828mkii Sometimes Stops Working Options

[MatzeMillion]

Hi everyone,

I have a strange problem with an 828mkII and a MacPro. Sometimes after closing an application with motu sound output (logic, a game, quicktime, etc) the interface stops working. Its still avaliable, but don't play back any sound. Only way to get sound back is a restart.

It does happen only with a MacPro. With an Intel MacMini, a MacBook Pro and Powerbook G4 evertything is fine.
I tried a complete reinstall, other cable, removing other devices, factory reset, unplugging / reconnecting, switching on/off, unloading/loading kernel extensions, booting the MacPro via firewire from a MacBook Pro, tried an other 828mkII interface, etc.
Nothing helps.

When it happens, the MOTU Midi interface is greyed out in Audio-Midi-Config.
Quicktime is hanging like 10sec when trying to play back sound.

Is there anyone with same problem or with a MacPro and no problems?

Thanks for any reply!!

Matthias


MacPro 2,66 GHz, 5GB Ram, X1900XT, OS X 10.4.8, MOTU 828mkII with 1.4.2 driver, LogicPro 7.2.3, Waves 5.9.1 with iLok, Midisport 2x2

[lepetitmartien]

Have you tried a reset of the 828?

Now first time we hear about your problem on a macpro. Now it may only be a fantasy of the 828 or a bug in the driver. We need other inputs.

[MatzeMillion]

Have you tried a reset of the 828?

Now first time we hear about your problem on a macpro. Now it may only be a fantasy of the 828 or a bug in the driver. We need other inputs.

I tried a reset. Got this (standard?) troubleshooting advice from MOTU support, but nothing helped.

Please try the following for your 828 mk II interface:

- Try a factory reset - push the Setup knob, turn it all the way to the right and follow the directions on the LCD.
- Try setting both your Optical Input and Optical Output in the MOTU Console to ADAT.
- Try a different Firewire cable.
- Try removing all other Firewire devices.
- Try different Firewire ports.
- Try toggling the red voltage switch on the right side of the unit with the unit OFF. Do this 5 or 6 times, then set it to the correct position and try again.
- Try the unit with a different computer, if possible.
- If you use a PCI Firewire card, check to make sure your card uses the Texas Instruments or Lucent chipset.
- Try reinstalling drivers:

Goto Macintosh HD > System > Library > Extensions
and trash the file, "MOTU Firewire Audio.kext."

Go into the Applications folder and trash all 3 MOTU Consoles. Empty the trash.

Reboot your machine, run a Repair Disk Permissions from your Apple Disk Utility, then reinstall our most recent drivers
from our website being sure that unit is NOT turned on.
Reboot and turn on your device.

I'm just again installing a fresh system 10.4.8 with only the motu drivers installed. Knock on wood...

[lepetitmartien]

reset the nvram like explained here:
- start up in Open firmware (command-option-o-f on start up)
- at the prompt type, followed by a return:
set-defaults
reset-nvram
reset-all

It'll reboot with NVRAM back to defaults values. If the issue is a wrong bus speed somewhere, it'll cure it.

Is there something else connected in firewire?

[MatzeMillion]

reset the nvram like explained here:
- start up in Open firmware (command-option-o-f on start up)
- at the prompt type, followed by a return:
set-defaults
reset-nvram
reset-all

It'll reboot with NVRAM back to defaults values. If the issue is a wrong bus speed somewhere, it'll cure it.

Is there something else connected in firewire?

the new intel macs don't have open firmware. ;-)
it happens with nothing else on any firewire port.
fresh OS install (only with latest updates and logic) showed the same problem.

Would be great to know if other MacPros with 828mkII (mis-)behaving the same...

This post has been edited by MatzeMillion: Fri 24 Nov 2006, 22:59

[lepetitmartien]

Fun is, Apple says on one hand you can have password protection in OF on intel macs, and on the other hand there's no OF in these…
thanks I didn't now that… so how can we restore the equivalent (EFI) then? I'm going to dive into apple database as it's important for us.

[edit]

I found these which may be relevant (if it's on the Macpro side°

Intel mac firmware updates
Check yours is up to date.

Reset the SMC of the MacPro
reset also PRAM if it has not been done already.

Once it's done or controlled, the issue can only be the driver itself (and it'd be a rare bug just for you) or the 828 mkII (which can have problems has we have already seen some).

I'd strongly suspect the 828…

[MatzeMillion]

First... thanks for getting involved!! :-)

I have the latest firmware and I did a fresh 10.4.8 install with only LogicPro and the MOTU drivers.
Again loss of sound output.
I tried two different 828mkII interfaces (with different firmware/bootloaders) and I had the problem with both interfaces.

There is a thread in Apples forums and some people suspect the Ram causing the problems.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?t...59&tstart=0

Maybe I find time to check different configurations.

Fun is, Apple says on one hand you can have password protection in OF on intel macs, and on the other hand there's no OF in these…
thanks I didn't now that… so how can we restore the equivalent (EFI) then? I'm going to dive into apple database as it's important for us.

[edit]

I found these which may be relevant (if it's on the Macpro side°

Intel mac firmware updates
Check yours is up to date.

Reset the SMC of the MacPro
reset also PRAM if it has not been done already.

Once it's done or controlled, the issue can only be the driver itself (and it'd be a rare bug just for you) or the 828 mkII (which can have problems has we have already seen some).

I'd strongly suspect the 828…

[lepetitmartien]

Hey, these forums are for help

One thing you have not answered is have you something else connected in firewire?

The fact 2 as different as possible 828 have the issue is smelling bad. Yep the RAM, but it'd be very "hairy" as a cause. And given the prices of it, not fun to swap just to check.

[MatzeMillion]

I checked many times with and without firewire HDs connected. In fact I tested the fresh install with no other hardware (only 23" Cinema HD, Mouse and Keyboard) attached to the computer. Makes no difference and the harddisks work like butter before and after loss of sound, even in a chain behind the 828.

I strongly believe its a driver related problem on MOTUs or Apples side.

The ram swapping is very easy with these machine, but I really want to avoid it...

Hey, these forums are for help

One thing you have not answered is have you something else connected in firewire?

The fact 2 as different as possible 828 have the issue is smelling bad. Yep the RAM, but it'd be very "hairy" as a cause. And given the prices of it, not fun to swap just to check.

[rbailey]

I was wondering if a solution to this issue was ever found? My MOTU 828 Mk II has worked faithfully for years on a G5. However, I am experiencing the same issues as MatzeMillion with my factory fresh Mac Pro.

.... and I see that MOTU just posted some new drivers on Wednesday...... let see what these bring.

This post has been edited by rbailey: Sat 17 Feb 2007, 17:40