Questions & Answers for Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter
Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter
113 Questions + 141 Answers
113 Questions from the Community
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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 successfully connected an old (2001) Sony DCR-PC110 Mini-DV camcorder to my MacBook Pro 2016 via a Thunderbolt / Firewire chain. I used the following adapters to connect the Sony's 1394 / Mini-DV connection to MacBook Pro USB-C: Apple Thunderbolt 3 [USB-C] to Thunderbolt 2 [Mini DisplayPort] (MMEL2AM/A) --> Apple Thunderbolt 2 [Mini DisplayPort] to Firewire 800 [9-Pin] (MD464LL/A) --> Tripp Lite Firewire 800 [9-Pin] to Firewire 400 [4-Pin, 1394] (F019-006). All in about $90.
I was able to control the camcorder and capture video from Mini-DV tapes.
This chain may work for other Firewire 400/800 peripherals.- Answered by Greg F from Bristol
- Sep 8, 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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ok so I have a brand new MacBook pro(2018) and I have a Sony vx2100 and I'm not sure what adapter to get.
does the apple thunderbolt firewire adapter come with both the usb and firewire connections or do I need to buy two different adapters?
(my Mac only has two ports)- Asked by Aaron H from Beaumont
- Apr 6, 2018
- Flag as inappropriate (ok so I have a brand new MacBook pro(2018) and I have a Sony vx2100 and I'm not sure what adapter to get.)
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can I listen to audio out of the thunderbolt port?
I only have lightening style headphone (no bluetooth time/wireless, can I use the firewire / lightening adapter to listen to music through my lightening earphones. is there any combonation of cables that will allow me to use lightening cabled earphones to listen to music on my mac book pro build 2016?
Thanks- Asked by Janice L from Lacey
- Feb 12, 2018
- Flag as inappropriate (can I listen to audio out of the thunderbolt port?)
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Will this work with my (very old gen3) ipod?
I have had my ipod since 2003 and it has been working fine for me ever since. I understand that to transfer my songs from my ipod to a mac, I will need to download a specific type of software for that to work. I do not want to lose the music that is currently on there (approx. 3000), but do want to transfer to my new macbook pro. Will the Thunderbolt read my ipod?
- Asked by Tiepa T from Te Atatu Peninsula
- Sep 2, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate (Will this work with my (very old gen3) ipod?)
Best Answer:The 3rd Generation iPod was the first model to feature a dock connector, and had the play/pause, menu, forward, and back buttons in a line above the touch wheel.
You can Identify your iPod Model at Apple Support KB article HT1353
If this is the case, any USB or Firewire 400 to Dock Connector cable should be OK to use, just use a USB one, and plug it directly into your MacBook.
If you have a first or 2nd generation iPod (With a physical wheel, or a touch wheel with buttons arranged around the wheel (but not on the wheel) and with a FireWire port on the top of the unit (no dock connector) you will additionally need a Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 cable. You can plug the FW400 end into the iPod, and the FireWire 800 end will fit into this accessory. You can then use a specialist piece of software to extract the music from your iPod.- Answered by Silas P from Elwood
- Sep 11, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will this work with my (very old gen3) ipod?)
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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)
Best Answer:Evidently 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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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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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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Best Answer:
I seen your post and tried it out because I was curious as well about this. I have a maxed out 2011 iMac with a Digi003 Factory Console. I switched from my native Firewire port and used the adapter to go thunderbolt. I launched a Pro Tools session and received a "hardware buffer underflow" error message every time i tried to playback and no matter how high I set the playback engine buffer sample it still occurred. I switched back to my native port and problem solved, everything was back to normal. I hope this helps.
- Answered by Dominick C from Simpsonville
- Apr 16, 2014
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Could I use this adapter to connect my Digidesign 003 factory to my iMac thunderbolt connect or would it lack sufficient power?)
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Can I successfully hook up a Canopus ADVC110 firewire out to Thunderbolt port on new iMac with this cable?
I am attempting to transfer data from a VCR to iMovie on my mac.
- Asked by Robert R from Redington Shores
- Sep 21, 2013
- Flag as inappropriate (Can I successfully hook up a Canopus ADVC110 firewire out to Thunderbolt port on new iMac with this cable?)
Best Answer:Yes, this can successfully be done. I have a Canopus ADVC110 with a FireWire 400 port on the back. I bought a FireWire 400 to FireWire 800 cable and bought the Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter. Using the cable and adapter, the ADVC110 will be recognized by iMovie and will also be powered without the need for a power adapter.
- Answered by Nathan S from Fort Wayne
- Mar 18, 2016
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can I successfully hook up a Canopus ADVC110 firewire out to Thunderbolt port on new iMac with this cable?)
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Best Answer:
Just bought a Mac Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter to fit my PC Motherboard (GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UP4). It did not work. The physical female end inside of the motherboard sits differently than the adapter Mac has. You should also be aware that the side of the packaging states "Compatible with Thunderbolt-equipped mac computers." It stinks, but I will be returning it and waiting for more compatible adapters for sure or maybe just have to keep PCIe Firewire card for my audio work. It still works fine; just wanted a different alternative.
- Answered by Adam B from Baton Rouge
- May 11, 2013
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will the Apple Thunderbolt to firewire adapter work on PCs (Asus, for example) that have the Thunderbolt ports ?)
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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. -
Can i use this cable with migration assistant? I want to move from a mid2007 iMac to the new iMacs released today (Nov. 2012).
- Asked by Daniel B from Beverly Hills
- Dec 1, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate (Can i use this cable with migration assistant? I want to move from a mid2007 iMac to the new iMacs released today (Nov. 2012).)
AnswerThe mid 2007 iMacs should have a FW 800 jack suitable for an FW 800 cable that will connect to this adapter. If you have the cable, Migration Assistnt should work.
- Answered by Albert L from San Diego
- Dec 8, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can i use this cable with migration assistant? I want to move from a mid2007 iMac to the new iMacs released today (Nov. 2012).)
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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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mac book pro retina and sound cards
Hey,
I bought the new macbook pro retina and I NEED to plug in my sound card which is the profire 2626 with a fire wire 400 output.
Can anybody help me to find the best solution?
thanks- Asked by Simone H from Venezuela
- Nov 29, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate (mac book pro retina and sound cards)
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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)
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Can this adapter be used to connect thunderbolt external hard drive to older mac with firewire 800?
I want to purchase a Thunderbolt external hard Drive to use with my new MacBook Pro with retina display. I also want to be able to use that hard drive with my older iMac that only has FireWire 800. Will this adapter allow me to connect the thunderbolt drive to the older iMac.
- Asked by Alexander E from Dix Hills
- Aug 5, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate (Can this adapter be used to connect thunderbolt external hard drive to older mac with firewire 800?)
Best Answer:No. This device creates a FireWire port for the host Mac when connected to a Thunderbolt port. It needs software drivers to do this, and cannot function as a converter on it's own. Because of this, it cannot be used as a bridge to do the opposite. (That would be a completely different adapter, but as far as I know no one has made one yet.)
- Answered by John S from Notre Dame
- Aug 8, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can this adapter be used to connect thunderbolt external hard drive to older mac with firewire 800?)
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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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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?)
AnswerNo, it is not a Thunderbolt 3 type connector (USB C), you would need to connect this connector to a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 connector. I have not seen a Thunderbolt 3 to Firewire connector from Apple.
- Answered by Seth B from Fort Lauderdale
- Jun 12, 2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (Is this a Thunderbolt 3 type connection? Does it have the new USB-C type plug?)
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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)
AnswerNo, this adapter is for connecting FireWire devices to a computer's Thunderbolt port. It will not work in the opposite direction. It will not allow using a Thunderbolt device with a computer's FireWire port.
Thunderbolt was commercially introduced on Apple's 2011 MacBook Pro.- Answered by Joseph V from Fort Langley
- Jun 14, 2017
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (will my 2010 macbook pro connect to a newer(thunderbolt) type audio interface for recording)
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I have a FW 400 device that I would love to use with my MacBook Air. Does anyone know if a FW 800 to FW 400 adapter will work with this adapter?
- Asked by Robert T from Long Beach
- Aug 1, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate (I have a FW 400 device that I would love to use with my MacBook Air. Does anyone know if a FW 800 to FW 400 adapter will work with this adapter?)
Best Answer:I tested such a device with this adapter, and it worked well.
I plugged an audio interface, called the PreSonus FireBox, into a MacBook's Thunderbolt port. It's a FireWire 400 device.
I already had a FW 800 to FW 400 adapter cable, and I plugged that into Apple's FireWire-to-Thunderbolt adapter.- Answered by James P from Decatur
- Aug 10, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate Answer (I have a FW 400 device that I would love to use with my MacBook Air. Does anyone know if a FW 800 to FW 400 adapter will work with this adapter?)