Motu 896mk3... any competitors in price range?

[Andrae Palmer]

I'm looking at picking up one of these and was wondering if it's the best buy. I was also wondering if it could take 8 mic inputs and output 4 channels into the RED camera... during Standalone mode. My budget is up to $2500.

 

[Rob Castiglione]

Have you checked out the Metric Halo stuff? I have the ULN-2 which was just terrific and had much use over the last three years or so.

 

[David Rasberry]

I have a MOTU Ultralite Mk3, smaller interface but many of the same features. I bought it primarily for FFT acoustics and audio analysis, but also plan to use it as a field mixer for Scarlet for documenting music events. Pristine audio quality and good SMPTE time code support.

 

[Andrae Palmer]

Have you checked out the Metric Halo stuff? I have the ULN-2 which was just terrific and had much use over the last three years or so.

No I haven't... just checked it out now and the drawbacks are that it doesn't have the 8 mic pre amps. I also like the hardware based cuemix feature on the 896mk3... also the 8 xlr outputs.

I have a MOTU Ultralite Mk3, smaller interface but many of the same features. I bought it primarily for FFT acoustics and audio analysis, but also plan to use it as a field mixer for Scarlet for documenting music events. Pristine audio quality and good SMPTE time code support.

I did check this kit out, the drawback was that it only has one xlr input. I will be using mine to document music events too and I need the 8 mic inputs.

 

[Kaku Ito]

Hey Andrea,

Another cheaper solution is the MOTU 8pre. As the name explains that has 8 inputs with preamps.

Also, to make correction, Ultralite Mk3 comes with two XLR inputs with preamps. Others are TRS inputs. MOTU just announced hybrid version on UltraLite MK3 that let you connect via Firewire or USB2.

MOTU products are sold at B&H or SweetWater, or at Musetex but we are in Japan.

 

[Andrae Palmer]

A buddy of mine has the 8pre and I first looked at this model. What's great about the MOTU 896MK3 is the built-in cuemix and the 8 xlr outputs. I was just wondering if there is anything else 2.5k or lower price range... that will compete features wise with the 896mk3. I will need the 8 xlr mic inputs. I also see using it as a stand alone mixer to down mix directly into the 4 channel of the RED camera. So will alternate between using it with a MacBook Pro and say Soundtrack Pro/Cuemix or standalone. I am not really looking for a cheaper option. I would pay even more for a product if it has more XLR i/o or features than the 893mk3. I see using this with a bunch of lavalier and ambient mics to capture live performances.

 

[Kaku Ito]

I know, cuemix's dsp processing is great for high quality recording. The softclip feature must keep recordings without cracking but don't sound obvious limiting.

By the way, any MOTU audio I/O comes with free application called Audiodesk and that will work so much better than Soundtrack Pro.

We've done many recording including whole orchestra with generations of 896 and always worked superb.

Try to go look around for the used?

 

[David Rasberry]

No I haven't... just checked it out now and the drawbacks are that it doesn't have the 8 mic pre amps. I also like the hardware based cuemix feature on the 896mk3... also the 8 xlr outputs.



I did check this kit out, the drawback was that it only has one xlr input. I will be using mine to document music events too and I need the 8 mic inputs.

The Ultralite has two XLR mic inputs and 6 balanced line inputs. Just sharing my experience with it as the performance of the 8 mic version should be pretty similar. Using a firewire connection on my Toshiba laptop, my instrumentation software showed -120dBfs noise floor after it was calibrated. As calibrated I can take accurate acoustic measurements from 30dBspl to 120dBspl. It is a very clean preamp.
I mostly record small acoustic groups in live performance, the line inputs work fine for taking an aux mix off the house console.
I plan to record audio to the laptop with the interface as the master clock and jam sync cameras to a timecode output.

 

[Andrae Palmer]

I plan to record audio to the laptop with the interface as the master clock and jam sync cameras to a timecode output.

I plan to do this too. Do you know if special cables are required to Jam sync to the RED Camera? I read that the 896 accepts timecode via any audio ports... I guess that means a cable that goes from LEMO 5 pin to TRS will be required?

By the way, any MOTU audio I/O comes with free application called Audiodesk and that will work so much better than Soundtrack Pro.

We've done many recording including whole orchestra with generations of 896 and always worked superb.

Try to go look around for the used?

I will try out that application and see how it works, thanks for your input. I have searched ebay for some deals on the Motu 896... will try to get it for a good price.

 

[Kaku Ito]

You can also combine 8pre with other MOTU I/O with adat optical like UltraLite MKIII.

 

[Andrae Palmer]

You can also combine 8pre with other MOTU I/O with adat optical like UltraLite MKIII.

Yes I plan to add an 8pre on to the 896mk3. Tomorrow looking at ordering the 896mk3 with this cable:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=327844&is=REG

I hope its the right one for timecode sync in either direction between camera and 896mk3.

 

[David Rasberry]

I plan to do this too. Do you know if special cables are required to Jam sync to the RED Camera? I read that the 896 accepts timecode via any audio ports... I guess that means a cable that goes from LEMO 5 pin to TRS will be required?

The time code input and output are software assignable to any of the input/output connectors. On the Ultralite it would be 1/4" TRS over a line in or line out. For the 896 you need XLR's to LEMO.

 

[Kaku Ito]

Andrae,

I just updated the audio i/o in my main editing suite but really really surprised with the improvement of 896mk3 comparing to 896HD.

Simply connect 893mkIII to the KRK Expose directly, playback my list of songs for the evaluations from iTunes (my library is saved as AIFF) and blew me away.

We also used the 896mk3 and DP for short film production yesterday, so can tell you how they work out soon.