Topic: MOTU Traveler

[doliam]

I've been playing around with this device a bit at home.  I bought CuBase SE to use with it.  This weekend i'll be putting it to a good test.  We'll be running a matrix mix... AudiX mics thru analog 1 and 2, mixed with a stereo soundboard (yamaha dm2000) feed through the AES-EBU input.  The show is also being done in 5.1, so I'll be recording those 6 channels thru the lightpipe connection.  I am wondering if I need to use time synch for my matrix mix?  CuBase SE doesn't support time synch thru ASIO.  I will be recording a mix of those 4 channels (using mix1) and also the 4 channels seperately.  I should be close enuf to the stacks that I won't need to delay the soundboard... but, what if I do a show where that isn't the case.  Will I need to have time synch running if I want to align the 2 stereo feeds after the fact? 

[wbrisette]

I've been playing around with this device a bit at home.  I bought CuBase SE to use with it.  This weekend i'll be putting it to a good test.  We'll be running a matrix mix... AudiX mics thru analog 1 and 2, mixed with a stereo soundboard (yamaha dm2000) feed through the AES-EBU input.  The show is also being done in 5.1, so I'll be recording those 6 channels thru the lightpipe connection.  I am wondering if I need to use time synch for my matrix mix?  CuBase SE doesn't support time synch thru ASIO.  I will be recording a mix of those 4 channels (using mix1) and also the 4 channels seperately.  I should be close enuf to the stacks that I won't need to delay the soundboard... but, what if I do a show where that isn't the case.  Will I need to have time synch running if I want to align the 2 stereo feeds after the fact? 

Unless you're feeding out of your laptop, don't sweat it. Grab all the feeds and put them on separate channels. You're using the same crystal, so all your timing will be correct. If your tracks are a bit out of sync, don't sweat it. After the show, sit down at home and realign the tracks that are out of sync. It's much easier to do things this way.

Wayne

[doliam]

cool.  thanks for the quick reply.  I thought I didn't need time synch if it was all going to my laptop, but after all the talk of time synch in the Motu Traveller manual, I got a little worried.

Now, I just have to read up on encoding 6 wav files to Dolby Digital and making a dvd-audio disc out of the 5.1 mix that i'll be recording   

[nic]

I've been playing around with this device a bit at home.  I bought CuBase SE to use with it.  This weekend i'll be putting it to a good test.  We'll be running a matrix mix... AudiX mics thru analog 1 and 2, mixed with a stereo soundboard (yamaha dm2000) feed through the AES-EBU input.  The show is also being done in 5.1, so I'll be recording those 6 channels thru the lightpipe connection.  I am wondering if I need to use time synch for my matrix mix?  CuBase SE doesn't support time synch thru ASIO.  I will be recording a mix of those 4 channels (using mix1) and also the 4 channels seperately.  I should be close enuf to the stacks that I won't need to delay the soundboard... but, what if I do a show where that isn't the case.  Will I need to have time synch running if I want to align the 2 stereo feeds after the fact? 

Unless you're feeding out of your laptop, don't sweat it. Grab all the feeds and put them on separate channels. You're using the same crystal, so all your timing will be correct. If your tracks are a bit out of sync, don't sweat it. After the show, sit down at home and realign the tracks that are out of sync. It's much easier to do things this way.

Wayne

even when using the ADAT input? wouldnt you have to set sync source to external like s/pdif?
I have no idea as I have never used ADAT with the MOTU interfaces

[wbrisette]

even when using the ADAT input? wouldnt you have to set sync source to external like s/pdif?
I have no idea as I have never used ADAT with the MOTU interfaces

I think you may be right, but if you clock everything off the same signal no matter what it sounds like live, you will be able to easily align the tracks.

Wayne

[doliam]

I can synch the traveller to the DM2000 via ADAT or a host of other methods.  I just can't synch CuBase to my traveller.

[Dr.FOB]

Definately sync the Traveler to the digital input source, be it ADAT or SPDIF. 
I have not had good luck in running multiple digital inputs and remaining sync'd. 
There are periodic blips of static throughout all channels. 

I have run all eight analog and either ADAT or SPDIF/AES inputs, but not two digi inputs.
I read that you need an external sync device to keep the digi's in line...

[Steve J]

Ran the MOTU>Powerbook G4 combo at three Los Lobos shows this weekend. I had two sets of mics running (Neumann KM140's and ADK TL's) through the XLR inputs with phantom on; and I also ran in a SBD feed via line in (XLR>1/4" TRS). Chain went like this:



I recorded at 24/48. I could have easily recorded 24/96; but I brain-farted when I did my prep work and entered the settings as 24/48. I can only guess this was force of habit from using my other lappy with the VX Pocket V2 for digi in.

First, let me say that I ran into no computer errors with this setup: no blips, no (apparent) dropped samples, no crashes. Utterly refreshing. On Friday night, I was surfing the 'Net at the same time as recording. Maybe not the smartest thing to do (only running 512 MB memory at the moment); but it doesn't seem to have caused any problems.

I didn't use any outboard preamps, so that I could get a feel for the sound of the unit. I guess the best description would be "clear"...which seems OK for the Neumann's; but it made the already bright sounding TL's seem even brighter. Still sounds OK; but I hope to be able to experiment with some preamps later on.

I had to get used to the line in a bit. Even with -10 pad switch on, the input seemed overly sensitive (probably just me). As the 'faders' in the MOTU CueMix only reduced the digital level, I could still get clips. I had to back off the levels at the SBD...not unreasonably so; just more than I had been accustomed to doing before running SBD>preamp>DA-P1.

As for power consumption, I did not experiment running the Traveler off batteries. Although I did bring along my EC90, I had access to AC power at all three venues. I just powered the Traveler off the Firewire bus on the Powerbook and plugged the Powerbook into the AC. Next time out, I'll test out the consumption "under fire."

Overall, I'm very pleased with the results I got. Couldn't have been smoother. I love the fact that I have all my sources done at the same bit/sample rate, in one place, all ready to start editing. One funny thing though: don't know it was because TSA has been being ragged on a lot lately or what; but the Traveler was viewed with a lot of suspicion when I was going through security at the airports...even more than the SLA's. But not as much as the KM140's with the actives. 

[heath]

i'd be really interested to see how things go without AC power. 

Thanks for the update!! 

[Steve J]

Looking hard at being at Hartwood for Los Lobos; so you might see me there.

[heath]

Looking hard at being at Hartwood for Los Lobos; so you might see me there.

awesome!

[ingsy]

Bump....

I am thinking of replacing the W-Mod UA-5 with this box...had a few questions:
1) Although I would normally be using a laptop w/ this - can it run stand-alone w/ a DAT or even a JB3 if I use a battery?
2) Any more comments on the overall sound, incuding the pre-amps?

Thanks for the help.

[nic]

I had to get used to the line in a bit. Even with -10 pad switch on, the input seemed overly sensitive (probably just me). As the 'faders' in the MOTU CueMix only reduced the digital level, I could still get clips. I had to back off the levels at the SBD...not unreasonably so; just more than I had been accustomed to doing before running SBD>preamp>DA-P1.

you used the -10 on the line inputs or the mic inputs?
are you sure it was a pad or just the "consumer" line signal?
if for the line inputs, you should have set it to +4, this tells the MOTU what type of signal you are sending it(a "pro" signal)

[Steve J]

The Traveler can be either pre-configured using a computer to set up sample/bit rates, routing, etc or you can do the configurations from the front panel (it's faster to use a computer though). Then the signal can be routed to  a feed via S/PDIF or Optical out to a DAT or JB3. You can run the Traveler off 12-volt and control levels from the front panel.  I still haven't tried running the unit off battery power (just too easy to run it off the lappy when you've got AC available  )

I haven't had the opportunity to experiment with preamps yet. Lots of things to try; and I just haven't had the time to systematically test things out. My main goal has been to be able to have a stable, consistent environment where I can run 24/96 multichannel without being overly paranoid that I'm going to have a system lockup at inopportune times....and that I definitely now have. I do think that the recordings I've done thusfar could be improved with a decent preamp on the front end...especially the ADK's. I have some tag-teaming coming up soon and I should have the opportunity to experiment more then.

[Steve J]

I had to get used to the line in a bit. Even with -10 pad switch on, the input seemed overly sensitive (probably just me). As the 'faders' in the MOTU CueMix only reduced the digital level, I could still get clips. I had to back off the levels at the SBD...not unreasonably so; just more than I had been accustomed to doing before running SBD>preamp>DA-P1.

you used the -10 on the line inputs or the mic inputs?
are you sure it was a pad or just the "consumer" line signal?
if for the line inputs, you should have set it to +4, this tells the MOTU what type of signal you are sending it(a "pro" signal)

Guess I'll have to cogitate on this, as I remember having the difficulty really only one night. I ran the XLR matrix out to the line in on the Traveler via an XLR>TRS. As I didn't make the connection to the board myself (my rule number 1 when dealing with the FOH engineer is that it's his house and I'm just visiting: I let him do the connections to the board), it could be there was some creative patching going on there.

Most likely user error, though...