PCIe-424 one of the most solid interfaces for Windows

[billruys]

Hey guys, I really just wanted to post here regarding how solid the MOTU PCIe/PCIX interfaces are in Windows. So long as you have a current generation PCIX/e-424 card, I think the MOTU interfaces are among the most solid available from any manufacturer, bar-none.

If you search out my posts, you'll find that this wasn't always the case for me. But since the 1.6.9.2 drivers for Windows, I have never had such solid performance - and I've been recording via PCs for almost 20 years now. In that time I've owned a Dman 2044, Gadget Labs Wave 8*24, Terratec EWS88MT, pair of M-Audio Delta 1010's and a few others I can't remember.

I know a number here have some hit & miss experiences with FireWire interfaces in Windows. My experience is that PCIe/PCIX is still the safest bet on the PC platform.

This isn't meant to be a fan-boy rave, just credit where credit is due and maybe a little pointer to those who really need solid, reliable interfaces. The only down-side to some is that none of the PCIX/i-424 products have integrated pre-amps, which won't suit some mobile users.

The 2408 Mk3 and 24I/O may not have the highest specs compared to some later generation interfaces, but boy are they solid, which means I can just get on with making music and not even think about the hardware.

[JHayes]

Nice.

I'm interested in your computer specs! I'm getting ready to assemble a pc for using the PCIe card and 2408 mk3 with 3) 24 i/o units.

After reading a few posts here I was getting worried about using a windows computer with motu. I have been using mac for years and the motu stuff has worked fine, but this setup calls for a pc.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[missionrec]

I have a fresh install of Win7 64 on an eVGA nForce 780i SLI 775 A1 MOBO, just an nvidia GeForce 8200 GS video card installed with 8 gigs OCZ RAM @ 1033 mhz.

I am experiencing bluescreens and lockups AND a couple of other anomalies.

1)whenever I try to play a 48k 24bit file in Cubase 5.1.1 or Nuendo 4.3 the file plays as digital fuzz. I can tell it's the right song but it is completely unlistenable, and the 424 PCIe changes sample rates from 48k to 44.1k completely on it's own. No notice, no flag, it just changes. The pitch of the song does not change at this time. The project sample rate does not change but if you go back to the MOTU audio console after you close the host app, it is at 44.1. (That is assuming the app didn't lock up or BSOD.

This also happens when you just play the song with media player.

My rig is clocked by an Apogee big ben and the master clock obviously doesn't change, just the Audio Console settings.

2) If I turn off all of the I/O (2 2408 MK II's and 1 2408 MK III) except MK III, disconnect the master clock, and set the clock to internal the interface will play the file correctly the first time after a reboot but upon "stop" locks up the system occasionally OR plays the file from then on approx 1/2 SHARP which indicates the sample rate change mentioned before. What I really don't get about this is that the file should be approx 1/2 step FLAT, if a 48k file plays @ 44.1k the pitch drops . . . no???

BTW the sample rate change anomaly was also happening on an Intel BX MOBO build ( In Win 7) when I could get it to boot and run @ all. I thought it was a media player thing but it's happening now inside of the cubendo environment.

Here are the 2 system specs

System 1:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200
eVGA nForce 780i SLI 775 A1
8 GB OCZ Ram @ 1033 MHZ
NVidia GeForce 8200 GS Video Card
250gb SATA system drive
500 GB Sample streaming drive
Striped RAID, 2 500gb WD Raptors = 1tb for Audio

MOTU 424 PCIe
MOTU 2408 MK III (x1)
MOTU 2408 MK II (x2) (for lightpipe and TDIF I/O 24 channels each)
1ea. UAD 1, UAD-2 Duo

Win 7 64
XP 32 SP 2
Cubase 5.1.1
Nuendo 4.3

System 2:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 GHZ
Intel D975XBX2
4.0 GB Ram
/3gb switch
250gb SATA system drive
500 GB Sample streaming drive
Marvell RAID 10 (for Audio)

MOTU 424 PCI
MOTU 2408 MK II

XP 32 SP 2
Cubase 4.1.3
Nuendo 4.3

I have been battling this for about 8 weeks with 2 completely different quad core builds (System 2 and now System 1.) XP is running fine on both machines with all of the MOTU hardware . . .

I cannot get MOTU to respond with system specs on a single working MOTU rig that is operational with Win 7. I asked this question specifically . . . I was going to build according to what their beta testers were running as test rigs . . . so there are no known working system specs that I can get from MOTU @ all.

Is there anyone out there who is running the 424 PCIe successfully on Win 7 64???

[billruys]

Is there anyone out there who is running the 424 PCIe successfully on Win 7 64???

Hi guys,

Since my first post, I have gone from Vista 64 SP2 to Windows 7 64. I have a similar machine to one of yours:

Q6600 quad core @ 2.4 GHz
Asus P5B motherboard
ATI HD 4670 video card
4 GB Super Talent DDR2 800 RAM
PCIe-424
2408 Mk3
24I/O
Sonar 8.5

I run this system every day for several hours per day and it never misses a beat. It is by far the most stable audio set-up I have ever owned.

I can't explain why our experiences are so different. I run everything off the internal clock, but have in the past sync'd to an external ADAT device with no problem.

When you next get a blue-screen, can you make a note of the stop code and report back? Maybe we can investigate further...

Bill.

[missionrec]

Usually "Motuaw64.sys"

sometimes it's different but symptoms are always the same.

I have minidump files if anyone is interested.

BTW you are the first person to inform that you are stable on Win 7 64.

MOTU could not even give me specs for a system that is solid . . . .

Thanks!

~missionrec