My rating was a little higher before I connected it to a IBM platform (YEA, I know, appleheads!) But; after I got the correct USB chip installed, and talked the drivers into working (for some reason, the drivers I got from MOTU in the mail were hidden read only .inf files) I have to admit that it is the best at any price. I run two of these patch bays with a Roland A-90, a PC, and 14 modules and synthesizers. (Still room for two more!) For the first time since I entered the modern synth world, I have control of everything from one station, and I am hear to tell you, It kicks serious bootie! A month or two of practice, and I won't need ANYONE but a tech assistant. One man sound avalanche.

This product, as with other MOTU products claiming Windows 98 Second Edition compatibility, is a nightmare to install and when all is said and done there are countless problems; up to 5 second lag (not msec!!!), random deactivation of the device, not synchronizing and causing other devices to work incorrectly, no matter how few other devices I have (I DID clean up the system, completely erased the drive and reinstalled just the basics. No luck.) I've had it for months and had it ALMOST working for just a few days.
If you know someone who has the same OS as you and got it to work, this product enjoys an excellent reputation, but do some research before spending hundreds of dollars on it.

Feature:
Not all music software works well with this unit using a PC/Windows. I can't "slave" my recording software with my Triton while using this unit. I can slave my software using other Midi Ports such as the one on the Delta 1010 interface. SoundDiver doesn't work at all as well as other apllications. It crashes my system everytime I try to use most of my "midi" software. I tested my system with a Midisport Interface and I experienced absolutely no problems whatsoever.The 8x8 patchbay works well as a stand-alone unit. But navigating thru the front panel screens is a headache.

Quality:
The product absolutely did NOT live up to my expectations. Being a "MOTU" product, I expected and lot more than what I got.

Value:
This product may work a lot better in the Mac platform but I would not recommend this unit with a Windows PC at all. I could have gotten a better unit for my system for a much cheaper price!

Desirability:
I'm looking to trade this unit in for something else SOON!

Support:
I tried to contact MOTU via e-mail back in NOVEMBER and I have yet to hear from them and I'VE tried calling them but with NO success.

Overall:
I will dump this unit as soon as possible.