Need advise on new MOTU Purchase

[pcmusicpro]

Hello

I'm new to this forum.

I plan to buy a couple of MOTU's products for using with Cockos Reaper Software. I'm interested in the 828mk3 interface with the 8pre addon so I can have 10 preamp inputs. I will install this units in a PC (Asus P5Q3 boar, Intel Core 2 QUAD Q6600 2.4 GHz processor, and 4GB Kingston Ram) with Windows XP SP3 32bits.

I've been reading some good comments about MOTU products and some bad regarding to cliks, pops, and high pitched noises. The comments where a little bit old (2009).

I want to ask if all this problems have been addressed and if I can trust MOTU hardware with my current system setup I described above?

Should I update firmware for the interfaces or the ones on sale at this moment are already updated?

Should I download the latest drivers or it is ok with the ones that will be in the box?

Will I have a printed or pdf manual? (since it was impossible to find any in the MOTU's website)

What other considerations should I have in order to run those interfaces successfully?

Thanks.

[jpleong]

Hello

I'm new to this forum.

I plan to buy a couple of MOTU's products for using with Cockos Reaper Software. I'm interested in the 828mk3 interface with the 8pre addon so I can have 10 preamp inputs. I will install this units in a PC (Asus P5Q3 boar, Intel Core 2 QUAD Q6600 2.4 GHz processor, and 4GB Kingston Ram) with Windows XP SP3 32bits.

I've been reading some good comments about MOTU products and some bad regarding to cliks, pops, and high pitched noises. The comments where a little bit old (2009).

I want to ask if all this problems have been addressed and if I can trust MOTU hardware with my current system setup I described above?

I have used my 896mk3 on an HP nx9420 laptop and Sony Vaio laptop without any issues. Both run Windows XP SP3 and utilize a Texas Instruments Firewire controller.

Should I update firmware for the interfaces or the ones on sale at this moment are already updated?

Should I download the latest drivers or it is ok with the ones that will be in the box?

I would check, first, and then upgrade if it isn't already up-to-date. The 828mk3's latest firmware address the front panel input issues you may have read about.

Will I have a printed or pdf manual? (since it was impossible to find any in the MOTU's website)

Printed. If you can figure out why there's no pdf manual on MOTU's website you'd be far wiser than any of us.

What other considerations should I have in order to run those interfaces successfully?

Thanks.

Make sure your Firewire Card uses a TI Controller. Other users have reported higher rates of success when using single-type 1394 cards (ie, only 1394a or only 1394b not 1394a+b+USB 2.0, etc...). ADS and SIIG make TI-based Firewire cards. I would also suggest you go with a different outboard preamp unit instead of the 8pre. The 8pre will only sync clock via ADAT which is not ideal. The ideal is to have clock separate on Wordclock. Presonus makes inexpensive 8-channel preamps (the D8) that accept Wordclock as do several other manufacturers. I have a D8 connected to my 896mk3 at the moment.

JP

[pcmusicpro]

Thank you very much.

I've been looking for a different preamp as you suggested and saw a Focusrite Octopre MKII it looks nice, has wordclock but I think I'm gonna stay with the 8Pre because I see is the perfect integration with the 828MK3 and can be an interface too wich I can carry with my laptop out of the studio, and leave the 828 in the rack.

It's deceiving to see that MOTU don't allow future users to learn the manuals before buying the product.

Thanks a lot.

Ed.