motu mk for live question - which older models?

MNAirHead · #1 12-09-2010, 11:01 AM

Howdy.

Which models have the following specs?

7 inputs
4 out puts + mains
USB (1 or 2)

----

Long story short, we're putting together an IEM/DI band..

Would the 220 be the oldest one that can store levels etc?

Tim

jgriffin · #2 12-09-2010, 11:10 AM

Which moto line / product are you asking about? When I see 'mk' I read it as mark I, II, III etc, which can apply to multiple products.

btw my 828 (mk I) meets those specs, and I think I got it for $60. One exception being that mine is firewire / 1394.

One hassle w/ used moto gear though is the unavailability of manuals. Moto doesn't share softcopy.

MNAirHead · #3 12-09-2010, 11:17 AM

Quite sincerely I don't care which one.. we will not use it as a recording interface.

IF ABSOLUTELY necessary I could go firewire.

Wanna sell your 828?

I have a pro sound guy who's willing to mix us once and create the profiles/personalities....

In a perfect world, it would be old enough that I could buy 2 chreapos and carry 2 incase one dies.

jgriffin · #4 12-09-2010, 11:29 AM

I'm going hold on to mine, thanks. There may be usb versions of the mkI out there; I know the newer versions are available w/ usb instead of firewire.

I should add that I'm not using mine live, and I haven't explored the preset saving features at all.

-- update, the 828 mkI does not support the motu software that makes it easiest to save presets. not to belabor this, but didnt' want to leave bad information uncorrected.

MNAirHead · #5 12-09-2010, 11:35 AM

Thanks...

I commit to following through.

fokof · #6 12-10-2010, 12:43 AM

Only the MKIII units have CuemixFX , this is with EQ/comp/reverb.
Older MKII only have Cuemix , a mixer but no EQ/comp/reverb.
Some MKII have recallable gain like the Traveler MKII (4 pres), 896 MKII (8 pres) etc...
The MKI units don't have any mixer ability.

The Ultralite MKIII fits your description and it is BOTH USB and FW.

behndy · #7 12-10-2010, 12:59 AM

if i remember right, the Motu 828 Mk I only puts out sound if it's connected to a computer.

from the Mk II on it will pass through even if it's not loaded into software.

my band and i use my old Mk II.

MNAirHead · #8 12-10-2010, 08:07 AM

Thanks.. that helps a ton.

Unfortunately Motu is a tough company to understand.. their markeitng must be done by engineers etc.. Rolls is kind of like this.. high quality innovative stuff.. with soviet looking boxes and discussion of what it solves

behndy - does your band like it?

=------
Thanks a ton.

behndy · #9 12-10-2010, 08:12 AM

yep. things a rock. i used it for a couple years at home, always in A skoke free studio. pampered it. we havd it in a rack with a power amp and it's been very reliable.

MNAirHead · #10 12-10-2010, 08:15 AM

dumb question..

Is there a way to temporarily fake Firewire to USB --- guessing this is too good to be true.. jsut to setup the softwarwe.

MNAirHead · #11 12-10-2010, 08:17 AM

Benhndy

We're starting a cover band.. all will be IEM.. it's a trio.

Everyone is DI/IEM.. no stage sound. We recorded a quick demo via a Lexicon --- was stunning compared to the studio stuff I've done.

Our hope is to have a pro sound guy (found a very $$$$ well known guy who gets what we're doing) that is willing to sit in with us and create the "personalities"

=====

Dumb question..
I'm guessing if we go this route we can record via a net book and audacity.

Tim

behndy · #12 12-10-2010, 08:28 AM

the Motu WAS designed for being an 8 in 8 out (1/4, it does more thru the digital cable i can't remember the name of right now) studio / live band recording unit. it has 2 channels that are either a decent preamp for a mic or 1/4 ins. the other 6 ins are 1/4.

i'm sorry, i don't understand the "creating the personalities"? are you guys planning on using this as mainly an IE monitor and DI to the FOH board? or to record? or to run sync'd backing stuff?

we use ours to record parts down for live stuff (mostly a little harmony backing vox, since everything on the backing track is from a soft synth originally), play back the backing to our stage monitors & for FOH, and to run the laptop sound live. we use Native Instruments Kontakt (a very nice soft sampler) for everything the singer plays live.

oh yeah, we also send two of the outs to a mixer for the drummer so he has backing in one ear and click in the other. it's kinda a ghetto way to run IE, there are better ways, but IE gets EXPENSIVE, quick.

hope that helps.

MNAirHead · #13 12-10-2010, 09:29 AM

Thanks.

Planning on ditching the entire mixer (keeping it in the truck just in case)

"Personalities" the sound guy (VERY trained) said the Moto will hold presets and there would be a bar, outdoor, large room and wallpaper personality to setup..

IEM.. doesn't have to be that expensive.. (I've done it a ton of times) ... unfortunately there's not a ton of quality info on it. I'm the only wireless guy.

Tim

behndy · #14 12-10-2010, 09:41 AM

gotcha. should be good then. i'd just use the term EQ presets. lol.... "personalities" sounds like a phrase your (i'm sure WAY more knowledgeable) sound guy likes to use. just never heard it used to referance that.

MNAirHead · #15 12-10-2010, 10:02 AM

He runs sound at a local club that has 2000 head count per night (on a non national act)

Personalities may be a macintosh type thing or just a phrasse he invented.

IT really sounds like I need the Mk3

behndy · #16 12-10-2010, 10:06 AM

yeah, i had the MK I, freaking hated that just to hear a synth or a drum machine i had to had my pc on, went to a MK II. i've never played with the w
eq setting/save spot stuff. i'm mostly bedroom and small gigs. listen to your guy.

...... goofy term or not :P

MNAirHead · #17 12-10-2010, 10:08 AM

Thanhks...

I hate spending money.. have a hyunch I'll have to this time.

fokof · #18 12-11-2010, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by behndy

yeah, i had the MK I, freaking hated that just to hear a synth or a drum machine i had to had my pc on, went to a MK II. i've never played with the w
eq setting/save spot stuff. i'm mostly bedroom and small gigs. listen to your guy.

...... goofy term or not :P

The MKII units doesn't have any EQ.

MNAirHead : I use a 828MKIII for our trio's IEM , once the presets are done , one button touch and your mix is done.
I had a 828MKII before that , it will get the same job done BUT doesn't have any EQ or comp or reverb. If all of your signals are very good , you can get away with no EQ but it's very usefull to have some at hand. You never know when that dreadfull drummer who doesn't know how to tune a drum will join in.

And the MKIII's EQ are sublime.

Your problem could be with preamps. how many microphone do you have ? If you don't want to carry external microphone preamps and want to use MOTU's preamp you have to know that:
The microlite MKIII has 2 recallable preamp
The 828 MKIII has 2 recallable preamp
The Traveler MKIII has 4 recallable preamp
The 896 MKIII has 8 recallable preamp

Worth mentioning that the 8pre is Cuemix , it's not CuemixFX , so no EQ/comp/reverb. The 8pre is like all the MKII units.

MNAirHead · #19 12-11-2010, 06:24 AM

Thanks..

That helps a ton.

Since it's live isn't absolutely necessary to have tons of frills.. just EQ/Comp/Reverb would be more than enough.

The drummer is very good at production -- he's playing Roland VDurms -- not acoustic..... I believe in it enough that I own all of the DI and Pedal boards etc.. if the drummer rotated, I'd be buying a VDrum kit to keep things simple.... I absolutely love being able to dial in a solid bass drum and not have cymbols shattering my ears....

MNAirHead · #20 12-11-2010, 06:48 AM

Dumb quessing (guessing no)...

Is there a master control (after the pres) for eq, compressor, reverb... meaning if we had to EQ to a room would the 828MKIII do it? OR will I still be needing an EQ in the rack?