So not too long ago I upgraded to Mac OSX Lion 10.7.2. This killed any applications that were working on the Power PC backend. That included all of my MOTU apps and Logic Pro. I found a way to go through the file system and open Logic and get it working again, but damn if I can't get the other MOTU software to work.

Their newest driver updates don't do or change anything. The installer just flat out doesn't work. Been trying for a couple months, hoping I am doing something wrong or that they'd put out a new one. Nope.

I was having problems with my 828mkII anyways with it giving me white noise, not starting up, starting but not getting past the initial letters on the screen, tons of crap. So finally I send it back to them and they send me a "repaired one." Worked fine for a couple of months. Now I'm having the exact same problems with this one. I've tried different firewire cables. I've done hardware resets, driver upgrades, firmware upgrades. Everything possible, I've tried. I even tried all of the MOTU supports little tricks like "flick the voltage switch back and forth" and all that crap.

So now I'm just pissed. I'm about to throw this thing in the dumpster. It's almost killed my ears and monitors twice today with it's feedback loop of increasingly louder white noise.

So my question is two-fold. Is anyone using a MOTU 828mkII with the new Lion update and getting it to work worth a damn? If not, what's the best new low-end range interface these days that's compatible with the Mac? I'm rocking a Mac Pro. It's been about a year and a half since I've thought about this stuff. I remember the Presonus's and Apogee's and MOTU's and others. Has any new consensus popped up on what I should get? I really just need a piece that'll rack mount that can accept my pre-amps and doesn't have complete crap converters.

Heeeelp! Thanks for any replies

Not much help but - i'm using an 828mk3 and Lion with no problems.

From my experience, this issue is caused by the 3.3v LM1117 voltage regulator. The regulator is labeled REG2 and is located to the right of the bigger chips. It seems as though the heat from it has weakened the solder joint between the heatsink(also the regulators output) and the board. To test this, remove the top from the 828 and press down on the regulator as you power up. If it boots up without any problems, you will need to reheat the LM1117's heatsink to reflow the solder.

I had really similar issues - although with Snow Leopard & a first-gen Ultralite. Spent a few months trying to find the root of the issue, never found anything conclusive (but always suspected it's about the FireWire chipset in the iMac) and ended up selling it to a friend - who has a slightly newer iMac and it works flawlessly, bought an Echo Audiofire 4 for myself. Zero issues.

I'd test Shepdogs idea.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to try the soldering with the resister tomorrow after thanksgiving dinner. I'll report back.

Holy crap. You were absolutely right! You just saved me another 100 bucks or a lot more. I was going to literally get rid of it and chalk it up to MOTU sucking.

That resistor had burnt the mother board around it, telling me that yes, it had become disconnected from the heat sink. Pushing down on it did help it start up 10x more quickly and without issue. Now I just gotta figure out how to fix it permanently. I don't see the heat sink. I'll report back in the end if I fully fix it. Thanks for this advice. You are my hero.

Sorry to keep responding to myself. I'm hoping to have this thread go down in posterity for future people.

If anyone can help me, please do Here is what I'm looking at. You can see that the mother board is discolored around it. As soon as I turn it on, that sucker gets burning hot to the touch almost immediately.



Can anyone help me understand how to find the heatsink? Is it a separate piece attached to the PCB or is it inside the little black cap over the regulator itself? I'm not sure. I only took one circuits class and it was all theoretical. No hands on. Haaalp!

Not that I can help with your issue but I thought I's chime in for some morale support.

I'm glad you found the cause thanks to sheepdog.

I hope you resolve it with heat paste and a heat sink oh and a touch of solder, cheers

The heatsink on REG2 is on the back of the chip for the most part. You will need to heat it up using the top of it that sticks up on the side opposite the pins. There is not a lot of metal to work with, so you will need to use a high-wattage iron with a wide tip.

this is the most common point of failure in the 828mk2 that I know of and will also cause poor sound. Pressing on the chip while you have a 1khz sine wave running through it and into a spectrum analyzer in your daw will certainly show you if it's having problems there. Resolder or replace.

I Have the same problem with My 828MKII.

"MOTU 828mkII" appears, then a second later, "CueMix DSP" appears.

Then, the "MOT" of MOTU dissapears, and it's frozen. the firmware number does not appear.

it does this with and without the firewire cable attatched. Sample rate does not light up.

I try to do the press down on the REG2 but nothing happen.
Perhaps the REG2 is dead???

How I can figure it.

Thanks a lot for your advice.

Please any Infos are Welcome.

I send an email to MOTU....I wait.

I am not electronicien but I think its not abig thing.....I hope.

How I can verify my LM117 on the REG2 is Dead??

When I switch on the LM117 is still cold....


Please I need your HELP.

Thanks