The 828 is just the way you get audio into and out of your computer.
The AudioDesk software that comes with it is your mixer/eq/busses/etc
*and* your recorder.

AudioDesk is Mac only, but the 828mkII works fine on Windows.

The CueMix software seems like a rather important part of the package
but the MOTU website doesn't say much about it and provides only one
hard-to-see screenshot.



CueMix is separate from the recording/mixing software and is used to
rerout the inputs from the 828 to the outputs of the 828 so you can have
monitor mixes; the recorder doesn't care about these but your band does.
You may never use it, or you may use it all the time. The 828mkii
seems to bring it a bit more onto the front panel to act like a
standalone mixer.


the 828mkII works great in stand-alone mode - I've used is sucessfully
as an in-ear monitor mixer while simultaneously using it to record up to
18 tracks of audio (using Sonar and an ADAT 8 channel pre as well as the
line ins - using channel inserts off of the board). I've also used it
just as the monitor mixer in stand-alone mode.

Also what can be "saved" when using the MOTU? Can whole mixes with
their individual settings be saved in the computer (or in the 828
itself)? How does that work?



AudioDesk again. Your tracks are saved as individual files in a folder.
The levels and all other mix parameters are saved also, and it supports
automation, meaning the fader moves (and even plugin parameters like
reverb depth) changes you make on the fly are saved.

Not entirely correct. The Cuemix software allows you to save up to 16
pre-defined preset mixes IN the 828mkII, which can be recalled from the
front panel or the Cuemix software. Additional unlimited mixes can be
saved to disk. As mentioned though, this does not effect the recording
- which are basically direct ins and outs to the firewire interface.
Each channel can be set to either -10 or +4 levels though, which does
make it easier to set levels.

I use the 828mkII with Sonar 4 with excellent results, with both a
modest laptop (2Ghz P4 512MB mem) with an external firewire / USB2
drive, and my DAW (3400+ AMD A64, 1GB RAM). I can hook up the external
drive to my DAW and work on the raw tracks recorded by the laptop.
Strangely (in my mind, anyway) WDM drivers work a little better than the
ASIO drivers in my setup - I am able to get lower crackle-free latencies
with higher track counts. Both are acceptable, however.


Finally, how good is the manual that comes with the product? Is it
clear, complete, detailed? Thanks!



The MotU products I have came with good manuals, yes.

The manual is good - for as much as 828mkII does, it's pretty simple to
use - the most complicated thing is tring to use the DSP mixer
capability without having a computer hooked up to it - you can do it,
but it's way harder to use. You can call up preset mixes though, which
is what I primarily do.

You need to make sure you have a firewire interface with a Texas
Instruments chipset though - the first Cardbus interface I tried had a
VIA chipset, and I experienced everything from lockups to BSOD's and
erratic operation of the Cuemix software (inability to access certain
features).

Good unit - I'd buy it again.