896HD or Traveler

ajeter08 · Post by **ajeter08** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:00 pm

I am about to purchase my first interface. I see know point in buying something that I know I will have to upgrade or update later, so I decided on one of these two interfaces. Could someone explain to me the Pros and Cons of each? Do they have the same Preamp quality? Your help will be appreciated. Thanks!

ajeter08 · Post by **ajeter08** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:35 pm

Also, if someone could listen to this. http://us.f13.yahoofs.com/bc/46052b41m5 ... GBph.QYzN3

This was recorded through a PODXT. I've heard some recordings through some interfaces, and the quality didnt sound much better. Would I get noticable better quality?

rcannonp · Post by **rcannonp** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:42 am

Unless you know that you need 8 Mic preamps then I would save a few bucks and get the Traveler. There's always something to upgrade, and I wouldn't worry about it until you need it. If you are using a POD XT then thats one or two preamps that you don't need right there.

I bought an 896 a few years ago and had all of these ideas that of what I might need it for. I really should have bought an 828. I've never used more than two mics at a time and the features like AES/EBU are useless to me because everything else I have uses SPDIF which the Traveler has and the 896 does not(the Trav also has AES/EBU).

The Traveler also offers bus powered operation and a MIDI port if you need that.

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:26 am

Well, what's taken you to the choice of these two units? I can't say either would be ideal without knowing what you're needs really are. How many tracks at a time will you be recording? Do you have a mixing board or outboard pres already (I take it no, on the pres). What will you be recording besides just your PodXT? What software will you be using, or is that yet to be determined? ARe you on the Mac or PC and, what kind of computer is it?

ajeter08 · Post by **ajeter08** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:21 am

thanks guys.

I have come to these two units because of a couple reasons. First of all, I would have gone with something cheaper, like a firepod or Firestudio, but, the firepod (correct me if I'm wrong) can only be expanded with other firepods (lack of ADAT?). I want to get something where in the future, I can expand it if I want. The firestudio has too many driver issues for me to be interested in it. I use sonar 6, and firestudio is apparently a nightmare for it.

That brings me to MOTU. I like the cross compatibility between PC and Mac, because in the future I may have buy a mac. The computer I use now is a 2.8 Ghz Pentium IV with HT. 1.5 Gb of ram. In the future, I only plan to use the PODXT for effects or for some distortion here and there. But I am not impressed with its built in preamp. WAY too much noise. I have to keep its volume turned below halfway.

If the traveler has just as good as sound quality as the 896HD, I will probably look into it. 4 preamps will probably be enough, I just kind of liked the idea of having more, if somewhere down the road I wanted to record drums. As of now, the most I personally will use simultaneously is 2 or 3 for an acoustic guitar, but who knows what college will bring.

And because I am just starting, I have no mixer or pres yet.

Thanks again.

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:39 am

NEVER buy an audio interface based on the mic-pres that are built-in, first buy it based on the fact that it's an audio interface with good pres. With that said, there are quite a few options for you. I disagree that the Firstudio has too many driver issues, it's a stable product and works just fine. HOWEVER, I do agree that there is a serious conflict right now between it and Sonar--so as much as I like the Firstudio, you will need to rule that out if you want to use it with Sonar. Nothing against the 896HD or the TRAVELER, you might want to consider getting the MOTU 8PRE. For the money you save, I would consider adding something like an Aphex 207D as it's a very good, yet affordable, 2-channel hybrid tube mic-pre with an excellent DI built-in. This way you could bypass your POD directly and get their Goldbox option or Amplitube. Sorry, I'm not allowed to reference any kind of pricing so you'll have to figure that out on your own. But again, that's the way I'd consider based on what you've said thus far.

ajeter08 · Post by **ajeter08** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:55 am

Thanks for the help. Can you explain some of the major differences between traveler and the 8pre. Where does all the extra money go in the traveler?

Also, I noticed it appears as if the 8pre only has 2 outputs? How can keep each line in seperate?

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:10 am

Why do you need more than 2-outputs?

ajeter08 · Post by **ajeter08** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:39 am

well that was kind of my question as well. Why do the others come with so many? what are they used for? Somewhere down the road, I may want more outputs. I am all about functionality.

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:45 am

2-outputs are fine for your monitors, more outputs might be wanted for individual cans (headphones). If you want more outputs, you can expand this with D/A converters. If you want more inputs, you can do the same or add another firewire series interface from MOTU. There are many possibilities to go with.