MOTU 2408mkIII PCIe and Intel Mac Pro Connectivity Issues

[benderrecords]

So I've got a problem. I just upgraded my set up, and I'm not getting any signal back and forth from the computer and the 2408mkIII. My system is as follows:

Intel Mac Pro
MOTU 2408mkIII PCIe
Cubase 4
Mackie Digital 8 Bus

Now when I run through the console to the 2408mkIII it picks up signal through ADAT lightpipe just fine, but it seems like my Mac Pro and 2408mkIII aren't communicating. Every once in a while when I boot up the computer the 2408 will switch to the right mode and seem to work fine. I just can't figure out how to get it to do this every time. More often than not, it'll just stay in standalone mode and I don't get any ins or outs from the computer. I've upgraded all the drives for the 2408 and upgraded everything for OSX. I've tried moving ports in the 424 PCIe card, and I've tried changing PCIe slots on the computer as well. Sometimes this will fix the problem for a little while, but I just can't get it to work consistently. If anyone knows anything about this problem, let me know.

Thanks,
Brent

[eixb]

what version of the motu drivers are you using?

[emulatorloo]

I've upgraded all the drives for the 2408 and upgraded everything for OSX. I've tried moving ports in the 424 PCIe card, and I've tried changing PCIe slots on the computer as well. Sometimes this will fix the problem for a little while, but I just can't get it to work consistently.

Sounds to me like maybe the PCIe card is flakey -- probably time to log off the internet and call MOTU tech.

The few times I have needed them, I have found the best time to get a hold of them is when they first open up

Voice: 617 576 3066 (9am-6pm, Eastern, M-F)

Once the Californians wake up it is near impossible to get thru.

Best Regards and Best of luck.

----

[eixb]

another thought...have you tried switching cables? it's just a regular 6 pin FW400 cable, so you might have another one kicking around somewhere. it's a longshot, but only takes a minute to test.

had a similar issue on one of the avid systems at work...4 pin firewire port (the tiny unpowered style) on a DV deck ended up being bad and was causing it to randomly fail. very frustrating to troubleshoot, as there was no visible damage to the port.

[emulatorloo]

another thought...have you tried switching cables?

Good one . . .

[benderrecords]

so i tried switching cables, no luck.

the drivers i'm using are the most recent they have up on the motu website.

i got it working for a few minutes today, but then i rebooted the computer, and it quit working again.

i tried all 16 different combinations of pcie slot and audiowire ports on the card. along with different boot orders on each one. none of them proved to work any better than the others.

the thing that sucks, is that i work nights as a live sound engineer, so waking up at 9am after getting off work around 3:30 or 4 is never an easy task, so i've been put on hold for hours on end trying to get through on the phone to tech support.

i sent an email yesterday about it and i'm still waiting on a reply for that, so hopefully i can get some help soon. i have seen some other threads on various message boards about this same problem, and it seems the general concensus is that for some people it just doesn't work. i haven't been able to find too much information about the problem though, so if anyone has any helpful information, it would be greatly appreciated.

[emulatorloo]

i sent an email yesterday about it and i'm still waiting on a reply for that, so hopefully i can get some help soon.

I have found they take a couple three four days to get back w emails.

You might have better luck calling at 8:00 am Texas time when they first open up.

Keep us posted. . . .I really want to hear that you have gotten this worked out.

[eixb]

it just sounds more and more like a bad port or hardware. since you've tried multiple ports on the 424, i'd guess either the 2408 is acting up or the 424 is cooked.

good luck w/motu's phones...it's tough to get through but they're good people over there & they'll take care of you.

let us know how it turns out!

[musicb3]

Did you resolve your problem? I am starting a new thread.

It seems that there is a design fault with these 424e PCI cards.

[Studiogrl]

You are not alone. I have a 2408MKIII and new G5 intel and have the exact same problem. When I power down my system and then turn it back on the 2408 does not see the PCIe card. I have to shut everything down again. Pull out the firewire cable, my 3 Maudio MIDI sport interfaces USB cables and my M audio Firewire 410. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't.

I have wasted many hours trying to get my system back up and running. At first I thought it was a conflict with the 410 interface. I have checked the 2408 USB cable by using it on my old PCI424 card in my G4. It works perfectly. I have also switched the PCIe card into different slots as directed by MOTU. That hasn't worked either.

If the cards are defective, I hope MOTU comes forward and does a recall as soon as possible. The worst is the down time wasted doing all this troubleshooting for them.

Also, does anyone have multiple M AUDIO 8X8 MIDI sport interfaces running with DP5.1.1?
The midisports sometimes scramble the set ups. For example; I have a JV1080, JV 880 and Matrix 1000 etc. configured on Midisport #1. Then on Midisport #2 I have a Proteus, Proteus 3 and D50 etc. When I test the keyboard icon on Midisport #1 for the JV1080 in Audio MIDI setup, I hear the Proteus1. It is not a MIDI cable problem because if I shut down the midisports pull out the usb cables and power them up in order, the setup comes back corrected. I had this problem when I used the units in my G4 with an external hub. When I bought a PCI internal USB hub the problem disappeared. Now that I have plenty of USB ports on the new G5 I don't see the necessity for an internal PCI hub. Could I be running too many devices via USB that may be causing this instablility?

It seems when I power down my entire system (including my audio racks) and reboot everything, these two problems occur.

[rvannostrand]

I had to laugh when I read all these posts about the 2408 mkIII. I had a 2408 PCI-324 for over 10 years and constantly had problems when I fired up the system. I had to power cycle the 2408 sometimes up to 10 times before it would work properly. I checked for all the obvious things per the MOTU reps but it never did come up correctly. However, when it worked, it worked flawlessly. One day I finally found a fix. I unplugged the PCI-324 from the computer, unscrewed the 2408 from the rack, went and got a 10-pound sledge hammer, smashed the crap out of both the PCI card and the 2408, and threw them components into the dumpster. I have never had a single problem with it since then.

[Studiogrl]

Hi Richard,

I feel your frustration but in all fairness to MOTU, I have used my 2408 /324
and 2408 mk3/ 424 for more than 10 years with more than four generations of Macs with absolutely no problems. I had an Audiomedia I and then an Audiomedia II card that resided on the systems and everything was great.

It is the introduction of the M Audio products and CORE Audio into my system that have been causing this chaos. Either that, or Apple has made these new computers and OSX so complicated that I can't troubleshoot them anymore. I might as well be working on a PC.

I am praying that it is a defective card and all will be well when they get it straightend out. Otherwise, can I borrow your hammer?

[musicb3]

Hi studiogrl

There is no G5 Intel do you mean Mac Pro?

Try this. Remove the Mac PCI retaining plate only (not the card). Gently push the left and right edges of the 424e card so it's connector fits snug to the motherboard. Does the 424e L bracket now stick out? If it does and you push the L bracket it will make a lopsided, connection to the left side of the connector on the motherboard. On my PCIe it will rock back and forth from left to right. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
THIS MEANS THAT THE CONNECTION WOULD FAIL AT SOME POINT

After 2 months of use it broke down in the middle of a session and I had to constantly go inside the computer and adjust the card. (I posted another thread about this). THE APPLE STORE CONFIRMED THAT THE SIZE OF THIS CARD DID NOT CONFORM TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION.

I beta tested the first 2408 and have several MOTU hardware modules
that are all reliable.

The 424e is inpracticable right now. I look forward to your comments!

You are not alone. I have a 2408MKIII and new G5 intel and have the exact same problem.

[Studiogrl]

Sorry, I meant to write Mac Pro but it was 3AM and I was getting a bit bleary eyed.

Yes I believe I had the same situation. When I first installed the card I had a hard time getting it to sit stabilized. When I placed my Firewire cable in it, it rocked also and didn't feel that secure. When I spoke to the MOTU tech he told me to move it to another slot. So this time I tried to make it seat properly. I will have to open it up again and see if it looks like it has any anomolies. I will keep you posted. thanks

[Hellgi]

Hey there,

I'm working for two different composers and they are both using PCIe-424 and 2480's. For the first composer, we had to get three different cards before making it work. It's pretty stable now, but from now and then, when restarting the computer, we have to restart a couple of times as well as turn on and off the 2408's couple of times before getting everything working again.

I just installed a 424 and two MOTU 2408 at the second composer's studio, and it's very unstable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

MOTU, What the heck?

Hellgi