MOTU M2/4

[mikehalloran]

Good call, Bayswater.

I tried the hub on both ports, no luck. Then I tried the M4, sans hub, on the right port, no luck. Then on the left port, and eureka!

So in class-compliant mode, it works and reboots normally on the left port sans hub. Not very convenient, but at least I know what will work.

I really appreciate your following this thread, and making that very wise suggestion!!

Good news.

As you now know, not all ports on most MB are powered. This goes way back to the G3/FW versions.

[stubbsonic]

As you now know, not all ports on most MB are powered. This goes way back to the G3/FW versions.

FWIW, I was getting power from either port, and the M4 would work on either port. This was just a matter of whether or not I had to turn the M4 off and back on again for it to be re-recognized as the preferred audio i/o.

It's hard to know whether the M4 is the issue, or whether the MBP doesn't "handshake" (?) at the right moment from the other port? I'm spit balling.

[mikehalloran]

Unless there’s something at NAMM that changes my mind, I’ll be buying a M2 or M4 for the desktop come January.

SSL 2?

That is looking very interesting.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... -interface
I like that the controls are top mounted. The instant 4K button isn’t making me do flips, however. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to be available in a 4x4 configuration.

The Scarlett 8i6 has 4 line inputs on the back which I like but can live without, It requires external power — useful if I use it with iOS (no current plans).
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... -interface

The M4 is still the major contender but 4 separate line ins. Hmmm...

[bayswater]

Unless there’s something at NAMM that changes my mind, I’ll be buying a M2 or M4 for the desktop come January.

SSL 2?

That is looking very interesting.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... -interface
I like that the controls are top mounted. The instant 4K button isn’t making me do flips, however. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to be available in a 4x4 configuration.

The Scarlett 8i6 has 4 line inputs on the back which I like but can live without, It requires external power — useful if I use it with iOS (no current plans).
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... -interface

The M4 is still the major contender but 4 separate line ins. Hmmm...

There's something new from Audient too at NAMM.

[bayswater]

The Scarlett 8i6 has 4 line inputs on the back which I like but can live without, It requires external power — useful if I use it with iOS (no current plans).

I have the 8i18. It's class compliant and very reliable. The sound is OK, but it's no better than my older MOTU stuff, so unless they've gone to a new generation of converters or front end analog, I wouldn't bother.

[mikehalloran]

The Scarlett 8i6 has 4 line inputs on the back which I like but can live without, It requires external power — useful if I use it with iOS (no current plans).

I have the 8i18. It's class compliant and very reliable. The sound is OK, but it's no better than my older MOTU stuff, so unless they've gone to a new generation of converters or front end analog, I wouldn't bother.

There’s a new G3.
https://focusrite.com/en/news/introduci ... tt-3rd-gen With “improved’ mic pres and DAC plus their version of the input/output blend control found on all the new stuff. What kind of improvement it is and what really separates it from the other new interfaces, I’ll leave to the marketing departments to crow about.

Nowadays, it seems that all comparative “reviews” are nothing more than comparisons of press releases. Too bad because an A/B/C... comparison would really be helpful.

[HCMarkus]

Nowadays, it seems that all comparative “reviews” are nothing more than comparisons of press releases. Too bad because an A/B/C... comparison would really be helpful.

But we can scour the web for info in seconds for free. I guess we get what we pay for...?

Remember when Mix Mag (and before that, RE/P) was almost an inch thick? Journalism, and that includes product reviews, has changed mightily since then. Tape Op is now my favorite; it has seemingly bucked the trend of kowtowing to advertisers in a mighty way, despite the fact that it is an advertising-supported (free to readers) mag. It is consistently a fun read.

RE/P is available here...
https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Re ... oducer.htm
Take a look at an issue... early ones download in a jiffy. 1980s is another story... 130+ pages

[stubbsonic]

As a kind of final wrap up, the M4 works ok. The one lingering issue is that after the MBP wakes from sleep, it reverts to the built in output, and I need to power the M4 off and back on again to regain use of it. This makes me appreciate the inclusion of the on/off switch.

I had put the M4 on it's own MBP USB port (and even tried both ports) to try to solve the issue of it stopping as i/o. And the issue at least doesn't happen every time my MBP sleeps. But now that I'm seeing this behavior on every port and with or without a hub, I may just go ahead and put it back on the hub. I may have to reboot it every time my MBP wakes from sleep, but I guess that could be a habit I get used to.

[mikehalloran]

As a kind of final wrap up, the M4 works ok. The one lingering issue is that after the MBP wakes from sleep, it reverts to the built in output, and I need to power the M4 off and back on again to regain use of it. This makes me appreciate the inclusion of the on/off switch.

I had put the M4 on it's own MBP USB port (and even tried both ports) to try to solve the issue of it stopping as i/o. And the issue at least doesn't happen every time my MBP sleeps. But now that I'm seeing this behavior on every port and with or without a hub, I may just go ahead and put it back on the hub. I may have to reboot it every time my MBP wakes from sleep, but I guess that could be a habit I get used to.

Something to look out for — thanks for the heads up.

I'll be placing my order next month — won't have time to look at it till then, anyway.

[bayswater]

As a kind of final wrap up, the M4 works ok. The one lingering issue is that after the MBP wakes from sleep, it reverts to the built in output, and I need to power the M4 off and back on again to regain use of it. This makes me appreciate the inclusion of the on/off switch.

I had put the M4 on it's own MBP USB port (and even tried both ports) to try to solve the issue of it stopping as i/o. And the issue at least doesn't happen every time my MBP sleeps. But now that I'm seeing this behavior on every port and with or without a hub, I may just go ahead and put it back on the hub. I may have to reboot it every time my MBP wakes from sleep, but I guess that could be a habit I get used to.

Thanks for all the info you given us on this. I don't recall if you said anything about the sound, and whether you think it is noticeably different from other converters you've heard.

[stubbsonic]

I don't recall if you said anything about the sound, and whether you think it is noticeably different from other converters you've heard.

The sound is good, clean, clear, full spectrum, full dynamics. I haven't noticed any issues with sound quality. Music sounds as it should.

The taper on the master volume is perfect, providing linear volume control across its entire sweep. All the knobs feel very smooth and solid.

[macnylonguitar]

Just checking in on this..... anything at NAMM 2020 as you say...

I have a Focusrite Clarett 8Pre Thunderbolt....but its overkill for me, I only need 2 ins as a nylon acoustic player, 4 ins at most for possible hardware inserts, but the Thunderbolt is nice, no latency.

And, I am moving to a 500 series lunchbox with nice 500 series mic preamps...so built in pre's are not a concern..

But latency may still be a concern...USB 2 still has latency, and if one goes to say 96 Khz, or even 192 Khz stereo, latency will go up.... or there is the "Direct Monitor" off the M4 itself, and therefore no latency?

Also, can one do a "hardware" insert of say a reverb box, and monitor that via an aux bus, no recording, just monitor...and use "direct monitor" with the inserted reverb, there should be no latency.

So a MOTU M4 or something else...

thx, macnylonguitar

[mikehalloran]

The difference between latency in the new generation of Fast USB 2 and the TB interfaces is less than the differences that can be measured from the speakers to your ears.

No such thing as zero latency but the current generation of interfaces make it nearly inaudible. Monitor the input/output on the same channel, you will hear phase distortion — even with the Presonus Quad TB that advertises the lowest round trip latency of any interface (like the M2/4, you install drivers — Class Compliant doesn’t get you there on its own). Everyone’s latency specs are being quoted at 96kHz.

Like the M4, all of these new units since Sept 2019 have a blend or mix control. Turn it one direction, you hear output only; the other direction gives you input only. How you arm and monitor tracks in your DAW determines what you hear.

Monitoring with hardware effects is not an issue for me.

[macnylonguitar]

@mikehalloran

Thanks, got it. Picking up an M4...

macnylonguitar

[mikehalloran]

@mikehalloran

Thanks, got it. Picking up an M4...

macnylonguitar

So am I next month. Letting my Sweetwater card spend a few months with no balance due and I won’t be looking at it till then anyway..

I was looking at the TB 3 Presonus but it’s overkill for my needs. If there was a half-rack version with four mic pres instead of 8, it would have been a contender — also don’t like the lack of meters vs those on the M4.