I can´t synchronize my two MOTU 896HD

Studio Mondbasi · 26th May 2006, 08:33 AM

Hey,
I need a little help for my studio-setup.
Im working with a AMD 3200 XP as a audio-only-pc with sonar 5 prod. and 2xMOTU896HD.
My big problem is, I can´t synchronize the MOTUs.
If the 896HD#1 is the master, then the 896HD#2 is permanently starting and producing noise.
If the 896HD#2 is the master, its the same for the 896HD#1.
Please help me!
Both interfaces have an own seperate firewire-bus with two PCI-firewirecards of Texas Instruments and a ADAT-Connection for synchronize.
thanks Thomas

Rail Jon Rogut · 26th May 2006, 08:59 AM

Have you tied their word clocks together? Meaning have you made one the clock master and the other the slave? How are you initiating playback of the slave?

Rail

StefanM · 26th May 2006, 09:27 AM

they have to be daisy-chained on the same firewire bus.

Cheers,
Stefan

Studio Mondbasi · 26th May 2006, 09:34 AM

I can only choose a source in the general menu.
So I have choosed clock source = 896HD#1 internal and connect the ADAT-cable from 896HD#1 out to 896HD#2 in.
in the manual is wrote: all connected MOTU FW interfaces get their clock from whatever you choose from the clock-source menu in the general tab in the MOTU FW audio Console!
also is wrote in the manual: Each FW-interface in the system gets its clock from the FW-cable connection. There is no need to make word clock connections between multiple FW interfaces!
But also with or without ADAT connection or BNC connection I have the same fault.
Do you have an idea?

Thomas

StefanM · 26th May 2006, 09:43 AM

did you read my first post?

you choose a clock-source for the first 896 in the setup menu. the next interface(s) get their clock via firewire - hence they have to be daisy-chained.

Studio Mondbasi · 26th May 2006, 09:48 AM

@StefanM
first I had it daisy-chained on the same FWbus, but I had the same fault!
Also now I have a smaler CPU charge, because now I have two bottlenecks;-)

Studio Mondbasi · 27th May 2006, 09:39 AM

You dont have any ideas?
Please help me, I have to do my work and now I can´t!
Thomas

thenoodle · 27th May 2006, 03:53 PM

When I use multiple cards and am transferring optical signal, I ALSO have word clock cables hooked between them too since that is my master clock. But I don't use Motu.

Regardless...a few seconds of poking around the motu site brought up discussions like the below. There's just a portion here, but maybe this is on the lines of info you're looking for. If so, check out the motu site for more.

..........."As a workaround, you can use one interface directly with the computer, and use the other in standalone mode. In this example, we'll use an original 828 directly with Logic, and an 828mk2 as a standalone A/D convertor connected to the original 828 via ADAT lightpipe. First, connect the 828 and 828mk2 to the computer via FireWire and power them on.
Then launch the MOTU FireWire CueMix Console.
Along the bottom, click on the Bus 1 tab.
Along the right side of the window, you will see a Master Fader. Click on the Output button above the fader, and choose "ADAT 1-2". Make sure the Master Fader is all the way up to 0 dB.
Bring the faders all the way down except Analog 1-2. Bring Analog 1-2 up to 0 dB, and pan them hard left and hard right.
Now click on the Bus 2 tab....."

etc etc.

Studio Mondbasi · 30th May 2006, 09:19 AM

@thenoodle

Thank you for your answer!

I have searched at the MOTU-homepage but there is no thread to help me with my problem.
When I use the MOTUs like your description, I can´t use it with 8 channels at 96Khz and I have no chance to work with a third Interface!
My projekts are all at 96Khz but the 896HD support only 44Khz (or 48Khz) at 8 channels or 96Khz at only 4 channels!
Is here nobody with using more than one 896HD at the same time?
please help me!

Thomas

Jamesie · 1st June 2006, 04:22 AM

Hi Thomas,

What motherboard do you have?? I have the Asus A8V Deluxe and have the same problems. I have read in other posts from users with this motherboard that won't work too well with 2 MOTU firewire devices, even when on a TI chipset firewire PCI card. they solved the problem by using a gigabyte (Nforce3 chipset) motherboard if my memory serves me right.

I am waiting (not an urgent issue for me) to see what the new AM2 motherboards are like before I replace mine.

As said above, both MOTU devices do need to be daisy chained togther ie one into the computer, the other into the first 896HD.

Hope this helps,

Paul

Studio Mondbasi · 1st June 2006, 05:24 PM

Hey,
thanks for your answer!
I have a ASUS A7N8X-X (Socket A) because I have a AMD XP 3200+ CPU!
In other posts I have seen too this idea and now I´m searching for a new motherboard. A user wrotes that nforce2 chips on the board are not realy good for DAW. He wrotes, I have to take a via chip for DAW.
If you have an idea, which board is the best for me, please tell me.
thanks
Thomas

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26th May 2006, 09:27 AM	#3
StefanM Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 272	they have to be daisy-chained on the same firewire bus. Cheers, Stefan __________________ http://www.proaudioart.com http://www.mixingonly.com http://www.masteringonly.com

26th May 2006, 09:43 AM	#5
StefanM Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 272	did you read my first post? you choose a clock-source for the first 896 in the setup menu. the next interface(s) get their clock via firewire - hence they have to be daisy-chained. __________________ http://www.proaudioart.com http://www.mixingonly.com http://www.masteringonly.com

27th May 2006, 03:53 PM	#8
thenoodle Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 536	When I use multiple cards and am transferring optical signal, I ALSO have word clock cables hooked between them too since that is my master clock. But I don't use Motu. Regardless...a few seconds of poking around the motu site brought up discussions like the below. There's just a portion here, but maybe this is on the lines of info you're looking for. If so, check out the motu site for more. ..........."As a workaround, you can use one interface directly with the computer, and use the other in standalone mode. In this example, we'll use an original 828 directly with Logic, and an 828mk2 as a standalone A/D convertor connected to the original 828 via ADAT lightpipe. First, connect the 828 and 828mk2 to the computer via FireWire and power them on. Then launch the MOTU FireWire CueMix Console. Along the bottom, click on the Bus 1 tab. Along the right side of the window, you will see a Master Fader. Click on the Output button above the fader, and choose "ADAT 1-2". Make sure the Master Fader is all the way up to 0 dB. Bring the faders all the way down except Analog 1-2. Bring Analog 1-2 up to 0 dB, and pan them hard left and hard right. Now click on the Bus 2 tab....." etc etc. __________________ *"make multitrack sound for long long time"*

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26th May 2006, 08:33 AM	#1
Studio Mondbasi Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hamburg Posts: 6	I can´t synchronize my two MOTU 896HD Hey, I need a little help for my studio-setup. Im working with a AMD 3200 XP as a audio-only-pc with sonar 5 prod. and 2xMOTU896HD. My big problem is, I can´t synchronize the MOTUs. If the 896HD#1 is the master, then the 896HD#2 is permanently starting and producing noise. If the 896HD#2 is the master, its the same for the 896HD#1. Please help me! Both interfaces have an own seperate firewire-bus with two PCI-firewirecards of Texas Instruments and a ADAT-Connection for synchronize. thanks Thomas

26th May 2006, 08:59 AM	#2
Rail Jon Rogut Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 349	Have you tied their word clocks together? Meaning have you made one the clock master and the other the slave? How are you initiating playback of the slave? Rail __________________ Recording Engineer

26th May 2006, 09:34 AM	#4
Studio Mondbasi Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hamburg Posts: 6	I can only choose a source in the general menu. So I have choosed clock source = 896HD#1 internal and connect the ADAT-cable from 896HD#1 out to 896HD#2 in. in the manual is wrote: all connected MOTU FW interfaces get their clock from whatever you choose from the clock-source menu in the general tab in the MOTU FW audio Console! also is wrote in the manual: Each FW-interface in the system gets its clock from the FW-cable connection. There is no need to make word clock connections between multiple FW interfaces! But also with or without ADAT connection or BNC connection I have the same fault. Do you have an idea? Thomas

26th May 2006, 09:48 AM	#6
Studio Mondbasi Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hamburg Posts: 6	@StefanM first I had it daisy-chained on the same FWbus, but I had the same fault! Also now I have a smaler CPU charge, because now I have two bottlenecks;-)

27th May 2006, 09:39 AM	#7
Studio Mondbasi Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hamburg Posts: 6	You dont have any ideas? Please help me, I have to do my work and now I can´t! Thomas

30th May 2006, 09:19 AM	#9
Studio Mondbasi Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hamburg Posts: 6	@thenoodle Thank you for your answer! I have searched at the MOTU-homepage but there is no thread to help me with my problem. When I use the MOTUs like your description, I can´t use it with 8 channels at 96Khz and I have no chance to work with a third Interface! My projekts are all at 96Khz but the 896HD support only 44Khz (or 48Khz) at 8 channels or 96Khz at only 4 channels! Is here nobody with using more than one 896HD at the same time? please help me! Thomas

1st June 2006, 04:22 AM	#10
Jamesie Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 13	Hi Thomas, What motherboard do you have?? I have the Asus A8V Deluxe and have the same problems. I have read in other posts from users with this motherboard that won't work too well with 2 MOTU firewire devices, even when on a TI chipset firewire PCI card. they solved the problem by using a gigabyte (Nforce3 chipset) motherboard if my memory serves me right. I am waiting (not an urgent issue for me) to see what the new AM2 motherboards are like before I replace mine. As said above, both MOTU devices do need to be daisy chained togther ie one into the computer, the other into the first 896HD. Hope this helps, Paul

1st June 2006, 05:24 PM	#11
Studio Mondbasi Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hamburg Posts: 6	Hey, thanks for your answer! I have a ASUS A7N8X-X (Socket A) because I have a AMD XP 3200+ CPU! In other posts I have seen too this idea and now I´m searching for a new motherboard. A user wrotes that nforce2 chips on the board are not realy good for DAW. He wrotes, I have to take a via chip for DAW. If you have an idea, which board is the best for me, please tell me. thanks Thomas