I am going to ask for an audio interface for xmas.
I want to get Motu, because they have a good rep, and are popular on macs.
My usage currently will be recording my own bits and pieces, but may eventually extend to recording a full band, semi live.
1. With the Ultralite being a newer product than the traveller, does it have any technical advantages? In the same way that a computer bought this year will be faster, and more advanced than one bought last year?
Or will it work pretty much identically to the traveller, but with 2 less mic pre amps? Just for clarity; I am interested in basic funtionality here, i.e. sound quality, latency, stability etc. Rather than 'gimicky features'
2. Could someone please explain the advantage of having lots of outs? Personally, I have only ever used one set to run to my speakers, and one to my headphones. What do people use the others for?
3. Can you run the 8pre "through" the ultralite to give it extra inputs? (I already fear the answer to this is no!)
4. What signals can I run into an input without a preamp?
Is there an ecconomical way of pre-amping a signal before it hits the interface, or is it better to just buy an interface with more preamps?
Thanks in advance to everyone!
Dai
Should I buy a Traveller, Ultralite, or 8Pre
Re: Should I buy a Traveller, Ultralite, or 8Pre
I can't answer all these, but I just bought an Ultralite so here's my take:
For me it was simply a matter of money versus functionality. I didn't really need the extra functionality of the Traveller. I could have used the optical inputs/outputs, but I can manage with S/PDIF.
You could use those various outputs to create submixes for players/vocalists, or a talkback/listenback setup, a 'cheap monitor' setup etc. My feeling is you can't have enough outputs - you never know what you are going to be doing in a year or two.
As far as I'm aware, there is no 'cool new stuff' with the Ultralite. It's just smaller and has a few less features and preamps. It doesn't really have gimmicky features - just features that work, solidly and reliably (which is more than I can say for my old FW410). The CueMix software is good for monitoring though, and might be useful for you if you sart recording larger setups. The sound and build quality are excellent.Dai wrote:
1. With the Ultralite being a newer product than the traveller, does it have any technical advantages? In the same way that a computer bought this year will be faster, and more advanced than one bought last year?
Or will it work pretty much identically to the traveller, but with 2 less mic pre amps? Just for clarity; I am interested in basic funtionality here, i.e. sound quality, latency, stability etc. Rather than 'gimicky features
For me it was simply a matter of money versus functionality. I didn't really need the extra functionality of the Traveller. I could have used the optical inputs/outputs, but I can manage with S/PDIF.
I use the extra outputs for a surround mix. I also make large-scale multi-screen installations so I can use it to test, say, an eight channel mix.Dai wrote:2. Could someone please explain the advantage of having lots of outs? Personally, I have only ever used one set to run to my speakers, and one to my headphones. What do people use the others for?
You could use those various outputs to create submixes for players/vocalists, or a talkback/listenback setup, a 'cheap monitor' setup etc. My feeling is you can't have enough outputs - you never know what you are going to be doing in a year or two.
I believe you can actually - at least you can daisy chain them and they all appear in separate tabs in the MOTU audio setup. I could be wrong though...Dai wrote:3. Can you run the 8pre "through" the ultralite to give it extra inputs? (I already fear the answer to this is no!)
I can't answer this very well for you, but I can say that the line inputs have a decent range gain/trim control... I use them mostly for contact mics and minidisc input, so I'm probably not using it in the same way you would.Dai wrote:4. What signals can I run into an input without a preamp?
Is there an ecconomical way of pre-amping a signal before it hits the interface, or is it better to just buy an interface with more preamps?
Re: Should I buy a Traveller, Ultralite, or 8Pre
you could have a 8 trk mixer(analog) with 8 xlr(mic) inputs and run the direcct outs into the ultralite.Dai wrote:4. What signals can I run into an input without a preamp?
Is there an ecconomical way of pre-amping a signal before it hits the interface, or is it better to just buy an interface with more preamps?
Dai
Hi Dai,
Firstly - where do you live?
1. the traveller and the ultralite are both products built for different purposes by Motu, and are not in competition with each other. 1 will be more suitable to your needs than the other one.
The slogan "You Get What you Pay For" works here as the traveller is 40% more expensive, but then you do get 4 mic preamps.
The ultralite will work in the same way with regards quality latency and stability. By gimicky features i assume you mean dsp software program the cuemix that comes with each interface.
2. Lot sof outputs increase versitality within a unit. there are loads of reasons why you would want loads of outs.
EG1, you have lots of outboard effect units that you need to run effects loops to.
EG2, you run your traveler along side an analogue mixer, and your traveller acts as the A/D converter to and from your computer.
EG3, you are recording in a non studio environment, no mixing desk, or talk back unit- you can feed some monitors, feed headphone signalls to the members of the band in the other room.
EG4, FOH speaker feed, stage Monitor speaker feed, MD recorder etc etc
just examples - but they really can do exactly what the individual wants.
3. No - why would you run it through the ultralite.
Do you have 2 firewire ports, if so you can use them both together, if you dont then you will most likely have a PCMCIA/PCI slot and be able to buy a FireWire card.
How many mic pre-amps do you need?
WHat you can do is carry on adding 8pre's to your setup untill you have enough.
4. Line signals. CD players, and othe relectronic equipment, synths, guitars, pedalboards etc etc. You can run microphones in but you need to boost the signal at some stage.
If you only need 1 stereo output to your speakers i would reccommend just getting the pre8 as it does have 4 analogue outs on it for your speakers and heaphones.
If you need more outputs then you could either
i) get an Ultralite and add a 8Pre to it, to make a total of 10 mic ins + 6line ins
ii) buy the 8 pre and a small digital mixer so you can take advantage of the ADAT and have another 8 I/O, (say a digital mixer with 8 mic inputs and adat interface) to total 16 mic ins.
Firstly - where do you live?
1. the traveller and the ultralite are both products built for different purposes by Motu, and are not in competition with each other. 1 will be more suitable to your needs than the other one.
The slogan "You Get What you Pay For" works here as the traveller is 40% more expensive, but then you do get 4 mic preamps.
The ultralite will work in the same way with regards quality latency and stability. By gimicky features i assume you mean dsp software program the cuemix that comes with each interface.
2. Lot sof outputs increase versitality within a unit. there are loads of reasons why you would want loads of outs.
EG1, you have lots of outboard effect units that you need to run effects loops to.
EG2, you run your traveler along side an analogue mixer, and your traveller acts as the A/D converter to and from your computer.
EG3, you are recording in a non studio environment, no mixing desk, or talk back unit- you can feed some monitors, feed headphone signalls to the members of the band in the other room.
EG4, FOH speaker feed, stage Monitor speaker feed, MD recorder etc etc
just examples - but they really can do exactly what the individual wants.
3. No - why would you run it through the ultralite.
Do you have 2 firewire ports, if so you can use them both together, if you dont then you will most likely have a PCMCIA/PCI slot and be able to buy a FireWire card.
How many mic pre-amps do you need?
WHat you can do is carry on adding 8pre's to your setup untill you have enough.
4. Line signals. CD players, and othe relectronic equipment, synths, guitars, pedalboards etc etc. You can run microphones in but you need to boost the signal at some stage.
If you only need 1 stereo output to your speakers i would reccommend just getting the pre8 as it does have 4 analogue outs on it for your speakers and heaphones.
If you need more outputs then you could either
i) get an Ultralite and add a 8Pre to it, to make a total of 10 mic ins + 6line ins
ii) buy the 8 pre and a small digital mixer so you can take advantage of the ADAT and have another 8 I/O, (say a digital mixer with 8 mic inputs and adat interface) to total 16 mic ins.
1. I Don't know see above
2. You could have an external mixer with more faders than any USB controller plugged into the outs of your soundcard. (this is what I do) or you could use a hardware effects box and send audio out thru the effect and them back in.
3. as said above it is possible to use both the 8pre and the ultralite together.
4. synth's, drum machines, drum modules, effects; do not need Pres.
Let me start by saying I don't have a MOTU soundcard (maybe in the future.) I really like the expandability of them. I will never purchase a sound card that doesn't have multi channel ADAT I/O. or the ability to dasiy chain to add more I/O or the ability to accept additional cards. This is why I like the MOTU stuff.
The 8pre can be used with both high impedance 1/4" lines (synth, drum machine ect) or low impedance XLR lines (mic and guitar (Someone confirm the guitar part for me)) as is the case with the XLR inputs on the ultralite and the travler (again you will want to confirm this yourself) the ADAT I/O give you additional ins and outs if you purchase a seperate expansion module. I currenly have an additional 8 in and 8 out from my base soundcard via ADAT.
2. You could have an external mixer with more faders than any USB controller plugged into the outs of your soundcard. (this is what I do) or you could use a hardware effects box and send audio out thru the effect and them back in.
3. as said above it is possible to use both the 8pre and the ultralite together.
4. synth's, drum machines, drum modules, effects; do not need Pres.
Let me start by saying I don't have a MOTU soundcard (maybe in the future.) I really like the expandability of them. I will never purchase a sound card that doesn't have multi channel ADAT I/O. or the ability to dasiy chain to add more I/O or the ability to accept additional cards. This is why I like the MOTU stuff.
The 8pre can be used with both high impedance 1/4" lines (synth, drum machine ect) or low impedance XLR lines (mic and guitar (Someone confirm the guitar part for me)) as is the case with the XLR inputs on the ultralite and the travler (again you will want to confirm this yourself) the ADAT I/O give you additional ins and outs if you purchase a seperate expansion module. I currenly have an additional 8 in and 8 out from my base soundcard via ADAT.
the Echo audiofire range have the same expandability, but the Audiofire 12 is line input only.divonic wrote:1. I Don't know see above
2. You could have an external mixer with more faders than any USB controller plugged into the outs of your soundcard. (this is what I do) or you could use a hardware effects box and send audio out thru the effect and them back in.
3. as said above it is possible to use both the 8pre and the ultralite together.
4. synth's, drum machines, drum modules, effects; do not need Pres.
Let me start by saying I don't have a MOTU soundcard (maybe in the future.) I really like the expandability of them. I will never purchase a sound card that doesn't have multi channel ADAT I/O. or the ability to dasiy chain to add more I/O or the ability to accept additional cards. This is why I like the MOTU stuff.
The 8pre can be used with both high impedance 1/4" lines (synth, drum machine ect) or low impedance XLR lines (mic and guitar (Someone confirm the guitar part for me)) as is the case with the XLR inputs on the ultralite and the travler (again you will want to confirm this yourself) the ADAT I/O give you additional ins and outs if you purchase a seperate expansion module. I currenly have an additional 8 in and 8 out from my base soundcard via ADAT.
besides the quality of the Motu range is second to none.