Am I too old for Motu? - Help with an 8pre and 828mkIII

[Nate74]

About a year ago I moved to a MOTU 828mkIII as my first (and only) interface. It took me a long time to stop thinking like a 24-8-2 mixer guy and start thinking like a CueMix Sonar guy, but I'm there and enjoying it. I recently got a used 8Pre off ebay thinking have a few more inputs would be nice when I record my full band, etc. I'd read that you 'just plug in the lightpipes and the extra 8 inputs will show up in CueMix and your DAW.'

Well not so. I've read loads of posts and realize I need some help. I know I got the two light pipes connected correctly, but beyond that...

Here's my signal path (if you can call a bunch of 0's and 1's signal)

828 Optical A Out -> 8Pre Optical A In
828 Optical A In -> 8Pre Optical A Out
828 Firewire -> PC

So what's my next step? I guess I'm ok using the 828's internal clock from what I've read, but the whole slave/sync process is just a bit over my head currently.

I should add, I received no software with the 8Pre but do have the software that came with the 828mkIII... if that matters at all.

Anybody care to help out a digital newbie?

Thanks.

 

[Jim Lad]

So when you go into your DAW, what's available to you for tracks?

 

[Nate74]

Hey Jim,

I'm only seeing the 10 inputs from the 828mkIII when I go to the input section of Sonar.

I do see LED activity at the 8Pre so I'm confident my mixer is connected to it correctly at least...

Also, the little LEDs on the 828 that are supposed to indicate ADAT activity show nothing.

BTW - your mic is on the way.

 

[Nate74]

OK, I spent some time this afternoon on this. I was able to connect JUST the 8Pre via firewire to the PC and ran the software that came with my 828. The 8Pre came up in CueMix and the Audio Console. I then set it back up with the 828 in the fold and had to reinstall the drivers of the disc. Nothing seemed to change, so after starting it all up and letting the 828 boot up, I switched off the 8Pre then turned it back on. Boom, the ADAT 1-8 inputs went active in CueMix.

So now I'm wondering if it was something to do with the installing the 8Pre alone, if it was turning on the 8pre well after the 828, or if I just wasn't holding my tongue just right

I'm still curious about this if anybody has any thoughts.