MOTU's 828 FireWire Audio Interface Now Expandable to 126 Channels
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October 1, 2001
MOTU (Mark of the Unicorn, Inc.)
today posted a driver update for its 828 FireWire
audio interface that allows users to connect multiple 828s to a
FireWire-equipped Macintosh. Up to four 828s can be added to a single
FireWire bus via a standard hub, providing 72 channels of
audio input and output with no PCI or PC card required. Additional 828s can
be added via a second FireWire bus.
"As the first -- and still only -- FireWire audio interface on the market, our
828 has been one of our most popular products ever," said MOTU's Director of
Marketing, Jim Cooper. "In fact, 828 users like it so much, the first
question they usually ask is: 'can I connect more 828s?' With today's free
driver update, the answer is definitely yes," he added.
Each MOTU 828 interface delivers 18 simultaneous channels of 24-bit, 44.1 or
48 kHz digital audio input to - and output from - the computer: 8 balanced
quarter-inch TRS analog with 2 mic preamps, 8 ADAT optical and 2 RCA S/PDIF.
After downloading and installing the new Version 2 driver, users can connect
up to four 828s to their computer's FireWire port(s) using standard cables
and a third-party FireWire hub for a maximum of 72 simultaneous channels of
input and output (32 channels of analog with 8 mic preamps, 32 channels of
ADAT optical and 8 channels RCA S/PDIF). Sample-accurate synchronization is
maintained across all interfaces.
Further expansion is also possible via multiple FireWire busses. With four
828s connected to the computer's FireWire port (the built-in bus), a second
FireWire bus can be added to the computer via third-party expansion products
in the form of a PCI or CardBus card. Bench tests performed in MOTU's
quality assurance labs have shown that FireWire adapter cards typically
support up to three additional 828s, allowing users to connect seven 828s to
a single computer (126 channels of simultaneous I/O). Tests beyond this
point are not yet conclusive, but further expansion via a third FireWire bus
is theoretically possible.
For Power Macintosh models with two FireWire ports, they share the same
FireWire bus. To add a second bus, a PCI FireWire adapter is required.
The maximum of four 828 interfaces per FireWire bus is due to a combination
of factors: bandwidth (the amount of raw audio data on the FireWire bus) and
the nature of the OHCI (Open Host Controller Interface) compliant FireWire
chipsets used in most of today's Power Macs. The OHCI specification requires
the FireWire controller chipset to support at least four isochronous streams
of data in each direction (in and out), and most chipsets currently in use
support only four streams (one for each 828). Some newer Macintosh models,
however, are equipped with FireWire controllers that support more than four
streams. If a user with one of these newer CPUs disables the ADAT optical
ports on each 828, it is theoretically possible they could operate five - or
perhaps even six -- 828s on the built-in Fire bus running analog and RCA
S/PDIF only. Users with an interest in this much FireWire I/O can refer to
MOTU's on-line tech support database for further information as it becomes
available: www.motu.com/english/techsupport
Regardless of how many 828s are connected, it is important to note that all
input and output channels are individually accessible and always available
to the host computer's audio software. They are not merged together at any
time in the signal flow to and from the computer. For example, on a computer
equipped with seven 828s, the host software would have access to 126
channels of audio input and output.
MOTU 828 expansion is supported on all G4 PowerMacs equipped with an AGP
graphics card slot and all FireWire-equipped Macintosh laptops, including
the G3 Pismo, G3 iBook and G4 Titanium models. 'Blue and White' G3
PowerMacs, as well as the original 'Yikes' G4 desktop, do not support
multiple 828s connected to their built-in FireWire ports due to the PCI-Lynx
chip sets used in these models (although they do support a single 828 or
multiple 828s with a FireWire adapter card). The MOTU 828 Version 2.0 driver
requires MacOS 8.6 or 9.X. FireWire Enabler 2.4 or higher is also required.
Multiple 828s can be used with Digital Performer, AudioDesk (the included
workstation software) and all ASIO-compatible audio software programs.
The MOTU 828 Version 2.0 Macintosh driver can be downloaded now from
www.motu.com.
The MOTU 828 also ships with a WDM FireWire driver for compatibility with
Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP. The 828 WDM driver will soon be updated to
support multiple 828s connected to a Windows PC. This Windows WDM driver
update is expected to ship Q4 of 2001.
For more information, visit their web site at www.motu.com
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