Should you only disconnect FW soundcards when your computer is off ?

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

Should you only disconnect FW soundcards when your computer is off ?

So I got a Focusrite PRO 24 yesterday and it came with a warning.
It said to only connect and disconnect the device when my computer is turned off.

Is this a thing ? I never knew that that it is important.

I have a MBP and I almost never turn it off, it’s always in sleep mode.
What if I want to connect my FireWire HDD ? Do I need to restart my computer, unplug the focusrite and then plug in the HDD? Seems like quite a hassle.

2

does the safire pro not have firewire daisychain ability like most firewire devices?

3

Do you mean plug multiple devices into one FW port ?

Edit: I’m prettu sure my HDD can do this, but the focusrite just has one FW port.

4

YMMV, but in my experience the Firewire Bus gets very unhappy if you hotplug. Is it on a Mac or a PC?

It may end up being something you never have problems with, but Firewire hotplugging has been known to damage either the components on the actual Firewire device, or on the chipset in the computer. It’s enough of a reality that lead me to get the Saffire 6 instead of the Pro 24, so I could use USB. The standard practice is to make sure the laptop is shut down before plugging in, or unplugging something into the Firewire port. Some even go so far as to make sure their power cable isn’t connected.

5

Firewire devices are not always plug and play, so you might need to reboot before they will appear. There shouldn’t be any danger connecting/disconnecting when the computer is on though.

6

thats what i meant does the focusrite have single or two firewire ports as im not familiar with them my m-audio profire has two firewire ports.

7

^ONE firewire port.

This is no issue in my case.

That is what I wanted to hear. The warning sticker might just be there to protect focusrite from law suits or something.

8

With audio interfaces, I only disconnect them when the computer and interface are powered off. Some companies will say they’re OK to be hotswapped/hotplugged, but I’ve heard enough companies say whatever the customers want to hear so I just play it safe.

9

Aww damn. Is there someone with a definitive and substantiated awnser ?

10

Speakers connected to the interface should of course be turned off before connecting/disconnecting, also turn down any mixer channels you may be connected to.