MOTU 828mk3 Hybrid Firewire Audio Interface

MOTU 828mk3 Hybrid Firewire Audio Interface
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
List Price: $795.00
Sale Price: $749.00
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  • CueMix FX: Flexible 28 input/16 bus mixer with on-board DSP effects, including reverb with sends/returns, plus EQ,
  • 28 inputs/30 outputs (at 44.1/48 kHz): No channel sharing
  • Mic inputs, S/PDIF I/O, headphone out, and main outs are all handled as separate channels
  • Front-panel control gives you access to any setting in your entire 828mk3 mix directly from the front panel
  • Standalone operation: Program your mixes at the studio and then bring the 828mk3 to your gig without your computer

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The good:

* clean recordings

The bad:

* motu tech support is the worst I've ever seen. I submitted a ticket regarding loud static noise when trying to play back. Turned out the firewire card I had is not compatible with motu devices. They require TI chipset firewire cards. I only figured this out after a buddy told me. Tech support got back to me after two months and didn't even have the right answer for me.

* Cannot name tracks on windows.

* No linux support.

* The user interfaces are very difficult to use (both hardware and software)

** Cuemix is complex and hard to get signal flow right because of this. All the different monitoring options and multiple volume knobs can easily put you in a state of pulling your hair out.

** Front panel knobs are too close together in that your finger cannot fit in between the volume knob and the headphone knob so you can't actually turn the thing in a normal way.

MOTU's hardware has great potential but they really need to focus on usability and window and linux support. Or they should simply drop windows support completely instead of half assing it to get customers.

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This interface and the MOTU support system are erratic. The device icon in Audio MIDI Setup installs correctly the first time. Then, in a later session, it appears duplicated and numbered as #2, and the original icon is grayed out. This breaks the connections of all MIDI controllers connected to the original device. Throughout various permutations it became clear that this is a persistent problem, requiring reconfiguration of the MIDI setup each time the computer and interface are powered off and back on. Initially, MOTU was enthusiastic and assured me that I should forward any questions to them. However, after a few emails, they went silent. The official technical notes I entered into their support system remain unread (as of this writing). Tech support at MOTU has consistently stated that their products work correctly, and any issues are due to other factors. This may be true in any event they do not necessarily work with the customer until the problem is resolved. I rate this product a two. It fails as a MIDI interface. It works adequately as a professional audio only interface.

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Bought this as an upgrade to my MOTU 2408mkII. It's an improvement in every way. Though considering how long this unit has been on the market, you'd think it would be less expensive. Still, a good value for home studios.

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I have this hooked up via Firewire to my Windows 7 desktop PC that I use for my home studio. I run Sonar for my DAW. The audio drivers for the MOTU are rock solid and introduce no latency whatsoever. The vast selection of I/O ports and seemingly infinite configuration options make this a wonderful addition to any home studio.

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If you use the included CueMix FX software to control this device you will not be able to name the inputs or mixes in the software, in other words you'll have to *memorize* what's connected to Input 1, Input 2, Mix 3, Mix 4, etc. They don't know why input labeling doesn't work in Windows and have no plans to sort it out. That's not satisfactory.

Also, my 828Mk3 issues random high pitched whines from time to time, not via its outputs but coming from some component inside the unit itself. Rebooting it cures it for a while and MOTU isn't sure what's going on. So I guess I'll have to return it.

I honestly was excited when I got this unit and saw that it was Made in the U.S. Now I sort of wish it was made in China.

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