Motu M4 Audio Interface Review

[JimmyBuckets]

Can probably get a 8 channel mixing board for $90 new or on face book for super cheap.

 

[pier25]

Can probably get a 8 channel mixing board for $90 new or on face book for super cheap.

With similar specs as the Motu preamps? (noise, THD, DR)

I doubt it.

 

[JimmyBuckets]

With similar specs as the Motu preamps? (noise, THD, DR)

I doubt it.

What's the noise, THD, DR of your mics? LOL. You're a trip brother.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Most interfaces can be used stand alone as mic preamps. You may need to connect to a pc to set routing then use stand alone.

 

[pier25]

Most interfaces can be used stand alone as mic preamps. You may need to connect to a pc to set routing then use stand alone.

Thanks I wasn't aware! I actually found a thread discussing this:

Audio interface with standalone preamp mode

I'm interested to know what audio interfaces out there can be used as standalone analogue preamps without a computer. Of course it's main use will be with a Mac, but I'd like to have the option. Quite a lot ( Motu m2 and m4, Audient EVO etc.) can be powered by a usb battery or adapter and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[gordinho]

So I own an M4 and I need to record 3-4 mics at the same time. I'm looking at some extra preamps that I can plug into the M4 without breaking the bank.

Anyone has any recommendations?

Seems difficult to find a couple of budget clean preamps (not using tubes) these days as almost nobody manufactures this anymore. Focusrite and others bundle 8 preamps but it's overkill for what I need.

I've seen the Tascam US 2X2HR (or the 4x4HR) can be used in fully analog standalone mode and their Ultra HDDA preamps are great. For about $150 this seems a good option.

The Behringer 8port mic pre rack they have is ok. Lots of mic preamps but yeah, clean stuff is not cheap lol

 

[dasdoing]

Thanks I wasn't aware! I actually found a thread discussing this:

Audio interface with standalone preamp mode

I'm interested to know what audio interfaces out there can be used as standalone analogue preamps without a computer. Of course it's main use will be with a Mac, but I'd like to have the option. Quite a lot ( Motu m2 and m4, Audient EVO etc.) can be powered by a usb battery or adapter and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

it's true. you could get one of these old M-Audio Fast tracks for 50 bucks and it's probably good enough.

 

[midfielder]

Hello all,

Thanks for the wonderful review and very interesting thread. I also enjoyed reading the teardown thread as well.

With regard to hi-z sources...

Would going through an external preamp [such as a Camden EC1] and in via 3/4 result in a clearer signal?

Thanks in advance.

 

[pier25]

Hello all,

Thanks for the wonderful review and very interesting thread. I also enjoyed reading the teardown thread as well.

With regard to hi-z sources...

Would going through an external preamp [such as a Camden EC1] and in via 3/4 result in a clearer signal?

Thanks in advance.

I doubt the Camden EC1 will give you a more clear signal.

It might give you a better sound. I've tested dedicated DI boxes vs hi-z inputs on interfaces and I've heard electric basses getting a bit more low end and fuller sound. Nothing dramatic though.

The Candem EC1 will also allow you to get a less cleaner signal with the saturation circuits it includes.

 

[midfielder]

I doubt the Camden EC1 will give you a more clear signal.

It might give you a better sound. I've tested dedicated DI boxes vs hi-z inputs on interfaces and I've heard electric basses getting a bit more low end and fuller sound. Nothing dramatic though.

The Candem EC1 will also allow you to get a less cleaner signal with the saturation circuits it includes.

Thanks. I'm thinking about it because I want to use some line level gear. That saturation circuit does look interesting.

 

[sacguy231]

I have an M4 and really like it overall, but one question that wasn't completely clear unless I missed it in the thread: I am feeding the output 1 and 2 from the M4 to a monitor controller which then feeds the speakers. But the signal from the M4 is a bit much at 100%, not giving me enough granular control on the monitor controller's knob. So, if I attenuate the monitor out volume on the M4 that does the trick just fine. But did we ever get clarity on the resolution of the digital volume control on the M4? Is it indeed 24bit? In short, I don't want to sacrifice fidelity if I need to attenuate the M4 output volume to 70% or so. Thx!

 

[Ktacos]

I believe most of the controls on the M4 aside from the headphone out are digital.

In short, I don't want to sacrifice fidelity if I need to attenuate the M4 output volume to 70% or so.

you're not sacrificing any fidelity with any knob setting.

 

[taisho]

My current setup is DAC Topping D10 + Headphone Amp JDS Labs Atom + Amp Aiyima A04 + 2.0 Speakers (passive) Elac DBR-62. Everything unbalanced. I want to swap Topping D10 for Motu M4 and add 2x Monoprice Thx 10" sub, making it 2.2. Will I be able to control the volume of the speakers and subs from Windows simultaneously? I see that I can configure the crossover physically on the subs but what about the speakers, can I do it for them in Windows, without buying any extra devices? Finally, can I have both the speakers and subs EQ-d at the same time? Currently using Peace EQ.

 

[PlateMail]

My current setup is DAC Topping D10 + Headphone Amp JDS Labs Atom + Amp Aiyima A04 + 2.0 Speakers (passive) Elac DBR-62. Everything unbalanced. I want to swap Topping D10 for Motu M4 and add 2x Monoprice Thx 10" sub, making it 2.2. Will I be able to control the volume of the speakers and subs from Windows simultaneously? I see that I can configure the crossover physically on the subs but what about the speakers, can I do it for them in Windows, without buying any extra devices? Finally, can I have both the speakers and subs EQ-d at the same time? Currently using Peace EQ.

I have something similiar I'm currently setting up. I have a PC connected to the Motu M4, which is connected to two SVS SB2000 subwoofers and an old Arcam A32 integrated amp in HT bypass mode.

You need some software running on the PC to manage delays, volumes and crossover. I'm running JRiver (trial for now) with a Dirac VST plugin (I have a Dirac DLBC for Windows license). There should be some free alternatives to achieve the same thing, like Equalizer APO perhaps.

JRiver have a nice volume protection feature that limits the max volume to reduce the risk of sending a full signal to the amp, which is my concern doing all this in software.

 

[Delta]

I bought Motu M4 but it sounds much worse than my old ESI Juli@

 

[trl]

@Delta, you just created an account now, so welcome to the forum!

Still, are you trying to tell us something about the M4? If so, then we don't get it though, unless the 2 dB difference in SINAD is something you could actually "hear" it.

 

[LTig]

I bought Motu M4 but it sounds much worse than my old ESI Juli@

Care to elaborate?

 

[Delta]

It's hard to explain. I bought it yesterday. While the Motu M4 looks good on paper, it has very poor output quality. Unlike M4, ESI Juli@ has excellent sub-bass, clarity and fidelity. The difference is like day and night and it's quite noticeable on my Yamaha HS8 and Sennheiser HD599. I'll try to record their outputs for comparison.

 

[Blumlein 88]

It's hard to explain. I bought it yesterday. While the Motu M4 looks good on paper, it has very poor output quality. Unlike M4, ESI Juli@ has excellent sub-bass, clarity and fidelity. The difference is like day and night and it's quite noticeable on my Yamaha HS8 and Sennheiser HD599. I'll try to record their outputs for comparison.

Download this free null testing software. Record a song of 2 or 3 minutes from each device and compare the results to see what any differences are.

DeltaWave Audio Null Comparator | DeltaWave documentation

deltaw.org

Deltawave

Also to make a good comparison you need to carefully match the levels. A small level difference that sounds the same by ear can make one hear the kind of difference you are describing. Levels should match to within 1.5% of each other or better. Or within .1 db so you'll need a voltmeter and test tone to match levels.

 

[antcollinet]

It's hard to explain. I bought it yesterday. While the Motu M4 looks good on paper, it has very poor output quality. Unlike M4, ESI Juli@ has excellent sub-bass, clarity and fidelity. The difference is like day and night and it's quite noticeable on my Yamaha HS8 and Sennheiser HD599. I'll try to record their outputs for comparison.

Hi

Welcome to the forum.

You're new here - we probably have a different ethos from the audio forums you are used to. Part of that ethos is that well designed well measuring DACs doen't sound significantly (or at all) different from one another if properly (controlled level matched blind) tested.

Unless they are broken, faulty by design, or misused. The Motu M4 is not broken by design.

You should probably read around the forum a bit, and get a feel for the place.

Good places to start would be:

Message to golden-eared audiophiles posting at ASR for the first time...

Hello friend. Hey, listen...we know how it is. Believe me, most of us have been there too. You've spent years toiling in the muck of audiophilia. You read ALL the reviews. You watched ALL the youtube videos. You visited ALL the other forums where everything always makes a difference. You...

www.audiosciencereview.com

And

How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?

I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...

www.audiosciencereview.com

(That last one's a biggie - enjoy )