MOTU UPDATE YOUR FIRMWARE & WINDOWS XP DRIVER

[schnelsr]

Don't surf the web. Don't run ANYTHING else. All the problems described are probably related to virus/trojan problems or other Windows "services".

You can't go to the porn sites today and expect to run clean audio tonight...

[Ffanatic]

I'm currently running an Ultralite on XP2 SP2, and despite some initial problems (that made me contemplate throwing my PC out the window), everything is running swimmingly.

Looking back, I attribute EVERY single problem I had (including a lot of problems listed in this thread above) to firewire. I don't think the problems had anything to do with the MOTU hardware, firmware, or my computer in general.

It was the introduction of a firewire card to my system. Yes, it has a TI chip set. Yes, I installed the drivers correctly.

I don't know why it's working for me, and not others, but I'm not gonig to mess with it. I want to let people know that it IS possible, although, not always easy (which, I admit, it SHOULD be in an ideal world).

Now, we'll see what a little move between apartments will do to it!

[DanE62]

I have to admit also, I didn't have any problem installing or running the Ultralite within Sonar 5.2. Although, I made sure I had a recommended TI chipset fireWire PCI card. I believe that was my life saver.

Intel P4 3.06 GHz
4 GIG RAM
1x Maxtor SATA 80 GIG Hrd. Drv.
1x Maxtor SATA 1120 GIG Hrd. Drv.
1x external 160 GIG Hrd. Drv. (7200)
ADS Tech Pyro PCI 64 3-port FireWire Card
Nvidia Quadro 500 video card

NOTE: Everything is working well so I doubt I will update to the new firmware upgrade. I may upgrade if they can explain on their website what improvements or corrections they have made. It's very unusual why they didn't give any information.

[schnelsr]

I had trouble even after the MS fix. I had to back-rev the driver (OHCI1394.SYS) then UPDATE THE BIOS. The problems that don't turn out to be just driver related are almost certainly BIOS.

Clicks and Pops relate to services running or virus/trojan issues.

[DanE62]

I am using the Ultralite and I haven't had any problem/s. Although, I was sure nervous reading these messages on this and other forums after I had already ordered the hardware.

In my opinion, I still do not trust AMD processors to be as compatible with a lot of the audio hardware on the market. From my observation, many individuals who have problems seem to have AMD processors. Yes, I know there are many more possible varialbles, but I believe this is one snag.

I did some homework and these are my specs.

Windows XP SP2
Intel P4 3.06 GHz
1x SATA 80 GIG hrd. drv.
1x SATA 120 GIG hrd. drv.
1x 160 GIG external hrd. drv. 7200 rpm
4 GIG RAM
ADS Tech. Pyro PCI 64 3-port FireWire card (TI Chipset)
NVIDIA Quadro FX500 AGP video card

Software:

EastWest Symphonic Orchestra Gold XP
EastWest Colossus
EastWest Stormdrum
Submersible Music Drumcore
Cakewalk Sonar 5.2
Steinberg Wavelab
Finale 2006

I have my router/modem/wireless Linksys Wireless-G Cable Gateway and McAfee's antivirus software on while using the Ultralite box.

I haven't had any problem using up to 50 MIDI and/or audio tracks. I can load one of my orchestra templates which has 98 tracks and still no snaps, crackles or pops.

I should also add, I have e-mailed MOTU a few times for technical support and they have replied within 24 hours. Although, I have to admit their firmware update/s lack info. regarding fixes or increased performance. Their manuals also need to be improved.

Now, for you potential buyers, make sure you do your homework and review your sytem specs. and compatability requirements and you should be okay.

[magics]

You do have a valid point. When i run more than 16 ins and outs
the click pop world of tracks 17-24 bears it's head.

It is like we all need to main computers. One that works (kinda),
and one that we can test with endless fixes (experiment on).

The user becomes the fixer...

Work on...

sparrow

[gordonrussell76]

Been reading a few posts of people having probs with Firewire cards, it is probably to do with SIdSpeed, for a full explanation and discusison see this thread that I posted in the SOnar forum. Don't worry although the thread mentions the Liquid Mix it is applicable to Firewire soundcards as well

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.asp?m=997083

[robertcoatesiv]

I just read on Microsoft's website last night about how Service Pack 2 tells the firewire devices to run at 100, instead of 400 (no matter what your firewire is capable of).

There is a hotfix on microsoft's website, but if you install a new firewire device AFTER you do the hotfix, then you have to go into the registry and change the SidSpeed to get the full bandwidth of your firewire..

but i'm not sure if that's what has been causing my audio dropouts and stutters when running projects off my Glyph GT050q. If i move the projects to my C drive, its no problem...

I'm thinking about getting an eSATA pcmcia card for my Glyph. Maybe that is the best solution (if ya got it, use it).

[schnelsr]

If the hotfix were the issue it probably would not work at all. Whithout the hotfix, the firewire runs at 100 MBPS and it is just too slow for just about anything. If you have an external hard disk on the same network (firewire or USB) you may experience hiccups. I have had success running firewire audio and a USB external hard disk...

[robertcoatesiv]

i agree, the hotfix did nothing for my system.

I'm surprised that others aren't talking about this problem more.

[schnelsr]

The symptom that proves it's not the hotfix is that the system works properly from the C drive. You just run out of bandwidth when the disk and the audio device are trying to share the same interface. One thing that may help is disabling IEEE1394 networking - although this might, depending on configuration (and I haven't used a firewire disk drive), disable the firewire drive.

[lmoe]

I'm running a Dell 650 Precision workstation (2 3.06 Zenons) 3gig mem 2 120 gig 7200rpm sata drives on an adaptec pci card 2 MOTU 896HD's at 24/96 into Sonar5.2 PE with no problems. My OS is XP pro SP1. I don't use many soft synths but can record 16 tracks at a time.

[arth]

To those who think the drop in firewire speeds with SP2 from FW 800 to 400 (and defaulting to 100 unless you install the patch) is to blame, think about the bandwidth for a second.

Two channels of CD quality sound (44.1 kHz, 16 bit) is around 1.35 Mbps. And even if splurging, and using 8 in 8 out 24-bit 96 kHz, you only get ~35 Mbps. Even adding overhead and control packets, you won't even use half the bandwidth of a 100 Mbps firewire device with that!

The difference between 400 and 800 Mbps isn't going to matter one bit, unless you use most of the capacity of the FW device for other things, like daisy chained HDs on the same FW controller (which goes without saying is a bad idea).

What does matter is latency -- that it doesn't take too long between each time the device gets fed data, or you'll get buffer underflows/overflows. There's many reasons for latency, and the main culprits are other interrupt-controlled devices, including PCI cards, USB devices, modems, other sound cards, video cards, and misconfigured systems.

[schnelsr]

I haven't seen any audio device that is using the 800 yet - they all appear to be 400. The problem with running 100 may still be bandwidth - Firewire/USB overhead is pretty high - but it appeared to be (with my Utralite anyway) that the port and device need to be running at the same rate and the Ultralite runs at 400 - period. The PC running 100 against a device at 400 just won't sync up. If the PC has the non-fixed SP2 driver, it runs at 100. If you do the hotfix and have an old BIOS (as I did), it runs at 100. If set for 800, the PC will fall back from 800 to 400 and (hopefully) sync, if not, it will fall back to 100. Moral - unless there is some very compelling reason, set (via SIDspeed registry entry) firewire rate to 400.

[Mark S]

Well, yes... I am on the Mac side of things and in fact this board originated from a list called MOTU-MAC and was always intended for Macintosh users... so what can I tell you?

James, have you considered having a separate area for PC users? It seems like this site could be a great resource for all MOTU users. It's certainly the best resource I've found for MOTU troubleshooting. Maybe if you gave the PC folks a dedicated place to post, we'd quit irritating the Mac users.

I don't think it something I want to take on. Anybody who thinks this is useful is free to create a site for that however. It's relatively easy and inexpensive to do.

there you go,.. Mac is a 6% market and this is the response from MOTU that PC users with decent sytems get.

Another reason why my next system is an RME