Can Motu M2 handle active guitar pickups?

[Leoni]

Will i be able to use EMG 81 TW active pickups with the motu m2 audio interface without any problems?

[mikehalloran]

Will i be able to use EMG 81 TW active pickups with the motu m2 audio interface without any problems?

Yes.

2 x XLR/TRS "combo jack" mic/line/Hi-Z guitar inputs

There are no guarantees that you will like the resulting sound which will probably be quite clean. Cranking the Gain knob will not give you analog distortion. That's what plug-ins and amp sims are for.

[stubbsonic]

There shouldn't be an issue with the pickups being too hot (i.e., clipping the inputs). Just adjust the gain to stay below clipping. There's no High Z switch, so the inputs are just set at 1 Meg Ohm. The input impedance will have some affect on the tone, so if you aren't happy with how it is sounding you can use a DI and go into the XLR input (as a mic level source). As Mike says, all the stuff to make the electric sound like it's going through a typical preamp/amp/cab will have to happen in software.

[Leoni]

Will i be able to use EMG 81 TW active pickups with the motu m2 audio interface without any problems?

Yes.

2 x XLR/TRS "combo jack" mic/line/Hi-Z guitar inputs

There are no guarantees that you will like the resulting sound which will probably be quite clean. Cranking the Gain knob will not give you analog distortion. That's what plug-ins and amp sims are for.

Hey thx for the reply. But that is with every audio interface, right? You always need a plug-ins and amp sims to get the proper analog distortion?

[Leoni]

There shouldn't be an issue with the pickups being too hot (i.e., clipping the inputs). Just adjust the gain to stay below clipping. There's no High Z switch, so the inputs are just set at 1 Meg Ohm. The input impedance will have some affect on the tone, so if you aren't happy with how it is sounding you can use a DI and go into the XLR input (as a mic level source). As Mike says, all the stuff to make the electric sound like it's going through a typical preamp/amp/cab will have to happen in software.

So do i need DI in order to use the XLR input as an mic level source and without DI this is not possible with guitar you mean?

[mikehalloran]

So do i need DI in order to use the XLR input as a mic level source and without DI this is not possible with guitar you mean?

Huh?

You have two channels, each with a combination jack.

The XLR of the CombiJack is mic level with switchable 48V phantom power. The TRS in the middle gives you instrument level. Two guitars or two microphones or one of each.

Your Monitor buttons will determine how you hear the two Channels.

[stubbsonic]

I'm not sure how the M2/M4 adjust gain based on which input connector is used. The manual does say to use TRS (not XLR) for line level signals. If you plug in your guitar straight into the combi jack with an unbalanced 1/4" TS instrument cable, it will work fine.

I only suggested the DI thing as something to try if you weren't happy with the sound, but ignore that.

Have you tried plugging your guitar straight into the input? If so, how did it go?

[Leoni]

I'm not sure how the M2/M4 adjust gain based on which input connector is used. The manual does say to use TRS (not XLR) for line level signals. If you plug in your guitar straight into the combi jack with an unbalanced 1/4" TS instrument cable, it will work fine.

I only suggested the DI thing as something to try if you weren't happy with the sound, but ignore that.

Have you tried plugging your guitar straight into the input? If so, how did it go?

I will try when i get my guitar and let you know. I had previously guitar with passive pickup (Seymour duncan black winter) and it worked out just fine with the motu m2, but i do remember not liking active pickups tones, when i use to have active pickups long time ago with audio interface and this is why i was worried.

[jotunbjorn]

EMG's (9V) peak at -11db with my M4. It's not the actives you should worry about. Dimebucker peaks at -4db.