USB3 (New Macbook) with Traktor S4
Hi All,
Just wondering what have been people’s experience with using the Traktor S4 with a USB3 connection.
If not supported, are there any plans on future support?
Thanks.
definitely looks like the new MBP usb3.0 ports don’t work prorerly atm
NI just update PC driver, latest from 07 june
maybe they allready working on new Mac driver(or what it there calls ^^) to fix that
here the thread on NI forum with some comments of new MPB owners on there
http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169348
My understanding of this is that USB 3 is NOT backwards compatible in these areas and currently the advice from NI is not to buy any laptops that have only USB 3 connectivity (which means all the new macbooks)
Anyone have any further info on this?
There have been reported issues with using NI audio interfaces on USB3 ports. However, Ivy Bridge is the first chance to have USB3 as part of the Intel chipset, so problems with 3rd party chipsets does not necessarily mean that there will be problems with IB computers (which all the new Mac’s are). If there are problems, then NI are going to have to fix them as you cannot buy an Apple laptop with USB2 at this point, but that won’t help in the short term if it doesn’t work.
Don’t rush to buy one until NI has given an official statement on the matter.
iFixIt has torn down a new Air. Interesting things according to the teardown. The logic board still has a USB2 controller on it (SMSC USB251x) and the Intel PCH appears to be a custom part; iFixIt has no link, it’s not listed with the standard Intel Ivy Bridge PCH parts, and googling the part number comes up with no hits. The PCH should be what’s controlling the USB3 ports (no idea why there is a USB2 controller on the board), but if it’s a non-standard part then USB3 working or not working on any other laptop will have nothing to do with whether it works on this laptop.
Just recieved answer from NI support team
[QUOTE]We are in the process of testing the new MacBook models with our hardware
products. We will update the compatibility information on our website when these
tests are concluded. In the moment we cannot guarantee that the USB 3.0 ports of
the new MacBooks are fully compatible with our hardware products.
Best regards
Mark, Native Instruments Support Team
[/QUOTE]
I’m surprised by their answer. I woulda expected that they e-mailed you back w/ some generic response, that doesnt have anything to do w/ ur question, with a link to some page about laptop optimizations
just ordered a 2012 macbook air, fingers crossed that it will work with my A4 and my X1…will let y’all know how it fares..
that is their new generic response for the issue…I also emailed them, specifically asking if their gear works with the new retina MBP and that’s what I got.
Taking what has been posted on the NI forums at face value, there have been reports of the A4/A8/S4 not working and the A6/A10 working (haven’t seen anybody post about the S2). “Working” in this case being plugged it into a mac and gave it a quick try, i.e. nobody has done a set on it yet. If those accounts are accurate then sadly your A4 isn’t going to work with your new Mac.
If you’re looking for a potential difference which would explain why the A6/A10 work and everything else does not, I believe that the A6/A10 interfaces use XMOS chips for their I/O and none of the other mentioned NI interfaces do.
damn. but no one has tried it with a macbook air so far as I can tell from all the forums I’ve checked…though as frequencym mentioned, the macbook air still has a separate USB2 controller chip in addition to a custom intel controller for USB3…so I’m still believing it might work…otherwise this weekend’s gig will be straight internal through the headphone jack…
I was actually referring to the NI interfaces, NI went into an agreement with XMOS to use their integrated solutions last year and I believe the A6/A10 were the first interfaces to use that.
I don’t recall whether anyone tried on an air or if it was all MBP, but with Ivy Bridge the USB 3.0 support is via Intel (specifically through the new Panther Point PCH’s). The air being a ULV most likely does have a different PCH than the MBP’s, but I’d be surprised if the USB 3.0 portion was any different, so odds are your A4 isn’t going to work. 
damn, well hopefully it’ll get sorted b4 saturday…
If you know anyone with an A6/A10 you might want to arrange to borrow it for a few days. You can be the guinea pig! 
(hopefully with a trial set before gig day.) I have an A10 you could borrow for a few hours if you happen to be in the Boston MA area.
I’m in bmore, but will definitely ask around, not sure if anyone’s got one, but I might also just use serato for this gig as I remembered one of our guest DJs will be using it (no reports of Serato issues, yah?). Will definitely let everyone know how things work out, hopefully tomorrow or wednesday when the new machine arrives.
can also test out an A2
I only have TSP so I haven’t looked at how Serato is making out. Probably worth your time to check their forums to find out though. In my case my MBP is falling apart (the screen has separated from the clamshell and the metal frame is starting to bend) and I’ve been waiting for these new laptops to come out so I could replace it. And now I get to wait some more to make sure I can use them with an A10.
Seems like the new Macbooks are an all around downgrade for djs…or hell any music producer.
Except for, you know, the massive upgrade all around. NI just can’t get their shit together when it comes to firmware. They’ve had something like a year to get USB 3 or TB support in the firmware, but just haven’t recognized it as a progression.
NI has a choice: either get a firmware update in, and soon, or face the reality of virtually every audio interface they make (Anyone tested a KA6 yet?) completely shitting the bed. Unless they plan on pulling a Kore on their entire DVS line, I think the new MBPs are going to do just fine in the near future. Either that or Apogee, Avid, and Steinburg are going to be selling a LOT more cards really fast…