USB vs. Serial/Parallel MTP AV? Difference?

NeveSSL · Post by **NeveSSL** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:52 pm

Hi all!

I was wondering if anyone could tell me if theres a difference between the MOTU MIDI Time Piece AV USB and Serial/Parallel port versions other than the obvious?

I would really like to get one, and theres at least not much cosmetic difference and I don't mind giving up my parallel port and save some money getting the non-USB version.

Thanks!

Brandon

Jidis · Post by **Jidis** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:11 pm

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Some" have parallel port MOTU's working OK, many however do not. It would probably be OK if you're running it on a 98 machine, but the reports you'll read online make the 2k/XP drivers for the parallel stuff look like sort of a hack job to get people to shut up, and the results across various systems don't appear to be very consistent.

Here's some older but still valid info (I doubt the "unified" drivers have changed all that much anyway):

http://caps.pcrecruiter.com/MOTU/

BTW- I have a MicroExpress parallel and have hit many of the same issues that others complain about. I do however see more people who have managed to get MTP's going via parallel, but that may just be from the quantities. IMHO, a mere "piece" of the headache you may be in for, if you're one of the ones it doesn't cooperate with, would make you wish you had never heard of it (or the mysterious MIDIFlyer).

Hope the USB's do better, but if I get back to needing >2 simultaneous ports, I'll probably end up with the 8x8 ESi.

Sorry for the negative junk,

George

NeveSSL · Post by **NeveSSL** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:35 pm

Thanks for the reply, George.

Ok, so there may be many problems... hmmm...

We use the USB MTP AV's at school, so I figured I might see if the parallel versions were worth savings some bucks on... perhaps not.

All I really want at this point is a nice 8x8 (more or less) "digital MIDI patch bay", if you will. Something that I can easily send one controller to different modules and just patch whatever wherever. I don't really care a ton for the sync stuff...

With that being said, what would you guys recommend?

Thanks!

Brandon

Jidis · Post by **Jidis** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:11 pm

Brandon,

That's my exact same situation. I usually don't even need all of them routed to the DAW at the same time, so I can get by with a JLCooper MSB+ here and either the built-in MIDI (yuck!) or a 2x2 MIDISport (don't care much for their drivers either, but it does OK). Haven't needed any of the sync functions so far.

The EgoSys was recommended by someone who's opinion I respect on MIDI issues (he created the MIDIBox at www.ucapps.de). I had never heard of ESI MIDI interfaces, but it was pretty cheap for an 8x8 USB (less than $150). He may have mentioned it using some standard Windows driver, which I guess would be good for long term support. May be worth looking into.

Take Care,

George

PS- It really sucks what they did to those parallels. It's regarded as one of the most reliable connection types with the tightest MIDI timing, but in one fell swoop, MOTU managed to flip that over like a Mario Bros. turtle.