S88 MK3 Cable did not work at all

@Matthew_NI

Thank you sir, for your patience and persistence. It is noticed and it is appreciated.

By your "logic" you have a VERY long list of manufacturers that have not been diligent in testing their products adequately and therefore having USB failures. Just the ones I've experienced would include Line 6, Fractal, Universal Audio, ASUS computers, Yamaha, QSC mixers, Samsung, Morningstar, iConnectivity and inumerable audio interfaces..probably some more if I want to really think about it. But obviously with your VAST experience in product testing of commercial grade products ONLY YOU have the key for fixing this pretty much universal problem that's been plaguing the industry for years.

Maybe it's YOU that should be blamed for buying/using cheap cables or not doing the appropriate level of research to discover which USB ports are actual direct ports in a computer versus ones that are just unpowered hubs or not being forward thinking enough and prepared with an adequate powered hub in your inventory of gear.

Well, as end-users, some of whom are trying our best to help out our fellow end-users (without compensation for our time, effort, or expertise, I might add), what would prevent us from making our own list? We could just start asking for more detailed information…even more detailed than we already do.

For example, I could test my connections without my USB-C hub in the chain, and whether it works or not, then I could share my precise motherboard model number, manufacture date, and the chip on my board that is doing USB-C, as well as the port that works (or doesn't work, as the case may be). Likewise, my hub and dock both work, so I could share THOSE model numbers and (if known), the chips inside them.

We already do this…I've published my precise cable and hub arrangement that works for me. So that's not breaking any rules.

And I never signed an NDA about USB-C anyway, so I can't possibly be held to the terms of any such agreement. I wouldn't even know WHO the other party would be, which would be another requirement if anybody is going to restrict me from saying "this is what I have and it works (or doesn't work) for me."

Eventually, as we gathered more info, we would basically KNOW which manufacturers have hardware that works or doesn't work, and by model number and year, basically.

I suspect also that neither did the OP nor our mods sign any such NDA either; probably only NI people (or employees working for other musical device manufacturers) are under this NDA.

If we build our own information base over time by our own information sharing, and we do it completely without having access to NDA-protected information, then nobody would be breaking any rules or contract agreements. And eventually, we would all learn what we need to know. "Use this" and "don't use that, that, or that".

If that were to result in one or more computer makers making fewer sales and less money? I doubt that would happen to any great extent, but even if it did, that's not on us. It's on that maker.

And finally, the Non Disclosure Agreement process was created as a way to promote real competition in the marketplace. It was never created as a way to protect manufacturers from being discovered doing dodgy behaviors.

Some USB-C chipsets in some Mac models are known to be causing problems with external SSD/HDD drives (spontaneous disconnects and such), I think it’s the same issue, as general consensus was to use powered hubs in such cases (source: MacRumors forum).

Can’t say it is the same with PCs, but probably.

Can’t say it is the same with PCs, but probably.

You're right. The only USB problems I have are on my PCs, not my Mac. But I'm just a single user. I suspect that BOTH platforms have some variety of issues.

And of course we should note that PC components are made by many different contract manufacturers with no unified oversight being done by any single brand or company. By comparison, Mac components are made by far fewer manufacturers, and the Mac supply chain is a lot more … what's the word? "curated by Apple", maybe?