New User 828mkII - probably silly question...

TonyBy · Post by **TonyBy** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:20 am

All working well, my new 828mkII but I have a setup question and a couple of hardware questions.
Setup:
I want my unit to look like this on the display panel (See the Vol Main screen at the bottom of the page)...
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/ ... ixdsp.html
When I'm using my unit, the Gain Mix page (or whatever mix param page) keeps flashing the selected channel for editing - and the flashing is offputting.
I have tried all knobs/buttons, but cannot find a non-edit page that just shows little meters like that shown above !!

My unit runs hot, and smells of solder. I guess this is normal for a new unit - although I like the smell, it's a bit worrying !!

The case emits a quiet hum, which surprised me for such an expensive unit (none of my behringer gear hums !!)
Only audible when the rest of the gear is turned off, but it's there all the time (doesn't affect signal at all).
Is this normal ??

TIA for any help.

TonyB.

Smokehouse · Post by **Smokehouse** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:28 pm

LCD Gain Display. Ignore that picture. It's an older 828 unit that is no longer shipping. MOTU should have fixed that picture YEARS ago, but they can be somewhat indifferent when it comes to little details like that. It has been repeatedly pointed out to them, and occationally (frequently?) causes folks come confusion and anxiety. The bottom line: Yes, you'll always some some annoying flashing thing on your display (indicating the current "cursor" location.)

Runs hot, smells like solder, and hums. I have an 828mkII and don't have any of these three symptoms (althought "running hot" is somewhat subjective). I have heard others talk about humming, and have gone so far as to put a little padding between the internal power transformer and the case (fuzzy on details -- this is from distant memory.) If you have an in-warranty unit, you may want to discuss this with MOTU service.

A quick poll: Do others have any heat/smell/hum issues?

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:25 pm

I've got some heat after long hours of use, but no solder smell or humming.

It would be cool to have those meters working on the front panel....oh well.

TonyBy · Post by **TonyBy** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 5:01 pm

Ahh thank you chaps.. understood.
I've repositioned the 828 to be on top of, rather than below, the other item of equipment that it shares a space with, and after tonights session (5 hrs) it was just barely warm.
Solder smell, I think, was probably just the sweet smell of new gear - this is fading away now too !

I must say I'm liking this unit a lot. I was nervous about going Firewire - after many years of pain free PCI use - but it's behaving well so far.

It's a shame about the display thing though.. I wonder why they did away with that cool feature ??

My client suggested a piece of gaffer tape to hide the annoying flicker.
I may put it in a cupboard hmmm... that would stop the humming from being a problem too.... damn things just to pretty to be hidden !!

marcus77 · Post by **marcus77** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:04 am

hi there
just as far the hum is concerned I can confirm this, mine had that since the first day and still does it as soon as i power it on.A friend of mine got a new one too and it does the same...yeah you're right, even behringer does not do this...
cheers
marc

Smokehouse · Post by **Smokehouse** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:28 am

See this thread (and others if you Search for "828 and hum") http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13963

synterx · Post by **synterx** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:45 am

wouldn't it be kind of silly to have level meters in the LCD, and the same levels going in the colored meters 3 inches to the right? What would be the point of that?

I've had 4 828mkII, and only one hummed at all, the other 3 have been silent. FWIW.

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:59 am

I don't think the hum is normal. It's likely a power supply hum (60Hz). I would e-mail tech support at MOTU about it. One of the great things about the 828 is that it has no fans and it can be right in the studio while tracking. It's supposed to be silent.

Jidis · Post by **Jidis** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:46 am

synterx wrote:wouldn't it be kind of silly to have level meters in the LCD, and the same levels going in the colored meters 3 inches to the right?

May be wrong, but I think they represent channel settings, like the faders in CueMix, showing the current volume settings (not "dynamic" level meters like a VU).

Take Care

synterx · Post by **synterx** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:12 am

huh? The real meters represent channel settings. I'm talking about the old picture that shows actual live level meters, just like the UltraLite, in a 828mkII. That's what would be silly - 2 sets of the same meters.

TonyBy · Post by **TonyBy** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:28 pm

Thanks for all the info chaps.
From the other thread (thanks Smokehouse) it seems this is a well known problem with the 828 - with a quick fix..

monkey man wrote: A "MOTU Tech" guy from Sydney told me to slide a piece of cardboard between the transformer and the chassis, in both cases in new units!

Being desperate, I did it and it worked both times.
Check running-temp first for good measure.
May void warranty.

Maybe I'll open up the unit and stuff something in there...

.. and regarding the display thing .. it's fine as it is really .. quick access to the volumes .. I just wish it would stop flashing when left alone for a while.... or maybe a "screensaver" function .. display dims when no knobs twiddled for a minute ...

Minor niggle though .. the hum bothers me more... I may do more stuffing than usual this xmas !

Jidis · Post by **Jidis** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:48 pm

Synterx- Sorry for the confusion. I don't actually have one, so I haven't paid all that much attention to those pictures. I've got a DIY controller here that does a 16x2 display mode where it gives rows of miniature vertical bars to represent volume settings across multiple channels. I figured it was doing the same thing.

True, miniature VU's are sort of pointless most of the time. I'm even that way with the LEDs on my 2408mk3. In cases like that, you're really not much better off than just having a "signal present" and a "clip" light.

George

corales · Post by **corales** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:25 am

HUM HUM HUM

One of my 828 hum....

Solution(maybe)....I pull it off my rack...and the hum disapear...so I isolate it with some plastic tape...no contact with the metal rack..and there are no more hum...............the solution... plastic screw?...I hope so

Luck