Any Coreaudio Experts Here?, help restoring Apple's FW Audio driver Options

[bace]

Hello All,

I attempted to perform a firmware update on my Terratec Phase 24 audio interface. Terratec's firmware update tool did not work and afterwards I couldn't get any sound from the Phase 24. My initial thought was somehow it had some of its firmware overwritten or deleted. But, after thinking they couldn't be quite that incompetent, I remembered a prompt I got when I brought up their firmware tool which stated:

"Device Access Warning. In order to get device acces the Apple FW Audio driver has to be removed.

Before you can updrade or get device info you have to type in your password. Your audio device will be temporarily not available unitl you exit the application . In some cases you may have to restart your computer."



My question is: Is there some way I can re-enable the FW Audio driver, be it through a command line prompt or what have you or am I going to have to reinstall the OS?

Thanks for any suggestions/advice.

[coldharbour]

Try booting in single user mode (command+s) and running sbin/fsck -yf until you get the ok, then repair disk permissions with Disk Utility.

[bace]

Thanks,

I'll try this when I get home.

Do you know of technically thorough books or documents about OSX? Do you know of any that contain info on the Core Audio API?

[cookshack]

Easy my friend, take a deep breath...

While the firmware loader for your card temporarily removes the Driver, I don't think you need to rewrite the system software.

I run the card with my G4 PB 867 and when I installed the control panel (and phase xx services) the manual didn't specify that the unit needs to be connected at start-up to load properly. If it isn't present when the service starts then it wont pass audio through and a restart is required.

Expert? No just diligent.

[bace]

Cookshack

LOL

I'm not stressed just a little annoyed. I asked for the other info just because i'm generally interested (It's the engineer in me). I'm not quite that ambitious to be re-writing anything.


Restarting is the issue. Now, I don't remember the exact sequence of events but I know at some point I decided to shutdown and restart my G4 (1.25 GHz tower). But I ended up in this loop in which it kept saying I needed to restart. After the second attempt I pulled the Phase 24's firewire connection and everything was fine.

I am pretty sure this was b4 I tried to update the firmware, because I remember thinking maybe the firmware update will solve this... And maybe it would have. But the Update Tool said it couldn't find the file, even after I typed the name of the file in there because it woudlnt let me select it via browsing (using the open button). Both the update tool and updatefile were on my desk top. Did I do something wrong?

Did you download the Control Panel and phase xx services from the terratec site, or were they on the disc that came with your card?

[cookshack]

Hey Bace - the phasexxservice installs with the control panel (that's why a restart not a log-out is required)

If the firmware load failed, the last firmware installed would be retained...(somewhere in the manual it says that) So if you are unsure which firmware is installed you can select the device in the update tool and "get device info" it will either start with a 1.24 or I think a 1.14 something like that...it may not let you select the file if it is already loaded, try loading the older off the CD (from the PC folder)


When I installed the card I...
1) was on 10.3.5 - allegedly supported, but not at higher sample rates (only 44.1)
2) used the current downloads (1.2b & 1.24) then
3) Tried the firmware from the PC folder on the install disk (firmware is not host platform specific) when it wasn't fully functional
4) installed 10.3.8 update solved any core audio issues (I think the Core Audio update occured on 10.3.7)

When I Use the card...
Now when I start my system I follow a specific sequence of events to ensure reliable loading of the card. The card loads the last mixer config at startup; so if a 'digital in' was present at shut down of the card and you restart (or simply plug the card in stand-alone) if the 'digital in' is not found the card reverts to a default mixer config which sometimes I find wont output audio despite being present at core audio and core midi- a restart is required. Also I am unable to save/load scenes in the mixer control panel

My advice to you (if you still have trouble that is)...
download "Desinstaller" or some such tool and remove the PHASE_24_FW_V1.2b.pkg
Restart and run the firmware updater tool and load 1.24
Restart and install PHASE_24_FW_V1.2b.pkg
Restart with card plugged and check AudioMidi Setup -ok?
Open Control Panel and set up mixer config
MAKE MUSIC!!! - That's why we are here right?

Right, Later, Bye.

[bace]

Cookshack,

Last night I went in search of all files terratec related and I noticed, as you pointed out, that the phase xx services were already there.

I removed them all, although I did not de-install, I may have to try that. Then I followed Coldharbour's suggestions of running the file system check and repairing permissions. Still got nothing.

I was under the impression that the firmware is host platform specific... I may give that firmware a shot, but first I will double check to make sure that it is 1.14 on the card now.

I may try to see if I can revert and re-update to 10.3.8 to see if I can at least get back to the state of hearing sound but not being able to restart correctly with the phase connected. My guess is whatever is causing the restart to get hung up is the root of all of my problems.

Thanks.

[bace]

I visited the Genius Bar at a local Apple Store. I wanted to see if I could get audio out from a different Mac, to make sure it was my driver. A guy there plugged the phase 24 into a PowerBook and it promptly caused a kernel panic. Guess that means it's going back. Now I have to decide on getting another phase 24 or something else.

Cookshack,

Guess I was a little slow this morning, yeah it wouldnt make sense for the original firmware to be platform dependant but I wonder if the update is. I checked their site and the file sizes for the Window and Mac updates aren't the same. So unless there is some overhead required for installing the firmware from a Mac something is different...

[cookshack]

expert, genius, this thread is scary...

the windows d/l for the firmware is bundled with the tool - different file size

I was never here

[bace]

If you don't like the word genius take it up with apple, cause that's what they call their in store support section: Genius Bar.

And yes I noticed the tool is bundled with the update, however that file is SMALLER than that for the MAC. Mac: 1.2MB Win: 667KB if i recall correctly.