Questions & Answers for Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter
Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter
110 Questions + 133 Answers
110 Questions from the Community
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firewire 800 to thunderbolt port or firewire daisy chain?
I have a Mac Mini (mid 2011) with one firewire 800 and one thunderbolt port. I have 2 G-tech firewire 800 Raid drives.
Should I connect the second drive via a thunderbolt to firewire adapter or a firewire daisy chain with a second AC cord?
Thanks for your help! LK- Asked by Lisa K from Bronx
- Jun 17, 2017
- Flag as inappropriate (firewire 800 to thunderbolt port or firewire daisy chain?)
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How is possible to connect a new Thunderbolt 3 port to an old Firewire 400 port?
I' have a new MacBook and must to connect an old audio board MOTU ultralite have only 2 audioWire female ports (with standard FireWire 1694- 400)
It's possibile to use the new thunderbolt 3 port? Downgrade of transfer rate is supported?
If it's possible, please, where i can found an adpater cable?- Asked by Arnaldo P from Cagliari
- May 20, 2016
- Flag as inappropriate (How is possible to connect a new Thunderbolt 3 port to an old Firewire 400 port?)
Best Answer:I have just tried an official thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt 2 adaptor, an official thunderbolt 2 to firewire adaptor and a firewire 800 to 400 cable and I can confirm that this does not work with the Macbook 12" usb c.
- Answered by Tom H from Werchter
- Apr 16, 2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (How is possible to connect a new Thunderbolt 3 port to an old Firewire 400 port?)
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will my 2010 macbook pro connect to a newer(thunderbolt) type audio interface for recording
I have a 2010 15' macbook pro, it has the firewire 800 port, can i use this adapter with a new audio interface that has the thunderbolt connection
- Asked by Josh C from Lexington
- Jun 11, 2017
- Flag as inappropriate (will my 2010 macbook pro connect to a newer(thunderbolt) type audio interface for recording)
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Is this a Thunderbolt 3 type connection? Does it have the new USB-C type plug?
Just ordered the new (October 2016) MacBook Pro and need a cable to connect my Firewire 800 drives to it.
- Asked by Kevin L
- Oct 28, 2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Is this a Thunderbolt 3 type connection? Does it have the new USB-C type plug?)
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Does the most recent Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter also work with FireWire 400? Need it for mini DV camcorders.
I have a Panasonic GS-120 mini-DV camcorder and after 2 calls to Applecare and one chat with Panasonic, this seems to be my only option. My Mac and Macbook air will not recognize my camcorder through USB.
- Asked by Rosemary C from Clifton Park
- Nov 4, 2014
- Flag as inappropriate (Does the most recent Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter also work with FireWire 400? Need it for mini DV camcorders.)
Best Answer:You would need to buy a firewire 800 to 400 adapter to get it to work.
- Answered by Jonathan S from Cincinnati
- Dec 17, 2014
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Does the most recent Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter also work with FireWire 400? Need it for mini DV camcorders.)
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Will this allow users to start a Thunderbolt-equipped Mac in "Target Disk Mode" and access it via a FireWire-only Mac? (And vice-versa)
I know that Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt Target Mode is available and obviously FireWire-to-FireWire, but I'm more curious about using Target Disk mode to support older Macs with newer ones and vice versa.
- Asked by Josef L from Tacoma
- Aug 2, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate (Will this allow users to start a Thunderbolt-equipped Mac in "Target Disk Mode" and access it via a FireWire-only Mac? (And vice-versa))
Best Answer:I have tested a cross Thunderbolt to FireWire "Target Disk Mode" connection using an Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter both ways ("master" and "slave" roles done either way). The OS was 10.8.1. The computers were Mid 2012 MacBook Air with Thunderbolt (only) and 2010 MacBook Pro 13" with FireWire (only).
First of all I confirmed that the actual "Target Disk Mode" connection worked both ways when the machines switched roles as "master" or "slave". When the FireWire (only) machine is "slave" the FireWire Symbol shows on the screen. When the Thunderbolt (only) machine is slave you sometimes see both a Thunderbolt symbol and a modified FireWire symbol.
As a test of actual practical use for troubleshooting, I installed the latest version of DiskWarrior (4.4) on both machines and then ran DiskWarrior from the "master" machine" to the "slave machine" both ways having the Thunderbolt and FireWire machines switch roles.
Everything worked beautifully.
Interestingly I asked Apple floor staff at Apple Ginza Tokyo store (non-genius) if this would work, and I was told that "Target Disk Mode" used between Thunderbolt and FireWire machines had not yet been confirmed. The impression I got was that the Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter is mainly promoted for connection of FireWire equipped externals (like hard disks etc) to the new Thunderbolt machines. "Target Disk Mode" use seems to be "something nerdy" that few users would ever attempt :-D- Answered by Stig B from 世田谷区
- Aug 30, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will this allow users to start a Thunderbolt-equipped Mac in "Target Disk Mode" and access it via a FireWire-only Mac? (And vice-versa))
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Best Answer:
You need a few items to make this work.
Firstly you need the thunderbolt to firewire adapter, then you need either a firewire 800 to 4 pin firewire cable OR a standard Sony iLink firewire 400 cable and a 800 to 400 adapter.
I already had the Sony iLink 400 cable so went with the 800 to 400 adapter.
Connect everything together and put the camera into playback/VCR mode. Open whatever Mac video program you're using (iMovie 9/Final Cut Pro X work fine) then go to capture and a window will open allowing you to control the camera from the program.
Look at the specifics for the program you are using.
My camera is a Sony PCR100 Hi8 camera from early 2001 and this method works perfectly with my 2013 iMac. -
Best Answer:
No, the adapter works the other way around. It's to connect a Mac with a thunderbolt port to a device that has a Firewire800 port.
- Answered by Graham D
- Aug 2, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Is it possible to use this to connect an iMac with FireWire to a Thunderbolt external hard drive?)
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Speed difference between FireWire 800 converted to thunderbolt and USB2
I just bought an iMac and I'm trying to access an older array I have that has either a USB2 connector or a FireWire 800 connector.
My question is this is- will the FireWire 800 used in connection with this thunderbolt to FireWire adapter be faster than the direct USB to connection or should I just stay with a USB2 and if so how much faster?- Asked by John D from Novato
- May 16, 2015
- Flag as inappropriate (Speed difference between FireWire 800 converted to thunderbolt and USB2)
Best Answer:FireWire will definitely outperform a USB 2.0 connection. USB 2.0 had serious bottlenecking issues that made it terrible for large file transfers. Even with the conversion from Thunderbolt to FireWire, Thunderbolt enough speed to provide full FireWire 800 speeds to the port. USB 2.0 had a max speed of 480Mbps (Megabits, meaning real world 60 Megabytes per second), where as early version of FireWire 800 provided 786Mbps (98MBps). Overall you should get better performance through FireWire to transfer large amounts of data. USB 2.0 rarely ever reached it's full output due to cheap parts being used in hard drives and flash drives that maxed out and underperformed.
- Answered by Edward V from Brampton
- Jul 11, 2015
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Speed difference between FireWire 800 converted to thunderbolt and USB2)
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I would like to record videos straight to my Macbook Pro.
Can someone, anyone, please break down for me the equipment I will need to do connect my Sony Handicam (HDR-CX160) to my Macbook Pro, so that I might record straight to the laptop?
Like, fourth grade level, because I'm not computer savvy at all.- Asked by Marta R from Harker Heights
- Sep 20, 2016
- Flag as inappropriate (I would like to record videos straight to my Macbook Pro.)
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Will this adapter connect directly to the new MacBook Pro 2016 USB-c/thunderbolt ports?
I have some older Firewire800 drives that I use with my late 2009 iMac, and have purchased the new MacBook Pro 2016 13" w/ touch bar. Will this work on its own or do I need something else?
- Asked by Robin N from Jacksonville
- Nov 3, 2016
- Flag as inappropriate (Will this adapter connect directly to the new MacBook Pro 2016 USB-c/thunderbolt ports?)
AnswerThis adapter has a thunderbolt 1 style plug. It won't work with USB-c/TB3. I think it will work with a TB to TB3 adapter. I have such an adapter and it works with my Belgian TB dock, which has a Firewire800 port. I haven't tried the FW800 on the dock, but USB 3.0 and the Displayport connector all work. I think This adapter would work with a TB to TB3 adapter.
- Answered by Eric F from Lutherville
- Dec 12, 2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will this adapter connect directly to the new MacBook Pro 2016 USB-c/thunderbolt ports?)
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Why are there 2 firewire adapters? MD464zm/a and MD464ll/a
What are the differences/similarities between these 2 adapters?
I am trying to connect to a digital audio mixer, and it's a little fussy.
Vic- Asked by Victor G from St. Adolphe
- Dec 4, 2015
- Flag as inappropriate (Why are there 2 firewire adapters? MD464zm/a and MD464ll/a)
AnswerEvidently the MD464zm/a was an early version, it's not available any more.
- Answered by David L from Redlands
- Aug 11, 2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Why are there 2 firewire adapters? MD464zm/a and MD464ll/a)
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Do I need an adapter to connect a FW400 to my thunderbolt firewire adapter
- Asked by Benjamin R from North Providence
- Jan 3, 2017
- Flag as inappropriate (Do I need an adapter to connect a FW400 to my thunderbolt firewire adapter)
AnswerThis adapter converts FW800 to thunderbolt, you'll need a FW800 to FW 400 then
- Answered by Jonathan S
- Jan 5, 2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Do I need an adapter to connect a FW400 to my thunderbolt firewire adapter)
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Can I connect my external drive to my iMac using a thunderbolt to firewire adaptor?
I have an iMac 27 inch (mid 2011) with two thunderbolt slots. (1) Can i connect my WD "My Passport" external drive to my iMac using a thunderbolt to firewire adaptor; (2) Will that quicken the pace of data transfer (for backup, time-machine etc.)? (3) Am also planning on upgrading to a new iMac in a few months (when the new iMacs are announced), so will I be able to transfer all my data from my old iMac quicker using a thunderbolt connection from my external drive? Thanks kindly for any assistance.
- Asked by Ilan K from Toronto
- Feb 1, 2017
- Flag as inappropriate (Can I connect my external drive to my iMac using a thunderbolt to firewire adaptor?)
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thunderbolt to firewire400 adapter?
Hi, I've got a TimeMachine with FW400 connection and want to buy a new MacBook Pro that only has Thunderbolt. I've searched for a Thunderbolt to FW400 adapter, but only find one that says it's for Thunderbolt to FW800. Is there an adapter for TB to FW400? Or am I going to have to daisy chain (FW400 to FW800, then FW800 to Thunderbolt)? Thanks!
- Asked by Stacey K from West Bloomfield
- Aug 4, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate (thunderbolt to firewire400 adapter?)
Best Answer:There are also cables that have FW 400 on one end and FW 800 on the other. I find the cable solution a little more elegant and it's not another adapter to lose.
- Answered by Jef L from Chicago
- Aug 8, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (thunderbolt to firewire400 adapter?)
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Can I go from a firewire port to a thunderbolt device using this product?
- Asked by Michael M from Arcadia
- Jan 4, 2014
- Flag as inappropriate (Can I go from a firewire port to a thunderbolt device using this product?)
AnswerNo, this device is only designed to plug into the Thunderbolt port on a computer and allows you to plug Firewire devices into it. It does not work the other way around. You cannot connect it to the Firewire port of your computer and use an external Thunderbolt device.
- Answered by Lee I from Pacific Palisades
- Dec 12, 2014
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can I go from a firewire port to a thunderbolt device using this product?)
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what adapters do i need to convert model sony/dcr-trv18 to mac 10;12;2 late 12
camrecoder
to dvc cassettes- Asked by Lawrence F from Naperville
- Jan 3, 2017
- Flag as inappropriate (what adapters do i need to convert model sony/dcr-trv18 to mac 10;12;2 late 12)
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imac mid 2010 and Thunderbolt port
Ciao to all.
I bought it and it works great with my MacBookPro17; but IF I plug into mi iMac27" Mid 2010, it is not recognized.
Someone can confirm me it's not possible to use it on my iMac mid 2010?
Regards..
Rob- Asked by Roberto B from Reggio Emilia
- Oct 26, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate (imac mid 2010 and Thunderbolt port)
Best Answer:That's because your 2010 iMac has a Displayport port, not a Thunderbolt port. They are physically similar, but your Displayport will only connect to video devices with Displayport connections.
- Answered by Nathan D from New Brighton
- Nov 2, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (imac mid 2010 and Thunderbolt port)
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Is this what I need to connect from an iMac mid 2010 to a new iMac late 2015 both running the same OS.
The iMac 27 mid2010 has a Fire wire port (Female)
The iMac 27 Late 2015 has a Thunderbolt connection
I have a Thunderbolt male to male cable
Is this adaptor what I need to accomplish the transfer of all data from iMac 2010 to iMac 2015
Thanks for any and all help. -
Best Answer:
The 2008 iMac does not support Target Display Mode (which works over a mini DisplayPort to mini DisplayPort cable, not Firewire) BUT as long as the computer is operable, you can use third party software to use it as an external display for your MacBook Pro. Look into the Air Display app.
- Answered by Kevin W from San Antonio
- Mar 27, 2014
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (can I use 2008 iMac with firewire as display for macbook pro with thunderbolt)