New MOTU 8pre with intense digital screetching

tencentcat · Post by **tencentcat** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:00 pm

Just got a MOTU 8pre in the mail today. After installing, setting up, etc. I opened up Logic to record a test track, only to get a sudden ear-popping death ray of what sounds like synthesized digital feedback. Before I went to record, the sound coming through the Mic sounded nice and clear - levels set low, everything looking normal in the Cuemix software.

I tried the same test with Live 6 and was able to record a mono track while monitoring just fine. Played back once, sounded good. Played back a third time and the noise came back - constant and bone rattling, but with some tastful sweeps.

This is my first MOTU interface, so maybe I'm missing some internal routing with the Cuemix, but as far as I can tell everything is set right.

This is on a Dual G4 with plenty of ram, one Mic connected at this point. Running Logic Pro 7.2 and Live 6. Any help/enlightenment much appreciated.

tencentcat · Post by **tencentcat** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:48 pm

I tried plugging into my second FW port instead of behind the HD, and got this message (in a loop) after trying to start Logic. Had to force quit to get out.

This is with the latest drivers from MOTU, BTW.

Did a bit more testing in Logic (after setting up the old way) and I can't really predict the behavior. I get the constant screetch, clicks and pops, uber distorted incoming audio. Is this a bum unit or am I missing something here?

tedtunes · Post by **tedtunes** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:02 am

wish i could be more constructive other than to say take it back!
i have the same thing with my 896 HD and motu help was useless and my warranty is up,

people will say its clocking issue but no need for it if its your only unit and you have it set to whatever clock it tells you to (8pre internal i imagine)

thats all i can offer

emmrecs · Post by **emmrecs** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 12:17 pm

Not sure if this is directly relevant to you since I've been using the 8PRE on a Win XP set up with Adobe Audition 2.0 but...

I sometimes get a noise problem, rather like continuous white noise, but only on playback. Turning the 8PRE off and then back on usually seems to clear the problem. But it's very alarming when it first appears.

MOTU Tech Support · Post by **MOTU Tech Support** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 3:18 pm

Hello tencentcat,

A few things for you to try:

1. Can you reproduce this noise when playing audio through iTunes?

2. Launch MOTU Audio Console and make sure the clock source is set to Internal.

3. Sounds like you are using an external HD, try disconnecting the HD completely and connect the 8pre directly to your computer with a good FW cable.

4. Try changing the buffer size setting in host application (LP or Live).

5. Try using the other FW port on the 8pre.

Best regards,

landman · Post by **landman** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 7:11 am

Tencentcat,

Did the Tech Support advise help you?
I was planning to order the 8pre through my local dealer, but your post (and the replies of Rectunes en Emmrec) made me doubt ...

Landman

zara_drummer · Post by **zara_drummer** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 9:14 am

Ive been using my 8pre on my xp2 sp2 laptop and my xp2 sp2 desktop machine and have had none of the problems that have been described here.

I do use SONAR5 but that should make no difference as they all use the same ASIO driver.

I've had my setup in use as a sound card to listen to regular music as well as mixing/recording etc and have found the device to be very very solid all the way around.

Paul1024 · Post by **Paul1024** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:55 am

Is some sort of feedback happening? Keep in mind that there is also a mixer in the unit. Run the CueMix Console and make sure all the input faders are down. For now, keep things very simple. Only one mic connected, simple monitoring, etc.

--P

drumnjazz · Post by **drumnjazz** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 2:40 pm

I also have an 8pre running on a MacBook with Audiodesk. No problems to report of here. I love the 8pre so far (two weeks).

I have heard of problems connecting an external HD via the firewire. I'm not doing that though, just straight in to the MacBook and then dumping to my external after sessions.

Just putting in my .02.

rolandj · Post by **rolandj** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:17 am

I too run an 8 pre /G4 dual that has a ton of ram and hd space and DP 4.6.when i tried using my external FW/USB2 HD I got the same noise about 10 seconds in to my second track while monitoring the recording as well as during playback.I have gotten some limited digital "clicking" while recording in an applications folder but it was only once so far.All in all I am 6 weeks into the 8pre and Mac set up( it took a week and a tech buddy of mine to get it up and running) and being a one man band in my home studio I am now regretting the sale of my Roland digital recorder.which I was recording and burning cd's on the first day I got it.The learning curve is WAY to intense for a hobbiest like myself.My VS890 was like a tapedeck compared to the computer setup I now have . AND 10 TIMES THE COST! for VERY comparable finished recordings.I am thinking of selling and going back to the MUCH more user friendly stand alone recorder.

David Polich · Post by **David Polich** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:28 pm

Try doing a factory reset. I don't know where it is on the 8pre, I don't own one.

I've had this same thing happen with both my 828 MKII's and a factory reset fixed it everytime.

audio_artist · Post by **audio_artist** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:12 am

i had this the other day

im not certain...but

i believe you may be generating smpte time code and sending it to one of your analog outputs, which is what your hearing

i did this and it creates a regular high speed deafening pulse!

just got to your motu SMPTE setup

and change everything back to its default settings

that stuff is meant to be heard by clocking devices, not human ears! lol

MOTUnation.com

New MOTU 8pre with intense digital screetching

New MOTU 8pre with intense digital screetching

sorry dude

8pre noise

hiya