I would really suggest against the MOTU compared to the sound of Focusrite. Compared my 2 MOTU 2408 mk2's to 2 Focusrite Sapphire pro 40's- no comparison! Much clearer, less digital-ish- by far. That's if latency isn't much of a problem for you and you're not doing a lot of MIDI and soft-synth work. I found the MOTU's are better latency-wise. 

Some guy on here had some MOTU's modified by... Black Lion?? ...something like that- and he was very pleased. Either way- both good interfaces. But the Focusrite's were much more musical sounding to my ear- and no comparison. But I do almost exclusively acoustic recording, monitoring through a vintage mixer- so latency is no big to me.

Compared my 2 MOTU 2408 mk2's to 2 Focusrite Sapphire pro 40's

Well give yourself a chance !! 2408 mkII were great in it's days ... like what 10 years ago !!  ;) 


but since the OP is interfacing with a Tascam DM24 (with 3 TDIF ports) ... a 2408mk3 would be the obvious choice. 


but beware !! I've red on some audio forums (RME and Maudio notably), about newer computer mainboards and PCI support. 


Since sandy bridge, PCI slots are bridged into the PCI express buss.. they are not native like they used to. 
Some intel chipsets do have native PCI, but newer ones (Z-series for example) does have a ITE PCI bridge that can affect PCI audio performance, 
inducing clicks and pops, and CPU spikes. looks like Maudio is phasing out PCI interfaces because of this. 

Nowadays, I would make sure I can test and return if ever a PCI soundcard is not working properly in a newer machine, 

but still, firewire is not sooo good for high-channel count AND low latency... 

Hope that helps ! 

Cheers ! 

V

I would really suggest against the MOTU compared to the sound of Focusrite. Compared my 2 MOTU 2408 mk2's to 2 Focusrite Sapphire pro 40's- no comparison! Much clearer, less digital-ish- by far. That's if latency isn't much of a problem for you and you're not doing a lot of MIDI and soft-synth work. I found the MOTU's are better latency-wise.

 
If the OP is looking for 24 channels of TDIF I/O (on the audio interface)... he's probably using the Digital Console for A/D D/A.
 

• Focusrite's forte' is fidelity for the buck.
• MOTU's forte' is excellent ultra low latency performance for the buck
• RME - you get the best of both (and the price reflects that)

If 16 channels of I/O would suffice, the RME RayDat with two TEB (TDIF Expansion Board) units would be another option.

Having owned multiple RME cards over the years (Multiface, digiface, HDSP9652)... I must say I don't quite understand the hype about AD/DA quality of RME ... sure it's the most reliable, with the less latency, the most amazing routing options and everything ... 

But about the "sound"... I think they sound rather small, thin and 2D. I've compared them straight to a MOTU 896HD ... and the MOTU sounded so much better, I'd pick up a bunch of MOTU before a RME if I'd need AD/DA... but RME if using digital I/O

but the thing with MOTU, while it might be less the case since they are porting DP to windows now... but back in the days, 
I've always had that feeling that MOTU were supporting windows only the get the money rolling... not-so-frequent driver updates and overall windows support, compared to RME. 
V

The Steinberg interfaces are picking up some positive feedback with their latest driver release apparently making them a very solid option. Supposedly they are good sounding units. I would like to hear one up close. 

I'm slowly shopping my way through a few of these with presonus vsl and steinberg as being the most interesting to me right now.

I want great sound, low latency and dependability at a decent price point. It seems like a crap-shoot sorting through all the offerings not named RME. 

Having owned multiple RME cards over the years (Multiface, digiface, HDSP9652)... I must say I don't quite understand the hype about AD/DA quality of RME

 
Based on the above list, I could see why you'd come to this conclusion.  
Out of the three listed, the Multiface is the only one with decent converters.
The D/A on the Digiface is really there for headphone amp (not to be a pristine D/A).
 
FWIW, I have an 896HD... and it's still getting used a lot.
Good sound, you can completely bypass the onboard preamps, and great ultra low latency performance
 
If you compare the fidelity of the Fireface and newer RME units... I think you'd come to a different conclusion.
ie:  I've measured the Fireface 800's average noise-floor at -117 to -118dB.  The 896HD's average noise-floor is -110 to -111dB.  Many typical audio interfaces have an average noise-floor of -103 to -107dB.
While this may not seem like a huge deal on a single track of audio, multiply that 6 to 14dB of extra noise across 24-48 tracks.
 
MOTU A/D D/A tends to sound a little darker (relatively speaking) and more "round".
RME A/D D/A (by comparison) sounds a little brighter and better preserves transients (relatively speaking).
Note that these are subjective/relative comments.  You can record great sounding tracks with either...

Didnt MOTU and RME use the same converters at one point? I have this in my brain for some reason. I dont know if they still do or if they did in the past. Or maybe im just missinformed

People keep warning me that MOTU drivers are way more flakey on Windows,than RME,and a trip to their site does make one think they are mac preferred[DP] however,I was also told this mainly an issue with the cheaper interfaces,when using USB,or older Firewire only,and the PCI PCIE,are fine with Windows[OP's 2408]?

I would like to get a step up from my cake UA25-EX,but I must say it works great for a highish latency USB 1.1 unit,as far as sound per dollars.

regards
Bob

Gaffpro


I have an RME UCX which I love....plenty of ins and outs for what I need.....

I have the RME Fireface UFX and love it over my Tascam FW-1184 (which is now just a control surface and 8 additional inputs via ADAT lightpipe to the RME).


Excellent sound quality.

Thank you all for your most informative posts. Now my head is swimming with all the info. LOL. Now I just gotta decide the best way to go, after taking all of your posts and opinions under consideration.

I'd like to gain life out of the DM-24, but better pre-amps and a totally re-vamped set up would be nice. Arrrgghhhh. Decisions, decisions...

Again, thanks for the posts and insight into drivers, latency, pre-amps, experiences, etc.
You know what else is really cool? Cakewalk supporting these forums and actually responding and listening to their customers. Tascam just didn't give a s#%$. That's why I'll thing twice, no thrice, before every purchasing a Tascam product. The firewire interface was always a bit buggy, too.

You guys, truly, are the best!

Wally