I like that the MOTU has both firewire and USB.

I have a Focusrite Saffire Firewire interface.... 2 inputs and 8 assignable outs. I have them set up as 4 stereo pairs.

If I had to buy again, I would likely go with USB since it is not a picky as FW can be with wanting the proper chip set to work the way we need. I guess I have been fortunate because it is solid on my stock Dell off the shelf lappy and the same on the custom machine I built from various parts.

As far a music sound quality..... there will be no difference. Or...lets put it this way, there shouldn't be any difference. Digital is digital.... regardless if it's a $40 gamer sound card or a top of the line studio 64 input interface costing thousands. Sampling rates, bit depths, should all be the same from the cheap cards to the high dollar studio stuff. Of course, I'm not saying here that a $40 gamer card is as good as a nice interface, because there's no way I'd want to use a $40 gamer card for recording..... no way......... I'm only saying the digital stuff happening inside is the same.


MOTU is good stuff to my understanding.... It looked like you came up a bit short on inputs though. They claim 6 inputs, but only 2 for low impedance mics and 2 were line in and then SPDIF.....

Don't let all that stuff about 4 unique mixes to the outputs fool you..... that's internal to the interface in it's control panel (software) and it's generally a pain to set up and run... because you also have your OTHER mixes.....into the recording DAW to consider as well.... in my Saffire, I too have the ability to patch different mixes to the 8 outputs..... however, I went in when I first got it and set them up as stereo outs in pairs.... 4 pairs. I have not gone back in since to do a single thing to change it. There's also likely some DSP FX in there.... EQ, verb, comp..... word of advice.... leave them off or go very, very light. Get the FX in the DAW.


All in all, I think the MOTU will be a nice interface. It supports ASIO..... so that's my first and most important point. It has phantom power, 2 easy inputs, and dual firewire/USB.... it would work in my studio.

Plus....and importantly..... it looks cool with all those pretty lights and bar meters on the front. Place a LAVA light strategically on top or beside it, and that will improve the sound quality by another 50% or more.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
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