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motu M4 - any issues to know about, vs scarlett 2i2?

pcake

pcake

Sep 20, 2011
10,169
31,502
Los Angeleez
#1
i know nothing about recording - maybe less than nothing. the last time i did much recording, it was on a tascam on cassette :eyebrow:

i was going to get a scarlett solo, did some reading and decided 2 instrument inputs and midi would be good to have, and it couldn't hurt to have pads, so then i was looking at the 2i2. but i also noticed people were really happy with motu products, and found the motu M4 sounded like a good thing. it's got midi, i like having a meter than just a green or red ring. but it doesn't have pads.

so will it be a problem not to have pads? i do have an active bass.

any other issues with the motu M4 (or M2, as i imagine they share a lot of features) worth knowing about? or, for that matter, any areas where the scarlett 2i2 does a better job than the M4?

thanks!
 
#4
Either interface is great and well beyond the hearing capabilities of humans in distortion and noise.
All of them in this price category will do the job. Get what your friends use as you exchange tracks you can share settings for interfaces and DAWs

On the other hand being able to handle lower ohm headphones, like all the ones I own is a big plus for the M2/M4
Bass can draw a lot of power from headphones.
 
#5
seamonkey said:
Either interface is great and well beyond the hearing capabilities of humans in distortion and noise.
All of them in this price category will do the job. Get what your friends use as you exchange tracks you can share settings for interfaces and DAWs

On the other hand being able to handle lower ohm headphones, like all the ones I own is a big plus for the M2/M4
Bass can draw a lot of power from headphones.
Click to expand...

none of my friends record, so that's out.

i just wondered if there's something to watch out for with the motu - i prefer USB-C, which it has, over USB2, which the scarlett has.
 
#6
I don't think the lack of a pad will hurt you. If you're clipping the input with the gain knob on the device all the way down, you can always lower the volume knob on the bass. Not sure if yours does but some bass preamps have a trim pot too.
 
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#7
I haven't had any experience with a Motu but I do have a 2i2 Gen 2. I have ran active basses through it and just had watch for clipping when I was recording any tracks. Also, it helps to make sure that your technique is consistent; making sure to strike the strings with same amount of force throughout the recording procedure.
 
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#8
dlb1001 said:
I haven't had any experience with a Motu but I do have a 2i2 Gen 2. I have ran active basses through it and just had watch for clipping when I was recording any tracks. Also, it helps to make sure that your technique is consistent; making sure to strike the strings with same amount of force throughout the recording procedure.
Click to expand...

i play with a lot of dynamics, but i think that would be solved by playing the loudest part of any song and adjusting for that.... or that's how i used to do it back in the more analog days.
 
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#9
It is possible to cheat when trying to avoid clipping by recording multiple paths into their own tracks simultaneously - and use a (real) compressor on one path prior to the interface, set with a very high threshold, but relatively high ratio as well. Ideally this path won’t compress at all, but it is set just high enough to eliminate the possibility of clipping - basically set as a peak limiter. You wouldn’t use this emergency track except in case you need to go back and surgically fix peaks that somehow clipped despite your best efforts. This also wouldn’t change the use of compression in the mix down.
 
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#10
I'm not a big fan of Focusrite's audio routing software, but aside from that, the 2i2 is a good barebones audio interface that can do 95% of what you need for home recording. The scarlett line build quality is nothing specifically impressive, but not terrible either.

I don't have experience using MOTU hardware, but I've seen them in the wild and all seem to have decent build quality.

At the end of the day, most audio interfaces are nearly identical give or take a few bells or whistles. Go with what is comfortable in your budget, and don't let the possibility of clipping drive you away from certain models (they all clip when driven to a certain point, its part of learning how to record)

Good luck!
 
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#11
iConnectivity makes a couple of good interfaces
The ConnectAudio2/4 competes in this class.

ConnectAUDIO2_4_OrthoFront.png

ConnectAUDIO2_4_OrthoBack.png

The front panel is actually a touch panel. You can adjust all the parameters, direct monitoring, phantom, ... by touch and turning the knob.

There are other cases where you might need more patching options. Like streaming interactive music. Which is where things seem to be going.
The iConnectAudio2+ adds an internal patch bay and the ability to hook up a Mac/PC and a iPhone/iPad at the same time. And custom router between them.
It's higher priced but the patch bay, extra outputs, and flexibility with PC/Mac/IOS simultaneously can be a better option for many.

I can't hear any "sound" difference between my iConnectAudio4+ and Motu M4. Both have huge dynamic range and low noise and I haven't ran into a problem with dynamics from either passive or active.
 
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#12
Resurrecting an old thread.
Also shopping for a USB audio interface. OP: did you bought the Motu M4? Motu M2 on my list along Focusrite 2i2 and Audient Evo4.
Have you look at Audient Id4? Supposedly a very nice DI input.
 
#13
DonaldR said:
Resurrecting an old thread.
Also shopping for a USB audio interface. OP: did you bought the Motu M4? Motu M2 on my list along Focusrite 2i2 and Audient Evo4.
Have you look at Audient Id4? Supposedly a very nice DI input.
Click to expand...

i got the focusrite scarlett 2i2. for one thing, it was available while months later the motu wasn't. but the big reason is that lots of people here at TB own them or have owned them, so if i got stuck, i'd know where to come for help and information.
 
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#16
pcake said:
i have no experience, so i find recording challenging. it's not the unit - it's me. i expect i will be satisfied once i get used to using the DAW and the scarlett.
Click to expand...
I apologize for being largely absent for a few weeks and late to the conversation. I've been learning a lot about recording, having been at ground zero 3 months ago.

So what DAW are you using? Are you happy with it?
 
#17
I also tend to play with a lot of dynamics, and a variety of techniques and styles.
I have active and passive basses, as well as guitar, keys, percussion stuff, and a drum set.
I find having pads invaluable, and use them often.

I have a Focusrite 2i4, Gen 2. I have no complaints.
 
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#18
pcake said:
i know nothing about recording - maybe less than nothing. the last time i did much recording, it was on a tascam on cassette :eyebrow:

i was going to get a scarlett solo, did some reading and decided 2 instrument inputs and midi would be good to have, and it couldn't hurt to have pads, so then i was looking at the 2i2. but i also noticed people were really happy with motu products, and found the motu M4 sounded like a good thing. it's got midi, i like having a meter than just a green or red ring. but it doesn't have pads.

so will it be a problem not to have pads? i do have an active bass.

any other issues with the motu M4 (or M2, as i imagine they share a lot of features) worth knowing about? or, for that matter, any areas where the scarlett 2i2 does a better job than the M4?

thanks!
Click to expand...
I know nothing of the m4, but my Scarlett 18i8 can't be beat as far as I'm concerned. Great sound, great features, low latency, two headphone outs.
 
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