HD192 noisy exhaust fan

synthetic faith · Post by **synthetic faith** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:40 am

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and have one question regarding the Motu HD192. I purchased a used one (that is no longer under warranty) and once I powered it up, I was shocked at how loud the exhaust fan is. It sounds like a cassette tape player constantly rewinding/fast-forwarding. It appears to be either a noisy bearing, or the fan needs to be decoupled from the case. I can install a new fan, but I must ask - Is this unbearable fan noise normal, or is it a defective unit?

Thank you in advance.

Dwetmaster · Post by **Dwetmaster** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:55 am

You can try to PM James Steele, I know he works with these unit too

dr. Fill · Post by **dr. Fill** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:21 pm

sounds like the fan is jammed slightly.
maybe this needs some TLC or just a new one

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:27 pm

Dwetmaster wrote:You can try to PM James Steele, I know he works with these unit too

I dunno. I think much of the issue was that the fans are coupled to the chassis? If you do a search on HD192 fan noise you'll probably find a thread where someone descriped how they modifed their unit to greatly reduce this.

Seems like some effort has been made to reduce this a bit possibly, because I have two HD192s. One I purchased used and is older. Seems the older unit is noisier than my newer one. I leave the older one off most of the time.

synthetic faith · Post by **synthetic faith** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:40 pm

James Steele wrote:
Dwetmaster wrote:You can try to PM James Steele, I know he works with these unit too
I dunno. I think much of the issue was that the fans are coupled to the chassis? If you do a search on HD192 fan noise you'll probably find a thread where someone descriped how they modifed their unit to greatly reduce this.

Seems like some effort has been made to reduce this a bit possibly, because I have two HD192s. One I purchased used and is older. Seems the older unit is noisier than my newer one. I leave the older one off most of the time.

Thank you for the replies. I did find some DIY fixes on the forum, and I will leave this as a last resort. I spoke with MOTU tech support today and he wouldn't divulge any info regarding a suitable replacement fan model. The cost for MOTU to repair it was a flat rate of $79.95. Something has to be done, because the fan noise is obnoxiously LOUD!

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:26 pm

synthetic faith wrote:
James Steele wrote:
Dwetmaster wrote:You can try to PM James Steele, I know he works with these unit too
I dunno. I think much of the issue was that the fans are coupled to the chassis? If you do a search on HD192 fan noise you'll probably find a thread where someone descriped how they modifed their unit to greatly reduce this.

Seems like some effort has been made to reduce this a bit possibly, because I have two HD192s. One I purchased used and is older. Seems the older unit is noisier than my newer one. I leave the older one off most of the time.
Thank you for the replies. I did find some DIY fixes on the forum, and I will leave this as a last resort. I spoke with MOTU tech support today and he wouldn't divulge any info regarding a suitable replacement fan model. The cost for MOTU to repair it was a flat rate of $79.95. Something has to be done, because the fan noise is obnoxiously LOUD!

Well, since we operate in the world of the here and now, it looks like you choices are:

1) Do the DIY fix
2) Move the interface somewhere else
3) Pay the $79 and see if that fixes it.

Also, saying "he wouldn't divulge any info" sort of makes it sound like he knew of a replacement and just wasn't sharing it. Do you think it's because he just plain didn't know? Let's be fair. Also, if the coupling of the fan to the chassis is factor as one member posted in his DIY fix, than a simple swap of the fan may/may not give you results you will be happy with.

I mentioned the DIY post because as you stated your unit was purchased used and is out of warranty anyway, so attempting the modification isn't going to void it.

synthetic faith · Post by **synthetic faith** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:49 pm

I wrote "he wouldn't divulge any info" in a comical sense, so theres no need to take offense

. My original post was merely to find out if there were other users that had experienced the same "noisy fan" issue. I listed the options I found so that other individuals experiencing the same dilemna can find info regarding cost to repair, etc. I would like to be as helpful as I can to the next fellow who experiences the same problem. I wasn't typing it to rationalize my own decisions! Cheers!

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:09 pm

synthetic faith wrote:I wrote "he wouldn't divulge any info" in a comical sense, so theres no need to take offense . My original post was merely to find out if there were other users that had experienced the same "noisy fan" issue. I listed the options I found so that other individuals experiencing the same dilemna can find info regarding cost to repair, etc. I would like to be as helpful as I can to the next fellow who experiences the same problem. I wasn't typing it to rationalize my own decisions! Cheers!

I wasn't offended. E-mail is hard to discern intent from sometimes and lacking one of those emoticons, etc. I couldn't find any visual cue that it was meant comically.

Normandyrocks · Post by **Normandyrocks** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 3:00 pm

I bought a new HD192 and the fan noise was totally acceptable, but right before I sent it in for another repair the fan suddenly got ALOT noisier! so, no its not normal. I asked tech support about it also and they seemed clueless. Maybe some lube on the fan bearings? They said they'd look at it while they had it, but its pushing a month now

They don't seem to want to sell customers replacement parts. At least that was my take on the conversation I had with tech support.

dfg_MacGyver · Post by **dfg_MacGyver** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:31 pm

Normandyrocks wrote:I bought a new HD192 and the fan noise was totally acceptable, but right before I sent it in for another repair the fan suddenly got ALOT noisier! so, no its not normal. I asked tech support about it also and they seemed clueless. Maybe some lube on the fan bearings? They said they'd look at it while they had it, but its pushing a month now They don't seem to want to sell customers replacement parts. At least that was my take on the conversation I had with tech support.

I bought my HD192 a couple of years ago.
When I got the first HD192 I thought fan was broken. I send it back to the dealer, when I got replacement HD192 and this one also was with noisy fan I thought I was unlucky. I send that one back too. The third interface was the noisiest one I'd had so far. I send that one back too.
The dealer told me he had tested this 4th interface and "he couldn't hear any noise". I took the chance and this 4th HD192 was noisy too

.
I kept it cause I needed to make some projects. HD192 had the features I needed , only problem was fan- noise.

Problem is MOTU use cheap crappy fans and maybe construction is so that the fan is put where it can make the most possible noise.
Its so hard to understand why MOTU doesnt deal with this problem.
Noisiest thing in my studio is my MOTU hd192, noisier than my two PC's combined!!!!!!!!!!

Next time I buy converters I wont buy MOTU.

Larry Sheehan · Post by **Larry Sheehan** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:57 pm

I bought replacement fans for my HD192s...next time I'm at the studio, I'll look up the Manuf and model #.

In the meantime, try vacuuming the fan opening with a brush attachment. It seems to help quite a bit.

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:17 pm

Larry Sheehan wrote:I bought replacement fans for my HD192s...next time I'm at the studio, I'll look up the Manuf and model #.

Hey Larry... please post the info here!

robowisa · Post by **robowisa** » Sat May 26, 2007 7:38 pm

my fan has began to get nosiy as well dust and dirt is part of it but i think it goes back to the bearings.