hey! does anyone know that maybe? here the individual signals from outboard synths, which are connected to an analog mixer, are to be recorded via an audio interface called motu m2.
every single signal is transmitted via the main out of the mixer through the inputs of the motu in ableton, since the mixer has no individual outputs.
what interests me now is the audio quality. is it really ok if I use the Motu m2 for this? or is that something completely different than when I e.g. take an expensive RME? it’s about the AD / DA conversion.
i’m kind of worried because i’m just not sure. I also have no problem with recording the signals individually, but the quality of the recording has to be right.
it will be totally fine. keep making music and recordings with this interface for now, until such time you need to upgrade. things like your musical ideas, mixing of the track, instruments used etc are more important than the interface used.
hey! Well, I’ve been making sound for a long time, but I’m just not that versed here because I used to do more in the DAW and now only use analog devices. The aim is to mix only the finer points in the DAW and maybe a little group compression, because I have no way of doing the whole dawless here. in the end i’d like to want to bring out my sound at some point, that’s a goal admittedly. so i really want to do this properly.
If the interface isn’t introducing pops or clicks, crashing your computer, or actively on fire, it’s up to the job. On the scale of things that can affect audio quality, AD/DA converters are so far down the totem pole you may legitimately never need to worry about it.
This is the thing that will more determine an interface purchase I think - IO, rather than the converters. I’d think about what you expect from that, if you’re wanting to do significant input and output routing then the standard 2in 2 out interface simply won’t cut it. Moto have the new Ultralite MK5, which offers a lot more IO and is pretty nicely priced.
but then maybe you know why e.g. an RME babyface easily costs four times as much? does that really have nothing to do with the change? there are even well-heeled people who spend over 8k on a lavri gold to take their devices off. I wonder why my pear doesn’t want to understand …
…I agree. I understand that very well - that with many entrances and exits may come later, I just have to live frugally. But if you don’t really have to worry about the recording quality, then everything is okay for now, because that’s the most important thing here.
You could worry about it if you wanted to. That worry will just cost you more money.
Other interfaces offer features like direct monitoring or perhaps even DSP which can colour the sound in nice ways, did you buy the M2 already? The BabyFacePro is a nice option if you can afford it, and then you have ADAT if you want to expand IO down the road (features like this add to the cost).
4× as much as what? The Babyface is, I think, an 8in/8out interface, right? Most bargain interfaces are 2 by 2, so you’re literally getting 4× the I/O with the Babyface.
And RME makes a big deal about their super fempto-second ADCs and I’m sure they’re amazing and cost more. And if you want, you can get all wrapped up in that, and spend thousands. It’s a great hobby.
But you won’t sound any better at the end of the day. There are RME vs. MOTU or Focusrite shootouts all over. Check a few out. Hear for yourself. There’s just not much there. Digital conversion is the smallest part of what can make a difference in your audio chain. You’d have more impact (and, IMHO, more fun) focusing on literally anything else.
I personally run a 2 in 2 out interface, the UAD arrow. Its very simple, almost too simple for my needs. I’d like to upgrade but it certainly is expensive. I never use the DSP on it, and mostly use it direct monitored, doing two channel records. I’m very happy but similarly, would appreciate more IO. I really like the new UCXii, but the lack of bus-power/USB-3 really bums me out.
I’d be more worried about the mixer. And I wouldn’t be too worried about that either.
I used to do occasional “tea boy”/“studio assistant” duties at a small London studio popular with hip hop artists and ageing punks. Music by Speech Debelle, Roots Manuva, Kae Tempest (early in their career) amongst others got released from sessions recorded there. They used a MOTU.
(admittedly, they also had £70k of Audient mixer, Avalon pre’s, genuine Urei 1176s and some other nice stuff… which all help, but even the MOTU from 15 years ago was up to the job of recording that other nice gear)
that’s what I wanted to hear. yes, the number of I / O makes things much more expensive.
a midas mixer with rytm, A4, OT and eventide space is recorded via the motu. I am of the opinion that the space and the EQs on the midas (especially on the BDs from the rytm) give the sound a special character, it sounds somehow more pleasant than when I use reverbs and EQs from the DAW - I have a lot of tests here did. therefore I would like e.g. the electronic devices do not record via overbridge.
The Motu M2 has the same DAC as the high-end models of Motu and has been reviewed multiple times as excellent for it’s AD and DA conversion, so the M2 won’t be the “bottleneck” in your setup.
This is a really good point. So much gear is also an audio interface now, it doesn’t make sense to buy a roomy dedicated interface to grow into anymore. Could be you’ll need a lot less than you think. I’ve got a box of Scarlets, Roland Rubixes (Rubixen?) and a MOTU somewhere, but they’re rarely plugged in because my DR40, Model12, all my Electron gear, modern Roland boxes, etc. are all audio interfaces in their own right.
I edited my post to cut out the bit you’re replying to… so for clarity I had previously said I use my AR or my Tascam DR-44 as audio interfaces. I used to have an RME FireFace400 and it was lush, but too much sound card for my needs.
I have to disagree. Conversion does make a difference, a noticeable one. It may be that the returns are too diminishing for some, but to me there’s a clear-as-day difference between my iConnecitvity Audio 4+, my Audient id4 and my Apollo 8, with the Apollo sounding easily the best (more open, more spacious/three-dimensional, better resolution etc).
There’s definitely nothing wrong with cheap(er) converters today, they all do a fine job, but there ARE differences in conversion quality and they can be noticed even by casual listeners.
yes, the number of I / O makes things much more expensive.