M-Audio Profire 2626 Issues

[ericmicali]

I have recently purchased the M-Audio Profire 2626. I'm running Pro Tools 10.3.2 on a brand new MacBook Pro (OS: 10.8.2). I'm connecting the 2626 to the Mac via Firewire Cable 400 to 800 without an adapter. I had previously used the cable that came with the 2626 with an 800 adapter. I'm opening Pro Tools sessions via a 2TB external hard drive.

My goal is to record drum tracks, and eventually other instruments as well.

I'm having a couple of issues:

1. At first, I could connect successfully and was able to select the 2626 as the Playback engine. Within the I/O Setup section of Pro Tools, the 2626 was showing as the interface, and I selected "Default". However, upon connecting a microphone to the 2626 rear panel combo jacks, via XLR Cable, I didn't get any sound coming into the 2626 (no indicator lights came on while making sound other than the main power light). Also, there was no sound coming into Pro Tools. I've tried several different cables and several different mics. I haven't tried the front instrument inputs yet because I have no instruments or 1/4" cables yet (haha).

2. Upon updating to the most recent 2626 Driver, when I click Play or Record, I'm getting an error saying that there is an issue with the audio clock. I have the 2626 on Internal. I've had that error before, and then randomly it goes away, and I could Play/Record without issue (although I was never able to get any of the rear panel inputs to work).

Any idea on if it's a connection issue or perhaps a defective 2626?

Thanks for any information anyone might be able to provide.

 

[mattflowers]

The answer!

Hi! I made an account just to answer this question, because I know how frustrating this situation is. This has been a huge issue for a lot of people. The issue is that your Profire 2626 will not work correctly with 10.8.2, because there IS NO DRIVER for 10.8.2. And no, if you're using a brand new computer with 10.8.2 preinstalled, installing the 10.8 beta driver does not simply fix the problem. You need to search around the m-audio community website - (edit: tried to post URL but stupid forum rule won't allow me to post link unless I have 10 posts - good idea to fight spam but defeats the purpose of me signing up in the first place - just try Google searching the m-audio community support).

I had similar issues until I tried the following steps (copied from m-audio community support post by Tory Woolfe):

1. Install the latest driver first. It is not about ProTools but about getting the signal path to function. I recommend using something simple ike Garage Band to check the signal.

2. Once the driver is installed, connect your 2626. Make sure that you install this AFTER you install the driver. Remember NEVER hot swap (connect or disconnect the unit while it is powered on). M-Audio made that very clear.

3. Power you 2626 on and launch the M-Audio driver (will bring up the software mixer). For use with your DAW software, set inputs 1 - 8 to analog in. For router out, set the 1 - 8 to software returns.
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It should be noted here that nomenclature for the DSP processor is a little confusing (actually a lot confusing to me.) For Inputs, first tab on mixer software, that is the physical inputs. The second router tab is for the output of the signal that was sent from inputs (i.e. mic or guitar input). However, this signal is routed from mic (input) to software and then routed back to 2626. It is output from software / pc back to router. So in my opinion this should be router input. However, I think it is meant pc output to router input. This confused the heck out of me.
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4. Go to the MIDI setting (in utilities folder) and check for the profire 2626. You should have ADAT and S/PDIF. If you see 2626, it wont work. Even if you set it to such, it will default back to ADAT ro S/PDIF.

5. Now add a new connection on the the bottom left called aggregate. You can name it whatever you want but the important thing is that you ad Profire 2626 analog. Here is where you get your audio output.

6. Proceed to the Sound setting in the system directory and select this aggregate that you have created. This will be the routing through the OS.

7. If the unit is off, then you wont have this as an option, but when you power it on it will activate. Remember, you can power the unit on and off just DO NOT unplug it connected.

8. Now you can open your favorite DAW software (use Garage band first for simplicity) and you should be good to go.

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It should be noted that when you power the unit on, it is not set to use software returns. Once it is on, launch the m-audio mixer. The light on the right of the unit will flash until you make good connection. As long as it is powered, you can completely shutdown the mixer. You are only setting the DSP on board to the setting in the hardware section. It keeps these once you shut down the M-Audion software interface. Now, open up GB or ProTools and you should have signal in and out as well. Not, sometimes you may have to reboot the OS. You will know if the light on the right if the unit blinks.

 

[bctaudio]

I have pro tools 10 and the profire 2626 interface. I was just wondering what i would need to do and/or get in order to record a full band using the equipment I have. I want to be able to mic a drum set and record vocals, bass, guitars, drums, and maybe keys all live onto protools so that I can mix and edit everything individually afterwards like the snare, floor tom, vocals, bass, etc... I hope this makes sense cause most threads sound way too complicated for me to understand. And I just passed my audio engineering classes with an A... Go figure. I understand a lot but apparently not enough. Cause everyone is saying NOT to hook up a mixer with the pro fire interface. But the pro fire manual says that you can and shows the schematic for it, and my professor also told me that I should use a mixer with the pro tools. I'm gonna need more inputs to record a full band. Should I get a digital mixing board and an ADAT, or an analogue console? And Is it possible to get protools to recognize every individual fader input on a mixing board through the interface? I just want to know what I can or should do in order to accomplish this task before I go out and spend extra money on something that I really don't need.