MOTUnation.com

Ok,

Here is the email I sent to Tech Support. Hoping for a faster response here.
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Hello,

We are in the process of building a studio and have purchased the MOTU 24 IO system. Unfortunately, we were under the impression that we could just purchase the MOTU 24 alone and use a regular Firewire-2-PCI card so we accidentally ordered the MOTU 24 by itself (no pci-424) card.

First question: Can we just use a regular firewire card? I'm guessing the answer is no, but just trying...

Second question: I have looked online everywhere and cannot find anywhere to just purchase the pci-424 card. Every place I look only sells the core system (motu + 424) or the expansion (motu without 424). The only place I have found the 424 by itself is on Ebay, and I'd rather not buy used. Is there somewhere I can order just the 424 online? Or do you have any regional stores which will sell just the 424? I live in northern california and would be glad to drive somewhere to get it faster. We are using some old crappy aardvarks at the moment and wanted to start tracking with the MOTU asap.

Your advice is apprecaited!
Thanks
Chris

Chris,

No, sorry but it won't run like that.

It's a firewire connector/cable, but a proprietary signal running through it, which is only used by the 424 and the rack units. (The dedicated all-in-one's, like the 828 are different.)

I "think" a single 424 is only an eBay or used thing, unless you're upgrading from the 324. I don't know why people end up with extras, but they are obviously out there. Someone in here has bought one recently. See if you can get the version# from them if you shop. There's 2 or 3 revisions. I've got the original, which has done well, but they say the later G5 versions are more compatible or future proof.

Take Care,

George

PS- Don't know what it's worth to you, but if it starts looking too expensive, you may even consider finding a cheap deal on the whole bag (424/2408mk3), just to have some extra i/o.

Won't MOTU sell it to you directly?

I got 2 pci424 for my HD192. (one for Mac one for Pc)
Just asked my local dealer for an extra 424.