VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I'm really not surprised,(because changing or upgrading computer-related gear is rarely hiccup-free) but when I decided to go from a Mackie Spike audio interface to a MOTU Ultralite in order to maximize the sound quality of the new Avalon 737 pre, sure enough, I find out that the MOTU, like most interfaces, has issues with Windows XP Media Center..... Rolls Eyes

...there are modifications that you can make to the Media Center settings that are supposed to fix this in most cases, but I hit a wall (removing the RMSvc string from the Depend On Service value in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder...the DependOnService value in my computer said something different) and decided to turn back rather than risk crashing my entire computer.

Luckily, the Spike still works fine and the Avalon actually sounds pretty good through it. Big improvement over the Focusrite.

I'm just wondering if the MOTU would represent enough of an improvement to continue wrestling with this,..... or possibly get a new CPU that isn't Media Center,...... ...or to just send the MOTU back to Sweetwater.

It apparently is not a question of another interface rather than the MOTU. From what I gather, most interfaces have this problem with XP Media Center.
The Spike, however, works pretty well.

I welcome any input, common sense or techie, on this slightly vexing situation.

bobsouer · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:

Rob,

If you're pleased with the sound of the Avalon through the Spike and the system is running stable and clean, returning the MOTU sounds like the most cost effective thing to do. Especially because switching to a new computer is going to involve even more expense, time and effort.

There's no end to the upgrade process if you don't put a line down somewhere and say, "I'm going to stop here now. I have what I need."
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Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Another option is to buy an OEM version of Windows XP for about $90 (NewEgg.com has it), and reinstall your operating system.
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Yoda117 · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:52 am Post subject:

or... if you're really wanting to try out the sound of the MOTU before making that decision you could just install XP Pro on the system and merely allocate some drive space for a partition while you try it out.

If you have someone who can loan you a copy of XP, that is.

There's no need to get a new computer based on this type of problem. Frankly, unless you're really into Media Center, I've found that most folks preferred XP Pro over it.

But Bob is totally right. If you're happy with the sound already... leave it be.

EDIT: Looks like Tom beat me to the punch on this one... sorry for re-stating his point.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

louzucaro · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:19 pm Post subject:

Which Focusrite were you using?
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I was using the Focusrite Voicemaster Platinum Plus. A good pre-amp. But with a Neumann TLM 103 the Avalon is better., to my ear.

louzucaro · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject:

Ah....gotcha. Thanks!
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Yoda117 · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject:

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

The garbled thing I referred to doesn't happen very often, but it does seem to happen disproportionately with takes that feel like the "aha" take, you know, the one where it feels like, "great, I finally nailed it"..but of course in those cases you can't verify that hunch through playback.

I don't know what causes it, except maybe a temporary glitch in the sampling mechanism (guess). If it starts happening more often I may address it.

I would be willing to pay for Windows XP Pro, it's more the hassle and the risk of losing programs and possibly having my recording ability disabled during the changeover that is so distasteful. Especially since sometimes you just don't know what you're getting into when you start down one of these new roads......

Yoda117 · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject:

yeah, but if you just use some free space on your HDD (or install an additional one), you don't lose anything, and can even remove the partition and recover the space when you're done.

Yeah... once is all it would take for me to scrap any device that caused me to lose a take which I thought was "the one".

But I think it's well established here and elsewhere that I'm a bastage when it comes to my requirements and my gear.
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