MOTU Traveler issue

  • Thread starter Thread starter revnice1
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revnice1

Prettys Girls in yo
I thought all the rigs in my Kemper Profiler Rack had somehow become corrupt because they all sounded as if they were underwater and all guitars sounded wildly out of tune. There's also a slap back echo on all patches that shouldn't be there. Kemper had me test all the outputs and they are all good. So now I know it's an issue with the MOTU Traveler.

The headphone output on the Traveler has the problem and so do the Main Outs (I use them for speakers) but recordings are fine. I record using the S/PDIF output. I've attached an example - the first three strums are the recorded result (fine) the next three strums are an example of the problem coming from the Main Outs on the Traveler with all settings the same.

Has anyone got a clue? The Traveler is passive, has no sounds or functions other than routing so I'm baffled.

Thanks - rev
 

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Have you plugged into a computer to check the MOTU's routing and DSP settings? Just guessing there's a problem that maybe resetting back to defaults might address. Otherwise, no clue. (Why S/PDIF??)
 
This may be totally off base.. I had an analog situation similar to this at a live outdoor gig. I accidentally ran the line out of my GK bass head to the aux out of one of our PA cabs. When the band played, the PA sounded very much like your guitar here.

Could you have some internal routing that would cause two outputs to collide like this?
 
Keith:
Yes, it's always been plugged into a computer and it's been on for 12 years, minus a short time when I moved house. It's worked all this time with all connections permanently set so you could say it was working perfectly one day and not the next. MOTU gave me the buttons to push to reset the unit but it made no difference. I only use S/PDIF for guitar because that's my instrument and I want the best sound but everything else goes through analog INs and OUTs for the warmth.

Spantini:
>Could you have some internal routing that would cause two outputs to collide like this?
It's possible, especially since it works with software routing (Cue Mix) but once I set it up and got everything working, I didn't change anything. I'm convinced Win 10 updates are doing something negative and unwanted but I can't prove it. I'm going to try reinstalling all the appropriate sound drivers. I just bought 3 new guitars so I'm crestfallen because when the interface is down, everything's down.

Thanks to both of you for the responses.
 
I'm still unclear on the S/PDIF connection, and how the MOTU is connected to the computer. I would think that using the 24-bit ADC in the interface and connecting using its intended interface (FireWire?) would be a higher quality than S/PDIF, since that [likely] involves another layer of conversion, and maybe hardware? I.e., what does the S/PDIF cable from the MOTU plug into? And, have you tested a different cable for that (is it optical?).

But, yes, Windows 10 updates have been known to upset audio recording setups.
 
The Kemper has an SPDIF output that could be routed to the input of the MOTU, I'm guessing he is just using that path to record the guitar modeling without having any other conversion take place.
 
Keith:
>I'm still unclear on the S/PDIF connection
I shouldn't have mentioned it, it's irrelevant to the problem.

>connecting using its intended interface (FireWire?)
That's exactly how it is connected, in fact it's the only way the original Traveler can be connected. Talisman is right about the SPDIF.

To restate the problem:
Everything coming from the Interface Main Outs is horrible, all other Outs seem unaffected. So now I'm looking for a way to configure a different pair of Outs as the Main Outs. The Main Outs are the only pair that carry everything, the data in the project and whatever I'm playing or singing with it. The others only give me back what I put in so I might be able to hear the music but the guitar has gone to the monitors or the headphones or into the stratosphere, depending.

Surely with the Cue Mix software I should be able to use a different pair as Main? MOTU suggested resetting the unit and they had some steps for optimizing Win 10 but none of their suggestions has made any difference. I've had nothing back from MOTU since then.

I'm glad someone else confirms that updates are meddling, they don't believe me on the tech forums.

>what does the S/PDIF cable from the MOTU plug into?
It comes FROM the Kemper and goes TO the MOTU. All ins and outs and all signals go through the interface (which is why it's such a bummer when it's down) and everything, the final product, comes out of the Main outs.

I have not yet reinstalled the drivers but when all the other ins and outs are fine, it doesn't seem likely that the driver is the cause. Who knows what Win 10 did.
 
Last edited:
I can't believe it but I just fixed it!

Everything in the Cue Mix software had been changed, that had to be Win 10 because I didn't do it and there's no one else here. I went through all the settings and corrected everything and bingo! I was crestfallen about having to replace the interface but now it's all working as it should.

Spantini:
I think you were right, 'outputs colliding' or something of that nature. I know the software is supposed to give you versatility but to me that just means complexity.

I'm going to kill Win 10 updates, I don't care if some housewife in Barstow can read my email!

Thank you one and all! I feel like sending you $100 (but I'm not going to) :)
 
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