Help with replacing the MOTU 2408

[Lander]

Hi everyone,

I know this is done to death, but I haven't had to look for converters/interface for a long time and I'm not up to date with what's out there.

The story...

I had a MOTU 2408 connecting my Tascam DM24 to my computer. I'm moving into an RV control room in the spring so I sold both of them along with the computer. I'm now looking for an interface that will last me a good number of year as the MOTU did and I've seen the RME fireface stuff, other MOTU things and I am clueless and I have little time to read and read and read as I used to. What 't the next step up in quality?

Could you lend me a hand...

-I would love to have 16ch a/d/a if possible or something expandable so when I land I'll have plenty of channels to record bands again. Hell, maybe I'll do garage bands while I am on the road.

-PCI, PCIe, or firewire would work, because my new pc will be built on the Asus P5W-DH board, and I'll have to direct monitor too if it matters (I've read firewire has higher latencies)

-I'll be running Cubase. I know Cubase 4 has issues with some interfaces.

-50 cents to $1500 Is what I'm looking to spend if possible.


Thanks for any help you could give!

[DeepSpace]

Originally Posted by Lander

-50 cents to $1500 Is what I'm looking to spend if possible.

Sorry, Tom, but 16 channels of ADDA that are a step up from a 2408 are not likely to be available within that budget - unless maybe you opt for a pair of secondhand 2408mIIs.

[Lander]

Thanks.

Yea, I had that feeling. This morning I considered trading an mdp1 toards a new ada. I'm looking at the Aurora 16.

[Duardo]

MOTU's 24io is actually a step up from the 2408 (if you had the MkIII model, or several steps up if you had one of the older ones)...not as much of a step as the Lynx, of course, but it is within your stated budget...

-Duardo

[Lander]

Well I stopped my a music store today to look at interfaces and he showed me the new SSL convertors. They look just like DIGI's interfaces at a fraction of the cost. An XLogic Alpha-Link with a madi card would only cost me 5K! Whoopee! Wish I could afford that, so back to the drawing board.

We also about the MOTU pieces. In particular the HD192. What do you guys think of that. 12ch ADA and expandable with additional 192s.

The sales man seemed to like the 192 over the fireface 800.

How would the 192 compare to the 24io or RME FF800?

[foldback]

I have not been impressed with the build quality on Motu hardware. I've had a dozen or so pieces and five or six have had problems (pots in particular).

I have a friend who bought two of the 12 channel firewire interfaces. One has been replaced by Motu and the other is acting up. Bummer.

The big problem with cheap hardware is that is usually built CHEAP.

[Lander]

Originally Posted by foldback

I have not been impressed with the build quality on Motu hardware. I've had a dozen or so pieces and five or six have had problems (pots in particular).

I have a friend who bought two of the 12 channel firewire interfaces. One has been replaced by Motu and the other is acting up. Bummer.

The big problem with cheap hardware is that is usually built CHEAP.

I've read about the scratchy pots, but the 192 doesn't have them.

When you said your friends piece is acting up, could you explain a little?

Judging by the amount of interfaces you have had from MOTU, I'm guessing you dig their sound, but not build quality.

I've had a 2408 MK3 for a number of years now and the only problem was the initial installation.

[dlmorley]

Originally Posted by Lander

Well I stopped my a music store today to look at interfaces and he showed me the new SSL convertors. They look just like DIGI's interfaces at a fraction of the cost. An XLogic Alpha-Link with a madi card would only cost me 5K! Whoopee! Wish I could afford that, so back to the drawing board.

We also about the MOTU pieces. In particular the HD192. What do you guys think of that. 12ch ADA and expandable with additional 192s.

The sales man seemed to like the 192 over the fireface 800.

How would the 192 compare to the 24io or RME FF800?

The SSL unit with adat is about $2600. Connect that to your 2408.

[Nu-tra]

i had to get my hd192 modded for me to like it


get the lynx aurora 16

[imaverysoundman]

have a 24 i\o, upgraded to ff 800 with 2 octamics...much better (needed the pre's), although 24 i\o has 24 channels at 96k (dont have to half the amount of channels available eg.s\mux)

[Lander]

Originally Posted by Nu-tra

i had to get my hd192 modded for me to like it


get the lynx aurora 16

It looks like I will be getting the Lynx and an aes16. Not that bad of a price for 3500. Looking forard to getting it. Should be a nice step up from the 2408. Can't ait to hear the mdp1s through them.

It's a bit more then I planned to spend, but I want to step up in quality and I feel I will be happy with it for a long time.

[DeepSpace]

Originally Posted by Lander

It looks like I will be getting the Lynx and an aes16.

Nice choice. Should give you scope for some very clean, clear tracks.

Enjoy!

[Lander]

Originally Posted by DarkSky

Nice choice. Should give you scope for some very clean, clear tracks.

Enjoy!

Thanks! Looking forward to it.

I have a question though about aes cards.

RME makes a 32 channel (Hammerfall DSP AES-32 ) and so does Lynx (both are close in price). I will be direct monitoring through Cubase 4 which now has nuendo's control room mixer section and I am concerned about latency through the program vs setting up cue mixes in the card's mixer.


Is one better than the other? I've read total mix in the RME cards is superiour to that of LYNX's.

[DeepSpace]

We use some Hammerfall stuff here and I can vouch for Totalmix. No recent experience with Nuendo, however, so I can't help you with a comparison. Hopefully someone who has experience with both will chime in.