Motu 2408 MKII direct firewire connection

[dipswitch]

I'm somewhat new to motu hardware. Is it possible to connect a 2408 mk2 directly to a standard firewire interface (onboard controller) and thus not using a pci card?

I'm planning to use a sff (small form factor) computer in wich you can only stick low profile pci cards, since these are small and therefore easy to place. In this way i don't need to make room for a big computer; i only want a small setup to make a recording of the band so further editing takes place on another computer wich is more powerful and is lokated away from my performance room.

So i'm wondering if the 2408's have a standard firewire interface and, what is the purpose of the 324/424 cards other then offloading the computers processor with a dsp? When i look at pictures of the pci cards i can only see to main components on the boards, being the dsp and a relatively standard texas instruments (or some other brand) firewire controller chip.

[stephentayler]

No, this is not a FireWire interface, it is called AudioWire and can only be used with the 324/424 cards

Cheers

Stephen

[dipswitch]

Is there a usb or firewire version of the 2408?

[stephentayler]

No, but the best bets would be the 828 or Traveler

http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio

Cheers

Stephen

[delarhuc]

I have a Tascam DA 88 DAT machine and would like it to talk to my Macbook Pro so a 2408 would be perfect for the job in hand. Have you ever heard or got any advice on boxing the PCI card with a power supply and firewire/USB interface to communicate with the Mac?

[bayswater]

I have a Tascam DA 88 DAT machine and would like it to talk to my Macbook Pro so a 2408 would be perfect for the job in hand. Have you ever heard or got any advice on boxing the PCI card with a power supply and firewire/USB interface to communicate with the Mac?

If you're asking about using the 2408 to connect the DA88 to the MBP, note that the 2408 operates as a standalone device, and doesn't need the PCI card. Some models of MBP, I think those with a larger screen, have optical inputs, so perhaps you could use the optical out on the 2408 to connect it. That would only give you two channels.

To get more, you could get something like an 8 channel ADAT interface with a USB or FW connection to the Mac, and use the ADAT out in the 2408 to connect to the DA88. I did more or less this to get a DA-38 connected: it is plugged into the 2408 which has an ADAT connection to a 828 which in turn is connected to the Mac.

Using the setup you described will make a physical connection, but I think the chances of getting a driver to work with that chain of connections are close to zero.