MOTU 8pre, Good buy for a starter?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Largeman
  • Start date Start date
L

Largeman

New member
Hey there,

I'm looking to finally start recording on my own (been using my schools equipment for some time) and I have a solid budget to work with (around $2000 dollars). I need some help picking out what I should get. Remember this is a starter set so i need to spread my money around.

Right now I'm looking at the MOTU 8pre. It's got what I want but I wanted some other opinions before I buy.

Thanks alot.

P.S. ~500 is my budget for an audio interface, 500 is going to logic and ~800 for mics. See my mic thread here:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=308755
 
MOTU is about the third best brand as far as converters go (after Apogee and RME), so you definitely can't go wrong there. I have the Traveler and I think it's great. The only thing I don't like about the 8pre is that it doesn't have ADAT, but it's otherwise a good unit.
 
Don't all MOTU interfaces come with AudioDesk, in that case you might have a cheaper upgrade path to Digital Performer (if you need the MIDI side of it) instead of buying Logic; that could free up some money for more hardware.

I have a Traveler too, and also used to think it was third best, but recently I've been working with an engineer who has a Metric Halo ULN-8 (really top but pricey), so wouldn't put the MOTU above fourth place.
 
They get great reviews but I think/know that if I had a $2000 budget to start up with, I'd take my time and spend around $1200 of that on something that would be more than just an audio interface.
Something that would be a centre piece, audio interface, surface controller, mixer.
That still leaves room for monitors and mics. :drunk:
 
Largeman said:
500 is going to logic
Click to expand...
Look at Reaper if you're not going commercial right away... can save yourself a ton on the DAW to invest in the hardware... (maybe a good vocal mic??)
 
The reason I want logic is two fold. a) i'm used to it and b) my school uses logic, so i want to be able to work on stuff away from the school's studio (which eats up my hours). Also i'm just an apple fanboy. Oops. Anyways I'm pretty set on getting logic.

@thebigcheese yeah i looked at the Apogee Duet. It's really sexy but only 2 inputs? Bleh. If i had the cash I would totally get the ensemble.

And according to sweetwater the 8pre has ADAT? So yay?

@jim yeah that was something I thought about. But I can't find something in that price range. Everything I was looking at was around 2 grand, way over my budget. Mind giving me specific examples or a link?

I also forgot to mention, I already have solid pair of monitors (as well as headphones, i <3 my senheisers) so thats not an issue. Heh.

Thanks for all the input guys. Unless I can do something like jim said i think im set on the MOTU 8pre. Sweetness xD.

Thanks again!
 
Oh, huh, I guess the latest version DOES have ADAT. That's pretty neat. Now the only thing it doesn't have is onboard effects, which are really not necessary but are nice if you have one of those vocalists who can't sing unless they have reverb (how do they practice, I wonder?).

The ADAT is great because you can add onto it with a Presonus Digimax. Gives you 8 extra pres, but everything still runs through the 8pre. You can actually add two extras. You'd have to sync them with the optical cable, I guess, since the 8pre doesn't have word clock, which is unfortunate.

I've heard good things about Logic, so that part of the setup is fine. I think it's overpriced, but it is Apple, after all.
 
Largeman said:
The reason I want logic is two fold. a) i'm used to it and b) my school uses logic, so i want to be able to work on stuff away from the school's studio (which eats up my hours). Also i'm just an apple fanboy. Oops. Anyways I'm pretty set on getting logic.
Click to expand...
I'm a big fan of Logic myself... but not of apple... I had to drop Logic after they dropped me (PC)... Tried Reaper while I was looking around for a replacement DAW...

It's not the end all of recording software, but damn, you really can't beat the price
 
thebigcheese said:
if you have one of those vocalists who can't sing unless they have reverb (how do they practice, I wonder?).
Click to expand...

hahah yeah. I'm fine without the onboard effects. Not a big deal to me. The ADAT is pretty necessary going forward so I'm happy that they included it. I <3 Lightpipe. Alot. Heh.

Thanks again for the help guys.
xD
 
thebigcheese said:
MOTU is about the third best brand as far as converters go (after Apogee and RME), so you definitely can't go wrong there. I have the Traveler and I think it's great. The only thing I don't like about the 8pre is that it doesn't have ADAT, but it's otherwise a good unit.
Click to expand...

The 8Pre does have ADAT (and always has). Maybe you're thinking of S/PDIF or word clock?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top