Motu 896 HD firewire problem
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Discussion related to installation, configuration and use of MOTU hardware such as MIDI interfaces, audio interfaces, etc. with Windows
Discussion related to installation, configuration and use of MOTU hardware such as MIDI interfaces, audio interfaces, etc. with Windows
Motu 896 HD firewire problem
Hi there to everyone,
A have a question, what is the exact firewire chip that 896HD use?
TSB41AB2PAP, TSB41AB2PAPG4, TSB41AB2PAPR, TSB41AB2PAPRG4 which one of these is the proper chip to buy and replace to my burned motu??
Please please help...
A have a question, what is the exact firewire chip that 896HD use?
TSB41AB2PAP, TSB41AB2PAPG4, TSB41AB2PAPR, TSB41AB2PAPRG4 which one of these is the proper chip to buy and replace to my burned motu??
Please please help...
Re: Motu 896 HD firewire problem
So i send an email to motu and they replied that the chip, if anyone is interested, is the TSB41AB2PAP.


- erickorbly
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2017 1:18 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Re: Motu 896 HD firewire problem
Yeah I got me 2 896HD’s that have bad FireWire ports. Otherwise these things never left their rack space, always plugged into a Furman, & have not so much as a scratch.
- erickorbly
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2017 1:18 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Re: Motu 896 HD firewire problem
I can’t get any useful info out of tech guys.
They don’t repair 896HD’ s & they don’t give out useful info or share repair manuals. Which they should if they’re not going to even service a simple data port on such a pricey piece of hardware. I was told the FireWire port wasn’t manufactured anymore. But I’m not stupid enough to believe that there’s no solution or alternative, clearly they don’t want to service the units.
Greed: I imagine they think that they’ll force people to buy newer gear but this will surely backfire. Next time I buy a recording set up, computer, software, & multiple interfaces I won’t be buying MOTU. Why should I? I have other gear that is just as or way older & I can get those circuit boards worked on. In fact the guys at Digitech made service recommendations & sold me parts for a 20 year old guitar effect. I have 2 Mac’s just as old as the MOTU’s & way more abused they have functioning ports, I can get parts ect...
They don’t repair 896HD’ s & they don’t give out useful info or share repair manuals. Which they should if they’re not going to even service a simple data port on such a pricey piece of hardware. I was told the FireWire port wasn’t manufactured anymore. But I’m not stupid enough to believe that there’s no solution or alternative, clearly they don’t want to service the units.
Greed: I imagine they think that they’ll force people to buy newer gear but this will surely backfire. Next time I buy a recording set up, computer, software, & multiple interfaces I won’t be buying MOTU. Why should I? I have other gear that is just as or way older & I can get those circuit boards worked on. In fact the guys at Digitech made service recommendations & sold me parts for a 20 year old guitar effect. I have 2 Mac’s just as old as the MOTU’s & way more abused they have functioning ports, I can get parts ect...
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Re: Motu 896 HD firewire problem
You could always contact Black Lion Audio and see if they can do repairs. Those guys have offered mods for those units and probably know the insides of them very intimately and might be able to do do the fix or give you advice on parts or whatever.
http://blacklionaudio.com
http://blacklionaudio.com
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Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, macOS Sequoia 15.5 Public Beta 2, DP 11.34, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
- erickorbly
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2017 1:18 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Re: Motu 896 HD firewire problem
Thank you very much, I’ll check them out. Really what I want is a MOTU as they originally come but with a quality FireWire port. I’m happy to pay MOTU for my repairs.
- erickorbly
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2017 1:18 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Re: Motu 896 HD firewire problem
Johnjohn wrote:So i send an email to motu and they replied that the chip, if anyone is interested, is the TSB41AB2PAP.
Nice
Re: Motu 896 HD firewire problem
While I know that this is an old post...to the OP:
I've got a couple of second-hand 896HD; one works, one with the infamous "dead firewire port" problem. The following image set shows a good one, a bad one, and the transceiver:
https://imgur.com/a/dvU7XGN
If yours has that level of damage to other components, it's probably the victim of a power surge (I am guessing that's what torched mine), and not a "late Vg event" as described here:
http://www.ti.com/lit/an/slea072a/slea072a.pdf
If you don't have the level of damage mine shows, you are relatively lucky and it's a $6 part to replace it.
In my case, it looks like I get to try to figure out the values of various thin-film resistors and diodes...without a schematic. 
I've got a couple of second-hand 896HD; one works, one with the infamous "dead firewire port" problem. The following image set shows a good one, a bad one, and the transceiver:
https://imgur.com/a/dvU7XGN
If yours has that level of damage to other components, it's probably the victim of a power surge (I am guessing that's what torched mine), and not a "late Vg event" as described here:
http://www.ti.com/lit/an/slea072a/slea072a.pdf
If you don't have the level of damage mine shows, you are relatively lucky and it's a $6 part to replace it.

