Anyone here use the MOTU 828? I have a friend who is setting up a studio at
home (converted garage attached to the house - well insulated, very
professional construction job!) who is proposing the use of a MOTU 828 in
the studio with a firewire link to the PC in the control room. He believes
this will eliminate the need for a wall panel and multicore because
everything can be connected directly to the MOTU 828 and he can control it
remotely from the PC.

I don't think the box is intended to be used like that and I am sure this is
not a good idea. The box only has 2 mic inputs anyway, and that would not be
sufficient. Please can anyone clear the clouds of our thinking here ... ?

"Mike Faithfull" wrote in message
this will eliminate the need for a wall panel and multicore because
everything can be connected directly to the MOTU 828 and he can control it
remotely from the PC.

Sure, it would work if the preamps (if necessary) are in the live room. Run
a microphone into a preamp (or mixer) and then into the 828. Wouldn't be
very convenient, though, because the outboard gear wouldn't be accessible to
the engineer.

I don't think the box is intended to be used like that and I am sure this
is
not a good idea.

You're right, it's not a good idea. Tell your friend to break down and buy
a snake.

Mike Faithfull wrote:

Anyone here use the MOTU 828? I have a friend who is setting up a studio at
home (converted garage attached to the house - well insulated, very
professional construction job!) who is proposing the use of a MOTU 828 in
the studio with a firewire link to the PC in the control room. He believes
this will eliminate the need for a wall panel and multicore because
everything can be connected directly to the MOTU 828 and he can control it
remotely from the PC.

I don't think the box is intended to be used like that and I am sure this is
not a good idea. The box only has 2 mic inputs anyway, and that would not be
sufficient. Please can anyone clear the clouds of our thinking here ... ?

Only the sample rate and what input is sent to the monitor
out are controled from the PC. The input gains are
controled by the pots on the box.


Bob
--

"Things should be described as simply as possible, but no
simpler."

A. Einstein

(helpful replies snipped ...)

Thanks guys, I value your replies and have used them to reinforce my earlier
"you don't want to do that" advice to my friend !!

Mike Faithfull wrote:

The only thing MotU "intends" for the 828 is that people buy it and use
it. There are a couple of advantages to using it your friend's way:

1. Less prone to noise and ground loops due to much shorter analog cabling.

2. Saves the cost of a 12-channel snake (8 inputs + 4 headphone mixes).

The disadvantage is mostly ergonomical. How much of a disadvantage that
creates is determined by how he uses the studio.

And I am assuming your friend has counted how many mics he'll use at any
one time and come up with two or less, or plans to buy outboard preamps.


I don't think the box is intended to be used like that and I am sure this is
not a good idea. The box only has 2 mic inputs anyway, and that would not be
sufficient. Please can anyone clear the clouds of our thinking here ... ?