2408 mk3 is not seen in MOTU Audio setup

scooter · Post by **scooter** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:48 am

Looking for any suggestions here.

This is a long story but I'll make it as short as possible;

My MOTU audio setup looks like this:

So my computer is not seeing my 2408 mk3.
I've tried switching slots inside my power mac with varying degrees of success. Finally I sent the pci-e card back to MOTU. They sent me a new one. I thought i was done with the problem when it just started happening again. I swapped firewire cords. No help. The only thing I can think of now is that my 2408 mk3 is defective? Is there anything else that I'm missing that I haven't checked yet?

thanks,

scooter

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:16 pm

Hi scooter:

Seems like the computer is "seeing" the 424 but just not seeing *all* of it.

Download a fresh copy of the 424 drivers (install that) and make sure the audio wire cable is firmly in place on both ends.

Shut down the computer completely for a couple of minutes before trying it again. Don't use "restart".

Before rebooting, turn on the 2408 first-- then boot up the computer.

See if that helps...

dix · Post by **dix** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:18 pm

I'm plagued with this intermittent problem too. Often after a hard crash. Eventually the 2408 reconnects to the 424, but I can't figure out what the problem is - I've tried all the things you tried. Do as Frodo says. A short rest for the 2408 seems to be part of the solution.

I noticed yesterday that when the 2408 comes back to life it's forgotten it's settings. Clock, sample rate etc. Makes me think that there's prefs that get corrupted somewhere. Would it be possible a bad pref would cause the 424 to not recognize the 2408 on boot up? If so which one?

thx

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:38 pm

dix wrote:Would it be possible a bad pref would cause the 424 to not recognize the 2408 on boot up? If so which one?

thx

Hmm-- maybe the <MOTU Audio System Prefs> could be chucked out along with DP <Preferences>. Both are found:

User Library> Preferences> Digital Performer>

Then I'd try re-reinstalling (!) the audio driver and shutting down without starting anything.

Some of this is OSX which can't always tell when some file or driver has gotten corrupted. It seems to hang onto the corrupt info as if it were law-- and repeated shut downs eventually clear things out. Sometimes repair permissions can clear out the dust bunnies and dormant process written before or during the corruption.

The shortest shutdown reboot that worked for me was less than a minute. The longest one lasted 7 months. All of a sudden everything was okay-- inexplicably.

It's those darned Orcs again!

dix · Post by **dix** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:05 pm

Hmm-- maybe the <MOTU Audio System Prefs> could be chucked out along with DP <Preferences>. Both are found:

User Library> Preferences> Digital Performer>

This worked.

I lost communication w the 2408 tonight and without doing any of the other suggestions I just threw out that pref and did a normal restart. The 2408 was recognized per normal.

It's as likely as not this was simply a coincidence - the problem is completely random, but there you have it. If/when it happens again I'll give it another go.

Thanks!

scooter · Post by **scooter** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:41 pm

This is a big help. I was about to go out tomorrow and purchase another 2408 mk3 somewhere.

I never thought of trashing the MOTU Audio System Prefs That might have been my problem all along. I guess that since I've never ever had miscommunication between the 2408 mk2 and mk3 in all the years I've had D.P., I was in the dark as to what to do. Hopefully this and reinstalling a new driver will do the trick. If not, maybe I will be looking for a new 2408 mk3 after all.

Unicornation to the rescue once again!

scooter

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:46 pm

The more I try to help, the more ashamed I am to have had so many problems.

But, I'm glad the MAS Prefs dump worked for dix-- and my fingers are crossed for scooter.

scooter · Post by **scooter** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:01 am

I woke up this morning very optimistic about fixing this problem.

I'm also getting a digital sizzle and pops noise from the 2408 mk3, which I guess I didn't mention. Then after that happens I can't initiate any communication with the 2408. I did try trashing prefs and reinstalling the newest MOTU audio driver 1.2.2 (I believe).

It looks like maybe the 2408 is fried after all. I am clocking it to the Black Lion Microclock, but even after unhooking it and running off the 2408 internal
clock I'm still having the same problem. Thanks for all the great advise though!!

scooter

dix · Post by **dix** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:14 am

Oh well, trashing the MOTU Audio System Prefs didn't work today when I tried it. So back to the drawing board. Doesn't 2408 or 424 have a pref somewhere that I could try trashing? thx

...we should probably move this to the Hardware Forum

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:30 am

dix wrote:Oh well, trashing the MOTU Audio System Prefs didn't work today when I tried it. So back to the drawing board. Doesn't 2408 or 424 have a pref somewhere that I could try trashing? thx

...we should probably move this to the Hardware Forum

You could try dumping these:

com.motu.pci.config.console.plist

com.motu.pci.CueMix.console.plist

com.motu.DigitalPerformer.plist

Maybe even this one:

com.motu.DLSSoftSynth.plist

OR---

You could just uninstall and reinstall the 424 driver (if you haven't already done that). I would also try creating a new Audio MIDI config and perhaps making a fresh set of bundles.

dix · Post by **dix** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:49 am

Thanks Frodo. I'll try trashing these next time. I'll try the ones w .pci first. Seems like those might be more involved w connection issues, no?

The best fix for now is a five minute rest. That seems to be fairly consistent.

Another half-baked theory: It's warmer than usual and my workdays are longer than usual. Could this be a heat issue w the 2408? What'r the weather conditions in your studio scooter? Have you ever had this problem first thing in the morning when the machines are cool? I don't think I have.

scooter · Post by **scooter** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:25 pm

I guess I'll keep this thread going. Since I'm now officially in hell. Still the same problem. I bought another 2408mk3 but I get a strange feeling that that's not gonna do it.

I also talked to Black Lion about my problems and although they didn't have an answer, they did suggest to clock the 24 i/o from the out of my 2408 mk3. So, Microclock into 2408 clock in, 2408 clock out to the clock in of the 24 i/o. That's a whole other subject.

scooter

dix · Post by **dix** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:45 pm

Right. If your 2408 isn't connecting then you'll see those dialogues and CPs. I don't even bother checking those anymore. I can see from the flashing light on the 2408 that it's not connected. If I'm connecting it stops flashing just after the the startup gray wheel goes away and before I see the desktop.

...again, scooter: Could this be a heat issue?

scooter · Post by **scooter** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:42 pm

Here's what I've done:

Switched slots for the PCIe card in the mac itself.
New 2408 mk3
New audiowire cord
Trashed prefs.
Trashed the other stuff in Frodo's list
Uninstalled the audio drivers.
Reinstalled a new one.
Unhooked the micorclock.
Unhooked the 24 i/o.
I still get this in the PCI audio set up window:

Don't know what else I can do.

scooter

dix · Post by **dix** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:59 pm

Did you see my post above? These screenshots are not relevant. The CP looks like that because your 2408 is not connecting. Once it connects that panel will look normal. Is your issue intermittent or permanent?