MOTU fastlane; wise purchase?

[grrrz]

I'll be in need of a new usb-MIDI interface since my edirol UM-3ex has no support for modern versions of macOS, and I'm considering a MOTU fastlane. I'll never need more than 3 I/O (with my ultralite) and I want the most reliable solution there is to send MIDI data at a pretty high rate without hiccups (I use MIDI to send light information to a dmx interface with a max patch; and it's taking most of the MIDI bandwidth). So is it still worth it to buy a fastlane 2/2? What I mean mostly is can I count on driver support for the years to come? I generally had no problem with MIDI on my MOTU interface and I've heard good things about the fiability and quality of the MIDI connection generally on MOTU interfaces
The other solution I consider is the iconnectivity mioXM but it's not the same price range.

[bayswater]

Maybe someone who knows what they're talking about will chime in here, but I'd notice that the Fastlane is so old it has the picture of a Unicorn on it. I bought a MicroLite a very long time ago and the Fastlane was not listed in the "Products" links of the MOTU website even then.

If you're concern is obsolescence, perhaps on of the products listed here would be a better choice.
https://motu.com/en-us/products/MIDI-products/

[grrrz]

The fastlane is still sold and listed on the MOTU website (https://motu.com/products/MIDI/fastlane_usb ); but the problem remain for all MOTU MIDI interfaces; they're not class compliant and support could be dropped any day. On the other hand my ultralite mk3 FW still works under big sur, so support is kinda long term; I don't know. Thing is there are not many serious alternative in this category; it's either a lot of ports or one. The nektar midiflex 4 seems interesting but I'm not sure about reliability. or a used microlite; but it'd be the same problem as the fastlane again. I like the concept of iconnectivity mioXM; maybe when I can justify buying one.

[bayswater]

The fastlane is still sold and listed on the MOTU website (https://motu.com/products/MIDI/fastlane_usb );

Everywhere I looked said it’s no longer available.

The Wikiaudio review of the microlite says it’s class compliant. Did you see something to the contrary ?

https://www.wikiaudio.org/best-MIDI-interface/

[grrrz]

Maybe the person made a mistake; I'm pretty sure this interface is not class-compliant at all (if you or anyone can confirm?) It says on the manual it requires driver; and nowhere except on the link you gave is it listed as class-compliant. Also some people couldn't use it before MOTU released a driver for big sur recently. (also it says https://www.gearank.com/guides/MIDI-interface it is not).
You're right that the fastlane seems to be hard to find and slowly depreciating though.
Maybe I'll try another option.

[Bobbyd]

I've got one that I haven't used many many years. It's so old, it used a printer port rather than USB!

[grrrz]

I've got one that I haven't used many many years. It's so old, it used a printer port rather than USB!

really?
well I think I'll go with Iconnectivity; seems to work well and it's class compliant. too bad they don't have a 2/2 interface. I'll either take two 1/1 or their pricey mioXM with full routing; ethernet and usb-host support.

[mikehalloran]

There have been a few versions over the years and the USB version can still be purchased new — no idea how many years those have been sitting on the shelves, though, since it no longer shows up in current products.

The manual mentions Core MIDI and then goes on about the drivers and OS 9.
https://cdn-data.motu.com/manuals/MIDI/ ... de_Mac.pdf

The ones I had years ago were problematic as was my daughter's. I see no reason to buy one.

[grrrz]

There have been a few versions over the years and the USB version can still be purchased new — no idea how many years those have been sitting on the shelves, though, since it no longer shows up in current products.

The manual mentions Core MIDI and then goes on about the drivers and OS 9.
https://cdn-data.motu.com/manuals/MIDI/ ... de_Mac.pdf

The ones I had years ago were problematic as was my daughter's. I see no reason to buy one.

yeah it's old ok. thanks I'll go with another solution.

[daniel.sneed]

I still use a Fastlane (usb) for some projects, from time to time.
Very reliable, IMOE. Never a single glitch, for years now.

[grrrz]

going with a used iconnectivity 2/2. seems to be the future-proof option.