Yeah I hear you. Btw the RME is $3200 with the same exact inputs and outputs, so I didn’t even need to change my cables, removed the AXR4 and swapped to the RME. You can also extend it via their MADI to another 128 inputs and outputs.
That being said, with no support, development or even simple updates for the AXR4 by Steinberg I didn’t want to risk it. A new computer might help you with getting the Thunderbolt to work, no promises there. My guess, find someone who has Thunderbolt on their computer, take it there to install it before spending more money on a new computer. Btw, the AXR4 does not have a similar loopback as their cheaper models and you’ll have to find a solution for that as well
I’m still happy… If I don’t have new drivers and I don’t miss them, it’s because I don’t have that need. Constant drives come from problems that I honestly don’t have…
1 Like
All that is nice till a new OS update comes out and then you’ll really need Steinberg to work on an a new driver and unfortuntaetly, they won’t do it since there’s ZERO development for it
With the amount of people complaining about windows compatibility for thunderbolt I don’t understand why no one ever suggests the option of just getting a Mac. I mean a new M4 Mac mini is $600 and will do away with all of your problems. You’d be amazed by how far that little computer will get you. More stable and plug and play
1 Like
Or USB 3 version. I’ve been happily using my AXR4 USB on a pc without any issues whatsoever, very stable and reliable.
1 Like
And what happens when an OS update breaks compatibility and there’s no support? This isn’t RME land. There is a long history of dropped product=dropped support. Enjoy while you can.
1 Like
Isn’t that what has happened on windows that people are complaining about? All worked fine for the 5 years I’ve had it on my Mac. Much more stable than on my windows pc. I also have a metric halo 2882 that is upgradeable however, and is due for a new analogue board upgrade to bring it up to contemporary standards in the next year. That’ll keep me going forever. Plus I have a few class compliant interfaces, which is a helpful standard that isn’t fully supported on Windows unfortunately. No drivers required so will work forever so long as nothing blows.
Would that be the USB or Thunderbolt version? What OS verison are you currenty on, Intel/Silicon? Regardless you’re still at the mercy of an OS update/version breaking stability with zero support available and being s&#t out of luck if you need a repair. I hope it lasts as long as you and everyone else who owns one needs it too.
As an owner of Mertic Halo hardware. I’m in awe of their upgrade policies.
It’s the Thunderbolt version. I’m on Sonoma on Apple Silicon. I have an M1 and an M2. I don’t usually upgrade my os till all of the plugs I use are upgraded. The last major change was moving everything from 32 bit to 64 bit though and Steinberg already did that.
Thunderbolt is backwards compatible on Mac all the way back.
Yeah my Metric Halo I’ve had for about 10 years. But this issue with software support is the reason I’d rather spend money on microphones, outboard and instruments that will work for longer than I will.
2 Likes
I had been toying with the idea of buying an AXR for a while. Thankfully, I didn’t. I opted for RME because, unlike Steinberg, they still prioritize support.
1 Like
Yep, I don’t blame you!
Keep in mind that the Steinberg support team did not build these machines or write the software for it. You need to look to Yamaha for continually dropping the ball. They blamed chip shortages for canning the hardware when many other vendors seemed to do just fine. Why have they (Yamaha) so often made a mess of their collabs with Steinberg. Who knows? But for me, when it comes to these collabs, I’ll not likely purchase anything ever again. My trust stopped at the MR series and so sad to see that that ghost train appears to be still running. To many great options out there now with solid reps and in house dev support.
The Steinberg support team did, and said, all they could re the AXR. On the DAW, mastering and instrument software side of things, where they are in control, the support teams continue to be absolutely stellar. Super grateful for all they do, and the way they do it.
2 Likes
Have to echo those sentiments the hardware could be more flexible with upgradeable interfaces. As things stand hardware life becomes shortened with things heading to landfill long before their time. The MR was good but the Computer OS outgrew firewire. AXR4 appears to be on similar path re USB and Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt 2 starting to need Frankenstein’ cabling.
If using a new PC then a user would be out of luck, as the TB4 port is not backwards compatible to TB2, only TB3. Might as well be Firewire.
I don’t know why the PC vendors choose that path, Apple manages to be backwards compatible with TB2 on their TB5 devices. But on PC with TB4/5 it should be possible to use TB3 dock which will be backwards compatible with TB2
Have you actually tried this with an audio interface?
I have connected AXR4T to a MacBook Pro with M4 Pro / TB5 (Sequoia) and it connects just fine and dspMixFx AXR ran just fine and I could see signal indicators on the AXR4T when playing back audio from the computer. I did not do any actual producing, I was just verifying the unit for my main setup with intel iMac and now tripple AXR4Ts.
I have not tried connecting AXR4T through a TB3 dock to a TB4 PC, but according to this post it seems possible:
To clarify exactly what is happening, as it seems most people still don’t understand the TB2/TB4 situation.
The limitation is in the firmware of newer TB4 hosts.[Short explanation: Host is any computer or device, that has its own TB root tree, provided by an Alpine/Titan/Maple Ridge thunderbolt chip. Such devices have their own firmware. A PC is a host device, also any daisy-chainable TB client is also a host, and any active TB docking station that provides more than 1 extra TB connectors is also a host. (E.g. audio interfaces like the UAD Apollo rack ones, that have 2 TB ports, all have an Alpine Ridge chip equipped, as if they were a PC extension card. CalDigit docking stations are also host devices.) A TB2-TB3 adapter is not a host.]
This means that newer TB4 hosts (with a firmware version higher than a certain number I don’t remember from the top of my head unfortunately) are not going to recognise TB2 devices. But there is a workaround (actually, there are many workarounds).
You can insert a TB3 host device into your chain, and it will allow you to connect your TB2 device. E.g. you can connect your TB2 device (via an adapter) to an active TB3 dock or a daisy chainable TB3 device, then connect your TB3 dock or device to your TB4 computer. And the computer is going to see your TB2 device.
Another option is downgrading the TB4 firmware - but I’m not going to go into details on this.
This will not work with an audio interface,
As a former AXR4U user, I switched to RME Fireface 3 and it’s impossible to look back. The drivers, stability, speed, latency and routing flexibility is out of this world! Too bad Steinberg dropped the ball on their highest paying clients with this awesome piece of hardware (the AXR4), it had mad potential but it’s time to admit that there’s no future to it unfortunately and move on
1 Like
