Motu 828 mkII / 8 Pre macOS 11 Big Sur compatibility

[TheWire]

Here goes my yearly query as motu website is fairly unspecific on what devices are supported on Big Sur.
https://motu.com/en-us/news/motu-and-macos-big-sur/

They write " appear to be compatible with macOS Big Sur" for the 828x. How does that translate to the 828mkII?

Any experiences already? Thanks for sharing.

[jallenkrueger]

The MOTU Audio Driver v1.6.83634 (released in early 2020 adding compatibility with macOS Catalina) doesn't officially list the FireWire-only 828mkII as supported. However, I have been using my 828mkII without any issues on both Catalina and Big Sur. It is connected with an Apple Thunderbolt (2) to FireWire adapter and an 800/400 cable.

I have also had no trouble adding an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter into the setup to use it with an iMac Pro.

Additionally, I have used an 8pre on Catalina using the same setup without issues. I haven't tried on Big Sur but I assume it works fine. Like the 828mkII, the FireWire-only 8pre is not officially listed as supported.

[TheWire]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I was suspecting Big Sur may work with existing drivers as the major changes happened in macOS Catalina. But with Apple and their poor changelogs and general documentation you never know.

[TheWire]

Made the move and confirming macOS 11.2 and Motu 828 mkII work as expected.

[bayswater]

Thanks for reporting. I'd assumed by 828-3 won't work with my newer Mac and newer OS versions. I suppose it might be worth a try.

[tushhamilton]

Hi
I've been trying to find information on the Internet about 828 mkii FW compatibility with Big Sur/mac M1 computers. So far, nothing positive at all. I've just followed this thread, did you manage to get things to work on Intel-based Macs only? I've managed to daisy-chain my 828 mkii FW to my new Mac mini m1 and install the software but the device doesn't appear anywhere....
The 828 mkii FW has served me really well for nearly 20 years and I am loathe to selling it. I no longer need so many inputs/outputs and have been looking at downsizing to a smaller (and newer) interface, and may just keep it to use with my old Macbook Pro as back-up, but any thoughts and advice would be appreciated. Before purchasing the M1, someone recommended I purchase a second-hand Intel-based Macbook Pro from 2014-15, but to be honest I don't think that's the way to go.
I'm not sure if I've installed the right software though. Any links and pointers would be much appreciated.
Thanks to all in advance.

[rscharf]

Thank you Jailen! It's working brilliantly!

I just received my Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, connected it to an Apple FW to Thunderbolt adaptor, swapped out my old FW 400 cable for a new FW400>800 cable, plugged it into my 2018 Mac Mini (i5, 3.0GHz, 32 gig ram, running Big Sur 11.4), downloaded the MOTU driver v1.6.83634 ......and my 828MKII showed up in my Sound prefs and is working great!

I just downloaded DP11, so I hope I'm not pressing my luck here, but I'm feeling pretty good right about now.

Thanks again Jailen!

The MOTU Audio Driver v1.6.83634 (released in early 2020 adding compatibility with macOS Catalina) doesn't officially list the FireWire-only 828mkII as supported. However, I have been using my 828mkII without any issues on both Catalina and Big Sur. It is connected with an Apple Thunderbolt (2) to FireWire adapter and an 800/400 cable.

I have also had no trouble adding an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter into the setup to use it with an iMac Pro.

Additionally, I have used an 8pre on Catalina using the same setup without issues. I haven't tried on Big Sur but I assume it works fine. Like the 828mkII, the FireWire-only 8pre is not officially listed as supported.

[mikehalloran]

I just received my Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, connected it to an Apple FW to Thunderbolt adaptor, swapped out my old FW 400 cable for a new FW400>800 cable, plugged it into my 2018 Mac Mini (i5, 3.0GHz, 32 gig ram, running Big Sur 11.4), downloaded the MOTU driver v1.6.83634 ......and my 828MKII showed up in my Sound prefs and is working great!

Thanks for confirming. Frankly, it should have worked since it uses the same MOTU Audio Drivers that newer, supported interfaces do (not the Pro drivers, of course).

A few have gotten bent over the current drivers not showing up in the download matrix for the 8Pre and 828mkII. My guess is that MOTU would be implying that those >15 year old devices might still be supported. They want to discourage that notion.

[bayswater]

I just received my Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, connected it to an Apple FW to Thunderbolt adaptor, swapped out my old FW 400 cable for a new FW400>800 cable, plugged it into my 2018 Mac Mini (i5, 3.0GHz, 32 gig ram, running Big Sur 11.4), downloaded the MOTU driver v1.6.83634 ......and my 828MKII showed up in my Sound prefs and is working great!

I'm tempted to buy the first two adaptors and connect up my FW 828-3 just so I can see it working.
You want to be careful with updates: as Mike points out, the 828 is not supported by MOTU, so if there is some OS security update that doesn't like the looks of the MOTU driver or FW, there won't be a fix. A test volume helps with this stuff.

[mikehalloran]

I just received my Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, connected it to an Apple FW to Thunderbolt adaptor, swapped out my old FW 400 cable for a new FW400>800 cable, plugged it into my 2018 Mac Mini (i5, 3.0GHz, 32 gig ram, running Big Sur 11.4), downloaded the MOTU driver v1.6.83634 ......and my 828MKII showed up in my Sound prefs and is working great!

I'm tempted to buy the first two adaptors and connect up my FW 828-3 just so I can see it working.
You want to be careful with updates: as Mike points out, the 828 is not supported by MOTU, so if there is some OS security update that doesn't like the looks of the MOTU driver or FW, there won't be a fix. A test volume helps with this stuff.

Yes, although Apple has released drivers for Big Sur, there is no implied compatibility with future MacOS.

For now, this still applies on a Mac if High Sierra or later. You have 30 minutes to do this after installing the drivers or you have to reinstall and try again.
https://motu.com/techsupport/technotes/ ... igh-sierra

I have a TB2 twin-drive dock with a pair of 4TB SATA III SSDs going into my TB2–TB3 adapter. It has a pair of TB ports so, when I want to use my 828mkII, the Apple FW–TB adapter plugs into that and daisy-chain works as it should. Pretty cool, actually.

Unfortunately, the Thunderbolt version of this dock is discontinued but I found mine on eBay. Here's the info page:
https://www.owcdigital.com/products/dri ... nderbolt-2

Yes, they now have a newer USB 3.1 version but you can't plug your FW device into it.

[papageno]

Hi. I have currently Ultralite mk3 Firewire-only working with MacOS 11.4 and v1.6.83634 | Jan. 2, 2020 audio driver. The FW-only model is not officially listed as compatible but it still works fine with 2 adapters in between with my 2018 Mac mini.

Can anyone verify, if Firewire-only devices still continue working with v1.6.88494 | June 8, 2021 Motu audio driver?

MOTU once again states that FW-only devices are not compatible but they stated the same with the previous version too.

[papageno]

I can myself verify that my good old Ultralite mk3 Firewire only is fully operational with June 2021 Motu audio drivers.
Running on 2018 6-core i7 Intel Mini and OS 11.5.2 for now.
Later this year (after the new gen. MBP is out) it is the time of truth again. Do i need to buy a new interface or can I keep working with the Ultralite, which was purchased in June 2009.
12 years, in computer time it is a long time. Thanks to Motu for ongoing (although unofficial) support.

[mikehalloran]

I can myself verify that my good old Ultralite mk3 Firewire only is fully operational with June 2021 Motu audio drivers.
Running on 2018 6-core i7 Intel Mini and OS 11.5.2 for now.
Later this year (after the new gen. MBP is out) it is the time of truth again. Do i need to buy a new interface or can I keep working with the Ultralite, which was purchased in June 2009.
12 years, in computer time it is a long time. Thanks to Motu for ongoing (although unofficial) support.

Since others have it working, no reason to believe you’ll be left out.

[MrFresh]

I can myself verify that my good old Ultralite mk3 Firewire only is fully operational with June 2021 Motu audio drivers.
Running on 2018 6-core i7 Intel Mini and OS 11.5.2 for now.
Later this year (after the new gen. MBP is out) it is the time of truth again. Do i need to buy a new interface or can I keep working with the Ultralite, which was purchased in June 2009.
12 years, in computer time it is a long time. Thanks to Motu for ongoing (although unofficial) support.

Since others have it working, no reason to believe you’ll be left out.

Hi Mike,
Happy 2022. I was wondering if you could help. I don't think I missed anything in the above thread, but I was able to get MOTU Audio Setup installed properly on my M1 Mac mini, running Big Sur 11.6, but I can neither get the 828 Mk3 driver or the 828 Mk3 Hybrid driver installed - they both say the developer needs to update the app. Maybe it's the dot version update from 11.5.2 to 11.6 that's the issue. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thanks, Doug

[mikehalloran]

I can myself verify that my good old Ultralite mk3 Firewire only is fully operational with June 2021 Motu audio drivers.
Running on 2018 6-core i7 Intel Mini and OS 11.5.2 for now.
Later this year (after the new gen. MBP is out) it is the time of truth again. Do i need to buy a new interface or can I keep working with the Ultralite, which was purchased in June 2009.
12 years, in computer time it is a long time. Thanks to Motu for ongoing (although unofficial) support.

Since others have it working, no reason to believe you’ll be left out.

Hi Mike,
Happy 2022. I was wondering if you could help. I don't think I missed anything in the above thread, but I was able to get MOTU Audio Setup installed properly on my M1 Mac mini, running Big Sur 11.6, but I can neither get the 828 Mk3 driver or the 828 Mk3 Hybrid driver installed - they both say the developer needs to update the app. Maybe it's the dot version update from 11.5.2 to 11.6 that's the issue. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thanks, Doug

Ok, not sure what you mean by the 828 Mk3 driver or the 828 Mk3 Hybrid driver”. They take the same driver as does the original 828, 8pre, 896 and many other MOTU audio interfaces.

I notice that MOTU has redesigned their downloads site so that you won’t know this by looking at it. There is a driver for only the Hybrid but not for the other. It’s this:

MOTU Audio Installer Mac v89555 | Oct. 13, 2021 MacOS 11 Big Sur, 12 Monterey

Again, it’s the same driver for all similar interfaces of the same class.

Do not confuse this with the MOTU Pro Audio Driver (828es and others). That driver will not work for these interfaces.

https://motu.com/en-us/download/

It allows my 828mkII to work fine over Monterey on my iMac Pro. If I find myself with nothing to do, I may install it on my wife’s MBAir M1, also over Monterey — I guess to see if GarageBand can see it but I have no use for that functionality on her machine and time is a precious commodity. We’ll see.

At the risk of repeating myself ad nauseum, there is only one reason to do this and it’s quite simple: MOTU no longer wants to spend time and resources supporting older interfaces and they don’t want users to expect that they will work—it’s possible that, someday, they won’t. They’ve been moving in this direction for a few years now and this is just the next step. So, for now, the fact that it does work shall be our little secret, ok?

Those who disagree should feel free to line up again and tell me why I’m wrong AGAIN. This does not change anything nor will I respond. I spent too many years in customer support in a few industries to know differently.