I'm thinking about purchasing a Motu 828mk3, but after reading through the threads on the internet about this device since its inception, I am still unsure if the following two problems are unresolved or not:
1) the overly loud output
2) the hot line level inputs
Some people have posted with the updated drivers, the output is more manageable, and the line level inputs are not overly hot, some people have posted that the problems remain. So I would like feedback from owners of this device about if these 2 things are truly resolved or not. It puzzles me that a device that had so much promise has so many negative threads on the internet. Is it that bad?
Thanks
To: Motu 828MK3 Owners
Moderator: James Steele
Forum rules
Discussion related to installation, configuration and use of MOTU hardware such as MIDI interfaces, audio interfaces, etc. for Mac OSX
Discussion related to installation, configuration and use of MOTU hardware such as MIDI interfaces, audio interfaces, etc. for Mac OSX
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jeff sanders
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:56 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Casa Grande, AZ. U.S.A.
Re: To: Motu 828MK3 Owners
im using the 1/4" analog outputs rather than the xlr mains but i have had no problems, knock on wood. i can only speak for myself as i know others here were not happy even after some updates but i do not know their situation and setup. see if the music store will let you plug in the gear you wish to use together at the store before you buy maybe? dunno if they do that.
gl
gl
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PJ Dolphin
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:39 pm
- Primary DAW OS: Unspecified
Re: To: Motu 828MK3 Owners
I've just this minute finished soldering my TRS jack to XLR leads and ran them into my mixer so I can say how the levels worked for me...
With the TRS outputs all running at full output 0dB from Ableton the inputs to my mixer are pretty much spot on with the mixers faders set to 0dB and the mic gain trim tabs down at zero. That's spot on in my book!
The XLR mains outs are now going into my line level hi-fi amp and are perfect too.
In terms of inputs playing my active bass into the instrument in goes past 0dB. With the Vlimit control on they can go to +12 though so I don't know if this is a problem really as going slightly over 0dB seems to sound a little better to my ears like this, although I haven't experimented for that long with it though as I always mic my guitar amp, and have only messed about briefly with the level meters. Alternatively I can turn the bass' volume pot down a touch, although that's not really ideal. I haven't found it to be a problem though.
The only annoyance with the I/O I've found is that after spending ££££££s on Neutrik stereo jacks, and soldering for the last 3 hours or so, I've just discovered the I/O jacks are just too close together to properly fit full size Neutrik jacks and I should have bought the slimmer ones, or got another slimmer brand. F*&k!
With the TRS outputs all running at full output 0dB from Ableton the inputs to my mixer are pretty much spot on with the mixers faders set to 0dB and the mic gain trim tabs down at zero. That's spot on in my book!
The XLR mains outs are now going into my line level hi-fi amp and are perfect too.
In terms of inputs playing my active bass into the instrument in goes past 0dB. With the Vlimit control on they can go to +12 though so I don't know if this is a problem really as going slightly over 0dB seems to sound a little better to my ears like this, although I haven't experimented for that long with it though as I always mic my guitar amp, and have only messed about briefly with the level meters. Alternatively I can turn the bass' volume pot down a touch, although that's not really ideal. I haven't found it to be a problem though.
The only annoyance with the I/O I've found is that after spending ££££££s on Neutrik stereo jacks, and soldering for the last 3 hours or so, I've just discovered the I/O jacks are just too close together to properly fit full size Neutrik jacks and I should have bought the slimmer ones, or got another slimmer brand. F*&k!
Re: To: Motu 828MK3 Owners
In terms of latency, is the unit fine? Any clicks and pops when working with a decent number of tracks and effects? I figured I could always try to use a pair of the TRS outputs if the XLR main outs were too hot. PJ, am I getting this right, did you convert your XLR main outs to TRS outs? and that solved the overly hot output issue for you?
When you use XLR mics in the front 2 inputs, is it fine, and only overly hot when used when TS instrument inputs? Are the 8 TRS line level inputs in the back fine in terms of being at the correct level?
Just trying to confirm that buying this unit will at most come down to 2 comprises, hot XLR outputs and not really usually TS inputs in the front. If latency is fine and all the other inputs and outputs are ok, then to me, this unit is still a great purchase compared to the Presonus and Maudio units using Dice II chipsets getting consistently bad performance reports around the net.
When you use XLR mics in the front 2 inputs, is it fine, and only overly hot when used when TS instrument inputs? Are the 8 TRS line level inputs in the back fine in terms of being at the correct level?
Just trying to confirm that buying this unit will at most come down to 2 comprises, hot XLR outputs and not really usually TS inputs in the front. If latency is fine and all the other inputs and outputs are ok, then to me, this unit is still a great purchase compared to the Presonus and Maudio units using Dice II chipsets getting consistently bad performance reports around the net.
Re: To: Motu 828MK3 Owners
Hello! I'm accidentally registered twice on here! So I'm PJ Dolphin too! Doh!
What I mean is I've made TRS to XLR leads so I get 8 XLR outs from the analog 1-8 outs. They are fine as inputs to a spirit mixing desk, they don't overload it at full output volume.
My Main Outs (XLRs) I have going via XLR to phono convertors and into a hi-fi amp. This is fine on level too for a normal line level input to an amp. Until last night I was using the analog out 1&2 to the hi-fi amp, now I'm using the XLRs into the same inputs my volume knob on the amp is at the same place. Therefore I'm assuming the XLRs outs are the same volume as the TRS outs, so the XLR outs would be fine into a desk too.
So basically what I'm saying is for my setup the output levels are fine, and I wouldn't want them quieter, and my setup isn't very odd! You should be able to connect any of the 10 analogue outs into a desk without overloading it.
Mic ins are fine. No worries at all. I'm recording my guitar amp at a quite loud level for the neighbours, and a low/medium level for a 4x12 in a pro studio room. I'm not using the 20dB pad in the 828mk3, or the 5/10dB pad in the mic. So that's not too hot in my book.
The TRS line level ins are ok. I'm always sending them from either something thats a bit small so I can use the trim to boost the ins, or from another mixer, so I've never had an issue getting a correct level, I just adjust the level on the input source or the motu in cuemix.
As mentioned the only issue I've had level wise is using the intrument in jacks to DI guitars straight in the front, and with the Vlimit turned on so they can go to +12 I haven't had a problem. I've got pretty usable sounds with a bass with Vlimit on, and the built in decent compression effect.
What I mean is I've made TRS to XLR leads so I get 8 XLR outs from the analog 1-8 outs. They are fine as inputs to a spirit mixing desk, they don't overload it at full output volume.
My Main Outs (XLRs) I have going via XLR to phono convertors and into a hi-fi amp. This is fine on level too for a normal line level input to an amp. Until last night I was using the analog out 1&2 to the hi-fi amp, now I'm using the XLRs into the same inputs my volume knob on the amp is at the same place. Therefore I'm assuming the XLRs outs are the same volume as the TRS outs, so the XLR outs would be fine into a desk too.
So basically what I'm saying is for my setup the output levels are fine, and I wouldn't want them quieter, and my setup isn't very odd! You should be able to connect any of the 10 analogue outs into a desk without overloading it.
Mic ins are fine. No worries at all. I'm recording my guitar amp at a quite loud level for the neighbours, and a low/medium level for a 4x12 in a pro studio room. I'm not using the 20dB pad in the 828mk3, or the 5/10dB pad in the mic. So that's not too hot in my book.
The TRS line level ins are ok. I'm always sending them from either something thats a bit small so I can use the trim to boost the ins, or from another mixer, so I've never had an issue getting a correct level, I just adjust the level on the input source or the motu in cuemix.
As mentioned the only issue I've had level wise is using the intrument in jacks to DI guitars straight in the front, and with the Vlimit turned on so they can go to +12 I haven't had a problem. I've got pretty usable sounds with a bass with Vlimit on, and the built in decent compression effect.