Motu M4 Audio Interface Review

[Bergante]

Thanks! The MIDI thing thrown me off, as this is completely unrelated to MIDI…

It’s Audio/MIDI. Use the Window menu to open the audio device configuration.

 

[harrisonjr98]

If you read the manual, I don't think it says anywhere that inputs 1-2 are supposed to be used as line inputs only if using XLR connectors. In fact, it says the exact opposite on page 17:

View attachment 205400

I'd say it's actually more likely that people will want to use phone plugs to connect line level devices than XLR, and the XLR inputs are more likely to be only used for microphones. So phone plug inputs on the combo connectors really should work just as well or better than XLR for line level sources.

I'll try some tests on my own unit when I get back home so next weekend at the soonest.

Occasionally I'd love having line inputs with gain that doesn't need to be applied in software and besides the device was always marketed as having 4 instead of 2 line inputs anyway. If there really is some kind of a design error here, I wonder what to do? There's still plenty of the warranty period left in case I'd try to get it exchanged, but are there even any revisions which don't have a problem? I do like the unit otherwise.

Did this whole thing ever get resolved? I am looking at this interface but bad line level performance with 1/4" going into the front would be a dealbreaker for my use case.

 

[Plan B]

This may be a stupid question, but could someone kindly confirm that supplying the M4 with only power (in other words, not connected to a computer) still allows microphones connected to the two front panel combo inputs (channels 1 & 2) to be "direct monitored" via the Headphone jack and the rear Monitor outputs (channels 1 & 2 -- both 1/4" and RCA)?

Thanks in advance.

 

[MachOne]

Can anyone tell me if outputs 3 & 4 can be routed to the headphone output, as you can with the switch on say an NI KA6 or Focusrite 2i4? Cheers!

7 mins later I managed to find the answer. It cannot, it's hard wired to 1 & 2. That makes it a pass for me. Surprising they opted to omit this feature when it's so common and useful.

 

[herrakiku]

I have a slight buyers remorse (audient ID4 MK2) still in return period and im now looking at motu M4. My use would be as a mic input + amp dac for various headphones/iems. The issue is i read that the high output impedance from the ID4 MK2 can negatively affect the FR on low impedance devices and i would like to avoid that.

Would it be worth returning the ID4 and get the motu M4 if i use low impedance IEM's a lot? I need direct monitoring when using voice chats on IEM's otherwise i fumble my words if i cant hear myself speak. I did also read that motu M4 possibly has some driver issues on windows which also worries me lol.

Highly appreciated if someone could give pointers.

 

[Alchemist_]

I have a slight buyers remorse (audient ID4 MK2) still in return period and im now looking at motu M4. My use would be as a mic input + amp dac for various headphones/iems. The issue is i read that the high output impedance from the ID4 MK2 can negatively affect the FR on low impedance devices and i would like to avoid that.

Would it be worth returning the ID4 and get the motu M4 if i use low impedance IEM's a lot? I need direct monitoring when using voice chats on IEM's otherwise i fumble my words if i cant hear myself speak. I did also read that motu M4 possibly has some driver issues on windows which also worries me lol.

Highly appreciated if someone could give pointers.

I have Motu M2 since it came out and Win10x64. There are no problems with drivers.

 

[herrakiku]

I have Motu M2 since it came out and Win10x64. There are no problems with drivers.

Yeah i might get the M4 then, an interface ill likely be happier with in the long run. Quite a few people report audio issues on windows tho not sure what its about.

 

[Merman]

Is it correct that inputs 3-4 can only be monitored hard panned as stereo? What if I want to plug an external channel strip into input 3 and direct monitor a bass guitar while recording? I will only hear it out of the left speaker/headphone? Is there any way to center it using the Motu software or is it just hard wired that way?

If this is true it is disappointing, as I wanted to use the line inputs on the back to plug in external preamps for mono things like bass and vocals, not necessarily for stereo keyboards as it seems it was designed for.

Thanks

 

[Merman]

Is it correct that inputs 3-4 can only be monitored hard panned as stereo? What if I want to plug an external channel strip into input 3 and direct monitor a bass guitar while recording? I will only hear it out of the left speaker/headphone? Is there any way to center it using the Motu software or is it just hard wired that way?

If this is true it is disappointing, as I wanted to use the line inputs on the back to plug in external preamps for mono things like bass and vocals, not necessarily for stereo keyboards as it seems it was designed for.

Thanks

My m4 came in the mail yesterday and I got a chance to test it out.

Sure enough, the rear line inputs are hard panned for direct monitoring.

I probably could have lived with that, if not for a much bigger problem: weird digital crackling when adjusting the monitor mix knob or preamp gain knobs while playing an instrument plugged into any of the inputs and direct monitoring.

I tried reinstalling the firmware, changing sample rates, but couldn’t get the weird crackling to stop, so I’m sending the m4 back. Too bad because I like the big bright meter display, solid build with metal knobs, power switch, and excellent audio quality (when not direct monitoring).

I probably got a bad one but it’s discouraging. Has anyone else had this issue?

Pretty sure this was the newer MIC version.

 

[AnalogSteph]

I probably could have lived with that, if not for a much bigger problem: weird digital crackling when adjusting the monitor mix knob or preamp gain knobs while playing an instrument plugged into any of the inputs and direct monitoring.

That's what you get with a no-frills digital volume control of a certain step size, you basically hear the volume jumping. Should be particularly noticeable on bass.

Certainly you wouldn't be adjusting the levels all the time though?

 

[Merman]

That's what you get with a no-frills digital volume control of a certain step size, you basically hear the volume jumping. Should be particularly noticeable on bass.

Certainly you wouldn't be adjusting the levels all the time though?

I have never heard anything like it on other even cheaper interfaces… focusrite, presonus, apollo, none make weird digital cellophane ripping noises while adjusting levels.

 

[antcollinet]

I have never heard anything like it on other even cheaper interfaces… focusrite, presonus, apollo, none make weird digital cellophane ripping noises while adjusting levels.

Is it an actual pot controlling the volume, or a digital rotary dial? If the former is it possible it is just pot noise?

It is just so trivially easy to implement smooth digital volume control I can't imagine why you would get a "digital crackle"

 

[Blumlein 88]

I used an interface with digital volume control once that would sometimes do that. Cellophane ripping is a good description. It wasn't my device and I don't even remember the name. Anyway, if it started doing that you could power it down for a few seconds and turn it back on which would stop that noise. Makes me wonder if there is an issue with your example. I'd send it back too, but would be nice to try one elsewhere and see if you just had a bad one.

 

[Merman]

It’s definitely not a dirty pot, I know that sound well. It only happened while playing bass and adjusting levels while direct monitoring. Turning the knobs while not playing was completely silent. And the sound was distinctly digital, not just a crackly pot.

I tried rebooting it, i tried reinstalling the firmware, i tried changing sample rates, nothing stopped it.

I did find other people online complaining about this same issue on motu interfaces, so I can’t be the only one.

I also found people (possibly earlier in this thread? I can’t remember) claiming that maybe even since the change to made in china, there are different versions of the motu interfaces with some different components inside. And some people claiming that motu will replace or refund units up to two years after purchase if audio problems arise, which to me is good but kind of acknowledging that there are some QC or compatibility issues with the different versions. So I don’t know, I feel like it’s a gamble with these interfaces. I might try one more time and see if another one does it. Or might just move on to a different interface.

 

[AnalogSteph]

It only happened while playing bass and adjusting levels while direct monitoring.

Sounds about right. Bass is approximately DC in this case. You basically get to hear what a step function sounds like every time the volume makes a jump.

 

[Alphonse]

OK! newbie on board...Is it possible to hook an Ifi zen stream to this for music playback and control it by roon over wifi?

 

[somebodyelse]

It depends how the Ifi handles having 4 output channels available, and it's probably not something they tested it with. It seems an odd combination.

 

[Tafelberg]

Help needed please...I cannot get my Motu M4 to output to all 4 RCA out channels.
Desktop 2.2 Dirac Live with Bass Control Setup: Windows 11, 64bit PC -> USB -> Motu M4
Left and Right Speakers connected via amp to Motu RCA output 1 and 2
Two subwoofers connected to Motu RCA output 3 and 4
At the moment, I get output to the L and R speakers only, not to the subwoofers.
Please see attached images.

@PlateMail @ppataki @Geertidow @Flak @juliangst

 

[Geertidow]

I dont have motu but a sub gain of -20 dB sounds way too much.
If you turn dirac off (or remove the gain) does the sub sound come back?

 

[Tafelberg]

Thanks Geert! The problem was solved... there was an issue with my Dirac license that Flavio fixed. Now all four channels are playing. I am still finetuning and calibrating, but it sounds amazing so far.