Motu 896 vs. 896HD

Hello All,

I've been trying to find some info on this but have
been so far unable to. Motu's website doesn't seem
to have any info on what the new benefits are...

MOTU doesn't make the regular 896 any more.

I am wondering if anyone knows what the upgrades are
on the Motu 896 HD vs. the original 896?

The ability to record at sample rates up to 192k, hence better AD convertors; also upgraded CueMix console with the "talkback" feature.

I am in the market for a new audio interface, found a
great deal online for the first 896. Are there
viable, worthwhile updates to the 896HD?

Alot of people on this forum don't have very good things to say about the 896 or 896HD in regards to it's sound quality. Based on what i've read here, you may want to also check out the RME stuff like the Fireface800; that seems to be a forum favorite.

Also, there's a 3rd party company called Black Lion Audio that does modifications to the 896/896HD replacing the mic pres and the clock. I've had my 896HD modified by these guys and now it's like a whole new interface comparable to higher end gear like Apogee. The mod is less than $400, which IMHO is WELL worth the dough.

For my workflow, the 896HD is a perfect solution. It just depends on what you need and how you work. I first had an 896 a few years ago and then upgraded to the 896HD and I was more than pleased with the additional capabilities it offers.

I am
running Logic 7.2 on a new Mac Pro and am wondering
if it's really worth it to shell out extra $$ for the
HD.

If you're gonna go the MOTU route, then yes it is well worth the extra $$.

Does the original 896 work (drivers available) for a
Mac Pro?

Don't know for sure, but probably so if you use the latest universal binary driver they have on their website currently.

Thanks!
Shane

You're welcome. Hope this helps.

M-De'


G5 Quad Mac OS X (10.4.8) LogicPro 7.2.3

Alot of people on this forum don't have very good
things to say about the 896 or 896HD in regards to
it's sound quality. Based on what i've read here,
you may want to also check out the RME stuff like the
Fireface800; that seems to be a forum favorite.

I completely agree.

The orignal 896 preamps are weak. There's a huge difference between the 896 and the FF800. (Also, I don't know if the 896HD preamps are better than the 896).

896 drivers are fine on intel. I seldom use the mic pres in the studio but do use them for live location recording, at which point, the quality is perhaps a little less important. I love it's features...ins and outs - particularly when working with logic's great routing options and external instrument plugins.

When mine breaks, I shall go looking for an HD.

I have the 896HD and had the mod done at black lion audio, I thought the 896HD sounded good the way it was, for sure it kicked my old 828's butt. now it sounds much nicer with the mod.

http://www.blacklionaudio.com/motufirewiremod.html

if you don't need 192 khz or don't plan on using the CueMix software get a good deal on the old 896 and have the mod done. it will sound like the more expensive stuff.

also the MOTU drivers are rock solid

i have a 896HD, and only use it because of the cue mix, and then only with clients.
as far as driver stability goes, it's about the same as the CAD that i use for my digi 001. both act up now and again. the CAD certainly doesn't deserve it's bad rep. the digi system, which is os9 based, is very stable, probably more stable than logic at any point.
i also find that the mic pres on the 001 are slightly better sounding and can produce more usable levels in logic from the get go.

of course, most of the time the rosetta 200 is piggy backed to the digi, for my own use.