MOTU 896chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Numerous users report their 896/896HD/mk3 units dying after years of use or even sitting idle, with symptoms like loud hum, complete loss of output, or a dead LCD screen. One user's aging-capacitor theory suggests a recurring hardware weak point across MOTU's line.

@cesarpinezpiano

I have the same problem and seeing the answers here Motu doesn't fix anything it just replaces. It's disappointing...I'm not from the US. I liked this brand better, the sound is very good but a problem like this makes me think I will never use their products again.launch

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May 3, 2022

@phillipshearman5597

Nice video. As a 896HD user that had two of them work fine on Wednesday and both fail on Friday (no movement or re-connection or power failure) die on Friday in 2016 decided to purchase a used Mk3 from a local music specialty store. BIG MISTAKE! MOTO no longer has drivers available on line and even as an outboard unit can not get the headphones to play output. I see the meters moving but no output with any setting. NO THE MUTE is not on. I can not use and interface that does not have digital XLR inputs. I never like their analog to digital converters and never liked the mic inputs. I just need the interface from my A/D converter to the PC. I tried Focusrite and RME - Real junk, both of them. I am stuck trying to do good audio. PC cards have replaced the outboard units but I don't care for optical sound and multi-pin connectors. My XLR cables cost more than the MOTU so I won't give up that quality to buy a non-XLR interface. I would love to daisy-chain 896's but they are not well made-just good sound.launch

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February 12, 2022

@johnkasonga6634

Thank you so much for this video. I have a Motu 2408 MK3 that just stopped working. There is no audio at all coming out just a loud hum. I will contact MOTU to see if this can be repaired or replaced. Thanks again for the video and advice. I love my MOTU 2408 MK3.launch

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February 3, 2022

@s96822

My Motu 896 died by itself hadn't been used for a few years. Live in SE Asia even if MOTU were able to offer 99.00 exchange (which they don't) shipping is cost prohibitive. They refused to share a schematic with me to try to get it repaired locally.launch

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October 25, 2021

Multiple commenters describe MOTU's support as slow, hard to reach, or blocked entirely for owners without a currently-sold registered unit. One user switched to RME after finding MOTU's 2009 support non-existent during business hours.

@MyLittleBitOfEverything

It's a shame that MOTU seems to have gone downhill since then. Their website blocks you from even being able to contact their support people unless you have registered online a current unit still being sold. So yes now you cannot even use their email form without also owning a currently being sold unit, and their replies about older units (and even with some newer units) these days is the equivalent of a blank stare and shrug.launch

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October 13, 2023

@cesarpinezpiano

I have the same problem and seeing the answers here Motu doesn't fix anything it just replaces. It's disappointing...I'm not from the US. I liked this brand better, the sound is very good but a problem like this makes me think I will never use their products again.launch

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May 3, 2022

@s96822

My Motu 896 died by itself hadn't been used for a few years. Live in SE Asia even if MOTU were able to offer 99.00 exchange (which they don't) shipping is cost prohibitive. They refused to share a schematic with me to try to get it repaired locally.launch

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October 25, 2021

@keithpetersen9196

I have the same issue, contacted support via techlinks since there's no phone number available to speak to someone directly (go figure). haven't heard anything back in several days. No way am I paying an extra 400 dollars for a unit that was well taken care of and simply died out on me. for what? the same thing to happen again a couple more years down the line? THAT is absolute bullshit.launch

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July 5, 2020

Connecting multiple 896/8pre units introduces clocking headaches and interference noise across inputs that some couldn't resolve despite trying all clock settings. One user calls daisy-chaining FireWire interfaces 'a lot of BS' without a dedicated bus per device.

@tobiasbertschi9731

I connected this motu 896 mk3 with 2 motu 8pre. Unfortunately I always get an interference noise on one of the 8pre, like a shock wave across all 8 inputs. I tried everything in the clock settings but can't get rid of it, just move it to the other 8pre. Can anyone help me?launch

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May 15, 2026

@phillipshearman5597

Nice video. As a 896HD user that had two of them work fine on Wednesday and both fail on Friday (no movement or re-connection or power failure) die on Friday in 2016 decided to purchase a used Mk3 from a local music specialty store. BIG MISTAKE! MOTO no longer has drivers available on line and even as an outboard unit can not get the headphones to play output. I see the meters moving but no output with any setting. NO THE MUTE is not on. I can not use and interface that does not have digital XLR inputs. I never like their analog to digital converters and never liked the mic inputs. I just need the interface from my A/D converter to the PC. I tried Focusrite and RME - Real junk, both of them. I am stuck trying to do good audio. PC cards have replaced the outboard units but I don't care for optical sound and multi-pin connectors. My XLR cables cost more than the MOTU so I won't give up that quality to buy a non-XLR interface. I would love to daisy-chain 896's but they are not well made-just good sound.launch

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February 12, 2022

@tom_takes_the_shot

Clocking is one issue with any interface, but with firewire interfaces you also need to be running them each on a dedicated bus to get them stable. Daisy chaining these things is a lot of BS.launch

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June 4, 2013

@berto19761

I ran the second motu by itself and the channels weren't peaking. I tried it without the firewire but then only one motu will show up in the motu settings window so i know I actually do need Word Clock cable and Firewire connected. On the Macbook pro i made the 1st motu use \"Motu Mk3 Hybrid Internal\" and i set 2nd motu to \"Word Clock\" instead of \"Mk3 Hybrid 1\". On my PC i set the 1st motu to \"Mk3 Hybrid #1 Internal\" and set the 2nd to \"Mk3 Hybrid #2 Word Clock\" instead of \"Master Clock Source\".launch

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August 27, 2012

Users struggle to get more than a few analog outputs working simultaneously despite the manual claiming all outputs can run at once, and others can't figure out how to disable preamped inputs or use more than 4 outputs at a time.

@JoelJustinMusic

Motu 896HD how to get all analog outputs working at the same time? I can only get the 8 analog outputs above the analog inputs to give me an output signal in pairs; 1-2 3-4 -5-6 7-8...but the manual says all analog outputs can work simultaneously. I am using it at 48k which supposedly does allow all outputs to work. Using the Motu Audio Console, it only allows you to select outputs in pairs, yet the manual repeatedly claims you can get all 10 analog outputs delivering an output at same time. Any clue?launch

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December 4, 2023

@bsasdejoda

Hello bro, thank you for the video. I have a motu 896 mk3 but I only could take the audio from 4 outs (2 pairs of monitors) I would like to use 6 outs (6 pairs of monitors, but I can't guess how. In the options it only offers me: Main out and Return. And there I asign each pair of monitorslaunch

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May 17, 2021

@mirolutz

Why does someone who wants to connect more than 5 microphones need 8 outputs? I would buy the device for hardware inputs. Does that work with the preamps or do they change the sound?launch

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April 6, 2020

@reapersuperdicas8869

Hello friend ... how do I disable the preamplified inputs of motu 896mk3? I need to deactivate them to input a signal from an external preamp to record ... thanks...My version is this, http://motu.com/products/motuaudio/896mk3launch

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March 18, 2017

Some users are frustrated that MOTU replaces rather than repairs faulty units, sometimes charging significant fees (e.g., $400) for out-of-warranty exchanges, and refusing to share schematics for local repair.

@s96822

My Motu 896 died by itself hadn't been used for a few years. Live in SE Asia even if MOTU were able to offer 99.00 exchange (which they don't) shipping is cost prohibitive. They refused to share a schematic with me to try to get it repaired locally.launch

smart_display

October 25, 2021

@keithpetersen9196

I have the same issue, contacted support via techlinks since there's no phone number available to speak to someone directly (go figure). haven't heard anything back in several days. No way am I paying an extra 400 dollars for a unit that was well taken care of and simply died out on me. for what? the same thing to happen again a couple more years down the line? THAT is absolute bullshit.launch

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July 5, 2020

@travissuttie

UPDATE: I contacted Motu and they told me that they would fix/replace the unit for a fee as my unit wasn't under warranty. $400aud and they sent me another unit that works perfectly.launch

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October 6, 2018

At least one user reports MOTU no longer provides drivers online for older units, and another asks in vain for Windows 7 64-bit drivers, suggesting weak ongoing software support for the line.

@phillipshearman5597

Nice video. As a 896HD user that had two of them work fine on Wednesday and both fail on Friday (no movement or re-connection or power failure) die on Friday in 2016 decided to purchase a used Mk3 from a local music specialty store. BIG MISTAKE! MOTO no longer has drivers available on line and even as an outboard unit can not get the headphones to play output. I see the meters moving but no output with any setting. NO THE MUTE is not on. I can not use and interface that does not have digital XLR inputs. I never like their analog to digital converters and never liked the mic inputs. I just need the interface from my A/D converter to the PC. I tried Focusrite and RME - Real junk, both of them. I am stuck trying to do good audio. PC cards have replaced the outboard units but I don't care for optical sound and multi-pin connectors. My XLR cables cost more than the MOTU so I won't give up that quality to buy a non-XLR interface. I would love to daisy-chain 896's but they are not well made-just good sound.launch

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February 12, 2022

@ysrraelarias

Hi, you have the drivers of this interface? Please. To win 7 64launch

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September 2, 2021