Powered USB Hubs for Macbook/Macbook Pro

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

Powered USB Hubs for Macbook/Macbook Pro

So some general questions on powered USB hubs for Macbooks/Macbook Pros:

  1. What do you use, with success?
  2. Do you use the same hub in your studio as you do when you play live?
  3. What do you have connected to the hub?
  4. What have you tested that doesn’t work?
  1. IOGear GUH284R
  2. I am using the same one for both
  3. I have 2 WD Passport HD’s plugged into it. Sometimes an LED light.
  4. I have a Targus PAUH212 which does NOT work properly with my MBP
2

USB hubs in your sound setup is not a good option.

Mumbles about adding latency by using/sharing one and the same I/O controller.

3

I totally agree, avoid it where you can, its just one more thing to **** up and id that one cable falls out :\

So saying sometimes you don’t have an option.

4

True that, but there’s ways you can avoid it. :wink:

5

Short of buying an external firewire case for one of my hard drives, what option do I have?

One of my setups in Traktor will be using the Saffire LE (firewire), one of the hd’s, a VCI-100 SE, and a Trigger Finger.

There just isn’t an option on MBPs or MBs to use multiple usb devices (one of the shortcomings of Macs in general).

Yes…I know I can just run a midi cable through the Saffire LE, but that doesn’t address power issues (for instance).

6

You could use also smartcard of pcmcia firewire card to give you more usb or firewire ports.

7

But the express cards aren’t powered either.

So I’m still falling short! :disappointed:

8

Some come with power adapters that you plug into them, just like how usb hubs do.

9

Using a mac you should really make use of those firewire ports they are rock solid.

10

top tip…

On macbook pro’s/powerbooks you can have a second firewire 400 port, by utilizing the firewire 800 port as a firewire 400 port.

All you need to do it is a 9pin to 6pin firewire convertor lead

I run my presonus firebox using a lead like this, i feel also the 9pin connection is more solid than the 6pin so less chance it could get knocked out.

11

I get it guys. I know that there’s ways around it.

But when you have ‘x’ many USB devices, and you move from a Dell (or some other pc based system) to a Mac, you lose those built in hubs.

It’s a pain in the ass to figure it out.

Here are all my devices that could or could not be connected:
2 WD passport hds
2 MyBook hds
Trigger Finger
UC-33e
Remote SL25
Keystation 88e
VCI-100 se
Audio 8
Saffire LE (Firewire)
Mouse
Keyboard

My basic live setup is to use the Audio 8 and 2 WD passports (2 different DJs with their own music).

You never know what setup you’re gonna use live or in the studio…and most of these devices are USB. The easiest solution is to get a powered USB hub and go from there. So…lol…back to my original questions…?? :smiley:

12
  1. PC or laptop with on board soundcard, ASIO4All , Behringer BCR2000
  2. Don’t need it, but if I would, yeah, it would used for studio and live.
  3. nothing, otherwise Behringer BCR2000
  4. Not Applicable