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MOTU MicroBook - USB Audio Interface

  • Price: $189.99
  • B&H # MAMICROBOOK
  • Mfr# 8430

Product Highlights

  • 4 Input/2 Output
  • Microphone Preamp
  • Phantom Power
  • Digital Output
  • CueMix FX and AudioDesk Software
  • Analysis and Diagnostics Tools
  • USB Bus Powered
  • Small Form Factor
  • Mac OS X
  • Windows XP/Vista/7

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The MicroBook from MOTU is a pocket-sized and lightweight USB digital audio interface that turns a Mac or PC computer into a personal recording studio, with all the audio I/O and mixing you need for professional-quality recording and playback. Plug in your microphone, guitar and keyboard (or other instrument) and record up to 4 inputs simultaneously. There is even a connection for an iPod for rehearsing or sampling.

Tracks can be mixed with the included CueMix FX software and DSP-powered effects applied, including multi-band EQ and compression. The audio mixer even allows you to mix live inputs (voice, guitar, keys, etc.) with your host software playback tracks. With professional analog stereo outputs, a digital output, and stereo-mini output jacks for both headphones and desktop speakers, you can monitor your live audio and recorded tracks in various ways.

Edit and finalize your recording with the included AudioDesk software. A wealth of tools for audio analysis and diagnostics are provided to make sure that the finished audio playback perfectly, even when a stereo file is collapsed to mono. Industry standard drivers are employed for across-the-board compatibility on both Mac and Windows. From on-the-go remote recording, to personal studio production, to laptop-based DJing and remixing, the MicroBook delivers professional audio quality and advanced features in a highly compact form factor.

Main Features
  • 4-input, 2-output bus-powered "plug-and-play" USB audio interface for Mac and Windows
  • 8 physical output channels (all share same signal)
  • 10-bus digital mixer to route and mix live inputs with live computer tracks
  • Preamp equipped microphone input with Precision Digital Trim, 48V phantom power and 20dB pad
  • Guitar input with Precision Digital Trim
  • Stereo line level analog input (balanced 1/4" TRS or 1/8" stereo mini)
  • Stereo balanced line level main outs
  • Stereo 1/8" stereo mini line level out
  • S/PDIF digital out (duplicates main out)
  • Headphone output on 1/8" stereo mini jack with independent volume control
  • Support for both 44.1 and 48kHz 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 microphone cable adapter
Advanced Features
Complete Personal Recording

  • Delivers a complete personal recording solution, with simultaneous inputs for a microphone, a guitar, and a keyboard or other stereo line level device
  • The microphone preamp delivers neutral coloration and pristine sound, with 20dB pad and 48V phantom power for condenser microphones
  • Programmable analog, digital and headphone outputs provide flexible monitoring options

Precision Digital Trim

  • Each analog input is equipped with digitally controlled analog trim
  • Gives you the best of both worlds - the pristine signal quality of analog audio circuitry and the fine-tune precision of digital control
  • You can save and recall trim settings on your computer

Balanced Line Level Connectors

  • Unbalanced analog inputs and outputs can result in significantly compromised performance well below an equivalent balanced circuit. The MicroBook's balanced I/O connections are well-protected against RF interference, AC hum, and other noise-producing environmental factors

Superb Audio Quality

  • Delivers uncompromising audio quality intended for the most demanding professional recording applications
Included Software
CueMix FX

  • The included software for Mac OS X and Windows gives you graphic, on-screen control of the MicroBook's on-board audio mixer, with up to 5 separate stereo mixes, 7-band parametric EQ, and compression on every input and output
  • Plenty of flexible routing options
  • Advanced features include a sine wave generator, oscilloscope, FFT/spectrogram display, and phase analysis tools

AudioDesk

  • Workstation software for Mac OS X, which provides advanced recording, editing, mixing, processing, and mastering
  • Delivers the power of modern digital audio workstation technology in an easy-to-use, inspiring multit-rack recording experience
  • Together, AudioDesk and the MicroBook are a complete, professional recording studio for your computer desktop

Compatible Software
Mac:
  • Ships with standard Core Audio drivers for Mac OS X for compatibility with virtually all Core Audio-compatible apps, including:

    1. MOTU Digital Performer
    2. MOTU AudioDesk
    3. Apple Logic Pro
    4. Apple Logic Express
    5. Apple Garage Band
    6. Apple SoundTrack Pro
    7. Ableton Live
    8. Avid Pro Tools 9
    9. Propellerhead Record & Reason
    10. Steinberg Cubase
    11. Native Instruments Kontakt
    12. Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via any compatible host)

Windows

  • Ships with standard Wave and ASIO drivers for Windows 7, Vista and XP for compatibility with virtually all Wave-compatible audio apps, including:

    1. Ableton Live
    2. Avid Pro Tools 9
    3. Cakewalk Sonar
    4. Steinberg Cubase
    5. Propellerhead Record and Reason
    6. Image Line FL Studio
    7. Sony Vegas Pro
    8. Sony Sound Forge
    9. Sony Acid
    10. Native Instruments Kontakt
    11. Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via any compatible host)
Mixing and Processing
10-Bus Digital Mixer

  • Lets you mix live inputs with each other - with or without host software tracks.
  • With CueMix FX running on your computer, you can create separate mixes of live audio from your microphone, guitar and keyboard, and send each mix to separate outputs (main out, line out and phones out), or any combination of all three

Modeled Analog EQ

  • British analog mixing consoles are renowned for their musical EQ profiles
  • The MicroBook meticulously models these classic EQ curves to give you the very same, magical EQ settings found on these coveted desks
  • 7 separate filters are available on every input and output, including low-shelf and high-shelf, with intuitive graphic control of each EQ parameter

Advanced Mixing Features

  • The included CueMix FX software environment is easy to use and pleasant to look at
  • Click simple tabs to configure settings for input, output, mixes, channel settings, and much more
  • Mixing features includes routing a mix that includes both live inputs and host audio tracks back to the computer

Compression

  • Provides a classic compressor on each input and output, so you can apply compression liberally with the flexibility to decide if and when you want to "commit" to your mix
  • You can change the compression settings at any time while recording or listening
Analysis and Diagnostics
Sine Wave Generator

  • Set the frequency, set the amplitude, and choose an output - it's that simple.
  • Sine waves can be immeasurably useful for setting levels, performing calibration, troubleshooting and sound design

FFT and Spectrogram

  • Visually monitor the frequency content of your music or other audio material as it plays
  • Superimposes a Fast Fourier Transform and sonogram display directly on the graphic EQ curve so that you can see the effect of the EQ filters on the audio material being monitored

X-Y Plot

  • Graphs the amplitude of a stereo signal on a two-dimensional grid, allowing you to see the width of the stereo field of a mix in real time
  • It also helps you detect issues with polarity in stereo mixes, which, if left unresolved, can cause the mix to completely cancel itself out when collapsed to mono

White/Pink Noise Generator

  • Provides both white noise and pink noise, which can be used for sound effects, filter sweeps, masking, testing, calibration, and much more.

Oscilloscope

  • With modern digital precision, you have unprecedented control over how you view audio material using features like waveform recognition, split screen, trigger (with programmable criteria), and much more.
  • Analyze harmonic content, view transients, or detect clipping with one-sample precision

Phase Analysis

  • Does your mix sound thin? Do you hear strange "flangy" artifacts? It could be suffering from phase or polarity issues
  • The Phase Analysis display helps you check the phase alignment and polarity of a stereo mix - especially mixes that might be summed to mono - or instruments (like drums) recorded with multiple microphones

Converters 24-bit
Sample Rates 44.1 and 48kHz
Analog Input 1 x 1/4" TRS phone Microphone(includes separate XLR adapter)
1 x 1/4" TRS phone Instrument
2 x 1/4" TRS phone Line
1 x 1/8" TRS stereo mini Line
Analog Output 2 x 1/4" TRS phone Monitor
1 x 1/8" TRS stereo mini Headphone
1 x 1/8" TRS stereo mini Line
Digital Input No
Digital Output 1 x RCA coaxial S/PDIF
MIDI In/Out No
Sync In/Out S/PDIF out
Headphone Output Yes
THD + N Not specified by manufacturer
Dynamic Range Not specified by manufacturer
Frequency Response Not specified by manufacturer
Power Requirements USB bus powered
System Requirements Mac:
G4 PowerPC 1GHz or faster (including PowerPC G5s and all Intel processor Macs)
OS X 10.5.8 or later, 10.6
512MB RAM (1GB or more recommended)
Large hard disk drive (preferably at least 100GB)
Available USB port
CD-ROM drive for installation

PC:
Pentium IV CPU (or equivalent) 1GHz or faster
Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 (32- or 64-bit)
512MB RAM (1GB or more recommended)
Large hard disk drive (preferably at least 100GB)
Available USB port
CD-ROM drive for installation

Dimensions (WxDxH) 5.5 x 3.5 x 1" (140 x 89 x 25mm)
Weight 1.5 lbs (0.7kg)
Specialties 20dB pad on microphone input

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
MOTU MicroBook - USB Audio Interface
 
4.3

(based on 3 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (1)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (2)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (0)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 3 customers

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(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

So far, so great.

By Nick

from NJ

About Me Professional Musician

Verified Buyer

Pros

  • Easy To Use
  • Excellent Sound
  • Low Distortion

Cons

    Best Uses

      Comments about MOTU MicroBook - USB Audio Interface:

      I've only been using the Microbook for a short time and haven't had a chance to really dive deeply into its features, but as far as the basics: I think it's terrific. Of course, I was using the internal sound card and in/out jacks on my macBook before this, so you'd expect an improvement, but the degree of improvement is way more than I expected. So far, it's all operated flawlessly. I'm using it with Digital Performer, so it's all MOTU and again, you'd expect it to work properly, but as many of us have discovered, that's not always the case.

      Overall, I'm very pleased with the sound quality, the functionality and the reliability.

      As far as negatives, I don't have any yet. I've only been using it for a few weeks though and will update this review as needed.

      Comment on this review

       
      4.0

      Rich features

      By Syd, the dentist

      from Vancouver, BC

      About Me Experienced

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • feel
      • Compact
      • DESIGN
      • Software control
      • Technical help
      • Versatile

      Cons

      • Documentation
      • Only monaural phantom pwr

      Best Uses

      • Acoustics research
      • Home Studio

      Comments about MOTU MicroBook - USB Audio Interface:

      I purchased this device for audio research purposes. It is very well built, has a solid feel, and is well designed. It comes with a useful software suite that takes the place of external knobs and adjustments. It would benefit from better disclosure of technical information and capability in the advertisements and in the documentation provided.

      Comment on this review

      (3 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      Compact, lovely, powerful

      By vronksky

      from boulder, co

      About Me Experienced

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Easy To Use
      • Lightweight

      Cons

      • Poor Sound Quality

      Best Uses

      • Amateur Recording
      • Home Studio

      Comments about MOTU MicroBook - USB Audio Interface:

      For the price, you simply can't get this many in/outs in such a small cross platform box, awesome! The only thing I wish was that it was higher than 44.1k, and honestly I do worry about it's noise/sound level, but I haven't adequately tested it yet to conclude on those things...

      Comment on this review

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      What's in the Box

      MOTU MicroBook - USB Audio Interface
      • USB Cable
      • XLR to 1/4" TRS Adapter
      • Software CD ROM
      • Two (2) Year Warranty
       
       
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