The MOTU 896mkII Hybrid is a rackable unit firewire or USB interface that has 8 channels and comes with solid preamps and effects. You can use this as your interface with either a Mac or a PC. You will get no latency with processing effects with this unit and that is very important because I tend to use a lot of effects back and forth between my DAW and all of my gear. You can use your effects with the 896mk3 because it can also act as a stand alone unit or as the brain between your computer and gear. UTILIZATION This unit has really made me look at audio interfaces a different way, after using this I have no idea why I even wasted my time with some of the smaller/weaker interfaces in the past when I could have just had something like this. Yes it is more expensive than most of the smaller table top interfaces but you can just do some much more with it and the quality is so much better. GETTING STARTED The preamps are warm and amazing, as long as your microphone is half way decent you will get amazing quality when recording vocals or instruments with this unit. The preamps are what really give you your sound, they are quiet and worth every single penny that this unit cost. OVERALL OPINION The only regret I have is not getting this unit when it first came out, I have only had it for a few months but I think that it came out long before I got my hands on it. I only came across it after going to a local trading event with a bunch of musicians. My favorite feature that I just recently found is that I can use my iPad with it. My iPad can now control all of the functions of the MOTU 896mkII, this was a little different to set up but it was not hard.
The Motu 896 HD is a fire wire interface, it is also rather a big unit so don’t expect just to sit this on your desktop. I am pretty sure that I twill take up more than one rack space if I can remember correctly and if you don’t have rack space in your studio then I don’t recommend purchasing this because you really wont have anywhere to put it at. UTILIZATION The price of this interface is pretty steep, but it does have a lot of ins for your to record all of your mics and instruments all together. it’s a really convenient device but only if you don’t plan on making it a mobile interface. It is not mobile at all and belongs in a studio setting racked up. It can also be used on a stage if you need it to be , it actually seems like it was built for a live stage setting if you ask me. It has 18 inputs and 22 outputs, it has the main outs for your monitors or speakers and outs for your headphones. GETTING STARTED The greatest part of this interface I that it has an on board mixing feature, I never really had the chance to get into depth with this feature though just because I really would rather mix on my DAW and with a lot of different plug ins. OVERALL OPINION I am not sure about the manual with this device, when I was using it I didn’t have a manual which was part of the reason that I couldn’t use the Motu 896 HD to its full potential. I had several questions about a few things while I was using it and just didn’t have a manual to do these things. If you can afford to purchase one of these I say go for it if you have the space. If you don’t have the space you don’t need this type of unit because there are a lot of ins and outs. that’s only for bigger projects and if you just need to inputs there really isn’t a point in having this. I didn’t need to have it at home, its in the local studio.
28 channel in/28 channel out firewire interface. 8 instrument/mic in and outs 16 ADAT/Toslink i/o Spdif and AES/Ebu i/o DSP powered effects. UTILIZATION On Mac I just love Motu. This is my 3rd Motu interface. On PC I'd rather use something like a Fire Face. GETTING STARTED Set-up is insanely simple, install drivers, connect, turn on...record. OVERALL OPINION There is nothing I don't dig about this interface. AND it sounds great. Whether I use it for a mic pre or as my word clock. It comes with a software mixer that lets you run separate mixes. Actually I have used it as a stand alone mixer without computer. The small interface is a bit fiddly for this but it does work as described by the manufacturer. When you open the software mixer you have three panes. One for inputs, next is mixes, next outputs. You can run effects on the inputs or on the outputs. SO you have the choice to print them or not. It comes with soft clipping so you can hit the inputs without too much worry of digital distortion. My favorite of this is that when you're using it with another interface that has a fixed sample rate and you connect them via AES/EBU you can run the Motu at your project sample rate and convert at the AES/EBU outs. Or vice versa. Ingenious! Plus the fact that you can send different mixes to different sources, at this price makes it a great value for the money.
Conectivity is well...ok. (could be better) You get eight 1/4 inch/XLR plugs for input but only XLR for the output! (who's smart idea was that!?) Price paid: $1000 bucks give or take UTILIZATION Not many nobs on the thing so u dont have to have a degree to use it. GETTING STARTED The thing is built like a tank! great for taking along on gigs. OVERALL OPINION Sounds great. Converters sound nice and plenty of headroom with the onboard pres as far as it goes, i just like motu stuff with macs. it works when i need it to and I dont need to read 400 pages of a manual when i want to do sumthing new. Just PLUG AND PLAY. "whats not to love?" Originally posted on FutureProducers.com Posted by: Meech_young ( 7-, 2005)
