DM-3200 - IF/FW-DM MKII - Thunderbolt 3.0 and Windows 11

[Herve QUEVAL]

Today I did a test connecting my DM3200 to a DELL Laptop running Windows 11 using Firewire card

Warning this method works only with processor Intel 10th or 11th generation / Thunderbolt 3
With USB 4 possible but need one adapter more (see web ling at the end).

The connection is done using 2 Apple adapters and one cable Firewire 400 to Firewire 800
- Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 from Apple
- Thunderbolt 2 to FireWire 800 from Apple.
- Cable Firewire 800 to Firewire 400
- Firewire 400 side connected to the DM-3200 IF/FW-DM MKII

WARNING: use only original Apple adapters. Others wil not work.

Software version:
IF/FW-DM MKII is running 1.10 (Build 88685) firmware
Windows driver from Tascam is IFFWDMmkII_Setup_116606_Release.exe Ver 1.21 (build 116606)
Tascam 3200 running 1.52
Windows 11 25H2 FR version - all MS patch installed.
Dell Precision 3551 I7 - 16Go RAM 512G SSD - Firmware upadated Nov. 2025

Installation without any problem but have to do as follow :
- disconnect all adapters,
- Install Tascam drivers as administrator account
and run IFFWDMmkII_Setup from Powershell window running as admin.
- connect the stack Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 to FireWire 800 adapter
driver is installed automatically by Windows 11
Open the driver manager from Windows 11
IEEE 1394 entry exist and compatible OHCI 1394 driver is loaded
- power up DM and connect the Firewire cable
Tascam driver cannot be loaded for security reason
Have to remove the memory protection in Windows 11 security setup.
reboot

After that, all is running well.
I did test with low "work load". In next days will test with Protools and more channels. We will see.


I did this test based on following Video:
Firewire with Thunderbolt 4

How to use legacy firewire and Thunderbolt devices on new PCs with Thnderblot 4

Firewire with Thunderbolt 4

The second one is interesting because it describe clearly the different problems linked with Intel processor generation 10th, 11th 12th.
Best regards
Hervé

 

[Arjan P]

Today I did a test connecting my DM3200 to a DELL Laptop running Windows 11 using Firewire card

@Herve QUEVAL You say you use a Firewire card, but I assume you mean there is not really a card involved, but ony USB C to various FW variations, right?

 

[Herve QUEVAL]

YEs and no, to clarify:

"You say you use a Firewire card, but I assume you mean there is not really a card involved"
Yes, you are right. On PC side it is not a card. It is Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter.
on DM-3200 for sure it is Firewire IF-FW/DM MKII.

"but ony USB C to various FW variations, right? "
It is not USB-C. On PC side it is Thunderbolt (available on a USB C connector). This is important because all USB-C are not Thunderbolt. On PC with Thunderbolt 3 an 4 are available on USB-C connector. It is easy to do the mistake.

I am doing some test under Windows 11 with Protools. It it is easy to install each component, and to test them individually,
- FireWire OK, ASIO channel OK
- HUI emulation only OK (Easy to activate) new documentation soon
But have some problem running all together. Windows 11 create some problem or I will say, applications all togheter running in Multi core processor / Multi threading create problems. The result: No crash, no blue screen but Protools suspend's 2 or 3 seconds, and it is not periodic !!!
I have already identified and solved some problems/issue on Windows 11 environment.

This afternoon I will qualify the ASIO RTD (PC to DM with Loop in the DM) and also Audio quality (buffer underrun; acceptable min buffer size). I had less problem with Protools and Windows 10.

 

[timmdrumm]

@Herve, I'm in a situation where this FireWire to Thunderbolt concept could save me. How is it working out for you these past couple months? Any new discoveries, issues? Thanks!

 

[Herve QUEVAL]

Hi, The solution works well. At the moment, I use it to send synthe to my DM and recording on a pair of MX-2424 at 94K. Works with out any problem.
Remember you have to purchase / get Original Apple adapters. It is really plug and play. The issue is not on the HW interface or drivers but on ACPI power managment of the laptop. At the beginning was obliged to increase a lot the buffers.... (then Delay....)
I use it on a DELL Laptop.
The tricky point is about Dell laptop and the power management even if it is better than some other laptop (ex ASUS, evenif the redesign the ACPI managment) . It is not the CPU consumption but the fact that ACPI programm does not return control quickly (200 to 300ms). It was not compatible with realtime audio application. I had to remove the trottling of the CPU clock, and stop the WIFI. Also I did some additional optimisation to stop application when starting (ex check update for new application; did it 1 per week). Also interested to suspend Windows update to get maximum CPU.
Now I am able to run with small buffers but alwaus in safe mode (256 byte if remember well).
I think that will work better with a Desktop.
If you need more information about the PC optimization and power management issue on laptop, tell me. I gathered some information on the subject.
Best regards.