MOTU 2408mkIII PCIe and Intel Mac Pro Connectivity Issues

musicb3 · Post by **musicb3** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 7:11 pm

Hi Hellgi

It seems that we all have the same problem. To confirm this it would be good if you can check this as per my note to studiogrl.

I can then contact Jim or Dave at MOTU to come up with a solution.

Meanwhile I talked to an engineer friend today about modifying the card,
but I'm not ready to get out the pliers (or sledgehammer) just yet!

I'll just wait to hear from both of you, before taking action.

stephen1212b · Post by **stephen1212b** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:51 pm

PCI 424 in G4 mac, same problem. I often have to reseat the card or even change slots for it to be recognized after shutting down, performing a system upgrade. Obviously not a cable problem as it is the card that is not being recognized. Given how hard it is to secure the lock-down screw it seems likely that the problem is a miss-sized or poorly aligned mounting panel.

musicb3 · Post by **musicb3** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:11 am

I just opened my G4. The 424 card in my G4 (RIP) fits fine. As you say your card is probably miss-sized. You could use pliers on the L bracket to correct the alignment.

This is not an option for the PCI 424e cards that are under warranty.

Good luck

musicb3 · Post by **musicb3** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:31 am

Hellgi wrote: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

Please let me know when you check the card as per my comments.
Meanwhile I have written to MOTU

Hellgi · Post by **Hellgi** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:54 am

Hey,

it seems the cards are well connected in both computers.

By the way - I noticed that on both the PCI-424 and on the 2408, the FireWire connectors are not well designed and it's easy to plug the cable the wrong way (upside down). Just thought I'd pass the word.

Hellgi

musicb3 · Post by **musicb3** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:06 am

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.

Hi studiogrl

Do you have 2 M-Audio Midisport 4X4 or 2X2? Are you using DP?. It seems that you have a keyboard, mouse and 2 midisports on the USB bus. Does not seem alot. Try creating an addittional MIDI config. and trying that. (I have my outboard synths connected to the MOTU Microlite 5X5. It works best with DP and has (MTS) MIDI Time Stamping for accurate timing.)

I am still waiting for you to check out your PCIe - 424. Meanwhile I sent an email to MOTU quoting all of our posts.

Regards

Studiogrl · Post by **Studiogrl** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:16 pm

Thanks so much MusicB3 for your help. I have been incredibly busy this weekend and have not had a chance to get inside the Mac Pro. Everything is working right now. I am afraid to shut down at this point . I needed to finish up some work for a deadline. As soon as I have some down time I will check the card.

As for the Midisports, I have an unusually large MIDI setup. I have 3 8X8 MIDI sports.

I am running DP 5.1.1. as my main sequencer. I also use Protools 7.3 and Cubase SE3, (this version of Cubase does not work on my intel machine), Abysynth, Kontact, Reason and a fully loaded GarageBand.

I also used Mach V (hopefully they will fix those drivers too so I can use it in my intel machinie). I have an external hub that has two i lok keys. I have an apple keyboard , and mouse, The Firewire 410, 2408mkIII, a Seagate 320GB external firewire drive. and at some point I will probably run my G4 connected with a firewire to acsess some waves pluggins on older versions of Protools. I would greatly appreciate it if you could get the MOTU guys moving to resolve the card problem. I will post as soon as I can get inside to take a look at the card.

musicb3 · Post by **musicb3** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:04 pm

Hi again, thanks for your reply. I sent Charles of MOTU an email and copied
it to Dave Roberts. He replied "I will try and rectify this situation as soon as is possible".

I'll let you know soonest.

Take care.

robstudio · Post by **robstudio** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:59 am

Any updates on this issue... I'm considering a Mac pro but if this pcie card is problematic I'll stick with PC for now... Please do keep us updated. Thank you, Regards, Rob

robstudio · Post by **robstudio** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:37 am

Hello,
Has anyone managed to get the pcie card working "properly" with the mac pro? Is this issue limited to a few users or is it widespread???
Thanks for your input. Regards, Rob

musicb3 · Post by **musicb3** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:04 pm

Sorry for late reply, have been away.
I have gone into the alot of detail about this problem with these cards but MOTU will not acknowledge this

Dave Bourke · Post by **Dave Bourke** » Wed May 09, 2007 2:34 pm

Has there been any update on this issue? I ask because I have a new Mac Pro 2.66 GHz sitting here waiting for a PCIe-424 and a DP5 upgrade to arrive this week.

Just doing some Mac Pro research reading here and this problem is rather worrying...

Kind regards.

musicb3 · Post by **musicb3** » Wed May 09, 2007 4:21 pm

Hi Dave

MOTU would not admit there was a propblem with the cards. This is annoying to say the least because I spent so much time proving otherwise.

Let me know how your card fits in the Mac

Best regards

Dave Bourke · Post by **Dave Bourke** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:56 am

Thanks, musicb3. Not encouraging to say the least. I'll report back on how I get on when the card gets here. Meanwhile, I'll check the Motu-Mac list.

Kind regards.

monkey man · Post by **monkey man** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:24 am

Man after years of using the 324, 424 and 424-X cards glitch-free, I'm now suddenly worried about the inevitable Mac Pro/424e card upgrade.

I sure hope MOTU sorts this within a couple of months.

Good luck with this one, 'Cornies; I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
MM

MOTUnation.com

MOTU 2408mkIII PCIe and Intel Mac Pro Connectivity Issues

PCI 424e card

PCI 424e card

424 PCIe

PCI 424e card

PCI 424e card

Any update on this yet?

Update on this issue