Motu 2408 MK3 big noise

[Enrico]

Hi,
maybe someone of you experienced the same problem with motu:

I've got a PCIe424 hooked up one 2408MKIII and two 1224. Everything perfect for two years, yesterday during a rehearsal after about 1 workin' hour my 2408 start to output from anoalog 1-2 something like pink noise at high volume.
Restarted the system (W7x64), restarter the hardware... after 30 min the same noise, it starts gradually... reaching serious levels.
Changed the output, using a 1224 output, non more problems.
Does anyone have an idea what's happening to my setup???

thanks...

[RBIngraham]

The 2408 MK3 is probably dying a slow death. I have not had that specific issue, but of my 4 2408 MK3s, two of them have issues now. As I am hoping to move on to the newer AVB interfaces some time in the future I don't plan on bothering to get them fixed unless I run out of I/O boxes before I buy new stuff.

[Enrico]

very bad news....
I hope to switch into new AVB series to (24Ai + 24Ao) but I'll wait to change my live PC's motherboard with a native thunderbolt one.

[RBIngraham]

You will want to read all the fine print on the MOTU site, at least as of now, the Windows drivers for the new MOTU units are USB only. Thunderbolt is only for Mac. What I am really hoping for is that MS gets off their ass and adds native AVB support, which is already built into the latest Mas OS. Then you only need a CAT cable connention.

Dante VIA also looks promising as well, then just use multiple PCs each with modest channel count sound cards to build up a network of audio ports.

[Enrico]

You will want to read all the fine print on the MOTU site, at least as of now, the Windows drivers for the new MOTU units are USB only. Thunderbolt is only for Mac

Another baaaad news, Richard!
well, just a moment OT, my opinion is that Dante it's a more affordable and popular protocol. AVB needs Motu Switch, whereas Audinate it's fully compatible whith any ehternet device. But in last two years I didn't found any Dante-compatible converter with a right price to use in a live situation. And so I looked up Motu devices...

By the way... running my Motu-SAC setup the whole morning, until 30 min ago... no noise from 2408. I don't understand... I will leave up the system 'till tomorrow...

[RBIngraham]

Sorry... I just like to point out shortcomings so people don't get screwed.

Yes, Dante is far more popular of a protocol but as you pointed out, there are no real sound card like devices that don't make a software console package cost as much as a mid range to high end hardware desk, at which point why bother? Might as well just buy the hardware desk most days.

About the cheapest thing I've seen is the Atlas Sound BlueBridge stufff. But that is very install oriented and probably not a great fit for most applications.

The new presonus rack mount mixers with no front panel controls will eventually be able to accept a Dante card I'm told by our rep. So that could be an interesting possibility but even then you have to set up the mixer with their software, then you can go in and out of it like a stage box. Very convoluted.

The Focusrite Rednet or various stage boxes with a Dante card seem to be the only realistic solution, but not without a price tag.

[Enrico]

We are totally OT, but in summary...

I've got my opinion about audio over ethernet: from the very first launch into the marketplace of Cobranet ad similar, some years ago, every brand developed its own protocol, and just now we have a fragmented offering of a lot of digital formats over CAT5 with lacking cross-compatibility (with the exception that you could buy very expensive format converters).
I think to MADI, Dante, Roland, Yamaha, Aviom and many many others. In this moment it's hard to establish an ultimate protocol because you know that everything in your audio chain must be specifically produced for your protocol... great potentiality, but not so flexible.
Sometime I miss my stage box with transformer splitters...

Cheers Richard, and thanks for suggestion!

[RBIngraham]

Yeah I totally hear you. It always seems to be the flavor of the month. But I do think Dante has a pretty good hold on things for the foreseeable future. There are a lot of manufacturers on board now and technically speaking it should be compatible with AVB if that ever gets beyond just being the darling of Meyer, BiAmp and now it seems MOTU. Yes AVB does need a special switch but you don't have to use that MOTU one, there are a couple of other options, but not many.

AVB should be the winner in the long run as it's really the first that is open and you don't have to pay royalties to implement it. But time will tell... the market doesn't always end up crowning the most sensible solution the winner.

[Eric White]

I had a similar issue on an MK3. I have done electronics repair for many years so I am not afraid in the least to tear into these things. Mine was a main power supply capacitor had started to fail and was causing the noise. After I replaced them I had no problems. Word of caution though... The circuit board is a multi layer type with what are called 'Thru Holes'. If you use too much heat, you damage the circuitry, too little and you take a chance of pulling out the thru hole because the solder didnt melt and release from the capacitor leg.

-Eric

[Enrico]

Thanks Eric, very useful suggestion...