Motu?

[ecktronic]

Im sure i saw a MOTU wih numerous inputs and outputs. THink there were XLR in/outs. Is this true?
This means wih this MOTU i dont need a mixing desk if im using Cubase SX yeah?
THe preamps of the MOTU will go to a computer multi input sound card and to cubase where i can mix the levels using the mix window and automation.
Will this work?

 

[pdadda]

If you saw XLR's, then it was probably an 896. Yes, you theoretically don't need a mixer if you have this. Also, the MOTU unit itself IS the "audio interface." So you plug your crap into the MOTU, and it runs the signal to the computer via firewire. I have never used the 896, but I have an 828mkii and I love it.

Onr more thing: the pre-amps on the MOTU are not exactly the bees knees, but they'll get you by for a while.

 

[Atterion]

the pre-amps on the MOTU are not exactly the bees knees

Bees Knees??? Must be a southern thing?!?!?

 

[sile2001]

Bees Knees??? Must be a southern thing?!?!?

What....you've never seen that great old classic "School of Rock"?

 

[darnold]

carefull,

if it was numerous XLR inputs and outputs it could have been the Motu HD192. Which has 12 xlr ins and outs. This are just regular inputs for conversion and has no preamplification what so ever.

Danny

 

[ecktronic]

Cheers all. So im best getting some good pre amps or a mixing desk with good pre amps.

 

[mattamatta]

I've been looking a bit at small mixers recently, and found some reaally cool big used ones.... now I'm drawn in by the allure of "holy crap, a big mixer, this guy must be good!" =D

 

[ecktronic]

Is a MOTU esential in digital multi tracking?
A MOTU is used to sync up the input with the computers harddrive so that the input is recorded at the right rate? Am i right?

 

[sile2001]

Is a MOTU esential in digital multi tracking?
A MOTU is used to sync up the input with the computers harddrive so that the input is recorded at the right rate? Am i right?

Ummm....not exactly. First of all Motu is a company that makes a lot of different types of audio hardware, from audio interfaces to MIDI and word clocks....so there's really no such thing as "a Motu".

Assuming that we're talking about their audio interfaces (which is their most common product), they aren't really essential as there are other ways to do the same thing, and maybe a little better. The Motu audio interfaces don't really sync anything up (although they can). They are what actually converts the analog audio data from the preamps into the digital data that the computer can record.

 

[ecktronic]

Ahhh, ok but what syncs the input to the computer?

 

[sile2001]

Ok, I really don't understand what you're asking. What is this syncronization that you're talking about?

 

[mattamatta]

I'd say the computers HDD controller syncs up the input to the computer.... I guess...

You lose!
ROFLCOPTER

 

[ecktronic]

Ah, i thought a seperate unit was needed to sync up the input. Coz when i try to record to my computer on my one mic in, the play back recording plays back all funny at different speed! Could be my shoit sound card though.

 

[mattamatta]

I think what you're thinking of appears to be a word clock, which puts out a digital timebase so you can have multiple digital decives sync up, as they need to send their digital "Words" and recieve them together, and not be sending bits when the recieving end isn't ready to recieve that particular bit.

Doesn't apply to analog.

Your problem is most likely just your sound card's crappy drivers.

A friend of mine has wierd problems like that that make his stock sound card completely unusable for any multi-track recording. Luckily he's got a job now so he has no excuse to not buy recording gear and start to learn this stuff. Plus some of my musically/recording inclined buddies are going to get together this summer for some serious recording (maybe a full ep for a group, another group's demo, and just random experimentations), and I'm making him an "intern" (although I told him he can buy the title of assistant engineer)