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

[pcake]

I have a 3rd gen Scarlet 2i2. Very pleased with it. Haven't used the MOTU unit. I had read the the 3rd gen was an improvement over the 2nd gen, and the specifications I checked out were better.

that's the one i ended up ordering...

 

[vindibona1]

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.

The 18i8 and Focusrite interfaces are supposed to be good. I have no personal experience there. But after a long wait I finally got a MOTU M4 and I'm in love with it and could not have made a better choice. The quality of build is amazing as is the ease of use. It has every feature I could have wanted. For around $200 I don't know that there is anything better.

 

[vindibona1]

reaper, and i am overwhelmed. i suspect that would be the case with most DAWs, however.

Don't be overwhelmed. Once you become oriented with it it gets easier. I found that it was actually easier to learn than something simple like Audacity. There are a ton of online tutorials that make learning it a lot easier than most programs that don't have as much independent support. I'm still learning myself, but after a short while my weakness is no longer how to use Reaper per se, but knowing what professional tracks are supposed to sound like so I can make the adjustments. The initial learning curve is a bit steep but can be overcome in days just by doing a project or two and sticking with it.

 

[Trent in WA]

I got a Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen earlier this summer to work on a project, and by and large have been really pleased with it and the results I've gotten. The only complaints I have is that the headphone outputs are weak when direct monitoring (though that seems to be a problem with lots of bus-powered devices) and the "Air" setting on the mic preamps, while appealing in theory, in application with my mics just makes everything they touch sound shrill and spitty. Unless you're recording a source that's murky and unfocused, add air in the mix and not when you're tracking.

As far as getting something to sound professional goes, the resource I've found most helpful are Bobby Owsinski's Mixing Boot Camp on LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com), which at least some public libraries subscribe to, along with his The Mixing Engineer's Handbook.

 

[callofcthulhu]

I've presently got an SSL2+ en route to me. I was torn between that one and the MOTU but decided on the SSL for the preamp mojo.

I've got a more srs bsns rack for band recording, but my "sitting on the desk" interface for the past 10+ years has been a Mackie Onyx 820i which has served me well but isn't exactly travel friendly. Covid has me going on guerrilla recording sessions, meaning bus power (of all things) was actually my primary requirement while I was shopping around. I picked up a Tascam US366 a few years back for like $40(!?) as the STOAD. Was also a fine piece of kit but they've discontinued support for it and after the latest OS X update has it crashing my computer on plugging in.

If I had seen that vid in post #2 I might have gone MOTU. Here's hoping the mojo is worth the price difference.

 

[callofcthulhu]

I've presently got an SSL2+ en route to me. I was torn between that one and the MOTU but decided on the SSL for the preamp mojo.

I've got a more srs bsns rack for band recording, but my "sitting on the desk" interface for the past 10+ years has been a Mackie Onyx 820i which has served me well but isn't exactly travel friendly. Covid has me going on guerrilla recording sessions, meaning bus power (of all things) was actually my primary requirement while I was shopping around. I picked up a Tascam US366 a few years back for like $40(!?) as the STOAD. Was also a fine piece of kit but they've discontinued support for it and after the latest OS X update has it crashing my computer on plugging in.

If I had seen that vid in post #2 I might have gone MOTU. Here's hoping the mojo is worth the price difference.

Damn. It sounds good, dudes.

I just plugged in the mic that came free with a Behringer battery powered PA speaker and that 4k button turned it into gooey syrup. Can't wait to see how much it improves my "real" mics.

 

[DirtDog]

I've presently got an SSL2+ en route to me. I was torn between that one and the MOTU but decided on the SSL for the preamp mojo.

I've got a more srs bsns rack for band recording, but my "sitting on the desk" interface for the past 10+ years has been a Mackie Onyx 820i which has served me well but isn't exactly travel friendly. Covid has me going on guerrilla recording sessions, meaning bus power (of all things) was actually my primary requirement while I was shopping around. I picked up a Tascam US366 a few years back for like $40(!?) as the STOAD. Was also a fine piece of kit but they've discontinued support for it and after the latest OS X update has it crashing my computer on plugging in.

If I had seen that vid in post #2 I might have gone MOTU. Here's hoping the mojo is worth the price difference.

I have the SSL 2+. Ease of use and cable management is great on this unit for a "tabletop" type form factor. I'm having an issue getting enough volume into my Sennheiser headphones (low impedance output, high impedance headphones) so I tried my Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 that's been gathering dust since I got the SSL. I was hoping that since the 6i6 needs mains power (as opposed to USB power) that the headphone amp would have a bit more oomph. Nope, same result at the SSL 2+. The Focusrite's usability and cable management is less optimal than the SSL, so back to the SSL I go. I may go back to my A-T headphones for practicing/tracking and keep the Sennheisers for mixing.

The 4K button didn't make much in the way of difference for me. I'm using some decent mics, so maybe the effect is a bit more subtle for me?

I've said this more than once - I never should have gotten rid of my MOTU828mkIII. That was a killer unit.