896 doesn't see 8pre on ADAT optical input

chucko58 · Post by **chucko58** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:00 pm

I have an older 896 that I bought used off eBay and just added an 8pre for the additional analog inputs to track my rock band in rehearsals. I am finding that the 896 doesn't seem to see the 8pre when it's connected via ADAT lightpipe.

This is using the latest MOTU drivers, Mac OS X 10.4.10, Logic Express 8 on a MacBook (Core Duo).

Fortunately everything worked fine when I hooked both up via FireWire. I sync'd the 8pre to the 896 word clock on the MOTU control panel. I was leery of clock sync issues but I didn't hear anything strange in mixdown.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Thanks.

Pappy725 · Post by **Pappy725** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:26 pm

You do have the output from the 8Pre going to the input of the 896, right? You can try the other opitical output and see if it works, at 44.1 and 48, it sends all 8 channels to both outputs. Worth a try. Mine works flawlessly with my 828mkII. Hope you get it working.
Stephen

Oh Yeah, with the original 896, the 8Pre won't show up in CueMix attached this way. Pappy
While I'm editing and thinking more about it, have you tried connecting the 896 to the 8Pre via optical, and the 8Pre to computer via FW. This might get you the ability to use CueMix, which is great for recording rehersals.
OK, I think I'm done.
Pap

chucko58 · Post by **chucko58** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:55 pm

Yeah, I tried both ADAT outs from the 8pre and got the same results. I didn't try to go the other way. I don't really have any need to monitor through the 8pre.

I tried to use the 896 as an analog -> ADAT converter once before and it didn't work then either. I'm beginning to think the ADAT circuitry on this unit is AFU.

Pappy725 · Post by **Pappy725** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:37 pm

I'm beginning to think the ADAT circuitry on this unit is AFU.

Could very well be, it is an older unit. That's sad 'cause my MOTUs have been great, no snafus, the only glitch I had, I had already read about here on the forum. You may have to try and snag an 896HD from eBay or do the FW thing with the 8Pre as the interface and the 896 into it. If you go that way, you can at least use CueMix for the 8 inputs on the 8Pre.
Actually, I use the 8Pre for most of my mic inputs, our drummer has a set of Roland Vdrums and I input those through the 8 analog line ins on the back of the 828mkII.

Stephen

chucko58 · Post by **chucko58** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:03 am

As long as I can get it to work over FireWire without word clock sync problems, I'm happy. I was hoping to take advantage of the bigger meters on the 896 though.

The 8pre is a neat little unit. I might have to get another one.

Pappy725 · Post by **Pappy725** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:22 am

Yep, I really like mine!
Stephen