MOTUnation.com

Greetings,
After spending hours, and 2 frustrating phone calls with MOTU Tech Support, I finally have the FireWire and Firmware Updates Installed. What follows is the approach I took. Hopefully it helps those with similar struggles.

(FIRST) Disable all Virus Protection, and ANY other Audio interface you may have active. For me it was the Realtek driver that came standard.
(SECOND) Prepare for a direct connection to the 828MK3, in my case by FireWire. Do not yet attach any other peripherals such as a spare Hard Drive.

(STEP 1) Download the latest 32-bit Firewire and USB 2 Audio file from MOTU, dated on the website 6/30/2008 and identified as version 3.6.8.1; file: 32fw.zip. Unzip the file to a folder on your desktop

(STEP 2) Download the the MOTU 828mk3 v.1.06 Update. Unzip the file to a folder on your desktop

(STEP 3) Disconnect the MOTU 828MK3 from your PC and power it off

(STEP 4) From within Control Panel ---> Add/Remove Programs, remove the MOTU Audio Driver, identified as 'MOTU Firewire/USB2 Audio'. Go into the C:\WINDOWS --> System32 directory and delete the leftover MOTU file titled, 'mfwaasio'. Turn off the machine and restart.

(STEP 5) Be sure any Virus Protection; and any audio card on the PC is Disabled. Check by going into Device Manager from the System icon within Control Panel. Check your system tray to be sure all memory resident programs that you can disable, are disabled.

(STEP 6) From within the 32fw folder, run the 'Setup Audio' file. 6 installs will take place. Shut your PC down, then power back up

(STEP 7) AGAIN - Be sure any Virus Protection; and any audio card on the PC is Disabled. Check by going into Device Manager from the System icon within Control Panel. Check your system tray to be sure all memory resident programs that you can disable, are disabled

(STEP Turn on the MOTU 828MK3 and after it completes the boot cycle, plug it into your PC. The Hardware detector from within Windows XP will start and begin loading the audio drivers. Say yes at each step of the install, passing though the warnings that the drivers have not been signed by Microsoft. [NOTE: There will be multiple installs for MOTU Audio, GSIF and MOTU Audio Wave. All must install cleanly. You should get the message that the hardware is installed and ready to use when complete] If the install hangs ... most likely during the WAVE install on 'mfwawave.sys' this means there is some sort of competing audio card enabled. Go back into device manager and make sure your audio cards are disabled. With a clean installation Shut Down the PC; after the PC shuts down turn off the MOTU 828MK3 but keep it plugged into the PC.

(STEP 9) Start your PC. AGAIN - Be sure any Virus Protection; and any audio card on the PC is Disabled. Check by going into Device Manager from the System icon within Control Panel. Check your system tray to be sure all memory resident programs that you can disable, are disabled

(STEP 10) HOLD DOWN the PAGE button on the MOTU 828MK3 and Power it up. The Boot Loader message will appear and the 828MK3 will stay in this state. You can remove your finger from the PAGE button. Don't worry if Windows XP Hardware detector starts again, it will attempt to re-load the MOTU Audio driver. Say Yes at this step and allow the driver to load.

(STEP 11) From within the 828mk3_106ud folder go into the 828mk3v106 subfolder, then double-click on MOTU Fx Updater 32 to run the update program. You can click from within the program to run the v106 firmware update. [PLEASE NOTE: I found my system was terribly unstable after updating with the new firewire drivers, and before running the 1.06 firmware update. Therefore do not delay in following up quickly by running this firmware update right after the 3.6.8.1 Firewire/USB drivers are loaded. Turn off the PC, then power back up.

(STEP 12) At this point you can work through daising-chaining any other devices off your MOTU 828mk3. All-in-all the system should be stable. And you can reap the benefits of this update.

Best regards,
......Gary

Greetings,
I want to share this reply from MOTU Tech Support. Reason being is it stresses the importance of installing to a clean system; essentially making sure you Un-Install the existing MOTU drivers, power-down the 828mk3 and THEN cleaning out the registry manually. If the steps I provided above do not bring you success, then at least you have the following procedure for a Manual Clean of the Windows Registry. Please be advised; this should not be taken lightly as the registry is the 'Circulation System' for Windows. Proceed cautiously and only in the areas suggested. GOSH -- Why Doesn't MOTU Just Create a Frick'n clean install procedure WITH instructions. SIGH ... here you go; hope this also helps:
------------------------
Added by Joseph on 2008/07/03 12:47:07 GMT-5
State change from 'Unread' to 'In progress'
Hi Gary,
Try reinstalling the latest drivers (which are version 3.6.8.1) from the MOTU website the following way...
Power off the 828mk3. Go to the Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs. Remove the MOTU drivers here. Next, Then, go to Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager. Under Sound, Video, and Game Controllers: if you see any unknown devices or MOTU devices, right click and uninstall them. Also if you have any onboard sound cards such as Sound Blaster or RealTek, disable these as well. Check to see if you have any "Other Devices" listed in device manager as well, if so remove them. Next, go to Start. In the Run text field, type "regedit". Under HKEY_LocalMachine > Software, delete any MOTU or Mark of the Unicorn folders. Under HKEY_LocalMachine > Software > ASIO (if present), delete any MOTU files. Then, go to the Downloads sections of the MOTU website, choose Windows, click on the link for Firewire/USB2 Software in the XP section, and download and install 32-bit Firewire and USB 2 Audio. Afterward, reboot your computer. Once your computer is fully rebooted, turn the 828mk3 back on. In a moment you should get the "Found New Hardware Wizard" pop-up, which will install the WDM, GSIF, and ASIO drivers. If this does not open automatically, go back into device manager. If you see any unknown devices or anything with yellow exclamations/question marks then double click on these and go to the Driver settings. Choose "Update Driver" which will then open the Found New Hardware Wizard.
Afterward, try loading the firmware again.

ChiantiM wrote:Then, go to Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager. Under Sound, Video, and Game Controllers: if you see any unknown devices or MOTU devices, right click and uninstall them. Also if you have any onboard sound cards such as Sound Blaster or RealTek, disable these as well. Check to see if you have any "Other Devices" listed in device manager as well, if so remove them.

I would insert a step right after "go to Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager". Click on the "view" button and click on "Show Hidden Devices". If your 828mk3 is powered off, you won't see the device listed unless you have checked "Show Hidden Devices".

Regards,

Page Hite

Hi,

my experience is that win xp with SP3 works like a charm. i strugled for many hours trying to get the 828 MK3 works with my second laptop (HP Pavillon dv6855ee, dual AMD, TI FW chipset, VISTA).

i tried installing the latest drivers into my XP SP3 laptop and it worked as expected. i was then able to update the firmware from 1.4 to 1.6 ad get the interface ready for some recording...

my guess is that many factors will prevent the 828 from working correctly, including realtek or other included sound devices, FW drivers and type, antivirus...

many users reported that it's working with vista just fine.. simply didnt for me..

but still im experiencing the HI main XLR volume, and BSOD when running the cueMIX software with something else (like cubase sx) in parallel...

Seriously, you (they) must be f****in kidding?
Can't even think to dwell into that. It's so lame. They better produce and send out an uninstall program immediately, that does all this for you, or else they will be left behind. No wonder why RMEs FW gear still rules after 4 years. As for MOTU 828mk3, laughable drivers and installation process, especially uninstallation process. I mean, seriously, wtf is this?! A prank? Put on?

I still get message on the 828mk3 display when trying to upgrade firmware:
BAD CS
FPGA ERROR

ChiantiM wrote:Greetings,
After spending hours, and 2 frustrating phone calls with MOTU Tech Support, I finally have the FireWire and Firmware Updates Installed. What follows is the approach I took. Hopefully it helps those with similar struggles.

(FIRST) Disable all Virus Protection, and ANY other Audio interface you may have active. For me it was the Realtek driver that came standard.
(SECOND) Prepare for a direct connection to the 828MK3, in my case by FireWire. Do not yet attach any other peripherals such as a spare Hard Drive.

(STEP 1) Download the latest 32-bit Firewire and USB 2 Audio file from MOTU, dated on the website 6/30/2008 and identified as version 3.6.8.1; file: 32fw.zip. Unzip the file to a folder on your desktop

(STEP 2) Download the the MOTU 828mk3 v.1.06 Update. Unzip the file to a folder on your desktop

(STEP 3) Disconnect the MOTU 828MK3 from your PC and power it off

(STEP 4) From within Control Panel ---> Add/Remove Programs, remove the MOTU Audio Driver, identified as 'MOTU Firewire/USB2 Audio'. Go into the C:\WINDOWS --> System32 directory and delete the leftover MOTU file titled, 'mfwaasio'. Turn off the machine and restart.

(STEP 5) Be sure any Virus Protection; and any audio card on the PC is Disabled. Check by going into Device Manager from the System icon within Control Panel. Check your system tray to be sure all memory resident programs that you can disable, are disabled.

(STEP 6) From within the 32fw folder, run the 'Setup Audio' file. 6 installs will take place. Shut your PC down, then power back up

(STEP 7) AGAIN - Be sure any Virus Protection; and any audio card on the PC is Disabled. Check by going into Device Manager from the System icon within Control Panel. Check your system tray to be sure all memory resident programs that you can disable, are disabled

(STEP Turn on the MOTU 828MK3 and after it completes the boot cycle, plug it into your PC. The Hardware detector from within Windows XP will start and begin loading the audio drivers. Say yes at each step of the install, passing though the warnings that the drivers have not been signed by Microsoft. [NOTE: There will be multiple installs for MOTU Audio, GSIF and MOTU Audio Wave. All must install cleanly. You should get the message that the hardware is installed and ready to use when complete] If the install hangs ... most likely during the WAVE install on 'mfwawave.sys' this means there is some sort of competing audio card enabled. Go back into device manager and make sure your audio cards are disabled. With a clean installation Shut Down the PC; after the PC shuts down turn off the MOTU 828MK3 but keep it plugged into the PC.

(STEP 9) Start your PC. AGAIN - Be sure any Virus Protection; and any audio card on the PC is Disabled. Check by going into Device Manager from the System icon within Control Panel. Check your system tray to be sure all memory resident programs that you can disable, are disabled

(STEP 10) HOLD DOWN the PAGE button on the MOTU 828MK3 and Power it up. The Boot Loader message will appear and the 828MK3 will stay in this state. You can remove your finger from the PAGE button. Don't worry if Windows XP Hardware detector starts again, it will attempt to re-load the MOTU Audio driver. Say Yes at this step and allow the driver to load.

(STEP 11) From within the 828mk3_106ud folder go into the 828mk3v106 subfolder, then double-click on MOTU Fx Updater 32 to run the update program. You can click from within the program to run the v106 firmware update. [PLEASE NOTE: I found my system was terribly unstable after updating with the new firewire drivers, and before running the 1.06 firmware update. Therefore do not delay in following up quickly by running this firmware update right after the 3.6.8.1 Firewire/USB drivers are loaded. Turn off the PC, then power back up.

(STEP 12) At this point you can work through daising-chaining any other devices off your MOTU 828mk3. All-in-all the system should be stable. And you can reap the benefits of this update.

Best regards,
......Gary

No, still can't upgrade firmware. Same error.
Why do we have to resort to third party software in order to fix something that MOTU should be able to fix?
I can't think that warranty will still apply if you donwload anything that aint authorized by MOTU.

XP SP3 I have.

I've scrutinized the net, and it seems that more and more electronics manufacturer of ANY kind has the following stance:

It is up to the customer to detect quality issues, and report them back AFTER they occured.

Especially in portable electronics industry, like cell phones and so on. According to sources on the net, they - manufacturers - does nothing about it, but you have to just swap, and change units UNTIL YOU GET ONE THAT ACTUALLY WORKS. Costs too much to have warranty labour to fix anyting that is broken. I e that they actually change something out (hardware software) on the actual unit with problems. And when a customer has been complaining too long, and returning units after units, it has taken so long, that a brand new model is out on the market... go figure.

Have tried this weekend, the MOTU on 3 different computers - which works on other cards - with 4-5 different FW cables, and even the shop tried with one other MOTU unit they have in. Even that other customer who ordered that one, reports problems, albeit not exactly the same as mine. But it's still installation problems.

buy a new pc

They sent it back. the music shop. Confirmed erroneous unit.