External DVD Writer and Audigy

[Milt]

I just posted the thread on 'DVD writer connectivity '. I have another question: I use a Firewire card (actually a Studio8 card) for all Firewire I/0. I have an Audigy 1 which has a firewire port I would like to install- (Would replace the Studio8 card). I have heard that the Firewire protocol developed by Creative is a little different from the standard 1394. One individual at CompUSA claims he has had trouble with it and external Firewire drives. Has anyone had any issues with using an Audigy Firewire port and an external DVD writer setup, (or with any other Firewire device)?

Thanks

[lechtin]

I had heard the same thing. but I believe that it's due to the fact that it's not based on Texas Instruments chips (the standard, most common, as in the popular ADS cards). I have a Audigy 1 and use its firewire port with my miniDV camera and I also use it to connect to my Sony DRU500A DVD writer enclosed in a ADS Dual Link external enclosure. No problem.

[Milt]

Lechtin,
Thanks for the response. BTW, I was thinking of getting the DRU510a with the ADS enclosure, but had also just considered getting the DRX510a
(Sony external writer). Any other thoughts on your ADS enclosure would be appreciated (vs. the Sony external)

[Milt]

OH,
I forgot. I have the External control box for the Audigy. It appears there are actually two firewire ports on the Audigy, one on the back of the card, and an internal one that connects to the control box. Do you have the control box, or just use the one port?

[lechtin]

I only have the card, so I use the firewire connector at the back of the card. I connect the enclosure to it, the the miniDV camera to the daisy chain port on the enclosure.

I did not compare the price of the DRX510a to my combination because I only bought the enclosure later, so I never considered an external Sony drive. The other advantage my combination may have is that it may be easier to eventually convert the ADS enclosure to other uses (like an external hard drive).

Of course, I can't garantee you the DRX510a will work with the Audigy. I don't know enough about each manufacturer's implementation of an external enclosure, if they differ at all.

[jgandara]

I have no problem here, I have an Audigy 2. I didn't know it has an internal firewire, I'll try to connect it to the from of my puter.

[Milt]

Its not an actual firewire port, its a connection for a cable that transmits the firewire signal from the daughter card (which is included with the units with a control box), which connects to the control box. The control box has a regular firewire port. The card also has the basic firewire input on the back. I do not know if they are separate channels or not.

[jgandara]

I jsut checkd it yesterday and it's a connector to another Card or device (like the Audigy 2 platinum I assume), bu I do have a firewire card and it had an internal connector. I was able to connect a cable to a front port!.

Thank you for the idea anyways.

[ofbarea]

The audigy firewire port does not send power to external devices. Is just like the Sony iLink with a different connector. It has not problem controlling external hard disks, DVD burners, high speed networking or DV cam.

[freestyler]

Depends on the cable provided with your equipment:

6 pin firewire ports can carry power to your device, 4 pin ports need to be plugged into a power source. The 2 extra wires carry the power to your external device, be it an external hard drive, webcam, etc

[ofbarea]

The firewire port in Audigy cards cannot provide power even though it has a 6 pin firewire connector. Creative decided not to implement this feature.

[freestyler]

Hmm I wasn't aware of that. Odd that they'd do such a thing