Ventura Hack for FireWire Core Audio Support on Supported MacBook Pro and others...

Media Technologies General
emihatov OP
Created Dec ’22
Replies 51
Boosts 8
Views 21k
Participants 65

Hi all, 

Apple dropping on-going development for FireWire devices that were supported with the Core Audio driver standard is a catastrophe for a lot of struggling musicians who need to both keep up to date on security updates that come with new OS releases, and continue to utilise their hard earned investments in very expensive and still pristine audio devices that have been reduced to e-waste by Apple's seemingly tone-deaf ignorance in the cries for on-going support. 

I have one of said audio devices, and I'd like to keep using it while keeping my 2019 Intel Mac Book Pro up to date with the latest security updates and OS features. 

Probably not the first time you gurus have had someone make the logical leap leading to a request for something like this, but I was wondering if it might be somehow possible of shoe-horning the code used in previous versions of Mac OS that allowed the Mac to speak with the audio features of such devices to run inside the Ventura version of the OS. 

Would it possible? Would it involve a lot of work? I don't think I'd be the only person willing to pay for a third party application or utility that restored this functionality.

There has to be 100's of thousands of people who would be happy to spare some cash to stop their multi-thousand dollar investment in gear to be so thoughtlessly resigned to the scrap heap. 

Any comments or layman-friendly explanations as to why this couldn’t happen would be gratefully received! 

Thanks, 

em

Answered by EuroGuybrush in 739342022

Same here, really not happy with Apple on this one. Planned obsolescence on perfectly working hardware

Replies  51
Boosts  8
Views  21k
Participants  65
mobileExplorer OP
Dec ’22

I also would like CoreAudio over Firewire to be .. Restored!

How is removing perfectly working code that many depend on .. helping Apple users or .. Apple?

I went back to Monterey because of this!!

3
EuroGuybrush OP
Dec ’22
Accepted Answer

Same here, really not happy with Apple on this one. Planned obsolescence on perfectly working hardware

4
pgour OP
Jan ’23

same for me, it is a shame to trash useful hardware for questionable features, I cannot see any reason why not support fw audio devices anymore. I still like the Ventura upgrade but I have to downgrade because of this and then what, buy new audio device or look elsewhere for support?

0
matt9 OP
Jan ’23

I figured it out. It's a hack, but it works. I have an Onyx 1620i Firewire Recording Mixer running perfectly with Ventura!

AppleFWAudio.kext was removed from Ventura. I took a Mac that still has Monterey, took AppleFWAudio.kext, and modified it slightly so it would install on Ventura. The installation process is the same as installing any third party kernel extension, so you'll have to grant permission in System Settings once prompted.

I made an installer package to make this easier for everybody else. I think for this to work, you must disable SIP first.

The google drive link below is a download of the installer package I made. I suggest using the free Suspicious Package application developed by Mothers Ruin Software to inspect this installer package, so you know that it does what I'm telling you it does.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J5k3lndFmebPOnjlIOY7CEvinSV1xfX0/view?usp=share_link

11
andyzha1 OP
Jan ’23

Does anyone know how to copy AppleFWAudio.kext to Exrtensions?

0
jazzmanro OP
Jan ’23

I subscribe to this in the idea that maybe some Apple people see it. Is there a more known request/pool/petition that I can contribute to?

Regarding matt9's hack, well, we all really appreciate it man. Does it work for everybody that tried it? I'm thinking about upgrading to Ventura to try this also, I have a perfectly working RME Fireface 400 interface. But not sure how an eventual downgrade would work or if I would need to actually reinstall everything from scratch..

1
emihatov OP
Feb ’23

Works 100% with my Mackie Onyx 1640i. Wonderful! SIP needs to stay disabled for it to work, so there's a risk there, but one I'm happy to take.

1
MehGtr OP
Feb ’23

Works great with Mac mini m1, Ventura 13.2

0
BurgerPalaceAudio OP
Feb ’23

I was unable to get this fix/hack to install. System would not grant permission even though I disabled security mode. I am desperate for a fix. Any ideas?

0
BurgerPalaceAudio OP
Feb ’23

I will add, I am a professional Voice Actor with studio equipment that has required endless cables and adapters to accommodate new Mac upgrades but this is a real kick in the pants. I hope MAC places a real fix in the OS because this is the livelihood of many studio owners.

1
DBProductions OP
Feb ’23

If you have any familiarity with the 'underground collective who builds Mac clones using regular PC parts' - you may have heard of an app called Kext Wizard. It's used to do just exactly this sort of thing (properly install kexts & then rebuilds permissions).

0
NoSpy OP
Feb ’23

Indeed, we should start a petition to demand that Apple maintain backward compatibility with FireWire. Because not only audio devices use this protocol. Thank you for this patch that gives hope.

1
TjShredder OP
Feb ’23

I am in the same boat... Maybe Apple is more sensitive for security risks. And this decision does introduce a risk caused by an Apple decision. Very often a seemingly more secure, but in reality more complicated technology completely removes security in the real world. People need to get work done, if security measures are in the way, they bypass them. This is a perfect example, it should be reported as a security flaw! Maybe they are willing to listen to that aspect...

0
SF00 OP
Feb ’23

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254322119

send Apple a request in the hope that they will listen https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html

0
Featherlightstudio OP
Mar ’23

Hoping Apple will reply, or even notice, a few requests among the millions received daily, may be a tad optimistic. However, how would we go about creating petition, or some kind of group poll, that they might react too? What would be the best format to accomplish this in?

0
Ventura Hack for FireWire Core Audio Support on Supported MacBook Pro and others...
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