Hi guys/gals,

I'm interested to buy this audio interface for my PC (Win11) and would be happy if you could provide some insights/feedback, if the interface is reliable and so on.

I already checked some threads here but these are at least 5 years old so not really relevant.

I also already have a good idea of the general consensus about this interface (Win + Mac) thanks to the usual Ai so no need to paste me anything from there.

Thanks for your feedback.

 

I use the M4. Rock solid and drivers are solid as well. No problem at all. Should be the same for M2.

 

MOTU is a pretty solid reliable company. They make workhorse gear. Ive owned several of their MIDI interfaces since the early 2ks and still use a MIDI Express 128 daily. Ive also owned a 828-ES which has been my main audio interface for the past 6 years. Like @fnord23 stated, rock solid.

 

I had one as my "second interface" for about 6 months, and it was perfect. I actually ended up using it as my primary audio interface for everything other than when I had my DAW open. worked perfectly. I only got rid of it because I ended up moving all my gear and desk 90 degrees against a different wall, and I changed a few other things which made me no longer need it.

If I did not have all sorts of external hardware, for just ITB production; I would be very happy with it for the price. The only other brand I would consider in the similar price range would be Audient.

It ran with no additional software, but that could be because I already have MOTU Pro Audio software installed for the 828ES. I was able to use it and the 828ES connected at the same time, but I did not set them up as an aggregate device in Protools. So I just had to switch the output device in the taskbar. 2 or 3 clicks.

Convertors sounded as good as any other consumer/pro-sumer interface. You can get better, but not for the same price. If you get one, shitcan the usb cable they ship it with as soon as you open the box.

I did not expect much for the price, and it was way better than I expected. Particularly the convertors.

 

Last edited: Jan 31, 2026 at 8:12 PM

Never used MOTU stuff myself (been using RME converters/interfaces since forever), but I have heard from others I have worked with that their stuff is pretty good. If the drivers are rock solid then that is half the battle right there. You can have the best hardware in the world, but if the drivers are junk then it's pretty much all moot.

 

Are you using it on Win11?
How long have you been using it?

 

Ah my old "We Eat, Sleep and Breath Mac" Motu friends, talk about not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

They need to stick to Hardware and get rid of Performer, it's the only way for Motu to survive into the future. The move of Performer to Windows should of been made immediately when Apple bought Emagic and stopped making the Windows version. I 100% guarantee that Performer would be more dominant Daw on Windows today.

When you have your head in the sand.....

They have solid hardware but the silliness of holding on to the Mac market in order to "Protect" Digital Performer and use OS X and Mac OS as a dongle was a very idiotic mistake.

 

Last edited: Jan 31, 2026 at 9:36 PM

I know I take people seriously when they are second guessing the decisions of major corporations when they cannot even read the first post
of a thread. It makes me wonder why they are not the CEO of either company. I mean, what do these people get paid all that money for when any rando on the internet would do a better job?

Perhaps they do not go looking for resumes in Fantasyland.

It works fine on both Mac and Windows 10. Why is 11 such a problem for people? The M2 is a $200 interface.

 

Last edited: Jan 31, 2026 at 10:09 PM

i have the m4, and have had it long enough to use it on two different computers both with windows 10 and windows 11. i have not had a single issue with it.

 

I own MOTU M2 and use it as my main interface more than 5 years. Win 10, then Win 11. I am really satisfied with it. There were some driver issues a few years ago (may be there where the problems from the OS side, I don't know) but everything has worked fine since then.

 

I have a Quantum 2626 I love it. If I was to buy a MOTU I would get the 8a usb3 and the thunderbolt 3 best of both worlds.
A while back a guy in here asked me to runs some test against his 828ES they were almost identical in audio specs.
I am not saying the Quantum is superior it's good to know both are on the same level in audio sound quality..


https://motu.com/products/avb/8a

 

it's mostly just less I/O in a half rack unit. It does not have the front facing 2x audio XLR/1 1/4" combo ins with preamps and independent controls, No XLR connections at all actually, no coaxial spdif i/o, 1 less ADAT i/o pair, no separate send/returns, 1 less stereo headphones out, 1 less LCD screen and a few less control buttons on the front of the interface.

Since it is a newer model, it is usb-3 and Thunderbolt 3 natively, like you say, whereas the 828ES is USB-2 and Thunderbolt 1 natively, but supports Thunderbolt 2 and 3 with an adapter. The differences in throughput are basically negligible, but for my uses meaningless since Logic handles 4ms latency compensation just as well as 3ms latency, I never nudge to fix anything that has been latency compensated in Logic, it just works. It's that little of a difference over Thunderbolt because even the older spec is so fast as it is.

They do a very good job of engineering different models covering a wide variety of different user requirements for I/O. They are also realistically priced based comparatively for the different configurations. 8A right now is $800. 828ES is $1100, and 16A is $1600. Just quick Sweetwater price lookup, but you can see my point. It makes sense the 16A is about double the price of an 8, because it is double the I/o features. Any of them would not disappoint. Motu show the 8A ethernet being Mac Only. I'd question that before getting one.

The M2 is as no frills as it gets. But the convertors are right in the ballpark of the 828ES anyway, which for me was a surprise in a $200 interface. When I think $200, I'm expecting like a Soundblaster or something. It's nothing like that at all.

 

Last edited: Feb 1, 2026 at 2:58 AM