despite the hubblub out there about firewire audio not being supported by linux, all i had to do was: *sudo gedit /etc/default/rtirq* change RTIRQ_NAME_LIST="rtc snd usb i8042" to RTIRQ_NAME_LIST="rtc *firewire* snd usb i8042" & RTIRQ_NONE_THREADED="rtc snd" to RTIRQ_NON_THREADED="rtc *firewire* snd" open *qjackctl* -> click Setup -> change settings to Driver: *firewire* (This selects the ffado driver stack) Interface: hw:0 Audio:Duplex (or Capture only) Check Realtime Priority: (default) Frames/Period: *128* Sample Rate: 44100 (adjust the sample rate to the specs of your fw device) Periods/Buffer: 3 see more here <https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FireWire/oldPages/Firewire03#Set_IRQ_Priorities> we can record over 21 separate channels :)