Recently purchased a FireBox that came with CB LE. After getting the patch so that I could actually install the software on my Powerbook 15", 1.5 Gz, Tiger OSX 10.4.4, 2 Gigs RAM, I plugged in couple of mics, set up 2 channels to record., plugged in my headphones and tried a test recording.

The set up seems to record, as i can see the wavewforms forming and the level indicators jump. It is obviously recording.

However, I can't seem to find a way to get sound out of the rig.

Problem is actually two-fold. First, I am unable to monitor through the headphones during recording.

Second, the test track is not audible on playback on either through the headphones or through the Mac's sound setup.

In addition to trying mutiple configurations of buttons active/inactive, tracks muted,. etc. No sound generation.

I also went into the Mac's sound control panel and made sure that the Firebox was selected as an output device.
I've set all the gains to their highest settings, no sound.


What am I missing?

i installed and set up the Presonus provided software mixer as directed. But these problems persist with or without the mixer in the mix.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks.

After much research and consultation, including on this board, I purchased a Presonus Firebox from MF on Jan 12th. I also made sure that I loaded my Powerbook G4 (1.5 GHz) to the gills with 2 GB RAM. It arrived a few days later and a few days after that I found the time to start trying it out. Following the manual exactly, I plugged it into my OS X 10.4.4 equipped laptop. The blue indicator flashed blue, then red, then blue again, just like the book said it should. We are all set up!

Next I load the Firebox Software. OK. I attempt to load the Cubase LE v 1.7. No dice. The installer won't install. So I get on the Cubase Forum and learn that there is a problem with 1.7 on Tiger, and I am given a link to Presonus Customer Support email to get the updated V. 1.8. CS emails me back a link to a patch developed by an enterprising fellow somewhere in cyberland that solves the installer problem with V 1.7.

I download the patch, install Cubase. It seems good so far.

Plugging in my headphone to monitor and one mic for a test track, I record "test, 1,2...test, 1, 2...etc. I can see the waveform forming in the Cubase, but I hear no sound from my headphones, other than a low level hum and hiss when the levels are tuned up to full. I can't playback any sound either from Cubase.

After backtracking a few times, experimenting with different mics, headphone and software configurations. I get back on the net. I post on a couple of forums (Mac Music, SteinBergUsers, Cubase.net ) looking for help. Many views but only one reply with advice on Cubase.net.

The best piece of advice. Email Presonus CS. So I do. After a couple of days of emails back and forth, the tech rep says to check something called "Audio MIDI Setup" which I find in my Mac's Utilities folder.

The Audio Midi setup utility tells me that my "FireBOX" has "FirePOD" firmware installed?!? WTF?!?!

I report back to the tech, who tells me:

"Well, someone has run the FirePod's firmware updater on your FireBox and has therefore rendered your FireBox useless. Have it exchanged from where you purchased it or give us a call for repairs"

So, last night I dropped the Firebox off at Fed Ex on its way back to MF for an exchange. They're telling me 3 to 4 weeks on the turnaround.!!

That' it!!

FireBox is a MIDI Source, as far as GB, Logic, Cubebase, etc., are concerned and Mac needs to be configured to recognize it (via MIDI set up Util) identifying PreSonus Drivers. The rest is standard, sort of, and some what intuitive.

PreSonus Customer Service Guys are all Mac users and can sort this Stuff pretty quickly. However, that Firmware thing sounds like a fairy tale, to me.

rtcooper
stillwaterboston @verizon.net

An exchange with MF brought a new unit and a cure for the problems noted above. Plug and play...toggle a setting here and there. Voila! Multitrack recording and playback on demand!!

So far, I'm satisfied.

If anyone runs into the same problem, they should check the Audio MIDISetup in the Mac's utilities folder.

So no fairy tale... just a stark reality that has been corrected.

Now...how do i cut down on all that hiss and noise?!!!

Cut down on noise and hiss?

Could you clarify?

I posted in another thread ( http://www.macmusic.org/agora/forums/index...2&t=21311&st=30 ) about what I now realize was a latency issue. In trying to solve the problem on my own - Presonus tech support has proven to be less than useful - I inadvertantly used the FIREPOD firmware updater on my FIREBOX (and no, that's not bull, it does actually work and without any warnings about attempting to update the wrong hardware I might add). I got the same, curt, response from Presonus: "Your Firebox is now useless." and was told to call for an RA to get it exchanged. I've called about a dozen times now, left voicemails, talked to various people and been told I have to talk to one person in particular to get an RA, only to never hear back from the messages I've left him. I love the hardware but this tech support and the confusing way their website and updaters are setup is really working on my nerves.

The thing that amazes me is that there isn't a firmware package for resetting the original firmware. If they can do a Firepod update why can't they release the original for their boxes? Why do I have to send it back?

Are you trying to send it PreSonus or the vendor you bought it from?

Although Musician's Friend apparently sold me a unit loaded with the wrong firmware, at least they replaced it no questions asked. And the exchange actually happened much quicker than they estimated in the first place.

So call the vendor. Hopefully they'll make it right.

Yeah, I sent it back to Presonus about a week ago. They're horrible about returning calls, so I'm gonna keep on them to see if I can get an idea of when it's coming back. They were cool about issuing an RA, so hopefully they'll be as cool about getting it back to me quickly.