Computer Not Recognizing my 896HD

[urbanprodigy]

After replacing the Firewire cord, installing new drivers, sending the hardware back to MOTU for a replacement,
the lights on the 896HD all flash upon powering up and I am still getting the computer does not see the interface message. What's up with that? which drivers should I be downloading ? Is something connected wrong ?

[TheRealRoach]

Try driver 3.6.7.0

That's the one that is working for me. The newest driver would effectively make my 896s invisible as well.

[derZorn]

Same problem here!
I bought an 896HD on ebay - sold as brand new and working - but I cannot get it to be recognised by XP SP2 nor Vista.
I consider myself an expert on most PC problems, but I'm stuck here, I tried every tip (I believe) I could find on these boards.

Among the myriad of combinations I tried were 2 different Firewire PCI Cards - one Texas Instruments - one VIA chipset,
the latest drivers as well as the 3.6.7.0 drivers mentioned earlier (including Registry clean-ups),
2 different machines, I even installed Vista just to see if it would work, I tried to reset the unit using the Voltage switch etc, etc.
I'm seriously stuck.
And I'm frustrated seeing so many other users having the same problem without this being appointed by the developers.

I'm not so sure what should happen when I connect the 896hd to my firewire card - should Windows react like with a USB device ?
If so - this is not happening for me.

What should my 896 do when I turn it on ?
Mine flashes it's LEDs for a while,christmas-tree style, then only enabling the 'analog out', 'System Clock-48' and 'Rate Convert 48' lights.
Should it behave differently with the FW cable connected or unconnected ?
Is the language of the OS important ?

Please - please ! Help us !

[reeper]

http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... 14&t=31565

[TheRealRoach]

"SP2" always sends up red flags. I posted a fix here:

http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... 14&t=31518

It has to do with the FW drivers implimented in SP2 and beyond. The SP1 FW drivers work. It also requires a little registry work. Report back if it works.

[derZorn]

That does not work for me, I already tried that, also downloaded the SP1 files from gearslutz.com .
Also tried the repacked V4hd driver - no joy.

[TheRealRoach]

Try this and let me know what happens:

Power down everything, and unplug the 896 from everything. Plug in the power ONLY, and turn on the 896. Do the LEDs eventually stop blinking? [by the way, I assume we're talking about the flashing-christmas-tree effect of every LED on the 896 when it starts up right?]

[derZorn]

Thanks for the help TheRealRoach, here's what happens when I turn the 896hd on, no Cables connected:

1. Christmas Tree effect as described - all LEDs blink in an up/down left/right pattern - for around 8-10 secs
2. the analog input channel meters 1-4 show full , for something like 1-2 secs
   ( SOMETIMES the channels 7-8 show full value instead (??) )
   at the same time the system clock = 48 and Rate Convert = 48 LEDs blink twice
3. finally 4 LEDs are turneds on and stay that way:
   - the output meter indicator (analog out),
   - the in/out master indicator (out is turned on) ,
   - system clock = 48,
   - Rate Convert = 48

Is that the way it should behave ? (*fingers crossed*)
With the firewire cable connected it sometimes (!?) seems to hang in the phases 1 or 2,
so I'm at least assuming there is some firewire activity that has some effect on the 896hd.

I tried this on 3 different FW cards:

• One Ricoh Chipset in a Laptop (Ven 1180, Device 0552), using a 6/4 cable
• Texas Instruments PCI Card ( Ven 104C, Device 8019)
• One VIA Chipset PCI Card which I didn't check for Device ID yet.

I assume (hope) that the 896hd (along with other MOTU FW devices) is simply VERY picky about the chip
it communicates with.
My hope is to find the chipsets that WILL work with the Motu units and make them known to other users.
I already know that you (theRealRoach) use the Lacie FW800 card with Texas Instruments 8020 device which I'm looking for atm.

[TheRealRoach]

Thanks for the help TheRealRoach, here's what happens when I turn the 896hd on, no Cables connected:

*snip*

Is that the way it should behave ? (*fingers crossed*)
With the firewire cable connected it sometimes (!?) seems to hang in the phases 1 or 2,
so I'm at least assuming there is some firewire activity that has some effect on the 896hd.

I tried this on 3 different FW cards:

• One Ricoh Chipset in a Laptop (Ven 1180, Device 0552), using a 6/4 cable
• Texas Instruments PCI Card ( Ven 104C, Device 8019)
• One VIA Chipset PCI Card which I didn't check for Device ID yet.

*snip*

I do believe that is correct. I run the first generation 896s, so it may be a little different, but the important thing, when the unit is ONLY connect to its power source, is that:
1. The christmas tree effect eventually stops,
2. The sample rate indicators (in your case, 48k) eventually light up solid, as opposed to blinking forever.
3. none your analog input and output LEDs show any activity once the above items have occurred.

Based on the outcome of this test i really do believe that the "FIX" that i posted should solve the problem. Are you sure that you performed it correctly? There were a few "checks" along the way to figure out if the proper files were replace, could you check your steps again? Are you sure that you properly inputed the "sidspeed" valued in the registry... and to the right devices? It took me a few attempts to get it all correct as there are no obvious congratulatory messages notifying the user that files have been successfully swapped. Although that would help a great deal BTW, i've since updated my "FIX" thread.

An interesting note about my TI chipset Lacie FW 800 card: I don't think the whole TI Chipset thing has much bearing on the whole thing as MOTU likes to suggest. Once my "FIX" was implimented, I was able to run my dual 896s using my motherboard's onboard, VIA, FW 400 port. According to MOTU, this is a recipe for disaster. I believe the TI/NEC/VIA/Lucite "compatibilities/incompatibilities " has been used as a scapegoat. Although there may be a correlation between TI and functioning MOTU FW units, I believe this is likely attributed more to the robustness of the TI chipsets in general, as it is clear that they are not a silver bullet. The only silver bullet I have discovered (which I'm still trying to confirm with other users) is the SP1 FW drivers accompanied by the registry hack "FIX".

One other thing: Try alternating the FW input on the 896 that you use. It shouldn't make a difference, but the in the past this has made the 896 + computer wake up.

[reeper]

http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... 14&t=31973

-fix

[derZorn]

Sorry for the late reply.
After a lot more tests including a friends' macbook my conclusion
is that my FW interface in the 896 is damaged.
The distributors support came to the same conclusion and I will have to send
the unit in to let it get repaired.

Once the 896 is back I'll check what's up with the FW chipsets.
Thanks for your help and time.