Connecting FireWire Gear to Your Computer

If you’re finding that your computer-based recording system is underperforming, the order in which the components are connected might be the culprit. Under most circumstances the signal path ought to go as such: The audio interface should be first in the chain with a FireWire cable connecting the interface to the hard drive. A second cable should run from the hard drive to the FireWire port on your computer. By having your rig connected in this order you allow the DAW to access the audio files contained on the hard drive faster, which can improve the speed of your system when editing and mixing audio.