A/D question and Motu828 and RME UFX thiughts

[theslingerland]

Hello all -

Couple of questions I could use your knowledge on here -

1. I'm running my 4 ISA 428 pre amp outs into My UA 4710d and using the ADAT outs into my interface - I have a few I'm using at the mo - my question is - will the interface I use matter too much as the A/D conversion has been done in the 4710d? And... Does anyone know where on the scale the 4710d conversion fits, especially in regards to the two interfaces in my next question...

2. I'm considering either the Motu 828mk 3 or the RME UFX - is there such a massive leap in quality in terms of A/D considering the way I'm mostly tracking in the above question? The RME is nearly double the cost of the MOTU and I'll mainly be using the ADAT ins anyway - sinus there much point in stumping up double the cost?

Thanks in advance for your input!!

[theslingerland]

Bump - any ideas on this one at all? I could use some advice on this - bit stuck!

[adamboon]

Well the RME seems like a much better investment to me! Better everything! Drivers, clocking, AD's, DA's, more IO

[kraku]

You might want to check out this thread:

The Ultimate Converter DA/AD Loopback Shootout Thread!

[theslingerland]

Sure - does it make much difference if I'm mainly using the ADAT in's anyway in terms of A/D conversion?

[theslingerland]

Originally Posted by kraku

You might want to check out this thread:

The Ultimate Converter DA/AD Loopback Shootout Thread!

Kraku - man, I tried to make head not tail of that thread sometime ago, I really did - my expertise is in playing drums really, rather then a physicist!!

If you have time, can you point out to me what I'm looking for? I'm really keen to learn about these things but that thread Is a foreign language to me right now!!

[kraku]

According to the test results the Motu 828 MK3 is a lot less transparent sounding converter than the Motu 828 MK2 (the older model). Unfortunately there's no UFX results on the list yet, but I doubt the unit is better than Motu 2408 MK3 or APOGEE DA AD16X which seem to have gotten the best results. I could be wrong though.

So I would suggest you check out the Motu 2408 MK3. Half the price of UFX and superb converters. If you can find the 828 MK2, it might be a really good deal also. Be careful with second hand audio interfaces: the jacks might crackle and the levels might be off due to not-so-good contact between the jack and the plug.

[theslingerland]

Ah - ok - thanks for the reply! The reason I was looking at the RME or the MOTU 828 is that as well recording to a main Hackintosh at my studio - I also wanted the flexibility to record to My MacBook Pro - hence the USB option being important...

Hmmm... What to do...?

What am I looking for in that other thread to see the quality and transparency of conversion?

[robertshaw]

motu is generally better sound quality than RME
the ISA has better pres than RME and the A/D
expansion card in the isa is better than motu or rme
converters

[theslingerland]

Ah - but I don't have the ISA digi card - I have the ISA going into my Universal Audio 4710d... Does anyone know how that stands up?

[adamboon]

I'd argue that any RME product will sound better than most MOTU products.

Also that driver and general support from RME is superior to MOTU

[kraku]

Originally Posted by adamboon

I'd argue that any RME product will sound better than most MOTU products.

Test results tell a different story:

The Ultimate Converter DA/AD Loopback Shootout Thread!

[chris carter]

Originally Posted by adamboon

I'd argue that any RME product will sound better than most MOTU products.

I think this is a bit of urban myth. Here on GS, and elsewhere (although GS is the worst culprit), people tend to make certain assumptions and a conventional wisdome is born. But that conventional wisdom usually isn't based on any scientific testing or double-blind testing. Converters is a subject that is plagued with about 5% facts and 95% myths. Much of the MOTU converter myth is based on a) their price points being somewhat lower than the competition they can compete with and b) they have a long history of effectively marketing to 'musicians' and not quite so much marketing to 'recording engineers' in comparison to some other brands - like RME which basically only markets to 'recording engineers'.

[theslingerland]

This is interesting - I thought that was often the case. Looking at the stats, the Motu 828 Mark 2 seems to fair well. For the cost etc, this looks like a good option for me.

I'd love to have 16 ADAT ins but I can make do with what the MK2 offers. Seems like the best deal for the cost I can pick one up for...

I'm guessing this seems like a plan....?

[kraku]

Can't go wrong with 828 MK2

[robertshaw]

Originally Posted by chris carter

I think this is a bit of urban myth. Here on GS, and elsewhere (although GS is the worst culprit), people tend to make certain assumptions and a conventional wisdome is born. But that conventional wisdom usually isn't based on any scientific testing or double-blind testing. Converters is a subject that is plagued with about 5% facts and 95% myths. Much of the MOTU converter myth is based on a) their price points being somewhat lower than the competition they can compete with and b) they have a long history of effectively marketing to 'musicians' and not quite so much marketing to 'recording engineers' in comparison to some other brands - like RME which basically only markets to 'recording engineers'.

true true

MOTU gets a bad rap mostly over their very low prices. The average joe thinks well RME is more money it must be better???
I had a MOTU 2408 in 97? 98? anyway I think that unit is better than all RME products I have used since.

Oddly the RME fan club here are the first to say there is no difference between RME and Apogee.... Their reasoning is that Apogee is hype and Apogee lovers only think it's better than RME because it costs more? But ironically the same RME cheerleaders think it would be impossible for a MOTU unit to sound as good as RME since it costs less

let me say RME stuff like FF ADI and alike are no better than Behringer ADA. The UFX or whatever may be better & I hope so at that 2000 price point

I am not an RME hater. I have 2x 9652 which I think are great. But I've owned Firefaces ADI units etc..... and they are horrible

MOTU make great products. Personally I have not used their latest stuff but I bet it's great. It should be considered over RME
Another alternative to RME and MOTU is the Alesis hdr24 units. The hdr24 is better than All RME products and better than MOTU stuff
digi 002 crap and maudio

[theslingerland]

Hi Robert - thanks for your input on this.

I've now secured a Motu 828 Mk II so judging by this thread I should be happy! Especially as I'm a musician first and foremost so I would have had the marketing aimed at me then...!

It's an interesting perspective on the marketing side of things, I had never considered that fact!

So - controversially - can you split companies into those that market to one side of the glass and who markets to the other....?