Traveler mk3 - CPU not valid update firmware - MacOS 12 / 13

[followthehorizon]

Hi everyone,

I've had a MOTU Traveler mk3 in storage since 2017, and wanted to check that it was still working before I sell it.

Since then I upgraded the computers in my house Late 2018 MacBook Pro (15,2) - one is running MacOS 13.2 Ventura, the other MacOS 12.6.3.

Looking for drivers, I saw that the MOTU Audio Installer v89555 was compatible with MacOS 12 - https://motu.com/en-us/download/product ... tails=true

I connected the Traveler-mk3 via FW400-800 cable -> FB800-TB2 adapter -> TB2-TB3 adapter (bus power only, although I have the power supply if needed).

Unit turns on! Exciting, until... "CPU not valid update firmware", and then "Trav mk3 Boot v1.00".

I've tried both MacOS 12 and 13 machines to no avail.

The interface shows up in the Firewire device tree in System Information, but isn't recognised by the MOTU Audio Setup application and doesn't appear as an audio device.

Any tips to get the interface up and running? The earliest version of MacOS I can run on my computers is MacOS 10.14 Mojave, although don't fancy having to go through the hassle if there's another solution?

Appreciate your help!

[mikehalloran]

The FW to TB adapter passes 7.7V maximum. The TB2–TB3 does not pass bus power at all.

[followthehorizon]

Thanks Mike, I'll give the power supply a go.

The TB2-TB3 is certainly passing something as the Traveler turns on:

IMG_5920.jpeg (2.37 MiB) Viewed 1198 times

IMG_5921.jpeg (2.4 MiB) Viewed 1198 times

[followthehorizon]

I’ve now tested with the power supply connected to the Traveler, both with FW connection and also standalone.

Sadly it returns the same error each time - CPU not valid - even when no computer is connected.

Appreciate any insights from the brainstrust.

[James Steele]

I hate to ask the obvious, but *is* there a firmware update for these units?

[mikehalloran]

I hate to ask the obvious, but *is* there a firmware update for these units?

There was one nearly 14 years ago

Firmware Supports
Traveler-mk3 Firmware
Mac vv1.02 | July 1, 2009
macOS 10.14, macOS 10.13, macOS 10.12, Mac OS X 10.11, Mac OS X 10.10, Mac OS X 10.9, Mac OS X 10.8, Mac OS X 10.7, Mac OS X 10.6

Traveler-mk3 Firmware
PC vv1.02 | July 1, 2009
Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 10 32-bit, Windows 8.1 64-bit, Windows 8.1 32-bit, Windows 8 64-bit, Windows 8 32-bit, Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 7 32-bit

I'm guessing that you can't get this far but here's the Factory Reset procedure:

Traveler-mk3: Push the Setup/Param knob until the LCD screen displays "Setup". The LCD screen will quickly flash to "LCD Contrast". Turn the Setup/Param knob all the way to the right, until the LCD screen displays "Factory Defaults Push [VALUE]". Push the Value knob once. The LCD screen will display "Are you sure? Push [VALUE]". Push the Value knob again to confirm. The LCD screen will read: "Initializing...". The clock LED will flash and the LCD screen will return to "Mix 1 MASTER ASSIGN AN 1-2" when the reset is complete.

The usual Hail Mary in these cases is to remove the top and burnish all connectors and ICs by removing and replacing three times. If there's corrosion anywhere, this should clean it up. This works more often than I expect. While there, look for heat related issues such as burnt resistors, brown traces on the circuit board, cracked solder joints and bulging capacitors.

[followthehorizon]

Thank you both,

Yes I’m aware of the firmware upgrade but unfortunately can’t get to the point of my computer recognising the device properly to install anything.

Likewise with the factory reset, nothing I do prevents it from displaying CPU not valid etc.

I will try the Hail Mary!

[James Steele]

Sorry to hear that. You wouldn't have access to an older Mac that you could plug it into to see if it might be able to communicate with the unit?

[followthehorizon]

Thanks James, not on hand but will try to get MacOS Mojave up and running over the weekend on my machine.