New $250 MOTU interface... the MicroBook

[Hidden Driveways]

http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/microbook

http://pro-audio.bhinsights.com/content ... obook.html

It's a pretty sweet little thing.

[mikemc]

It has some good features, if the audio sounds as good as an Ultralite then that is good. Nice size, no MIDI, though.

Phantom power over a 1/4" jack seemed mysterious but it is a specialized adapter, I see.

For the price, I would say this is a better feature set,
http://www.tascam.com/products/us-800.html

but the 'fit and finish' seems like it will appeal to the iDouches.

[ze2be]

Hmm.. I would go for the Native Instruments Audio 4 DJ, or the Audio Kontrol 1, bout @ $199. Sturdier and less problems then usual Motu cards.

2c

[superstock73]

I can never understand why all these companies make these interfaces with just one set of stereo outs and no midi. what the hell can you do with that? not dj. lame.

[mikemc]

I can never understand why all these companies make these interfaces with just one set of stereo outs and no midi. what the hell can you do with that? not dj. lame.

The guitar and mic type recording, less so DJs, is what they are aiming for, I think; but yeh I get what you're saying.

[rosti]

I would have wanted a build in mic like the Apogee One has.. I want to record all the cool sounds while travelling, but dont want to carry mics and cables around.. Now running with lapptops integrated soundcard *crackle craclke pop pop*..

[SWAN808]

should have used TRS/XLR Combi-jacks...

[SubFunk]

it doesn't appeal to me at all... to many other way more interesting featured audio interfaces out there.

[Hidden Driveways]

I would have wanted a build in mic like the Apogee One has.. I want to record all the cool sounds while travelling, but dont want to carry mics and cables around.. Now running with lapptops integrated soundcard *crackle craclke pop pop*..

The Apogee One is really the only other interface in this size & quality level. The two interfaces are different enough to serve different needs. The One seems more for the musician who will only ever need to record one track at a time, either with the built-in mic or with the XLR on the break-away cable. Which is a cool thing, but not for everybody. The multiple inputs, the balanced nature of all of the inputs and outputs, and the included DSP-effects and analysis tools that come with the MicroBook will appeal to a more experienced user.

Perhaps it's because I own a portable recorder, but of the two I find the MicroBook more appealing. But for the hardcore electronic music & DJ'ing crowd there are more ample interfaces to be found with bigger footprints and smaller pricetags.

[Pasha]

For a moment I was happy I could have replaced my FCA202.
However this interface is not Firewire. (sadness)

[Hidden Driveways]

On second thought, there is some good news for electronic music people in regards to the MicroBook. Its TRS outputs are DC coupled, so it can be used with Volta. It's now by far the cheapest interface on the market that's compatible with Volta.

Not too shabby, right Subfunk?

[leedsquietman]

The idea seems somewhere in between Apogee One and Rme's Babyface.

The Babyface is a much more impressive interface spec wise, but costs $749, however you do get quite a bit for your money.

If you're on a limited budget you could do worse ...

USB 2.0 is the new firewire Pasha ! Most of the recent USB 2.0 interfaces, such as RME's Fireface UC, perform as well, if not better, than firewire.

[rbmonosylabik]

The CueMix video shows you can send its mixes output to any of the 3 output pairs, which makes me wonder if you can address the outputs independently from host. That'd be 6 outs (4 analog), which isn't that bad.

[KrisM]

I'd be more excited if it had an XLR mic input. It certainly looks tall enough to have them. Not a bad price for what it is, but I still think I'd rather have the Audio 4 DJ in that price range for USB interfaces.

[crofter]

Needs more knobs.