4Pre USB w/Win10 - Intermittently stops working requires re-connection

[jonasd914]

Hey All,
I've been dealing with this problem for a long time actually...
I use the 4Pre exclusively for acoustic measurements on a Windows system and I still like the format and the hardware.

About once every 30-60 minutes, it will just stop working with Windows. Either Windows doesn't detect it any longer or the unit emits a very high pitch squeal and I have to either power cycle it or unplug the USB and re-connect it.

I need a reliable USB interface for my audio measurements, so I'm considering replacing this. I noticed it's still a current product. Does that mean there's something wrong with mine? Do I have a Windows/USB issue? I just don't know.
Nothing else USB that I use seems to disconnect ever. I use docking stations, mice, hard drives, extra nic's, etc.
I have NOT extensively tested the 4Pre on another computer. I travel all the time, so I am needing to keep it together with my travel laptop, a Dell Precision 7530 i9.

On another note, the M6 looks newer and I like that it can be bus powered (probably not supplying phantom on all 4 mic pres?) Can I assume that it is more modern and might be more reliable with Windows these days? Or is there something else I can try troubleshoot with what I already have?

[mikehalloran]

If this is a current interface, reach out to MOTU Support. They support current interfaces in this regard even if the 2 year hardware warranty has expired. They can also determine if this is, indeed a hardware issue.

USB interfaces losing connection after the machine goes to sleep has been an issue for many years but that does not seem to be the problem here. Other than that:

Can it be that your PC is not providing adequate bus power? These can use almost any 9–18V 5W DC power supply that fits the plug + or - tip doesn't matter. Plenty available on Amazon if you don't have one—30 day return if that isn't the problem.

Always connect directly as hubs can introduce their own complications.

Use a USB 2 cable. If using the one supplied by MOTU, that's fine. If your PC has USB-C ports, try a USB-B to USB-C Printer cable—these support USB 2/1.1 only and avoid the hot mess that is USB 3 over USB-C. As the name implies, this is a problem for office printers but some audio manufacturers including Yamaha are recommending these for their keyboards and interfaces. Again, buying from Amazon gives you that 30-day return window.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012V ... UTF8&psc=1

[jonasd914]

Thanks for replying Mike.
The 4Pre does not use bus power, it has an external DC power supply that is required.
The laptop does not go to sleep at all. It is set to never power anything down unless the battery is about to die and it's not plugged in.
There is no hub involved. The cable doesn't present any issues. It works otherwise. until it randomly doesn't.
I was hoping that if this was a common issue that someone from the public would comment. Computers have a lot of variables.

[mikehalloran]

Thanks for replying Mike.
The 4Pre does not use bus power, it has an external DC power supply that is required.
The laptop does not go to sleep at all. It is set to never power anything down unless the battery is about to die and it's not plugged in.
There is no hub involved. The cable doesn't present any issues. It works otherwise. until it randomly doesn't.
I was hoping that if this was a common issue that someone from the public would comment. Computers have a lot of variables.

Yes they do and I gave you a list of the ones that we see around here.

The 4pre does support bus power but only over FireWire. For USB, it requires an external PS.

Speaking of which, this could be a hardware issue. I would open it up and look for bulging power supply capacitors or other heat damaged components.

Again, do reach out to MOTU to see if they can help diagnose this. The one replacement component that they offer is an internal PS board that fits many of their interfaces — runs around $30 last I checked (no idea if the 4pre uses the same one)..