MOTU M4 4x4 USB-C Audio Interface - anyone have hands-on experience?

Discussion in 'Soundgear' started by realitybytez, Dec 8, 2021.

  1. Moonlight

    Moonlight Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2011
    Messages:
    2,470
    Likes Received:
    760
    Location:
    Earth
    Loopback And Loopback Mix

     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  2. clone

    clone Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2021
    Messages:
    5,958
    Likes Received:
    2,528
    I may as well mention this. The last time I had some "issue" (that was really my understanding anyway), I actually called MOTU about my 828ES AVB web panel software functionality. It was late in the day, and I got a receptionist on the phone who took a message and said they would call me back. So I am thinking, that's not about to happen or I will hear back in a month. They had this guy from tech support call me back in about 30 minutes who was working from home on a weekend day!. This guy may as well have designed the 828, because he knew this interface absolutely inside and out; and he had me back on the right track in 15 minutes or so.

    Normally when I end up searching Google and I find no good answers or no-one else even having my problem, it is because of me looking at the problem the wrong way; using poor search terms, misunderstanding an audio concept, etc. A 4 in/4out interface should take 2 minutes to do almost anything with it. It's also a great example of why you should not put a 600$ LG Ultrafine monitor on your DAW and then get the 250$ interface. Those monitors just stop working while you will have the same Motu last for 3 computers. lol
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2022
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • List
  3. mixbussin

    mixbussin Newbie

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2022
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    I have been very impressed with the Motu M4 as an upgrade from the Roland Quad Capture. The M4 is the first interface I have used with my Windows 10 PC (R7 5700g, Gtx1650) and so far I have had no issues or complaints. Drivers have been perfectly stable with Ableton and Reaper but admittedly I haven't explored all of the different things that the M4 is able to do which means I may not have encountered bugs that exist is other areas.

    For me the main draw of the M4 was the Loopback function so I can record DAW audio into OBS. That has worked flawlessly for me and is better than any Rogue Amoeba Loopback alternative I have tried on windows.

    I would recommend it!
     
  4. Demloc

    Demloc Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2020
    Messages:
    215
    Likes Received:
    180
    The headphones pre-amps of the M2/M4 re the best of their range. So for little homestudios, untreated rooms and people who make music on primarly on headphones really is a no brainer. I came from an old Focusrite Saffire 24 DSP to a M2 and the change on clarity was really huge.
     
  5. spncart

    spncart Producer

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2020
    Messages:
    458
    Likes Received:
    91
    Best in the range, of course (not difficult to be better than the Scarlett lol) but still poor versus the next 600-1200 EUR range. I don't think you can seriously make a professional work without an headphone amp on the Motu, I just got a Lake People to feed my Beyerdynamic: game changer.

    Personally I'm okay with with the M4 as an entry-level interface for the price it's quite good. But I'll move onto RME/UAD territory pretty soon. It's a whole other level than Motu, mainly because of higher level components.

    https://gearspace.com/board/so-much...motu-audio-interface-headphone-amps-suck.html

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...o-interface-review.15757/page-37#post-1233879

    [​IMG]

    https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...view-audio-interface.19911/page-9#post-752689

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  6. clone

    clone Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2021
    Messages:
    5,958
    Likes Received:
    2,528
    You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about or are trolling. Let us know when you have about 4 grand to do what a Motu will for 1. Right now you have a $200 i/o/. bye.
     
  7. spncart

    spncart Producer

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2020
    Messages:
    458
    Likes Received:
    91
    Who is this post intended to? I missed your point.
     
  8. genlab

    genlab Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2021
    Messages:
    55
    Likes Received:
    14
    Professional Mix with Headphones ?
     
  9. spncart

    spncart Producer

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2020
    Messages:
    458
    Likes Received:
    91
    Obviously you missed the point, I was only referring to the headphone part. Of course you will need speakers at some point too lol dumbo
     
  10. Demloc

    Demloc Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2020
    Messages:
    215
    Likes Received:
    180
    Yep, I notice the distortion when you crank it up to the level of hearing damage, but its like an extra layer of hearing protection: If it starts to sound bad you should take it back :yes:. Anyway, I find the sweetspot on my interface and I even marked it with tipex so I always try to make music at the same level. And of course if you are going to do profesional mixes you need speakers and room treatment. Speakers in a small or untreated rooms do more harm than good and I got better results with only headphones on my little 1.8m x.18m studio. For 200 euros the diference with other interfaces are really huge. My saffire cost me 500 back in the day and is a fucking joke in comparison.
     
  11. spncart

    spncart Producer

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2020
    Messages:
    458
    Likes Received:
    91
    To be fair I only bought the smallest possible studio monitors (PreSonus 100 eur, actually it's pretty damn good for the price lol), I check on them from time to time to make sure it sounds as good as in my speakers (better to use two different sets of headphones to make sure it translates well, I even know a very well known professional producer friend using only headphones, four of them). With no treated room it's best indeed to use small speakers with good stereo image and just enough sub, it will be more efficient that big speakers and untreated room, totally agree. I just check a couple things on the speakers but 90% of the time I use my headphones, over time you learn how to develop your ears and with the right combination of spatialization and dynamics plugins you end up getting what you want. Then I always send my stuff to a professional studio so I don't really give a shit about the very high end details, they take care of it :)

    The amp on the M4 outs really made it happen, otherwise its native headphone amp headroom feels too narrow and distorted indeed. I've also tried out UAD Apollo 4 with 127db dynamic range for example, it's another league, you almost you don't need an amp (I will always recommend to use one regardless though, it provides that extra dynamics whichever interface you use - the ADI-2 Loudness option is amazing for that).
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2022
Loading...
Similar Threads - MOTU Audio Interface Forum Date
MOTU - M6 Audio Interface ... 01.11.2022 Soundgear Nov 1, 2022
Fl studio new audio interface (motu) weird problem FL Studio Mar 6, 2020
Need Help with MOTU 828mk3 Hybrid Audio Interface - Windows 7 No Audio Soundgear Dec 1, 2014
MOTU HD192 and 1224 Audio Dropouts Soundgear Dec 22, 2016
Antivirus problem with motu m4 Soundgear Dec 6, 2023
Loading...