This looks great, but after recently buying a TC Helicon Blender (12x2 USB interface/mixer) I’m now quite concerned about the potential for ground loops with bus-powered interfaces.
I’ve been meaning to write up a post about that here after doing further testing this weekend.
I expect you can’t say much as a beta tester, but the Microfreak in particular is something to look out for.
This seems like an affordable option if you need ADAT for something like Push 3 connectivity: https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/mchstreamer
Someone here recently said that it works well for them - though it would be nice if there was a case for it.
I’m about to get a usb-c hub and I almost get the Anker one for its headphone out but that USB only hub got my attention. With that many USB ports, I can use one for my Apple usb-c to 3.5mm dongle and still have 6 ports open
Oh I just dodged a bullet here. An used Digiface popped up on my local market and was about to get it.
That leaves MOTU LP32, but that’s an even bigger jump. Any other class compliant interface with 2 ADAT I/O out there?
It seems Quantum HD 2 has only analog I/O for class compliant operation, so that won’t work either.
Really there isn’t much w/ adapts I’m aware of. I used to used the 828es’s but not really portable
You can find the lp32’s pretty cheap used, if you can find them. They just weren’t big sellers due to their specific nature.
What can I say… it just works. Of course there are some minor things since it’s the first hardware revision. But I couldn’t be happier regarding the noise floor (~110db). latency (3.8ms round trip), headroom (I didn’t do measurements but it I just couldn’t get it to clip which was super easy with the TX-6 which is a piece of sh*t), stability or form factor.
The MAT has a dedicated power input in case you ever experience ground loops or your host struggles to provide enough power. For my setup which consists of iPad Pro 2020, TR-8S, MB33, Hydrasynth, Typhon, OXI One and Kenton Thru 5 all powered by a dedicated PSU and connected to the (bus-powered) MAT it’s working perfectly fine.
Can you elaborate on your issues with the Microfreak? I don’t own one but know several people who do. I never signed a NDA but I’m naturally careful with talking about things which are generally considered insider knowledge or might change in the final product.
I can confirm @Scyphozoa. It depends a lot on the interest. But the resonance from the SB was great from what I heard and experienced.
I feel that Martin is trying to create an affordable solution to a problem he encountered as a musician.
This happens whether the Blender is battery-powered or mains-powered.
And whether the Microfreak is bus-powered or mains-powered (the latter generally being recommended for it).
I spent a good amount of time today trying to find a solution to this, and I think I’m going to have to sell it.
It works great with most of my devices, but the Microfreak seems to be problematic - and I’ve seen similar issues with a TR-6S (bus or battery powered).
Oh, good call. I had been using the headphone output, as that’s 3.5mm stereo rather than 1/4" mono - since that matches the Blender, and it doesn’t support balanced inputs anyway.
Using a 3.5mm stereo to TS mono cable, there’s still noise, but it’s a bit more subdued.
Another one here that’s very excited for this. iPad + Mat makes for an extremely fun moveable system without sacrificing recordable tracks. No mixed sums required.
