New Unibody Mac Questions

[darbyclash34]

So a stereo fell onto my MacBook Pro from 2007, killing it totally. So I went and got a new MacBook Pro Unibody. I use an 002R and an external FW800 harddrive. I had been hooking them up with 002R running into the FW400 port and the Harddrive on the FW800 port. Now I only have one FW800 port. What is considered the best way to hook this up? Should I switch to USB for the HD?

[getz76]

Originally Posted by darbyclash34

So a stereo fell onto my MacBook Pro from 2007, killing it totally. So I went and got a new MacBook Pro Unibody. I use an 002R and an external FW800 harddrive. I had been hooking them up with 002R running into the FW400 port and the Harddrive on the FW800 port. Now I only have one FW800 port. What is considered the best way to hook this up? Should I switch to USB for the HD?

Macbook Pro FW800 -> FW800 Drive -> 002R

[@ndy]

Never use USB for hard drives with Pro tools. Error city!

[docbop]

Originally Posted by darbyclash34

So a stereo fell onto my MacBook Pro from 2007, killing it totally. So I went and got a new MacBook Pro Unibody. I use an 002R and an external FW800 harddrive. I had been hooking them up with 002R running into the FW400 port and the Harddrive on the FW800 port. Now I only have one FW800 port. What is considered the best way to hook this up? Should I switch to USB for the HD?

The Mac->FW800 drive->002r will work most of the time, but it is not the Digi blessed way. I have had a system like that worked for years and then one day start throwing errors and would stop till I switched all FW400 config. To be safe you may want to have a FW800->FW400 cable or adapter around. Digi only supports an all FW400 setup.

[darbyclash34]

So you're saying to convert to FW400 before hitting the hard drive? So it would FW800 (computer) to FW400 (hard drive) then FW400 to the 002r?

[@ndy]

So it would FW800 (computer) to FW400 (hard drive) then FW400 to the 002r?

That is the safest way. Firewire 800 to 400 cables are inexpensive and work great. Good luck.

[darbyclash34]

Oh yeah, I've got the cables around so thats no problem. Cool, I'm doing my first session with it tonight (client was there for the old computer's destruction so he knows we're on shaky new ground here) so thanks for all the help!

[Obsidian Dragon]

Originally Posted by darbyclash34

So you're saying to convert to FW400 before hitting the hard drive? So it would FW800 (computer) to FW400 (hard drive) then FW400 to the 002r?

This is what I wanted to agree to.

Yup.. That's it. +1

[Ryan Young]

if you have the availability to, on the pro, use an express card with firewire. no problems here!

[darbyclash34]

Unfortunately, the new Pro's don't have an expresscard slot they have an SD card reader, which bothers me. I miss the expandability options. Thanks again for the help!