All user reviews for the MOTU 896HD

Enticing features, 8-quality preamp perfect for the battery's sampling various resolutions and to facilitate conversions ...
Used under OSX 10.5 with an intel imac 4GB Ram.
Use home studio / record repeated.
Trendy firewire.

USE

Drivers stable? Bad, Poor OSX. It extinguishes it back on, it restarts, still nothing ...
Once launched, it is launched.
Used with Logic Pro 8.
It can record 8 tracks easily, but the CPU overhead so quickly, 8 tracks on VIDE project.
RAS latency.
I put 2 to use for its recurrent instability.


IMPLEMENTATION

The installation is not the top.
A FIREPOD has fewer options but there's also less sea ** s.
The config is not terrible, moldy plastoc buttons are not accurate.
The config sometimes acting up and changes everything alone.
I put 2 because there's pretty LED that give an idea (or not) of clipping.


NOTICE GLOBAL

Used for a year.
I think this card is not worth its price.
The preamps are not terrible, not notched the knobs on a battery with the overheads, even line / mic and clipping it to 0dB (I've never picked why !!! The power of preamps she would be so Powerful? Ps : tested with various microphones)
I did not buy but a friend. I never would have bought otherwise (It will not make her happy). Negative opinions were very unusual at the time of purchase, I see that this is deteriorated thereafter.
Frankly, with all its complex possibilities, we include anything, especially since it only works halfway, so it gets worse. It is expensive and not ergonomic. The switch at the back are plastic and not accurate for a pet.
The level of LEDs is also a bit wrong (unlike the D / 0dB ???)
In short, look elsewhere especially if you do not know much.
Take the plug-n-play rather ^ _ ^

I chose the 896HD for 8 inputs and 10 outputs, ADAT inputs and outputs
I used in the home studio to record mainly rock band (drums, guitar, vocals, synth etc.), I mostly use the preamp Motu which are, in my opinion, very good they may be lacking a bit of headroom but very acceptebla

It is connected to PC firewire windows 7 64.
Asus M5A88-Vevo
AMD FX-6100 3.30ghz 6 cores
16gb ram
Radeon HD 6770
3TB hard drives

UTILIZATION

For my part, unlike many, I found the driver very stable with my config. I never had any problems stall or cracking noise or bizare as music. I just unplug it, turn it off and never problems
the setting still and always already deal with the PC. That said, I do not have the Texas Instrument chipset on my card Pci Firewire.

I use Cubase 5 for complete mix, I just record 8 tracks simultaneously without any problem. I just listen to a song and mix complete (about 30 to 40 tracks) without even touching the buffer before the end and with a lot of plug ins waves.

Latency is very low and inaudible

The problem with this is that the Motu drivers are almost never updated but for my part that I work very well anyway so even if a new drive Motu go out I do not instalerais fear of have problems

GETTING STARTED

The installation ...
I pulled the hair on the head hhhaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggg
but after the first installation over the same problems I reinstall after formatting and no problem the first time wow

The general config is very simple in cubase 5 when conait based

No incompatibility has played this but I must say that c, and the same pc and the same cubase

I downloaded the manual and it is very comprehensive

OVERALL OPINION

I've had two and a half years

I tried the presonus usb audiobox which is very good but only 2 inputs and 2 outputs
The result in line 6 TonePort UX8 I used a lot and that I loved but I still I do is more, since I have the UX8 896HD is the past

What I like most is the quality of the converters, the robustness of the machine and connections DiverCité
I love the moin is the lack of MIDI but I have a midi express 128 going for me so ca

The Motu 896 HD is a fire wire interface, it is also rather a big unit so don’t expect just to sit this on your desktop. I am pretty sure that I twill take up more than one rack space if I can remember correctly and if you don’t have rack space in your studio then I don’t recommend purchasing this because you really wont have anywhere to put it at.


UTILIZATION

The price of this interface is pretty steep, but it does have a lot of ins for your to record all of your mics and instruments all together. it’s a really convenient device but only if you don’t plan on making it a mobile interface. It is not mobile at all and belongs in a studio setting racked up. It can also be used on a stage if you need it to be , it actually seems like it was built for a live stage setting if you ask me. It has 18 inputs and 22 outputs, it has the main outs for your monitors or speakers and outs for your headphones.


GETTING STARTED

The greatest part of this interface I that it has an on board mixing feature, I never really had the chance to get into depth with this feature though just because I really would rather mix on my DAW and with a lot of different plug ins.


OVERALL OPINION

I am not sure about the manual with this device, when I was using it I didn’t have a manual which was part of the reason that I couldn’t use the Motu 896 HD to its full potential. I had several questions about a few things while I was using it and just didn’t have a manual to do these things.

If you can afford to purchase one of these I say go for it if you have the space. If you don’t have the space you don’t need this type of unit because there are a lot of ins and outs. that’s only for bigger projects and if you just need to inputs there really isn’t a point in having this. I didn’t need to have it at home, its in the local studio.

First, it does not for ages I'm actually in the home studio because it is the first card worthy of the name but I use what I know, this card is more than Honourable get started.

Despite having a lot nosed in Audiofanzine files and other sites dealing with the subject, I must admit I bought this card at random from the advice of one of my teachers.

I had recommended and I bought the 192 because I thought it would be time to have won 12 entries from the start but the problem with this card was the preamp nonexistent.
So, I turned on the HD 896 and I'm not disappointed ...
I used "basically" because I only use the I / O analog and no AES / EBU, etc.

I used to overdub record groups: drums, guitars "clean" and saturated vocals, bass, synths, sampler, percussion ...

I have no external preamp, but it is doing just fine. With microphones requiring AP48 (switchable on each slice) or TLM type U87, the level is fine but when I record with dynamic knob of the preamp is almost fully controlled and becomes very end ... especially vis-à-vis the strength of the knobs.

This is one of the negative points of this card but I imagine that by using the preamp, there are ways to be more comfortable.

I use the machine runs great and together form a harmonious couple

UTILIZATION

Installation is a snap or so. They say to install the software first then plug in and it works but, in fact, the next (the power supply plug, lol) that the card is identified and installed by the OS.

This is a detail because once that is done, you go. I started recording group the following week.

So far, I have encountered no hardware or software incompatibility.

Overall, the config is easy. It is not cluttered with lots incomprehensible as settings in the software that use it ...
Among them, sample rate, choice of exits for buses, pedal (ability to assign two conditions: when you press the pedal and when the break. We can put any shortcut. gadget that can be useful for musicians who want to register only. No need to click the mouse and then sit back, take the instrument, miss, repeat ...)

Besides that, it has a virtual mixer consists of four tabs for the four buses. We can therefore assign any output to a bus and make four different mix together.
When using the ASIO driver, the mix of inputs is not taken into account when the registered if one of the DTD. It was not until the release of the bus, so the physical output that the mix is ​​like listening or external effects. One can for example be used for recording on MD, external drive, K7.

Please note: Once a mix is ​​done in the virtual console, it can be used without a computer because it saves the last used config ... Interesting to record a rehearsal with tjs mix that will be the same.
It is also possible, via the computer, save snapshots and recall them later

If we want to enjoy the mix of the console "synthetic" (maybe because it has no host software or the machine does not cash the multitrack) we can use the multimedia driver.

The grip and frankly it's going faster and more we want to make the most

Phones output is configurable on any bus or independently, the output Phones

The manual is in English for Mac and PC. It is sufficient for one who understands English. I threw it!

GETTING STARTED

The drivers seem stable. RAS far. So much so that I am still not gone to see if AJ was out.

I use Cubase Samplitude and sometimes

From input to output, the latency is completely imperceptible. It's live! With a good machine for use as via host software. I think with two or three cards in series, there are ways to do live, especially if it has external effects (reverb, compressor derière the L / R, delay, ...)

Since I only have a card I can not, of course, recording eight tracks at once.

Given the config of the computer, it runs ...

When to read at the same time, I disconnected the plug-ins because it couinçouille. Despite a defragmentation after each day of recording with a defragmenter worthy of the name, I feel like the weak link in my chain is the SCSI HD. J'enviseage move to RAID

In short, the problem is not the MOTU

OVERALL OPINION

It is only a few months I use it but I do not regret the previous one is completely on the street -> Map general public

I really like ease of use. The breath I did so far not questioned at all ... The potential of four buses seem more than acceptable return for external effects or to a / the network headphone. And there are others such as digital outputs to MTK, etc ...

What I hate is that it makes you want to go buy a midi controller, compressors, effects above and paste it in the meantime, we must cry! lol
Apart from that, it's true that the preamp do not heat or the atypical and are difficult to quickly adjustable.

I rank this card (in fell in love with, I say) of a TLM comes out the sound as it entered it. To work after to give its values, but we can not blame him for the month as an Audigy! Nothing to do, I know .......

Apart from maps public, I have not tried other things but I do know is that there really means to own with super models. Subject, of course, what goes around ... an M149, for example .... What a shame !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can not say that it is not expensive because "you still get the money but I think it is his job honorably.

Do not forget that even when samples 192 000 Khz !!!!!!! Thing does not manage or Cubase or Samplitude or our computer!!

I have no idea of ​​the quality of its converters but I think it is worth its price.
After reflection, I tell myself that I could have just the 826 which is about half the price. But there have been trade XLR cables against the TRS.

Now that I have, I do not regret it at all. The settings of the preamp, bus outputs, digital outputs, and analog phones in the facade are a real comfort as well as the peak-meters.

If I had my choice again, I think I will opt for a studio with a Neve 400 m², swimming pool, jacuzzi, talking clock, bike and VW combi !!!!!!!! lol

No, I love this card and I enjoy just as much to use it to watch it in all its forms.

Buy MOTU, you will not be disappointed .....

AD / DA converter, 8-Channel Sampling up to 192KHz, used with or without PC (keep in memory the dernire config)

I use it mainly to the small of my group DMOS (recording direct-to-disk, but it can "serve" the mixer if there is a lack of tracks ...

With my Athlon XP 1800 + on a K7S5A, 512 DDR, Windows XP and Sonar 4 has rolled nickel (I'm only the acquisition, no plugin "live")

I dfinitevement place in my flight case with my mixer and all my belongings. With a little editing personal, I plug all the instruments on a Neutrik combo jacks ramp to enter the Motu, and the outputs of the motu are rebalanced on the mixer (much attention both volumes rgler Output: prampli saturation of the mixer) to avoid to lug the Motu, plug / unplug each use. I just connect the firewire cable: d

UTILIZATION

Basic installation, is not simple. Every time I recommend to avoid all sources of conflict and hardware performance, buy a firewire card Adaptec brand, both performing and trs trs flexible. For my part I am FirewireConnect 4300.
For the configuration can be, even beginners can do one, while following the manual ass clear.

GETTING STARTED

Until now I never had any trouble with the drivers of instability. Any time I noticed that with only XP (does not with windows 2000 pro), if the motu j'teinds while leaving the firewire cable plugged my pc reboot ... ( I see my config ...).

J'utlise gnralement Sonar 4, otherwise a free little app Audacity, walking nickel, either a single track or tracks simultaneously.

OVERALL OPINION

It'll be a year since I have, I'm really happy.

I love the simplicity of use, flexibility, stability connectivity complte, VU meters to see really pretty: d

Every time I reproached him some small dtails not involved in its operation:
Rglage-switches of the level of situs derrire. In the faade ct swith Food fantme t have much practice as his hands move to find the switch ....
-Srigraphie: numrotation tracks not really visible, no ass large size, located below the potentiomtres gain ...
-Speaking of potentiomtres gain, trs got my brittle, plastic, for the ass end rglage difficult, as too sensitive

For my first interfae AD / DA, I'm really happy, on both its quality, but also report qualitprix.

I would do this choice, but in light of a purchase of a new mixer (Soundcraft LX7II version 32 tracks, 24 direct outputs), I would plutt the Alesis HD24 home, to make direct-to-disk 24-track hard disk. No need to take the pc to record

Hello all,

I served in thatre, sound and multitrack audio or diffused live.

It gnial.

A Sony Vaio laptop ram 1.8Ghz/1Go branch in the motu firewire fiber optic branch in / out on a 01V v2 96. Install ultra-fast!

Nickel is really the perfect product for my use.
nico.
nicolas.theatred @ wanadoo.fr

UTILIZATION

Ultra quick and simple instructions.

GETTING STARTED

Trs simple, easy to ACCS.

OVERALL OPINION

A little less a concern for the SPDIF Coax between but I'm aps that come on the Motu 896 HD.

The choice of a number of non ngligeables, and outputs. The worldclock, the adat.
The use of other cards motu, the 828, the ultralite, high-quality maps.
But the use of macpro, macbookpro, is almost impossible, fantastic drivers blocking compltement The systems under Mac OSX. The use of this card is problmatique, whereas with the same computers and ultralite 828 cards work perfectly. The VAS has no home motu rponse in providing platforms macintel.
In addition, under pc, the problem appeared trs quickly, one firewire working, sync problem, stability and bold.

UTILIZATION

Installation without problem on Windows XP SP2, but not with mac intel, the card is recognized but not working.
No solutions on Mac OSX, although many returns in customer service, for many people.

GETTING STARTED

Using windows with Samplitude, Sequoia, Ableton Live.
Mac OSX, both use the internal sound card of the computer, at least it works.

OVERALL OPINION

Purchased in a professional, I will change to a RME card that works perfectly with Mac and Windows, and yet I recommend the motu 828, ultralite trs that work well, but certainly not the 896 hd, that include problem inhrents design, become the bte black card MOTU

What technical specifications motivated your choice?

Premire of all frquences chantillonage.
Secondly the number of
Then the quality of Class A pramp
A stability with any software and PC and Mac compatible
And secondly because motu proven

For what purpose?
What is your config (motherboard / CPU / Ram / Hard ,...)?

I use it in my home studio with an imac intel dual core 2.8
with 4 gigabytes of RAM and Logic Studio 8 software
and Genelec monitoring 1029apm
It's good stuff you need to know the master course. There are better now but we must bring the ticket and I think the Motu 896 HD is already very honorable way you can go can be the last of the 896 mk 3 it has a built-in compressor. Bonne continuation.

UTILIZATION

Installation is no problem it?

can not be easier I finally installed the first time with my config there was no worry.

Have you experienced any incompatibility?

NO

Gnrale configuration is easy?

We can not go that far if it must lean on.

The manual is clear and sufficient? ...

manel gives all the necessary information there is no problem

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are stable?

I never had to worry about it

Are they often put day?

not often but it means that ceu that are in place works very well why change

What software do you use most often?
Logic Pro 8

What you get lag?
o latency

How many tracks you get record / playback simultanment? ...
8

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?

soon 1 year

What is the particular feature you like best and least?

I love the quality as I wanted at least a second headphone

- Have you tried many other models before acqurir?
I knew the presonus FIREPOD

How do you report qualitprix?
very good

- With the exprience, you do again this choice? ...

ben wait a bit and I'll take the last of 896 mk 3

Tempting ...
I do not return dessus.Je put 8 because the features are not bad, the preamp a little soft, with dynamic typing really need it.
The quality is good but could well have 10db preamp gain to allow additional margin.

UTILIZATION

This is where it goes bad
Installation ok for a map! For cons: I made the mistake of buying two and there is a real mess in XP! All forums will tell you ...
I worked with several config MOTU, Cubase, Samplitude and DP. With PCI (HD192 or 828 etc ...) are no problem sync. You plug, it works. But with FireWire, it's still the same boat for sync! Clearly, you branchezs, it does not work.
Under windows, I am desperate to see 4 896HD work together as expected in the manual ... frankly I do not believe for a moment.
With multiple cards, the general config is simple but not working or wrong, not! voila!
I'm not sure if the problem is resolved with the new version to follow ....

Another black spot worse for that matter, is the CueMix. With the PCI version, if you got 24 entries, you're a CueMix of 24 slices, which is very convenient. With multiple firewire cards, you're a console card is not practical, especially for monitoring ... Should use out of a card to enter the other to a mix of all inputs, in short not practical.

It gets a good novel when I stop.

GETTING STARTED

The stable drivers, so with a card with two ... I do not know if it's the driver, but in any case it is the misery! Have a look on the forum and Audiofanzine motu on sync

Updated, well there is a priori no need, since it MOTU tape that it does not work in firewire ... there's to ask, do we have all (for those who have multiple cards).

0 latency for monitoring, if not acceptable for all projects up to 20 entries at least for my part (analog + AES ...) again is that the conversion sampling via AES, but hey, never mind.

So there I cares a big bubble that moves the Motu is f *** and stop charging a fortune for cards like that?!? At this price it is expected of something stable! They do it well with the PCI.

OVERALL OPINION

I used one card for many years, nickel. In the second, it was a disaster.

It's really dedicated home studio, with the switch on the back the bike, the combo inputs, you can not put that rack studio pro to connect everything to a patchbay, should always go back to fiddling with something stupid. on the other hand, if you have two cards, it's nice to have feet to wear!

The value for money is worth now, used. But above Do not buy TWO!

With experience I will not repeat that choice. Advice, be patient, put 400 dollars more and get a PCI!
It upset me very MOTU on this point so I refout a bubble, so there!

CHARACTERISTICS allchantes, 8 pramp of quality perfect for drums, and various display resolutions chantillonages to facilitate conversions ...
Using OSX 10.5 with an Intel iMac 4GB Ram.
Use home studio / record RPTES.
Branch in firewire.

UTILIZATION

Drivers stable? Okay, not great in OSX. It teind is back on, restart it, still nothing ...
Once launched it is launched.
Used with Logic Pro 8.
It can record 8 tracks easily but then quickly overload the CPU, 8 tracks on an empty project.
RAS latency.
I put 2 use for its instability rcurrente.

GETTING STARTED

The installation is not the top.
A FIREPOD has fewer options but There's also less sea ** s.
The config is not great, the buttons are not moldy plastoc prcis.
The config is sometimes his own and only changes everything.
I put 2 because There's nice that give an ide led (or not) of the clipping.

OVERALL OPINION

Uses in a year.
I think this card is not worth its price.
The preamps are not great, the knobs not notched on one battery with the overheads, even in the line / mic and a 0 dB peak (capt why I never! Power the preamps is it so Powerful? ps: test with different microphones)
I did not buy but a friend. I would never have bought otherwise (It will not please him). The opinions ngatifs taient trs unusual the era of purchase, I see that it went well DGRAD thereafter.
Frankly, with all its complex possibilities, we include anything, especially since a does not work that MOITI so it gets worse. It's expensive and not ergonomic. The switch the rear are plastic and not prcis a pet.
The level of the LEDs is also a bit wrong (Difference of 0dB numrique / analog??)
In short, look elsewhere especially if you do not know much.
Take the plug-n-play plutt ^ _ ^

The number of input and output of many preamps that are of good quality. Very useful, 8 phantom power and routing systems can send different mix in the headphones of various members of the group that recorded.


UTILIZATION

Used with xp sp 2, laptop centrino 1596 MHz and 1.5 GB of RAM, which is already 5 years old and still all his teeth! No problems with drivers downloaded from the site. The card does not require large resources given the age of my machine is good. The update on the website of drivers motu is followed. Used with Cubase SX.

GETTING STARTED

Easy installation, setup is easy. Over long recording periods (several hours or a day) no worries. on the other hand can encounter problems if you turn the computer inadvertently. It is better to eliminate all paused the computer that can disrupt the operation of the card and let everything run if absent shortly.

OVERALL OPINION

More than two years of use. Using the Roland GS 10 above, I still use it in addition to the motu for guitar effects and amp simulations via USB port. There is no picture quality preamp and what pleases me most is the number of inputs and outputs, preamp and phantom power and possibilities of routing and mix. Now I no longer need as many inputs and outputs and I'm going back on a small card less bulky (the motu 896 hd is formatted rack) in a cell block mind-note music. And if I need to save something more ambitious or praise I will borrow the gear.

The MOTU 896 HD was the first audio interface I bought when I wanted to get into digital recording with my computer. I was running it with a Hewlett Packard lap top with a 3 Ghz processor and 2 GB of RAM and using Cubase SX as a sequencer. It has eight XLR input based preamplifiers and then has eight more ADAT inputs and outputs and also has a AES/EBU connections.

UTILIZATION

Setting up the MOTU 896 HD was quick and painless. I had no compatibility issues and was able to have the unit up and running with my machine within minutes. The general configuration of the unit is simple and easy to follow, which makes it easy to manipulate and to learn what everything does. The manual is complete and through and is useful when setting up and using this audio interface.

GETTING STARTED

I ran the MOTU 896 HD with Cubase SX without any problems. The drivers were stable and are updated pretty often. I was able to record without any latency, as this machine does all of its processing within the unit, freeing up space on my computer. I was able to record at least ten tracks at once, sometimes more, which has more to do with my computer I think, but being as fast as this interface is, it definitely helps to run everything quickly and smoothly.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought the MOTU 896 HD about four years ago, but I have since switched to a Pro Tools based system with a different audio interface. The reason I switched had nothing to do with this unit, as I think this is better than the audio interface I have now - a Digidesign Digi 002 rack version. The reason I switched was simply because I need to run Pro Tools. If you don't use Pro Tools, this is one of the best home studio audio interfaces you can get. The preamps aren't the best sounding, but are definitley usable and will get a pretty clean sound. One of my favorite parts about this is the metering, as it is extremely clear and looks great! This interface worked great for me while I had it, and if I could run Pro Tools with it, I would still have it. Highly recommended for those looking to put together a computer based home studio with an audio interface like this one.

IT HAS EVERYTHING I NEED FOR MY COMPLETE SETUP. I COULD SERIOULSY JUST PLUG IN AND RECORD FROM ANYWHERE. I HAVE IT SETUP ON MY STUDIO DESKTOP AND ALSO ON MY LAPTOP. ITS NOT REALLY BIG BUT ITS NOT SMALL. ITS A COMPLETE PACKAGE JUST PLUG YOU MICS AND YOUR MONITORS INTO ONE SYSTEM AND THERE YOU HAVE IT. DONT EVEN NEED AN OUTSIDE MIXER. UNLESS YOUR USING ANY TYPES OF PRE-AMPS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. ALSO HAS A ON BOARD HEAD PHONE INPUT SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO YOUR MIX AND WHATS GOING ON.

Price paid: $1000

UTILIZATION

REAL EASY TO USE WAS UP AND RECORDING THE NEXT DAY I GOT IT. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE PLUGS YOU NEED!!

GETTING STARTED

I DROPPED IT ONCE AND ITS STILL TICKING. (AT LEAST I THINK IT STILL SOUND GOOD.) NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. HAD IT FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

OVERALL OPINION

IT IS A REALLY GREAT PRODUCT. HANDS DOWN FOR ME HAS DELIVERED THE BEST SOUND IT CAN RECORD UP TO 192KHZ ONLY IF YOUR COMP CAN HANDLE IT. I ONLY WISH THE SOFTWARE WAS A LITTLE MORE IN-DEPTH THOUGH.

MY LOVER PRETTY MUCH. WE HAVE RELATIONS EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK. SHE LIKES IT WHEN I TURN HER KNOBS.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Unfadeable E.R.G. ( 4-, 2006)

- What technical features/characteristics motivated your choice?

This unit can record at varying bit-depths and sample rates, all the way up to 24-bit/192khz, which is about as good as it gets right now. It has 8 audio inputs with preamps and phantom power which sound very good and transparent. The front panel meters are generously sized so it's easy to monitor levels while recording. Firewire connectivity makes it very portable and easy to set up. It's a fantastic converter box for any home or project studio.

- For what use?

I use this as my main converter for my studio.

- What is your Setup (Mother Board/CPU/RAM/Disc,...)?

I run Sonar on a Windows XP system with an Intel motherboard, dual core Intel processor, 4GB of Ram, an 80GB Raptor hard drive for audio and 3 500GB data drives.

- With what instruments or systems (console, preamp,DTD...) do you use it and what connection types are there ?

I use it as a converter as a DAW and sometimes for its preamps. I also use it with outboard preamps, as the audio inputs are variable and can be set to accept line level audio. In addition to microphones, I have run basses direct into the preamps on the MOTU, and it worked fine. The 8 audio inputs are combo connectors, so you can use XLR and 1/4".

UTILIZATION

- Did it install without any problems?

Installation is extremely easy - install the driver and plug in the firewire. No problems.

- Were there any compatibility issues?

MOTU is great about providing drivers for a wide variety of OS's and audio formats. I had no compatibility issues.

- Is the general configuration/setup simple?

It is. The basic uses of the unit are very intuitive - though there are more advanced features if you care to peruse the manual - such as using the device as a live sound mixer.

- Is the manual clear and sufficient?...
It is very much so.

GETTING STARTED

- Are the drivers stable?

I've never had any problems with the drivers, this unit is very reliable.

- Are they often updated?

MOTU seems to be quick about offering patches or new drivers when any problems arise, but since I've owned this unit I've had no problems.

- Which software do you most often use?

Windows XP and Cakewalk SONAR.

- How much latency are you getting?

Doesn't really apply - although the MOTU offers Zero Latency monitoring, using the included CueMix software.

- How many tracks can you record/read simultaneously?...

8 Tracks recorded simultaneously, and as many as your computer can handle for reading.

OVERALL OPINION

- For how long have you been using it?

I've been using it for about 3 years.

- What thing do you like most/least about it?

I love the clean, transparent sound, the great metering, the portability, and it's a great value. I really don't have much to say negatively about it.

- Did you try many other models before getting this one?

I have worked with other competing models, such as the Mackie Onyx converter, and found the 896HD to be the best value in the ~$1000 price range.

- What is your opinion about the value for the price?

Great value.

- Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?...

Absolutely. However - MOTU just released the 896mk3, which is basically an updated version of this unit. So I would advise buyers to go for the 896mk3 now, as it has more features.