MOTU 8pre - Will someone explain please...

Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:33 am

Sorry for my noobishness, but I really have no idea what the hell ADAT is, and my MOTU 8pre has it/uses it. Normally I wouldn't care because I just use the 8Pre as a straight-up audio interface/preamp for mics when recording.

BUT I just realized that if I want to get some better preamps (which I might), I obviously don't want the signal form the external pre to also go through the MOTU pre, which is what would happen if you just connected the analog output of the external pre to the input on the MOTU (I already checked - both the XLR and TRS inputs go through the preamp on the MOTU).

I think the solution lies in something called ADAT, but I really have no idea what this means and all I know is that it has something to do with the fact that the MOTU can act as an "optical converter" (??). Please give me a nutshell explaination or direct me to some guide or something.

I swear one of the most frustrating things in music is trying to figure out recording technology when all you know about it is what a mic is (that was me 2 years ago). It took me so long to even understand stuff like why mics need to go through preamps, what MIDI is, what a "condesner mic" is, etc.

thank you!

Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:20 am

You'll want to find an external pre that uses adat out. Then it can connect, digitally, to the 8pre (without going through the 8pres pres). It will simply show up as more inputs on the computer.
JJ

Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:33 am

The M-Audio Octane is an example of a reasonably priced preamp with ADAT output. check it out. I think Presonus makes a few called Digimax (LT and FS, IIRC) also.

Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 12:14 pm

[quote="Sheehan-J"]The M-Audio Octane is an example of a reasonably priced preamp with ADAT output. check it out. I think Presonus makes a few called Digimax (LT and FS, IIRC) also.[/quote]
Of course, do those have any better pres than the 8pre? If you're just looking for more pres, then just add another 8pre or two. I assumed the op was looking for a significant upgrade in pre quality.
JJ

Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 11:10 am

doubleJ wrote:

Of course, do those have any better pres than the 8pre? If you're just looking for more pres, then just add another 8pre or two. I assumed the op was looking for a significant upgrade in pre quality.
JJ

exactly, I was thinking for in the future, if i wanted to get a fancy (for me anyway) tube pre or any pre. I understand how to add more inputs to the 8pre. I'm looking for the sound, not the extra inputs.

Is there such thing as a (decent) tube pre with ADAT outs? and how much $$ are we talking? But all this is really hypothetical anyway, so no need to get into a long discussion, when the time comes i'll make a new post about what pre i should get/i'll use the search function.

Thanks guys for the help, now I understand a bit more.

Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 5:45 pm

ADAT is basically a digital signal, so you should really look into external conversion as a means of bypassing MOTU's decent, but not pro quality, conversion. I can't think of any tube preamps with adat out, but it looks like it will take a couple of different components to get where you'll want to go...

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