17 Jun
2022
17 Jun
'22
2:55 a.m.
"Peter P." <peterparker(a)fastmail.com> writes:
Downgrading the Expresscard version/speed in the BIOS might or might not
help. Can you guess whether the problem is more likely with the
interface card (I assume the expresscard version rather than the
adapter/Pccard stack I use) or the Multiface breakout box?
--
David Kastrup
* David Kastrup <dak(a)gnu.org> [2022-06-14
19:21]:
[...]
The latter. I think I got the 64bit .deb from Medibuntu when that was
still a thing.
It's sort of embarrassing but the Hammerfall
DSP cards work with either
the Expresscard adapter or an Expresscard-to-Cardbus adapter (the latter
_has_ to map the PCI express lane of the Expresscard slot, not the USB
lane) with the old Cardbus adapter. It's ancient technology with 8
line-in/line-out connectors and quite robust ADAT support, but in terms
of the quality and latency of the available connections and driver
support, it's still unprecedented.
The Expresscard-to-Cardbus adapter solution is not overly convincing
mechanically. And you need to dig up the firmware for 64bit versions of
Linux (no idea where I got my .deb from when I needed to upgrade).
Isn't it in
alsa-firmware-loaders package? Or does it ship without the
actual firmware? And of course, Expresscard slots are a dying
breed as well.
I am still using two Lenovo X230s for live work. They are amongst the
last laptops from this manufacturer with an ExpressCard slot. I think I
have earned a part of my living with an RME HDSP+Multiface for the last
twenty years. About three weeks ago the card cause a hard lockup of my
laptop in one of the last rehearsals for a concert which would require
it to work together with a 20 member ensemble in front of a 300+
audience. Had to replace it temporarily with a Motu B16.
I had multiple problems with this RME card: Firmware would not load
randomly, or the card would be detected being connected to a digiface
with wrong firmware loading also randomly. In terms of features, quality
and latency this is amongst the best linux laptop cards. I think I have
to let it go after 20+ years now.