MOTU Traveler on PC-- problems?

[feyshay]

I've been considering the MOTU Traveler. It looks like the right size for me. I need about 2-4 inputs with AES and SPDIF I/O, optical. Furthermore, nice and small.

Problems that I see:
1) I have a PC and run Win XP with Sp2. Compatibility issues? Driver stability?
2) Will it power off Firewire off my PC desktop. I have a mini-me with USB and battery when I want to do simple recordings on the laptop, so not too much of a problem.
3) Coaxial and optical are not independent of each other.

Other than that: I don't see any problems. My biggest concern is stability on a PC. I'll run the Traveler between the mini-me and mini-dac when I need to. I use Live 5 on a PC.
I like the RME Multiface (but I need a couple extra preamps and the Traveler has more digital options). Any cautions on the Traveler?

[Sqye]

Last time I called Motu tech support about XP and Sonar sync compatibilty issues with my 24 I/O, they gave me tons of attitude, and said they don't support either XP or Sonar. They had very little patience trying to help me - I went through hell trying to get that box to work, to no avail. I just sold it. $1,500 box, and no dice. I was VERY disappointed with Motu.

My main problem was that when I got to a high track count, the MIDI started lagging behind the audio. NOT HAPPENING.

I'm running a P4 3.2 HT 200 gb sata with 1 gb ram. XP SP2 all patched and updated, all plugs fully legit (original owner, no cracks), all software full updated to current versions.

OTOH, Tech support for Sonar was STELLAR, and has been since I started using Cakewalk in DOS in 1991. This is one of the reasons I'm still using Cakewalk products.

The tech support at Echo Audio was also STELLAR, and I was calling them regarding a Gina 20 bit box, which they technically don't support any longer (no pun in tended), but they still spent time with me, and supported their out moded product - they are a class act - I was very happy about that. I think the echo audio folks are pretty on top of things in terms of sync compatibility with Windows.

Anyhow, good luck with anything Motu & Windows : (

I'm still using 2 of their MIDI interfaces, btw. They're not bullet-proof, but usable.

You should definitely check out Craig Anderton's live Mackie f400 forum - there's some really interesting stuff about WDM and ASIO from both Craig and Mackie at Harmony Central. Here's the link:

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/...readid=1097071

[feyshay]

How frustrating with the MOTU. Thanks for the harmony central link.
I really like the 400F, but the Traveler has the I/O that I want. Although it sounds like the 400F pre's are better.
I posted on Ableton's forum and only got one post. The poster had absolutely no problems with the Traveler on XP with sp2. I then posted on whether it used an ASIO driver and asked about latency.

[joneps]

just for another POV.

I've been using the Traveler on an XP/SP2 desktop since March and have never had an issue. (knock on wood.)
No, my desktop firewire card doesn't power the box, but it was easy enough to get a dc adapter for it.
I've never used the optical inputs. But I think I've used the SPDIF and AES simultaneously, but that's not something I need to do very often.
Mostly I use several of the analog inputs and the SPDIF simultaneously, and as I said, no issues.

I don't use the preamps at all, opting for outboard ones.

Overall, I'm very pleased.

My next test is using it with a laptop running Windows 2003 and using all 8 analog and the 2 spdif all at once while taking the studio remote for the first time.

[cdog]

Yeah, don't expect help from MOTU on getting hardware to work with XP.

Which is absurd considering they state that they support it.

Basically, you will be on your own.

But, that being said, it should work fine.

My whole system is based around a PCI424 on a PC, so it CAN work.

Just buy it somewhere you can return it if it doesn't.

Basically, NOT GUITAR CENTER

[Sqye]

Yeah, gotta love our GC - those guys don't know (ASS) from (ELBOW).

[feyshay]

Well. I took some of your advice and didn't take some of your advice.
I did get the Traveler. I got it from GC for $800 and will take it back if I don't like it.
So far, so good. No problems getting it to work. No crashes. Driver is totally stable. A couple of milliseconds of latency running through Live. Works without difficult in Live 5.
Preamps not bad, although I have yet to test them in comparison to the mini-me preamps or my Brick. (I really need to get that Great River).
Firewire powers the thing without difficulty.
I spoke with MOTU about some of the matters before I purchased it, and they answered my questions. I think companies sometimes might treat you better if you tell them that you have not yet bought the product.
I think it is true that you cannot have SPDIF output at the same time as optical. I believe you have to choose. AES works fine simultaneously with spdif.
It works well between my mini-me and mini-dac so far.
I'll post further if I see any problems. (Blows away the Firebox BTW). The preamps are definitely better. Interface is superior. (Better be for the price.)
Tschuss.

[Rogervandeberg]

Originally Posted by feyshay

Well. I took some of your advice and didn't take some of your advice.
I did get the Traveler. I got it from GC for $800 and will take it back if I don't like it.
So far, so good. No problems getting it to work. No crashes. Driver is totally stable. A couple of milliseconds of latency running through Live. Works without difficult in Live 5.
Preamps not bad, although I have yet to test them in comparison to the mini-me preamps or my Brick. (I really need to get that Great River).
Firewire powers the thing without difficulty.
I spoke with MOTU about some of the matters before I purchased it, and they answered my questions. I think companies sometimes might treat you better if you tell them that you have not yet bought the product.
I think it is true that you cannot have SPDIF output at the same time as optical. I believe you have to choose. AES works fine simultaneously with spdif.
It works well between my mini-me and mini-dac so far.
I'll post further if I see any problems. (Blows away the Firebox BTW). The preamps are definitely better. Interface is superior. (Better be for the price.)
Tschuss.

I also have a traveler running on a PC and i like it evry much! I only had a problem with my firewire card, since the traveler only seems to eat lacie and Texas instruments chipsets. Once i got a TI chip on my firewire card, it all just was very nice!


Still enjoying the great things about my traveler