Yes, if you have a Mac with bus powered firewire slots
but for those of us in the real world with PCs, sadly firewire isn't so good. Although I do currently use a firewire extrernal soundcard, but it's a cheap Beringer one and I want something better.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:26, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

You don't need
bus power if the interface comes with a power supply. Mine's an Edirol FA-101, and while I always use it on the Mac with FW bus power, it does have an external adaptor. The power switch slides one way for bus power and the other for external power, with the centre position being off. It does mean you can't record without access to a mains supply, but I'd never do that anyway.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:34, Reply)

I know you don't need it
but it's just less cable running power and therefore less chance for hum (like that's going to make a difference to my music anyway but I'm a perfectionist).

My main issue is that the firewire port on my laptop is the little 4 pin firewire one, which can physically fall out quite easily and therefore is a pain in the bum.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:41, Reply)

you're not supposed to put the other end in your bum

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:44, Reply)

Oh dear...
Suddenly it all makes sense...
( Cawl, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:44, Reply)

I don't know
why PC manufacturers insist on using the 4-pin variant. The 6 pin one is much more robust and useful and I'm sure it would only cost pennies to fit.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 11:19, Reply)