[kitorod]

Anybody have any luck figuring this out? I am having issues, crashing brand spanking new Mac Mini born w/Mavericks, FW800 to 400 Mbox2 Pro to External HD also FW400. PT 8LE wont go onto Mavericks either. Any workarounds, answers? THANK YOU!

[onosendai]

I wasn't able to find a workaround unfortunately and finally decided to move on. I retired the mbox and went with a RME interface.

[Ed Douglas]

Originally Posted by onosendai

I wasn't able to find a workaround unfortunately and finally decided to move on. I retired the mbox and went with a RME interface.

My setup is rMBP via Thunderbolt to FW800 adapter > FW HD > FW800>FW400 cable > MBox 2 Pro. Kernel panics galore.

Some other deserving company will get my money... looking to buy a UAD Apollo w thunderbolt card.

E.

[FarFar]

My iMac with El Capitan (10.11.6) does recognize the Mbox 2 Pro, but it keeps crashing whenever it's hooked up to the Mbox. I'm using Logic Pro X, and not Pro Tools. I'd appreciate it if someone lets me know if they think this is a power issue or driver not being compatible with El Capitan. Is there any way to use Mbxo 2 Pro with a Mac now, other than to revert the OS back to 10.9? Thanks!

[onosendai]

To be honest it seemed to be a combination of both. Not nessecarily the OS since this apparently occurs on versions other than Mavericks. My 5 cents is that it is a malfunction in the Mbox 2 Pro's hardware (which even at that time was old) including it's firmware/IOdrivers that does not work with contempory chipsets at the time and going forward.
Really the only party that would know for sure is Avid