What to get next

[Simbo]

Hello All

Think I made a mistake, was looking for a 8 channel A/D to record my son and his friends, just jamming in basement, so I picked up a used Motu 8Pre,

I do like it, but it does not have room to grow, I’m looking to get another 8 channel A/D with pre amps, but I would like to have the ability to route outputs, (to amps for FH and stage monitors, etc). the Motu only has main outs

What interface will play nice with the Motu, should I look for something with ADAT, not that I know much about it, or how it works,

Thanks

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Hello All

Think I made a mistake, was looking for a 8 channel A/D to record my son and his friends, just jamming in basement, so I picked up a used Motu 8Pre,

I do like it but it does not have room to grow, I’m looking to get another 8 channel A/D with pre amps, but I would like to have the ability to route outputs, (to amps for FH and stage monitors, etc). the Motu only has main outs

What interface will play nice with the Motu, should I look for something with ADAT, not that I know much about it, or how it works,

Thanks

Using an interface to mix mains and monitors can be done but is VERY CLUNKY. MOTU's ad copy notwithstanding, it's the wrong tool for the job. If you're doing live gigs you need a proper mixer to make live mixing easier and so you have things like channel eq and effects sends. If you get something with 16 channels and direct outs then you just need a recording system with line inputs, opening up a lot of options. I'd recommend an Allen & Heath Mix Wizard WZ3 16:2 mixer. For recording I use an Alesis HD24, which is a standalone 24-track recorder. Recording is as simple as turning it on, inserting a drive, creating a new project and song, arming tracks and pressing record. No computer, no mouse, no extra table space required.

 

[dintymoore]

moresound was talking about the Yamaha Steinberg MR816 CSX recently.

I haven't heard/seen it in real life. I like Yamaha stuff in general, and their reverbs always sounded musical to me; that one comes with one.

 

[Simbo]

Thanks for the replies

Maybe i should have gave more info,

Not for live shows, thanks Boulder, i do like that mixer though

More for home recording, was thinking of getting Tom mics that's why i need more channels with pre-amps.

Also budget, just looking around $400 t0 $500, something similar to the 8pre with outputs, may want to use some outputs for head phones, stage, FH amps.

I just want to make sure it will work with the Motu

 

[dintymoore]

I think the interface drivers only work "one at a time".

My understanding is that if you want to keep the Motu and add on to it you'll need to get another Motu.

It could be that some companies have a few products using the same driver that could be combined, I'm not sure about that... but I don't think you could use your Motu and say a Presonus together - that would require running two interface drivers at once and 2010 says "I can't go for that".

 

[Simbo]

that would require running two interface drivers at once and 2010 says "I can't go for that".

Maybe some day.

You are correct, i want to keep the Motu and add on.

i though that you could use ADAT to get around using 2 different interfaces, but as i stated i know nothing about ADAT.

Thanks dintymoore

 

[fat_fleet]

wow, can't believe how similar our questions were.

 

[dintymoore]

I'm not familiar with ADAT.

Another option would be use an outboard analog mixer to do stuff that isn't being recorded, like monitoring and sending feeds to amps & speakers.

Of course that could degrade the sound or improve it.

 

[grimtraveller]

wow, can't believe how similar our questions were.

It's that darned 'Morphic resonance', I tell you !

 

[fat_fleet]

It's that darned 'Morphic resonance', I tell you !

yyyyeeaahh

 

[moresound]

Hello All

Think I made a mistake, was looking for a 8 channel A/D to record my son and his friends, just jamming in basement, so I picked up a used Motu 8Pre,

I do like it, but it does not have room to grow, I’m looking to get another 8 channel A/D with pre amps, but I would like to have the ability to route outputs, (to amps for FH and stage monitors, etc). the Motu only has main outs

What interface will play nice with the Motu, should I look for something with ADAT, not that I know much about it, or how it works,

Thanks

You may want to get a stand alone unit like the Zoom R16 or the R24!

And believe me your problems will be solved and you come in under budget. Even if you get the 24 track model!

It will be an easy google search .... but do shop around for the lowest price.

Please tell me your sons band isn't a screamo band.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Thanks for the replies

Maybe i should have gave more info,

Not for live shows, thanks Boulder, i do like that mixer though

More for home recording, was thinking of getting Tom mics that's why i need more channels with pre-amps.

Also budget, just looking around $400 t0 $500, something similar to the 8pre with outputs, may want to use some outputs for head phones, stage, FH amps.

I just want to make sure it will work with the Motu

Yeah, I missed that key fact. I would still advocate for getting a mixer and changing your (their) approach to recording. Recording multi-track is of limited benefit until the performances are really solid. Record rehearsals to 2-track, which you can do on the MOTU. Once they've perfected their playing they can start making serious attempts at recording multi-track. Then they can track one or two instruments at a time and layer until the song is complete. That can also be done on the MOTU. And if they do play out you'll have a system more ready for it.

 

[Simbo]

No moresound there not a screamo band.LOL

the only problem i see with Zoom is only 8 XLR Pre-amps on both units unless i chain 2 together, i need 10 right now, and if i pick up tom mics, i'll need 13.

Thanks boulder, but the kids probably will never play out, the just like to jam once in a while.

I do have a co-worker, they plays gigs, i was there once to record a rehearsal and all i had at the time was a M-audio fast track pro with 2 rode nt5's, i want the ability to record all tracks in one shot and tweak levels of each track.

2 8pre's will work but some day i may need to drive headphones, monitors etc, if i start to help out others.

Again thanks for all the feed back guys

 

[CFox]

Hey Simbo, I endorse what Boulder recommended. When I went to a pro studio with my band we used that method. Even though we were very tight. Once the engineer had the drums down,we went back and over dubbed our parts.

Also what about getting an electronic kit ? The sampling is phenomenal these days, and the mixing is already taken care of.

 

[benherron.rrr]

I was going to suggest getting another 8pre, Im not really familiar with them though, but they have 2 firewire ports so I'm assumig you can daisy chain them. Then you could record 16 simultanious tracks into your DAW (assuming thats how your working and that you can do that). Later on you could buy a headphone preamp which would connect to the main outs on the MOTU, and you could use a couple of the outputs round the back to connect your monitors, I dont know how that would affect the quality. Alternatively you could use the other set of outs from the other 8pre for your monitors. hope that makes sence.