MOTU 1224

It's as simple as ABC ...
if you use it with a compatible host PC.
I use an AMD Athlon 1 GHz, Thunderbird 756 Motherboard Slot A,Matrox G450 DualHead 32MB, 256 MB Infineon RAM.
Install the software, install the PCI-Card and connect it with the external 19" converter. There you go....
Cracklings or clicks are normally due to too small latency. Ask yourself: do you really need 3ms?
The noises will most probably disappear when you raise this value.

12 Outs (8 balanced jacks, 2x balanced XLR, 2x AES EBU)
HarddiskRecordingSystem, 24-Bit, 44,1+48 kHz
10 Ins (8 balanced jacks, 2x AES EBU)
Phone jack. But listen: you cannot route any channel you like! Only the Main Out=2x XLR).Too bad!
Word-Clock.
THere is no SP DIF connector.
Nice LEDs - and they work!

Digital Conversion always means: manipulation.
The question is: Is this manipulation audible.
I used to have an Emagic Audiowerk8, and the manip. was definitely audible.
So I bought the 1224 and I am really happy now. The sound is high end for roughly 1400 Euro.

In most cases - yes, you can depend on it.
Attention: do NOT use it in connection with the Digital option of the SPL Channel one Preamp!!
The AES EBU In of the SPL Converter can NOT understand the AES EBU Out signal. One of them must have a bug or something.
I contacted both manufacturers. We checked EVERYTHING! No success. They can communicate the other way - SPL Out, 1224 In.
But not vice versa,unfortunately.

Good e-mail support. Mostly quick answers.
In Germany - where I live - the technical support for MOTU products (Klemm) offer you a nice hotline.
Don't be shocked at your next telephone bill.....
That's a slap in the face for every user -
so I 'll give them a slap in return: only 5 points for customer support
(By the way: As a user of a SPL product you get the best support I have ever had -
no irony, no kidding! - 10 points for Sound Performance Lab)

Crystal clear sound, use it for 1,5 years now.
No guaranty for digital connections, but most of them should function
(e.g. TC M3000, even the SPDIF!! Akai S 2000)

Very easy to use for someone with reasonable computer skills.

Exceptional sound quality. Cleaner and more detailed than the original 2408, for sure.

My 2408 has worked flawlessly - I expect the same from the 1224. Solid construction.

MOTU is actually a pretty helpful company. I'm suspecting that people who have been complaining about support probably haven't dealt with many computer hardware manufacterers ("I was on hold for 15 minutes...blah blah blah" - give me a break. Some audio hardware companies are *literally" impossible to contact or make you jump through 12 flaming hoops to get anywhere) Email support was quick to respond and helpful.

Make sure your mixing board can handle balanced audio connections and levels. This is a simple, but effective unit. If you just need good audio without a lot of bells and whistles (though the 1224 does have them), this is a great box. Converters sound great.

I give this piece an 8. A quick read of the manual should have all but a rank beginner up and running in about an hour

I give this box a 9.5. These are quiet and very full sounding converters, even when used @ 16 bits. I suspect only the 1296 can better these.

10 These are very reliable converters. I run a full time pro studio and these boxes have given me zero trouble other than needing a rom upgrade initially. I have 3 units connected to my 2" analog deck and I just always expect them to work and they deliver.

1 Unfortunately Mark of the Unicorn needs much work in this department. The tech support is poor, almost always a busy signal on the phone. Fortunately there is a great user list, Motu-Mac which can be found at: Motu-Mac@Topica.com This is a very active and helpful list.

Overall I give the unit an 8.5, it would be higher but Motu is really in need of an overhaul of it's tech support department. Other than this I can readily advocate purchasing these, especially at this price point, excellent value.

The 1224 is a wonderful workhorse. Plug it in and it works. Sound quality is excellent. Just need to attach a few more interfaces... 24i & 828 would be a great compliment to the setup.

After upgrading my 2408 with the 1224, I truly am a MOTU audio interface fan. Load the drivers (latest MOTU drivers - not necessarily the ones that come with the unit!) BEFORE the card and you're ready to cut some hot tracks on this puppy! PCI card configuration manager more than adequate for customizing and tuning your system.

After 8 years of Pro Tools at work and 2 years of 2408, I must say this unit has the most transparent and smooth output of any. A winner in every sense of the word.

Dependable. Never had a problem with a MOTU unit. MIDI or audio.

I have had to deal with customer support when I first bought my 2408 which I used in a G3 266Mhz machine. I was put on hold for quite a while, but when they got to me, they were helpful and I got the problem resolved. Also, e-mail responses were fairly quick. This company is not any worse than Pro Tools (digidesign).

I'm using the 1224 with a 400 MHz G-4 into a Mackie 24-8. Using Event 20/20 bas speakers, Digital Performer 2.7.2, waves 3.0 native and Renaissance Maxxbass and Vox, Antares auto-tune and mic-modelor. Use the digital ins and outs to a TASCAM DA30. My work is primarily voice-over and MIDI studio track recording. (Kurzweil K-2000, Proteus 2000, Proteus FX, Roland U220, Alesis DM5, Korg 05w/r, Yamaha DX7-FDII) For the price and quality, I am more than thrilled. I've been a studio engineer for 28 years and the $661 I spent for the 1224 is a Godsend. Smooth, bright, full, quiet and works flawlessy. I really appreciate front meters that show some semblance of what's happening in the box. The 2408's meters were basically worthless. What else can I say... other than I can't wait til I can use the 1224 with DP 3.0!

Simple. Just plug it in and it works. Of course this is assuming you're using MOTU's software and have read at least a little of the instructions.

Pristine. It's beautiful. Better than your average sound card by a mile and a half. Of course a 24/96 box might be better, so I can't really give it a perfect 10 here.

100% reliable. Not a single problem. You'll forget it's even there. Of course this is assuming you're using MOTU's software and have read at least a little of the instructions.

MOTU? Don't bother even trying to call.

The MOTU-Mac mailing list? Most amazing resource available to users of MOTU hardware and software and related topics--instant response, professional atmosphere, extremely knowledgable members. Join here:
http://www.motu-mac.com/

The 1224 is MOTU's best-sounding box other than the new 1296 24/96 box. The price point is perfect, it's simple to use and completely 100% reliable. Nyone who tells you otherwise is a ProTools user.

It's terrible to use. First thing was installing the software which crashed my system repeatedly (PowerMac) and then problems assigning busses caused me to call technical support for help since the manual was poorly written to accommodate MAC users.

24bit 96khz brings forth excellent quality.. then again most present day systems with the same specs do as well.

MOTU systems were obviously not designed for the professional environment that PowerMacs work in. The connection leading to the soundcard from the rack unit repeatedly "popped" off the back of the rack unit. It didn't seem to want to clip in at all.. as a matter of fact.. it wasn't designed to apparently.

Latency problems forced me to repeatedly tweak software settings in Protools to try to work things properly. Latency isn't a problem if you like every additional track to be 1/2 second behind the first.

Was placed on hold listening to elevator music for 15 minutes and then heard a click.. when I thought someone was going to speak to me I heard another click and dialtone. I called back and re-explained my situation the receptionist simply said, "Please Hold" and then hung up on me again.

I promptly packaged my MOTU back up and returned it for a refund. That is the overall rating.

I then purchased a professional recording environment called SEASOUND SOLOEX8 which worked perfectly with pristine results ever since. I've accumulated $75,000 in payback earnings on Mp3.com with my Professional sounding recordings and haven't looked back since.

Make sure you install the software before the card!!!!
they make it clear in the manual,but some don't read until there
is a problem.

I have used tascam da-88's and 1/2 inch tape machines and this unit
is right at home in my studio.ether at 16 bit resolution or at 24
the 1224 sounds very nice and un-altered.
I suspect the d/a converters are very similar to those in the tascam
and the adats,seeing there are only a few companies thatmanufacture them.

the unit operates flawlessly although the led metering on one
channel has dropped out(not to happy about that).

this is were it gets ugly,when I called tech support several times I could'nt get through.
so I e-mailed them and they got back to me about 4 days later.
only to tell me that if the unit is under the 60 day warranty they
would give me a rma# and they would send me a factory refurbished
unit.(extremly not happy about that!!!).
paying $1200.00 for that unit should get you a one year warranty
as far as I'm concerned.
factory refurbished scares the hell out of me so I opted to live
with the meter problem.

Overall its sound quality and its software are worth the price.
latency is really not a big issue because the software routes play
back (over-dubs) directly to the outputs you choose.
if you can stomach the tech support MOTU is know for buy it.