MOTU MicroBook

# -input, 2-output bus-powered "plug-and-play" USB audio interface for Mac and Windows.
# 4 x 8 physical input/output channels.
# 10-bus digital mixer to route and mix live inputs with live computer tracks.
# Pre-amp equipped mic input with Precision Digital Trim™, 48V phantom power, and 20 dB pad.
# Includes female XLR to quarter-inch adapter for plugging in a standard male XLR mic cable.
# Guitar input with Precision Digital Trim.
# Stereo line level analog input (balanced TRS quarter-inch or stereo mini).
# Stereo balanced TRS quarter-inch line level main outs.
# Stereo eighth-inch “mini” line level out.
# S/PDIF digital out (duplicates main out).
# Headphone output on eighth-inch stereo "mini" jack with independent volume control.
# Support for both 44.1 and 48 kHz sample rates on all analog and digital ins/outs.
# Digitally controlled analog trim for all analog inputs.
# Digital trim for all outputs.
# CueMix™ FX no-latency mixing and monitoring with EQ and dynamics processing.
# 7-band parametric EQ and compression.
# Test tone and white/pink noise generator.
# Advanced audio analysis software tools, including FFT display, spectrogram "waterfall" display, oscilloscope, X-Y plot, and phase analysis.
# Industry standard Mac and Windows drivers (Core Audio, Wave, and ASIO) for across-the-board software compatibility.
# Compatible with all current and recent generation Macs and PCs.
# Includes AudioDesk DAW software for Mac, USB cable, and mic cable adapter.
# Chassis dimensions: 3.6 × 5.5 × 1.0 inches (9.14 × 13.97 × 2.54 cm).
# Weight: 10.5 ounces (297 grams).

This is a sort of portable Mic preamp that motu offers. Quite small, like the size of an external hardrive but thinner and a little bit smaller overall. USB powered, which is quite convenient. For the features included in such a small unit I think it's quite good!!



UTILIZATION

The cuemixfx latency is almost non existent! It's great! Though I still just really use my DAW for most of the monitoring. As for tracking and what not, it's fine. Stable and reliable!

I can't really complain much about it. I can record up to about 2 tracks, though I don't really do that live anyway as I track everything myself and I only have two hands.



GETTING STARTED

Plug it in and install the software if needed. The CUEMIX FX needs some getting used to. When I first plugged this in there was some auto-monitoring coming through to my speakers, which was nice, however, I run cubase and use the monitoring from cubase. So when I booted up cubase I had 2 signals coming from the microbook's software as well as cubase, it was kind of distracting and took me a few minutes to figure out how to mute the micrbook's monitoring.

As far as cuemixfx go I don't really use it. Don't really need it either, I have everything I need from cubase and other software DAWs I run. Oh, well maybe I use the phantom power. That's a definite necessity.

OVERALL OPINION

I like it. Quality sound. I have the motu ultralite and downgraded to this simply because I wanted something smaller and I didn't even use any of the onboard FX etc that were built in the ultralite. I'm very simple when it comes to tracking and didn't need all the fancy gadgets etc. And if I do, it's all software and plugins now anyhow. I don't need anything else from a preamp except the A/DA converters to be honest, and phantom power. That's about it and that's what this microbook offers. The fact that it's USB powered also means less tangle which is always great!

I've never had problems with MOTU stuff. This is why I only go with MOTU.

In theory it sounds good "Motu". And bah not.

USE

Two engineers have its advisable to me that mark.
I regret having cost.
I do not know or just the rputations of this trademark.

- M # rde Customer Service
- Quality of m # rde

I reu the MicroBook 2 there 6 months.

The first model was a defective encoder, completely useless, really boring when it is for adjust the volume of the main output.
Jai reu the SECOND model on this one it prevents me to work correctly with my MIDI synth while everything works perfectly with the old rotten completely integrates his card from my acer cardboard ...

Serious in addition to being the by this brand I'm really nerv see 2 defective products has arrived later at home. Be I'm just unlucky this card is really #@@# ...

To avoid such as HIV.


IMPLEMENTATION

--dropoff Window

NOTICE GLOBAL

--dropoff Window

SPDIF
Table mix integrated and comprehensive enough (solo, mute, slider level bargraph for each mix and final out. No insert possible.
Equal and compression and pre out
No treatment with PC, the DSP hardware and once settled by software, if this card is connected to another PC, it keeps its settings ...

Sound quality headphones (tested on Seinheizer HD 280) and finished very detailed

Stability of drivers tested in WIN7 64b and solid.

UTILIZATION

WIN7 64bit drivers for super stable
No special software as a musician but Harman Kardon output directly by SPDIF

Latency with MIDI piano, 4 ms as possible without cracking.

I also tested with a microphone shure (SM558), the equalizer 7-band parametric perform miracles and also the compressor, except that it is not multi-band, but again, it's a card for me used for breeding and not the musical conception. (We must stop believing you can do with pro sound cards that this is not the segment.)
For a musician stage alone or accompanied by a piano, it should do the job, be careful not MIDI, but you can buy a separate MIDI interface.

GETTING STARTED

Easy installation, no problems with the software provided with the attached cdrom
PDF manual and video

Supports easily stop the PC and restarting will be done automatically without losing the flow USB, I can not say much on the Fast Track, which likes to win as soon as she can (the drivers are very unstable on both XP and Vista that WIN 7 especially the big bug of the 24-bit compatible PC to Fast Track: See Rican forums for info).

For microbook, no problem for the 24 bit 48 Khz, software designers have apparently worked well.
SPDIF output always active and reproducing the MAIN (practice)

Pay attention to the USB bandwidth (70% required for microbook, you can not plug in another card at the same time without having to make adjustments.

OVERALL OPINION

Quality of the bass and midrange treble, nothing to do with an M audio Fast track
If I had to mix in the caf conc ', I'll take the Ultra lite MOTU MK3
Value decent price compared to other brands offered.

My Klipsch speakers show no resonance across the spectrum, which is a sign of good performance in signal phase, as soon as you touch the Equal, the sound can become very large and dense without losing impact.

For recording, the 48 kHz sampling is somewhat limited, but I have not bought for that.

Ha detail that kills: there is a loop back which allows the use Audacity from the sound card and also benefit adjustments and a total absence of noise on the recording of a radio station for example, is not easy to find how to return the sound card to the PC, but it works.

In the end, I find this almost perfect interface for the use I make, to do more and more complicated, we must go upmarket (audio express ultralite ...)