Question about MOTU 828 MKII and ADAT ports

Poopants · 5th December 2006

Right now I have a Mytek 8X192 that I connect to my interface via ADAT lightpipe. I was wondering if I could buy a MOTU 828 MKII and use it as another 8-in and 8-out through ADAT. Can you do this without using the 828 as the primary interface (which I can't do because I'm using PT)?

In other words, will the 828 pass signal through to the ADAT ports even when it's not connected to a DAW through firewire?

What I'm really looking for is another set of ADC/DAC so I can mix through a summing box (hopefully the Shadow Hills Equinox if I can scrape...well...wildly scavenge the money together...). I would get an 828 and then send it over to Black Lion to mod it out.

Poopants · 5th December 2006

Nobody knows?

Lay in Wait · 6th December 2006

Look at the Motu 8pre!! Its purpose is to work as a standalone 8 channel preamp and/or an 8 channel interface.

Poopants · 6th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lay in Wait

Look at the Motu 8pre!! Its purpose is to work as a standalone 8 channel preamp and/or an 8 channel interface.

I don't think Black Lion mods the 8PRE though, which would defeat the whole purpose. But I sent them an email asking them anyway, because if the would mod that thing it would be a perfect solution!

But in case they don't, does anyone know the answer to the original question?

Cojo · 6th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poopants

In other words, will the 828 pass signal through to the ADAT ports even when it's not connected to a DAW through firewire?

Yes it does.

Via the onboard cue mix you can setup and route mix 1 --> adat 1-2, mix 2 --> adat 3-4, mix 3 --> adat 5-6 and mix 4 --> adat 7-8.

/Cojo

frans · 6th December 2006

the 828 will do what you want BUT if BlackLion are finished with it, they gutted the PLL and your 828 will want to be master in your clocking chain.(because without PLL it is not able to lock to external clock anymore)
So either deal with that or tell BlackLion to leave the clock in the 828 alone.
How about the Audient A/D?
No need to mod THAT.

Poopants · 8th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by frans

the 828 will do what you want BUT if BlackLion are finished with it, they gutted the PLL and your 828 will want to be master in your clocking chain.(because without PLL it is not able to lock to external clock anymore)
So either deal with that or tell BlackLion to leave the clock in the 828 alone.
How about the Audient A/D?
No need to mod THAT.

Oooh... that sucks. I didn't spend $3500 on a Mytek only to clock from a MOTU box...

As for the audient, I need the extra D/A more than the D/A so no go.

Does Black Lion do anything else to the conversion besides replacing the clock? Even if the clock is sh!te in the MOTU, will clocking it to my Mytek reduce the jitter & make it acceptable enough?

frans · 8th December 2006

Black Lion redo all the analog stages which makes a big difference! Also included in the normal packages is the clock - but if YOU want the clock to stay original (with PLL) I think they will do what you say. I don't know if clocking the 828 external will make a big difference - in theory it says that a company who did not spend too much on a clock didn't spend too much on the PLL either...and a PLL is more difficult to engineer than a clean clock. But I happily take advice on that from someone with experience on it. Are you familiar with what a PLL does? Oversimplyfied it is a circuit that listens to incoming clock and tries to put out it's own clock according to what's put in from outside - like a drummer locking to the bassplayer, for example.

And don't underestimate the clock Black Lion will put in - it will be a lot more stable/less jittery, that's the reason they redo it in the first place - it is supposed to be up there with Apogee and stuff.

jebjerome · 8th December 2006

Clocking an 828 mk2 from a superior clock does make a noticeable difference. I've clocked one from a HEDD and it definitely helps.

Anthony777 · 12th October 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cojo

Yes it does.

Via the onboard cue mix you can setup and route mix 1 --> adat 1-2, mix 2 --> adat 3-4, mix 3 --> adat 5-6 and mix 4 --> adat 7-8.

/Cojo

Old thread I know, but can you use the MOTU 828 MK11 as a stand alone ADAT converter Without the internal software & firwewire connect?

I've borrowed one from a friend to add a few tracks to a Babyface, but can't seem to get the MOTU inputs routed through the optical out to reach the Babyface..... Can this be done via the front panel knobs, without using any software?

5th December 2006	#1
Poopants Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 577 Thread Starter	Question about MOTU 828 MKII and ADAT ports Right now I have a Mytek 8X192 that I connect to my interface via ADAT lightpipe. I was wondering if I could buy a MOTU 828 MKII and use it as another 8-in and 8-out through ADAT. Can you do this without using the 828 as the primary interface (which I can't do because I'm using PT)? In other words, will the 828 pass signal through to the ADAT ports even when it's not connected to a DAW through firewire? What I'm really looking for is another set of ADC/DAC so I can mix through a summing box (hopefully the Shadow Hills Equinox if I can scrape...well...wildly scavenge the money together...). I would get an 828 and then send it over to Black Lion to mod it out.

6th December 2006	#3
Lay in Wait Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Victoria B.C. Posts: 105	Look at the Motu 8pre!! Its purpose is to work as a standalone 8 channel preamp and/or an 8 channel interface. __________________ Pentium Processor Ex edition, Sonar 7.0.1PE and 5.2PE, Motu 2408mk3, Apogee Mini DAC, Motu Microlite, 2x UAD-1, Presonus Digimax FS, Big Knob, Joe Meek 6Q, Toft ATC-2, MPA Gold, Vintech Dual72, Line6, m-Audio, etc etc

6th December 2006	#6
frans Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bavaria, Germany Posts: 1,329	the 828 will do what you want BUT if BlackLion are finished with it, they gutted the PLL and your 828 will want to be master in your clocking chain.(because without PLL it is not able to lock to external clock anymore) So either deal with that or tell BlackLion to leave the clock in the 828 alone. How about the Audient A/D? No need to mod THAT. __________________ Property is not ability. Buying a drumset won't make you a drummer and buying gear won't make you an engineer.

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8th December 2006	#8
frans Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bavaria, Germany Posts: 1,329	Black Lion redo all the analog stages which makes a big difference! Also included in the normal packages is the clock - but if YOU want the clock to stay original (with PLL) I think they will do what you say. I don't know if clocking the 828 external will make a big difference - in theory it says that a company who did not spend too much on a clock didn't spend too much on the PLL either...and a PLL is more difficult to engineer than a clean clock. But I happily take advice on that from someone with experience on it. Are you familiar with what a PLL does? Oversimplyfied it is a circuit that listens to incoming clock and tries to put out it's own clock according to what's put in from outside - like a drummer locking to the bassplayer, for example. And don't underestimate the clock Black Lion will put in - it will be a lot more stable/less jittery, that's the reason they redo it in the first place - it is supposed to be up there with Apogee and stuff.

8th December 2006	#9
jebjerome Gear addict Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Easy Bay, California Posts: 473	Clocking an 828 mk2 from a superior clock does make a noticeable difference. I've clocked one from a HEDD and it definitely helps.