Can all USB and Firewire connectors be used at sametime in MBP?

[Palaver]

Dear Forum,

It's in the question. I was wondering if I can use all the USB connectors, and firewire ports at once with the MBP? The reason for the question is I need to interface it with an external firewire harddrive, fire wire musical interface, and a keyboard usb/firewire controller... my MOTU 828MKII interface has a firewire input in the back so I can sync up my firewire keyboard controller via the end of that.

Most importantly, can both the fire400/800 ports be used at the same time (the two ports on the side of the MPP)? I understand that on many machines only one port can be used at a time. Usage of both firewire ports would be especially important for recording purposes... I am assuming all the usb ports can be used at once with all the firewire ports being utilized?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! If I need a firewire hub, what should I go with? What's the best brand and most reliable, especially for live use?

Thanks,
Phil

 

[noway]

Yes for the 2 usb ports ... now concerning the firewire ports i don't know sorry

 

[Palaver]

Has anyone used both firewire ports at the same time? For example... an external hard-drive and a firewire musical interface?

 

[chriscorbin]

i have used all ports at once before runs just fine but that was on a powerbook i think

 

[Multimedia]

Yes

Has anyone used both firewire ports at the same time? For example... an external hard-drive and a firewire musical interface?

Absolutely. You will have no problem using all of them at once.

 

[brettanderson]

Some people have posted that the firewire 800 and 400 ports share the same bus. If this is true then if you use both ports the chain will contain a firewire 400 device and the firewire 800 port will be reduced to 400 speed.

 

[iToaster]

Unless your plug takes up a bit of space, yes, you can use all of them at the same time... although I'm not sure of the insides of a MBP, it seems like they should.

 

[Palaver]

Some people have posted that the firewire 800 and 400 ports share the same bus. If this is true then if you use both ports the chain will contain a firewire 400 device and the firewire 800 port will be reduced to 400 speed.

This would be very nice to clear up... anyone? And a VERY interesting point indeed sir!

 

[Sopranino]

Absolutely! I've just come off of a classical recording session where I had the following plugged in;

1) Firewire based mixer in one port.
2) Firewire drive in another port.
3) DAW controller plugged in through a USB port.
4) Unlock key dongle in another USB port.

No problems at all......

I can't positively comment on the 800/400 split on the firewire interface, although I do recall bumping into some information that did mention the fact that the 800 port will run at 400 if the other 400 is being used. (Unfortunately I can't remember where I read that.....)

By the way the computer was a borrowed new SR MBP 2.4 matte screen with a 160 GB internal disk. (my new SR MBP has STILL not arrived......)

Sopranino