Macos Ventura

[Grethe Presnar]

Apple dropping on-going development for FireWire devices that were supported with the Core Audio driver standard is a catastrophe for a lot of struggling musicians who need to both keep up to date on security updates that come with new OS releases, and continue to utilise their hard earned investments in very expensive and still pristine audio devices that have been reduced to e-waste by Apple's seemingly tone-deaf ignorance in the cries for on-going support.

Probably not the first time you gurus have had someone make the logical leap leading to a request for something like this, but I was wondering if it might be somehow possible of shoe-horning the code used in previous versions of Mac OS that allowed the Mac to speak with the audio features of such devices to run inside the Ventura version of the OS.

AppleFWAudio.kext was removed from Ventura. I took a Mac that still has Monterey, took AppleFWAudio.kext, and modified it slightly so it would install on Ventura. The installation process is the same as installing any third party kernel extension, so you'll have to grant permission in System Settings once prompted.

The google drive link below is a download of the installer package I made. I suggest using the free Suspicious Package application developed by Mothers Ruin Software to inspect this installer package, so you know that it does what I'm telling you it does.

Regarding matt9's hack, well, we all really appreciate it man. Does it work for everybody that tried it? I'm thinking about upgrading to Ventura to try this also, I have a perfectly working RME Fireface 400 interface. But not sure how an eventual downgrade would work or if I would need to actually reinstall everything from scratch..

If you have any familiarity with the 'underground collective who builds Mac clones using regular PC parts' - you may have heard of an app called Kext Wizard. It's used to do just exactly this sort of thing (properly install kexts & then rebuilds permissions).

I am in the same boat...Maybe Apple is more sensitive for security risks. And this decision does introduce a risk caused by an Apple decision.Very often a seemingly more secure, but in reality more complicated technology completely removes security in the real world. People need to get work done, if security measures are in the way, they bypass them.This is a perfect example, it should be reported as a security flaw! Maybe they are willing to listen to that aspect...

Hoping Apple will reply, or even notice, a few requests among the millions received daily, may be a tad optimistic.However, how would we go about creating petition, or some kind of group poll, that they might react too?What would be the best format to accomplish this in?

Unfortunately doesn't work with my Motu Traveler v1 on M2 pro Mac mini. I tried installing with Kext Wizard and pacifist after disabling SIP and it never shows up after multiple restarts and accepting extensions in system settings.

Have been playing around with getting this to work this afternoon. I'm on a Mac Mini M2 PRO + Ventura 13.2. I wasn't able to make the installer work, unfortunately. So I used 'Suspicious Package' to extract the AppleFWAudio.kext file from the installer. I've dabbled for years in the Tonymacx86.com world, so I am somewhat used to doing this sort of thing.

...but nothing shows up in the Sound System Settings option. I have another audio interface now that is my primary interface, but I could sure use the extra input channels with doing a bigger session & need more than 8 channels of input (other interface has 8 mic pre's).

I have managed to get this working on an M2 2023 MacBookPro. I'm using an Apogee Ensemble Firewire and it is now detected and works, mostly. I had to use kmutil myself to get the kernel extension to load. The script in the package didn't work so I just grabbed the files from it using Suspicious Package, disabled SIP, modified my Startup Security Utility settings and then ran kmutil in the terminal.

However, I have been having problems with my system crashing at random intervals when using the ensemble. I'm going to keep tinkering and see if I can figure out a work around. Any assistance folks can provide would be greatly appreciated. I noticed a similar situation for folks here: eyetvforum.com/index.php?/topic/305278-incompatibility-with-macos-13-ventura-beta/My console reports: Library not loaded: /System/Library/Frameworks/FWAUserLib.framework/Versions/A/FWAUserLib

Thanks Apple ??? You now disabled this ability in Ventura 13.4 ??? I have no words.... Now I'm getting error message that this Kext cannot be loaded. Once I'm clicking on "Allow" button, I'm getting to the loop where I need restart computer.

Hey! Need help from you guys. Im got a Mac Mini M2 Pro, with ventura installed, i have a Mackie Onyx 1640i, Firewire audio interface. With the help of this post, i was able to make Ventura recognise the audio interface in the System Report, on the firewire devices, but it doesnt appear on Audio Midi Setup, System Sound or in Ableton Live. I followed all steps from this post, minus the "kmutil" command, it always give me an error. Anyone can help me please? I need this audio interface to work...thanks in advance

Hey,
searched any clear information, but still not sure do I have to start planning to figure out replacement for FF800? Now it runs great on MBP M1 with 2 dongles into Thunderbolt 3 port.
Will drivers be updated or current ones also will work? Do not want to try beta of Ventura but maybe someone did?

to my knowledge Apple will discontinue any Firewire support with Ventura. RME will be unable to do something about it and there won't be new drivers (as they told me). So one will have to stick with Monterey.

This device has been such an amazing and perfect workhorse, and it's a damn shame Apple are killing off connectivity for it (most hardcore FF800 heads have a TB3 ext PCI chassis to use TI-based firewire cards to keep on truckin' ).

Since this may finally be the "end of the road" on MacOS capabilities to allow FF800 to go another decade --- I wonder if we could perhaps rally RME to offer a one-time discount to existing FF8000 owners to make the move to their newer interfaces?

I am using Ableton 11 and it found the Fireface 800 without a hitch. All plugins seem to work fine so far and I am very relieved as the rumours made me think I would have to buy a new sound interface!

Hi man. Can you please contact me on private? I have MacBook Pro 2022 M2 with ventura and Fireface 800.
Had download the last driver and bought all cables but when I connect the apps doesent open like total mix etc. can you please help me ?

Also here, Fireface 400 (which uses the same driver as the 800) works absolutely well on Mac mini M1 2020 with Ventura 13.1 on it (same double-adapter-snake as Gianste). Only thing I had once is a not recognized interface when it's plugged in the already running Mac. Because my Fireface doesn't work with bus power anyway, I simply have to power up it first before starting the Mac.

After upgrading the Mac OS to Ventura, powered up the Fireface 800 which immediately launched the RME TotalMix and RME Fireface Setting apps in the background. All of the inputs show up in Logic and so far everything seems to work just as before the Ventura upgrade.

The computer recognizes the FF400 and the ADAT ins... but isn't taking any signal. However, it does take signal from the FF400's SPDIF inputs (I plug my Line 6 Helix in via SPDIF for tracking in the room).

Apple really has Zero concern for their users. After they killed Final Cut Pro 64-bit in favor of the dumbed down consumer parody of Final Cut Pro - my MacPro loaded with ECC RAM became a whole lot less useful .. so I switched all video production to Windows and haven't looked back.

Logic Pro X is still a great program though - and the Only reason I stay in the Apple eco system - as their software for iPad/iPhone/Watch etc. is just so poorly designed .. as if by .. Children it's so buggy and problematic.

I intend to install a mature beta of this on my one of my main audio Apple Silicon Macs in a month or so, and test. I expect our time may be running (or might have already run...) out on this amazing legacy interface (FF 800) working on this OS. But we will know for sure soon, so people can plan.

It is fair to RME to assume that their Apple Silicon / Ventura legacy driver extension was a 100% gift to the longtime FF800 Mac user comminuted. And if Sonoma removes the ability for these drivers to work, it is not on RME...but on Apple.

Maybe RME could consider having some possible upgrades promotions by Xmas, for loyal FF 800 Mac holdouts who never upgraded? Just an idea, at any rate once-again I want to thank RME the RME FF800. See you all in July...

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