Does 828 MKII USB + Apple Silicon + Sonoma/Sequoia work?

[tunecrew]

Hi All,

Have an M2 Mini running Sonoma (and eventually Sequoia), primary DAW is Ableton 12.

A friend has an 828 MKII USB he will sell me for cheap.

I've read many accounts here of people successfully running the FireWire models, but can't seem to find a specific reference to the 828 MKII USB model.

Does it need a driver? If so, which one?

I do have the old MIDI Express XT USB running successfully w/ Clockworks.

[mikehalloran]

It should. Get the correct MOTU Audio Installer from the 828mk3 Hybrid download page. Follow the Read Me included in the package.

Use a USB 2 cable — many USB 3 over USB-C cables are not backward compatible. There are USB-B to USB-C printer cables on Amazon. These support USB 2/1.1 and will work.

[tunecrew]

great thanks!

[mothra]

FWIW - it uses the same driver my 828x does, which is working great in Sequoia (and Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey/etc). Been a couple years since I've used my Live 11 Suite, but Cubase 13/14 has no trouble with it, so I'd think Live would be good to go haha.

[Sheikpablo]

Hi @mothra, @mikehalloran!

Maybe you guys can help me out.
I have the same issue with my Motu 828 MKII U.SB, but I use a Mac Mini M4, Sequoia 15.3.1 (24D70), Ableton 11 suite and 12.
I´ve tried your suggestion and bought a USB-B to USB-C printer cable to connect it, but unfortunately, it didn't work.
I tried before with a normal USB-B to USB, but I had no luck.
I´ve tried to install the latest Gen5 drivers, the one you suggested, the 828x, 1296, but also it didn't work.
The sound card is being recognized, but it can't play any sound.
Using YouTube, for example, the video won't even start.
Thanks!

[mothra]

The 'Gen 5' drivers don't support the 828 lineup at all. You need the specific MOTU Audio Installer for the 828 family.

Did you remember to boot into recovery mode and allow the system to install kernel extension drivers? They wont work without it, along with all the permissions you need to accept to make it run.

I had the same issue when this driver came out around macOS Big Sur (I think). The extension wouldn't load when I turned the MOTU on, and I had to force the extension to turn on with the command line. MOTU support couldn't figure it out either, and after like 3 or 4 reinstalls, it just magically started working and no one bothered following up on it.

[tunecrew]

Just an update - got the 828mkII USB, connected to my Mac Mini M2 currently running macOS 15.3.1 (24D70).

Connected via a USB 3.1 hub.

Works perfectly in Ableton 12 (and everything else).

I used "MOTU Audio Installer 89555.zip" from https://motu.com/en-us/download/product/269/

[mikehalloran]

The 'Gen 5' drivers don't support the 828 lineup at all.

Correct. That will not work. This is the correct driver from the 828mk3 Hybrid site:

MOTU Audio Installer
Mac v89555 | Oct. 13, 2021
macOS 14, macOS 13, macOS 12, macOS 11

I do not recommend this, however, due to potential wake from sleep issues:

Connected via a USB 3.1 hub.

USB 4 hubs work fine, however including this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NWL5V86?re ... title&th=1

I have my USB 2 devices now going into the USB-C ports including my iLok and USB 2 interfaces (through adapters or USB Printer cables). I have not experienced a wake from sleep problem since adding it last December.

[tunecrew]

I do not recommend this, however, due to potential wake from sleep issues:

Connected via a USB 3.1 hub.

USB 4 hubs work fine, however including this one:
[/quote]

Didn't know about this, but to be fair I have not suffered from this issue.

[Sheikpablo]

The 'Gen 5' drivers don't support the 828 lineup at all. You need the specific MOTU Audio Installer for the 828 family.

Did you remember to boot into recovery mode and allow the system to install kernel extension drivers? They wont work without it, along with all the permissions you need to accept to make it run.

I had the same issue when this driver came out around macOS Big Sur (I think). The extension wouldn't load when I turned the MOTU on, and I had to force the extension to turn on with the command line. MOTU support couldn't figure it out either, and after like 3 or 4 reinstalls, it just magically started working and no one bothered following up on it.

The 'Gen 5' drivers don't support the 828 lineup at all.

Correct. That will not work. This is the correct driver from the 828mk3 Hybrid site:

MOTU Audio Installer
Mac v89555 | Oct. 13, 2021
macOS 14, macOS 13, macOS 12, macOS 11

I do not recommend this, however, due to potential wake from sleep issues:

Connected via a USB 3.1 hub.

USB 4 hubs work fine, however including this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NWL5V86?re ... title&th=1

I have my USB 2 devices now going into the USB-C ports including my iLok and USB 2 interfaces (through adapters or USB Printer cables). I have not experienced a wake from sleep problem since adding it last December.

Hi Mike and Mothra!

I´ve uninstalled all the Motu drivers I had installed previously and installed the Mac v89555 | on Oct. 13, 2021.
I also restarted in "safe mode" and gave permission to install software from the Apple Store and known developers.
I guess my issue is coming from the USB hub. I have it connected using a cheap USB hub , and it is definitely a 2.0. This might be it.
I will order the same one you have, @mikehalloran, and hopefully, it will solve my problem.
I will let you guys know when I receive my new USB hub.

Thanks again for your help.

[Sheikpablo]

The 'Gen 5' drivers don't support the 828 lineup at all.

Correct. That will not work. This is the correct driver from the 828mk3 Hybrid site:

MOTU Audio Installer
Mac v89555 | Oct. 13, 2021
macOS 14, macOS 13, macOS 12, macOS 11

I do not recommend this, however, due to potential wake from sleep issues:

Connected via a USB 3.1 hub.

USB 4 hubs work fine, however including this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NWL5V86?re ... title&th=1

I have my USB 2 devices now going into the USB-C ports including my iLok and USB 2 interfaces (through adapters or USB Printer cables). I have not experienced a wake from sleep problem since adding it last December.

Hi @mikeholloran, I´ve checked the link on Amazon, and for me, it needs to be shipped from the US to the Netherlands.
So this one will take a few days to arrive. :/
It could be any USB hub as long it is USB 3.1, correct?
These for example, I could get them delivered tomorrow:

https://tinyurl.com/235wu6jx

https://tinyurl.com/mt892cza

https://tinyurl.com/598r78k8

Thanks!

[mikehalloran]

It could be any USB hub as long it is USB 3.1, correct?

USB 3 is a hot mess. In addition to the info below, not all USB 3.x cables are backward compatible to 2/1.1. Yamaha is among the manufacturers recommending Printer cables for their keyboards etc.
https://www.kingston.com/en/usb-flash-drives/usb-30

These hubs like USB 3.x hubs sometimes have wake from sleep issues. Not something you want happening during a session. I had that happen with my USB 2 interfaces and keyboards when connected through a hub. Brand did not matter and I tried many.

This issue can affect hubs and external storage, It is not an issue when your interface is connected directly to your Mac through the USB-C or USB-A ports. Once I learned this, I connected my interface and keyboard directly. Unfortunately, due to the number of available ports iLok and other devices still had to go through hubs. Nothing like seeing the "Your Mac does not have the iLok..." error and then having to unplug/reconnect the hub and everything connected with a client in the room.

I strongly recommend a USB 4 hub. USB 4 is backward compatible to USB 2/1.1. Thunderbolt 3/4 is based on the
USB4 standard but many Intel Certified cables and hubs are not backward compatible. This has caused quite the commotion for Windows users but Apple TB 4/3 hubs and cables are really USB4. Any USB4 hub should work. You can also buy USB-A to USB-C adapters for the end of USB 2 cables.

[Sheikpablo]

It could be any USB hub as long it is USB 3.1, correct?

USB 3 is a hot mess. In addition to the info below, not all USB 3.x cables are backward compatible to 2/1.1. Yamaha is among the manufacturers recommending Printer cables for their keyboards etc.
https://www.kingston.com/en/usb-flash-drives/usb-30

These hubs like USB 3.x hubs sometimes have wake from sleep issues. Not something you want happening during a session. I had that happen with my USB 2 interfaces and keyboards when connected through a hub. Brand did not matter and I tried many.

This issue can affect hubs and external storage, It is not an issue when your interface is connected directly to your Mac through the USB-C or USB-A ports. Once I learned this, I connected my interface and keyboard directly. Unfortunately, due to the number of available ports iLok and other devices still had to go through hubs. Nothing like seeing the "Your Mac does not have the iLok..." error and then having to unplug/reconnect the hub and everything connected with a client in the room.

I strongly recommend a USB 4 hub. USB 4 is backward compatible to USB 2/1.1. Thunderbolt 3/4 is based on the
USB4 standard but many Intel Certified cables and hubs are not backward compatible. This has caused quite the commotion for Windows users but Apple TB 4/3 hubs and cables are really USB4. Any USB4 hub should work. You can also buy USB-A to USB-C adapters for the end of USB 2 cables.

Hi Mike!

Thanks again for the information and help.
I´ve ordered the Ugreen Revodok 10Gbps USB adaptor (the First Amazon link that I posted previously).
Unfortunately, it didn't work.
Now, I have ordered the OWC, the same as you have, and hopefully, when it arrives, it will fix my problem.

[mikehalloran]

I also restarted in "safe mode" and gave permission to install software from the Apple Store and known developers.

That will not allow kernel extensions in the drivers to load unless you have already done this first. This is also part of the Read Me that downloads with the driver.

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-hel ... 0/mac/14.0

Read this also
https://motu.com/techsupport/technotes/ ... igh-sierra

Once you have done the above and reinstalled the driver, you will still need to grant several permissions including granting any audio app access to the microphone. This may involve rebooting several times and granting them one at a time.

At some point, you will get a System Legacy message — it's not an error but only a message that this driver might not be suppoted in a future macOS. Ignore it.

It's possible the UGREEN hub will work after all is done but since it does not support USB 4, I don't trust it to always wake from sleep.