Juzek 58
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Aggregate doesn't record all tracks.

I've made an aggregate using 2 motu firewire 8pre devices. All tracks are receiving the signal in the motu meters, but only the first 8 tracks record the signal. Logic shows all tracks recording but no signal is present tracks 9 and up. When I stop the recording, the recorded empty tracks form track 9 and up immediately disappear.

 

I've tried:

switching firewire plugs on the 8pre (2 firewire inputs on each)

assigning the clock to the other device

I started a new project, but the results are the same

 

What am I missing or overlooking?

 

OS 10.10.4

iMac

3.5 GHz Intel Core i7

16GB  1600 MHz DDR3

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 496MB

Posted on Aug 11, 2015 3:01 PM

by Pancenter,Solvedanswer
Pancenter Pancenter
Level 6 (9,913 points)
Audio
A:

Juzek,

 

ES2 has it right, that's what I was thinking of but said Firewire.

 

Set the two units up like this

 

You will use only one Firewire cable.

Unit 1 will go from Firewire OUT to Firewire IN on the computer, Unit 2 will go from ADAT OUT to ADAT IN of Unit 1.

 

Unit 2 will be the clock master, unit 1 the slave. I think this would be setup in MOTU's MIX Control. (Digital ADAT Clock of Unit 2 will be master)

 

When setup correctly the MOTU driver should see the 8 Mic Input's of Unit 1 and the 8 inputs of unit 2 via ADAT

 

One last thing... Don't expect the numbers to follow order, Unit 1 may be 1 through 8, but Unit 2 might start at a higher number (not 9).

 

If you can get by without using an Aggregate device you will be much better off.

Posted on Aug 12, 2015 12:49 PM

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Juzek 58

Q: Aggregate doesn't record all tracks.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Pancenter,

    Pancenter Pancenter Aug 11, 2015 4:18 PM in response to Juzek 58
    Level 6 (9,913 points)
    Audio
    Aug 11, 2015 4:18 PM in response to Juzek 58

    Do you actually need to use an Aggregate device, if the two units are hooked up properly (see below) the driver should see all inputs.

     

    Set the two units up like this

     

    You will use only two Firewire cables.

    Unit 1 will go from Firewire OUT to Firewire IN on the computer, Unit 2 will go from Firewire OUT to Firewire IN of Unit 1.

     

    Unit 2 will be the clock master, unit 1 the slave. I think this would be setup in MOTU's MIX Control.

     

    When setup correctly the MOTU driver should see the 8 Mic Input's of Unit 1 and the 8 inputs of unit 2 via Firewire.

     

    One last thing... Don't expect the numbers to follow order, Unit 1 may be 1 through 8, but Unit 2 might start at a higher number (not 9).

     

    If you can get by without using an Aggregate device you will be much better off.

  • by I want My ES2,

    I want My ES2 I want My ES2 Aug 12, 2015 6:32 AM in response to Juzek 58
    Level 2 (225 points)
    Aug 12, 2015 6:32 AM in response to Juzek 58

    The 8pre can be used as a standalone AD converter, iirc. You'd be better off using just one as an interface and connect the other one through ADAT( out of the one acting as only a converter into the ADAT in of the one connected with the FW cable).

  • by Juzek 58,

    Juzek 58 Juzek 58 Aug 12, 2015 12:29 PM in response to Pancenter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2015 12:29 PM in response to Pancenter

    It didn't work. I still only have 8 recordable tracks (all in one device). Essentially the same result I was getting from the aggregate. Your solution is what I've seen described as daisy-chaining. I already knew it wouldn't work because I'd tried it before which brought me here last year when I was trying to do more than 8 tracks. Thats when I was told I had to use an aggregate and given this link: How to combine multiple audio interfaces by creating an aggregate device - Apple Support.

  • by Pancenter,Solvedanswer

    Pancenter Pancenter Aug 12, 2015 12:49 PM in response to Juzek 58
    Level 6 (9,913 points)
    Audio
    Aug 12, 2015 12:49 PM in response to Juzek 58

    Juzek,

     

    ES2 has it right, that's what I was thinking of but said Firewire.

     

    Set the two units up like this

     

    You will use only one Firewire cable.

    Unit 1 will go from Firewire OUT to Firewire IN on the computer, Unit 2 will go from ADAT OUT to ADAT IN of Unit 1.

     

    Unit 2 will be the clock master, unit 1 the slave. I think this would be setup in MOTU's MIX Control. (Digital ADAT Clock of Unit 2 will be master)

     

    When setup correctly the MOTU driver should see the 8 Mic Input's of Unit 1 and the 8 inputs of unit 2 via ADAT

     

    One last thing... Don't expect the numbers to follow order, Unit 1 may be 1 through 8, but Unit 2 might start at a higher number (not 9).

     

    If you can get by without using an Aggregate device you will be much better off.

  • by I want My ES2,Helpful

    I want My ES2 I want My ES2 Aug 12, 2015 12:50 PM in response to Juzek 58
    Level 2 (225 points)
    Aug 12, 2015 12:50 PM in response to Juzek 58

    Connecting them with an ADAT optical cable is not daisy-chaining. One is the interface, the other acts as an 8-channel preamps box and will be managed by the one connected with the firewire cable to your computer. It will work, that's how MOTU wants you to connect them together.

  • by Juzek 58,

    Juzek 58 Juzek 58 Aug 13, 2015 10:32 AM in response to I want My ES2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2015 10:32 AM in response to I want My ES2

    I've got ADAT cables on order. I'm excited now. I really appreciate the help from both of you. As you can tell, I'm quite the novice having recently made the switch from GarageBand and I'm no engineer or computer geek (and further hampered by being a professional musician ).

  • by Pancenter,

    Pancenter Pancenter Aug 13, 2015 12:54 PM in response to Juzek 58
    Level 6 (9,913 points)
    Audio
    Aug 13, 2015 12:54 PM in response to Juzek 58

    Juzek 58 wrote:

     

    I've got ADAT cables on order. I'm excited now. I really appreciate the help from both of you. As you can tell, I'm quite the novice having recently made the switch from GarageBand and I'm no engineer or computer geek (and further hampered by being a professional musician ).

     

    Important:

     

    You will only use ONE ADAT cable.

    Unit 1 will be hooked to the computer via Firewire, so only the one Firewire cable.

    Unit 2 will have an ADAT OUT to Unit 1 ADAT IN.

    Unit 2 will be the Master Clock, Unit 1 needs to sync to Unit 2's digital clock coming in on the ADAT cable. This will be setup in CueMix.

    All recorded tracks will playback from Unit 1.  Unit 2 is functioning only as 8 mic preamps in the above configuration.

  • by I want My ES2,

    I want My ES2 I want My ES2 Aug 14, 2015 2:49 AM in response to Juzek 58
    Level 2 (225 points)
    Aug 14, 2015 2:49 AM in response to Juzek 58

    Oh, and don't forget to remove the little plastic caps on both ends of the cable. A classic mistake of first-time users

  • by Juzek 58,

    Juzek 58 Juzek 58 Aug 15, 2015 12:00 PM in response to I want My ES2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 15, 2015 12:00 PM in response to I want My ES2

    It works perfectly!!!! Thank you! You both saved my project. And my knowledge level has increased. I never contacted MOTU with the problem, but they could have been much clearer in their manual. Thanks again.