828mk2 complete disaster

archeopteryx · Post by **archeopteryx** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:37 pm

I am having the exact same problem and am wondering if anyone who has had a similar issue found a solution. The 828mkII has been working beautifully for 2 years, then suddenly today started acting completely insane. When I turn it on, all of the various lights flash like Christmas, the LCD display only says MOTU 828mkII without advancing, and I cannot even access the control strip to do a reset.

In short, any thoughts on what to do? I'm on a MacBook Pro 2.33 GHz, Mac 10.4.8. The problems continued even when I disconnected the interface from the computer.

jcgardiner · Post by **jcgardiner** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:03 pm

Well you all are not crazy...and the fact that some are too quick to blame the operating system rather than the MOTU gear itself is just obsurd. I have had this unit for several years and it has always been a very unstable system which has required several returns back to the manufacturer. I finally got fed up with this and bought a Tascam FW-1082....alot more bang for the buck....

So here sits the 828 helping me raise the lcd screen higher. Today I finally had the time to mess around with the thing before I got rid of the darn thing....The good news is I finally got the thing to work...I must have recycled the thing off and on about 200 times to try and get it past a certain menu part. Of course it never stays on the same menue twice.....I reinstalled on a different mac G4 this time not G5 both running 10.4.8 the first fifty time of unpluginig the firewire cable got different results but nothing which would be recognized by the computer...then the computer would recognize then it would freeze then it would go back to not recogizing...I think you get the point....and the simple fact that I did not through it out the window showed great restraint on my part. THEN finally I got the darn thing to get to the GAIN menu but nothing blinking....darn well how about a couple more cracks at it.....THEN it got to the GAIN menu and then I was able to cycle through and get to re-start factory defaults. YEAH....I am in business now....Turn off plug in turn on....Nothing....well finally it booted up O.K. so far I have been able to repeat this process 10 times in a row...all looks good now....But at the end of the day you tell me should I trust this 828 or get rid of it. Just like a lemon car....once you get bit too many times and you walk all the way home you never ever have faith in it. Sorry for the long rant but I have no faith in this gear and to all those who are having the same problems well it is most likely not your OS or computer its the MOTU.

bitfader · Post by **bitfader** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:31 pm

I got my 828USB version last month. Everything was checking out okay with the stock drivers that came with the unit. Everything that is except the fact that the software faders in Cue Mix did not affect the volume levels in the MOTU unit. So....I upgraded to the 1.4.3 drivers yesterday. For exactly 24 hours everything was fine...great actually. Cue mix functioned nicely, MIDI sync'ed with 5 tracks of analog audio and listeing through the SPDIF...then today disaster. I had just turned on the 828, ran automater to start up cue mix, itunes, cubase...I left the room for some coffee and came back and the darn screen had pseudo-japanese and latin characters all over the green display of the 828. I instinctively turned off the 828 and waited the preliminary 20-30seconds of holding back swear words. Turned the 828 back on and nada....no dice. Not a damn thing on the screen. I have cycled the unit for hours and nothing....
This is the 4th sound card each by a different manufacturer this year.
Call me paranoid but are they passing out crack to the people who actually assemble these components. I have studied discrete processor assembly procedures and realize that even the slightest bit of air during the imprinting stage of these super-chips results in catastrophic failure.
So it really all boils down to QC. I think from now own I need to look past all the BS hype, past all the glitzy adverts and put my ear out to which-ever company swears by their quality control in their chip selection and programming. Fortunately for me my 828 is under warranty and I am going to retrun it for a full refund. Well, MOTU you have just lost a once loyal customer...

mokkinger · Post by **mokkinger** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:58 am

well, guys, i‘m new to this forum due to the fact that i‘m planning on buying the 828MK II FW as i‘m fed up with my fast track pro from M-audio.

But after having read all of this thread here it seems to bee not the best of a choice - I have a Apple MBP 2,16 running Live 6.07 and Logic Express on it... can you guys who already own the 828 MK II FW recommend it, or should i better buy the traveler (which seems like only more expensive, and i don‘t need 192kHz SR)

>Thanx for advice!
Cheers, Mark

gearboy · Post by **gearboy** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:57 pm

I have two MOTU 828mk2 interfaces. I've owned three. Some history.

I bought my first one in October of 2003. I had it until November of last year, and the only problem that I ever had with it was that the LCD's backlight died, which is a common problem with the first run of the 828mk2s and a free MOTU repair. They actually didn't repair it, but gave me a *new* refurbished unit after I traded in my original. I have used the new one since November as a backup and NEVER had an issue. I used it with a bad backlight for 2 yrs before sending it back to MOTU. So they basically let me trade in a three yr old unit for a new one. Sweet deal.

I also have an 828mk2 that I bought used off of a TapeOp'r in June of 2006 for a partial trade for an M-Auido FW1814, which was a piece of crap (at least the drivers were, which I could never get past in the 2 months that I owned it as an unreliable Kernal panic causing backup). Again, not a single issue with this 828mk2. I had this one modded at Black Lion (analog & clock) after a 6 month burn in to make sure that it was worthy, screen wasn't going to die, etc. You never know if a previous owner has done weird stuff to your new purchase.

All of them have been reliable day in and day out for listening, recording, playback, remote sessions, iTunes, internet, etc. I use them with a Dual 1.8 Ghz G5 and a 1.5 Ghz Powerbook G4. Sometimes I'll get something a little weird if I boot it up after my computer has been on for several days. A restart of the system before recording, in this rare case, always fixes the problem.

I remember that my old unit with the screen issue has a problem that caused me to do a reset of the 828. It was driver based in the end, and not hardware based, and MOTU updating the driver (in 2004?) fixed it right away.

The Black Lion mod and clock sound incredible, btw.

I love my 828s.

Jeff

chucks · Post by **chucks** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:53 pm

Once again a round of 828s flipping out. I've said this in the past and taken some crap for my post, but here goes again. The 828 is extremely sensitive to voltage fluctuations. If you have access to a voltage meter/monitor, check your electrical output. My 828mkII would lockup/flash LEDs, etc if the voltage fell below 110 (in my area it fell as low as 98 ). Since installing a voltage regulator (not a power conditioner), I have not had one problem with my 828mkII. There may be a correlation due to increased power demand for summer AC.

gearboy · Post by **gearboy** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:28 pm

One should be using a battery backup / voltage regulator in the studio anyway. One can be had for like $100. I use a Belkin in the studio, and the small company that I work for as a graphic designer bought 8 of the same unit for the office Macs. No problems with any of them int he past year.

Jeff

Dinofond · Post by **Dinofond** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:59 pm

chucks wrote:Once again a round of 828s flipping out. I've said this in the past and taken some crap for my post, but here goes again. The 828 is extremely sensitive to voltage fluctuations. If you have access to a voltage meter/monitor, check your electrical output. My 828mkII would lockup/flash LEDs, etc if the voltage fell below 110 (in my area it fell as low as 98 ). Since installing a voltage regulator (not a power conditioner), I have not had one problem with my 828mkII. There may be a correlation due to increased power demand for summer AC.

Well Said chucks, you're a good man for trying to help.

nailosity · Post by **nailosity** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:40 am

Hi all -
well, it seems to be discussion of the 828mkII. I've had mine for about 3 years (I did trade it in once about a year ago when the Firewire ports completely stopped working), but it's been trouble ever since - a real workhorse. Until 2 weeks ago... It seems to want to lock up randomly. A power cycle fixes it temporarily, but since I use this thing on gigs (mostly - as opposed to studio), a non working unit means a non working musician. What seems to be happening is: Whenever it's plugged in to my Powerbook, it works for a bit (or doesn't, sometimes), then the software freezes, and I get a "Lost communication with Interface" or some such message. Over and Over again. Took me 4 hours to mix a 2 minute track.

I will take the power regulation issue seriously, but this seems to be a firewire issue. Is there a firmware/828 OS upgrade? Mine's 1.01.
As I said, worked great for years.... and it's not the software!

Mac powerbook g4 876
DP 4
LIVE 5
NI Kontakt

MOTUnation.com

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