Please I need advice for my 828X

[apanacci]

Hello all I still have my 828MKIII but I am now using my 828X for my studio. I have 2012 MacPro that I am using. I have the 828X hooked up by USB because as you know the Thunderbolt does not work on a 2012. I have it plugged in on one of the USB ports in the back. I am getting some audio weirdness when I shutoff my Mackie MCU or sometimes other USB connected items. Sometime the computer just crashes. Someone on MacRumors chimed in and had mentioned a PCIe Thunderbolt card. What do you think of this ? If it works I can stay away from USB. This is the name of the card. They say it is for a 2012 MacPro. GC Titan Ridge and Alpine Ridge are what they are called. Any advice please thanks (Mike)!

[mikehalloran]

Since MOTU has never posted RTL for the 828x, I have always believed that Thunderbolt was nothing more than an internal FW to TB converter (Apple used something similar in the 2011 iMac). If so, that makes the TB connection slower than Fast USB 2. If there was an actual advantage, I believe that MOTU would have screamed it from the rooftops.

As for the MCU, there are reports of firmware updates but the Mackie page for those is unresponsive. The do answer the phone so I would give them a call.

[apanacci]

Hey Mike I am finding that other USB items are creating some wierdness with the 828. Not only the Mackie. If the PCIe to TB card works would it keep the USB items away from the 828 connected to TB ? Only if that card really works. Have you heard about those. Thanks.

[apanacci]

One more thing when DP is up and running and if I shut off the MCU Pro the 828X disconnects from DP. Will doing a firmware upgrade on the MCU stop that ?

[apanacci]

The MCU is at 3.0. You are correct Mike the Mackie website is interesting. I think I,m just going to be careful and not shutoff the MCU until I quit DP and then shutoff the 828. I think it will be too much of a problem to go any further with this. Thanks for your help as usual !

[HCMarkus]

Startup and Shutdown power sequencing is something I've always paid attention to. When you find a sequence that doesn't cause trouble, stick with it!

[apanacci]

Thanks for that HC. Im a trouble shooting guy and it drives me crazy when these things happen. But what you said makes so much sense. From here on in I will follow that advice. Its so much easier than trying to find out whats going on.

[apanacci]

One more thing then I promise to be quite about this ! Mike H nailed it ! The MCU is wreaking havoc on the 828X. Its at VER 3 and there is no upgrade to the Firmware upgrade. Ah well.

[mikehalloran]

Assuming that the MCU is not the Pro version, it's been around since 2003.
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ma ... -universal

Core Audio was different back then and not everything that connected to the G5 still works. That the MCU functions at all 21 years later is a cause for celebration, IMO.

I have a friend still making music for his church on a G5 using DP 5.13 with no plans to ever upgrade. I sometimes loan gear just so we can see what does and doesn't work on those 20+ year old space heaters (most current Core Audio interfaces do not). I have refused the return of my own G5 a few times over the last decade.

BTW, the MCU Pro is from 2008, after Intel Macs came on the scene.
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/mackie-control-pro