Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Generation vs Motu M2

[@chefmike8888]

I am a Focusrite 18i6 user for many years. I also have a 2i2 I basically use as a ad/da box. I will say the thing that would push me to choose the M2 is one simple little feature that is overlooked by interfaces in this price range, by too many companies . The power button.

[@RodrigoCFD]

This reminds me of the Line 6 HD500X guitar processor. One of the most annoying things was that it didn't have a power button. Then when Line 6 released the Helix, one of the most talked about features was... a power button in the back (at least Line 6 learned it).

[@sonyphotoguy6601]

Yes! It only costs cents to build it. But I love to have a power button. Plus Midi.

[@lisan_al-ghaib]

That latency is definitely something Motu is leading at, even punching above its weight class competing against RME at least in that department.

[@mikeme4456]

Air button, nice touch! Still, Power button, lower latency, separate monitoring, dual conectors output, yeah Motu leads here. I have it since it came on the market and really love it. A real keeper!

[@photasticimages9258]

After much research, I ordered the M2 today. This is a significant trade-up from the U-PHORIA UMC22 I've been using for the last couple of years. Just now starting to get semi-serious about production, so I think the M2 will give a bit to grow into, which is exactly what I want.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Great choice made for all the right reasons! Nice one!

[@TheTurbanatore]

any updates on the M2?

[@JC-uy4yj]

I've had the Motu M2 for about 3 years. The monitoring and low latency are excellent.

[@lbmusic444]

Are you on a win 11 machine?

[@JC-uy4yj]

Windows 10 @@lbmusic444

[@xcrewt2592]

Last year I purchased a MotuM2, since I needed a 2 ch. I use it on Windows and Linux, it works perfectly on both. Connected to the Mac Pro it worked immediately. The sound is extremely clean and precise. I compared it with Scarlett 4i4 3rd gen which, in my opinion has the classic English "a little thin" sound (a characteristic which is also found in high-level British HiFi products), it sounds good, you can't say otherwise.... but personally I prefer the Motu sound.....it's more linear, powerful bass, full but well controlled, very linear mids and crystal clear, but not harsh, highs. It's certainly a matter of taste, it also depends on which monitor/amp you use...etc. Maybe the Motu, as you said too, is for slightly more expert people (fewer gadgets and functions that you don't use if you're capable) I bring my excellent experience with Motu M2 p.s. the LCD dial is very comfortable. Thank you

[@Tigerex966]

Power button wins

[@lbmusic444]

Are you running on win 11? I hear there’s all sorts of issues with driver and audio quality. Playback crackling, etc… did 5ey fix this issue with any updates?

[@xcrewt2592]

@@lbmusic444 I use it on w10 and I have no problem at all, at 256 I have 8 ms of latency, it is recognized without problems. The sound is very clean, linear, very deep and always precise bass, extremely clean and crystalline mid-high and highs (just right). Excellent sensitivity and cleanliness and very low background noise of the input channels (+48 volts - I use it for voice recording with RODE Nt1a and SE 2020 mic) Headphone output excellent in sound and power (independent of the general volume). Extremely low distortion. The display is very comfortable and precise. The precision and range of the various knobs are also good. A software mixer is missing... on this side Motu is "poor" but I repeat, as far as the drivers are concerned, no problem. Then anyway I use DAW mixer. I also use it with Linux Mint without any problem with higher latencies, but here I use it mainly for listening, videos etc. Ah compared with Scarlet 3 gen and Scarlet 6i6 2 gen and, in my opinion the Motu sounds better (but this is a matter of personal taste...) I thank you and I apologize for any errors I used translator....

[@kelvinnkanyane3878]

Very true

[@xcrewt2592]

I just bought an antelope Zen Go synergy core. I went crazy to install it (w10), took hours, software compatibility issues.... finally succeed, plug it in and...amazement! I had read "how to take the studio home" ....is true, full, vigorous, powerful but extremely detailed and gentle sound. Excellent stereo separation and stereo image depth ( sounds like 3d sound). I use dynaudio bm5k3 monitors. Comparrontat in real time Zen Go vs Motu M2 (which sounds great.... excellent pro home card) result: i was amazed...sure it costs twice as much but.... you can hear it...apollo type sound x understand... PRO. If t happens head zen go synergy core you will be amazed.... PS also works in Linux which immediately recognized it as an 8 ch surround board Clearly you can't use the internal eff ..but spectacular sound. Ah, Happy holidays to you and everyone...Sorry for any mistakes, I am using translator

[@sunnyschramm9650]

had a focusrite 18i8 2nd Gen and was not happy with sound, latency and drivers. listening to my Motu M2 for the first time was such an eye-opener 🥰 also the build-quality of the motu and their driver- and firmware-support is really fast and good today. also the 4th Gen from FR feels a bit like a copycat with the new features which the motu´s got already for years. so I would support the innovator also in the future.

[@torta122]

You speak like a fan with words like Copycat? Motu did not innovate. Those features have been there in other interfaces. The fact is that the costs have been going down and you can now see them in affordable interfaces. If you were impartial you would mention that the converters give the FR future scalability. You can connect pro preamps/compressors through the line inputs and get pro level conversion. That in itself is amazing and makes costly interfaces irrelevant to many composer/prosumer customers.

[@NisseOhlsen]

agree. Focusrite sounds a wee bit tinny.

[@sirakasfaw8350]

what'd you end up doing w/ your focusrite 18i8 2nd gen?

[@NullStaticVoid]

Picked up a MOTU M4 when I was traveling. I did a bunch of research and decided on the MOTU Ultralite USB C, but it was out of stock everywhere on the planet at the time. Did some more research and wound up at the M4. TBH I had a very bad experience with a MOTU Microbook I bought 7 years ago. And the 828MKII I had prior to that was feature rich but sounded crap. However I really could not find another interface that had Mic pres, line inputs and MIDI, and was bus powered. I was shocked at how good the M4 sounded once I got it. I would compare it to my UAD Apollo 8 units in my studio without any reservations. Very detailed without sounding edgy. With good monitors or headphones you can really hear 'into' the mix. Because this is not my primary way of getting sound into and out of my computer, but my mobile setup. The inclusion of MIDI, being bus powered and having 4x4 IO is not negotiable. I'll admit I would hesitate at buying any Focusrite Scarlett interface just because they have a reputation for being hobbyist gear. The auto gain, safe and air features are not things I would use. The lack of MIDI really killed it for me. I have a bunch of synths and drum machines. When I play out I usually am 100% hardware. But I would like to sync up some backing tracks with hardware for some things that are difficult to perform live without an artist grant! I've also been meaning to do more stuff synchronizing Max and other video software to music via MIDI clock. One thing I didn't see mentioned about the MOTU. Along with the free lite versions of the software, they give you free lessons in Performer. After I registered my warranty they kept sending me reminders of the next classes coming up asking me to enroll. I meant to get around to it, but I am pretty satisfied with Logic Pro. On the downside the power switch on the M4 is useless. I'd rather have another USB-C jack so I can daisy chain an external drive or whatever off that port. Also the OLED screen seems squandered only showing level meters. Would be very nice to get a polarity meter, frequency plot or other metering options. Holding out hope for a firmware update.

[@johnenglish8261]

Looking at all the options before I decide on my first interface. Thanks for the info.👍👍✌️

[@antoniorobles3498]

Same here

[@apostolicway2604]

Don’t have experience w the motu but can tell you I was pleased w my 3rd gen 2i2 by focus right. Can’t beat the price for your first interface.

[@amirtak9886]

Although I have an Audient ID4 MkII which I currently love for its preamps and headphone amps, I used to own the Motu M2 and it is still a killer interface 4 years after its launch. The quality and latency on the M2 is top notch, and it comes with MIDI I/O.

[@User-ys7cb]

I actually went with the Motu M4 instead of the Audient or any other audio interface due to the low output impedance of the headphone jack. This is because I mainly use 32ohm headphones which are pretty easy to drive.

[@amirtak9886]

@User-ys7cb nice pick. My m2 power my beyerdynamic dt990 250ohms at a decent volume. But the audient provided me way more headroom, so I decided to go with the audient. The motu m2 and m4 interfaces should receive a new version considering they're 4 years old.

[@thedeadxtras9927]

The Scarlett has had some much needed and improved updates and for the money will always be up there as one of the biggest sellers and most popular in the recording & production world, it definitely does a very good job and the majority of things people who will buy this interface as it suits their needs and setup and will give high quality results for most of its users. For myself my personal choice snd preference is the Motu M2, yep there’s very little to choose between them both as both will give you great results, for me I just have always found using amity products over the years to be excellent, high quality studio gear that’s always done everything I’ve needed with no issues and the quality of the manufacturing and user interfaces of there products is excellent and I can’t fault. I used a Motu 2408 for years, brilliant. It’s only my preferential choice and if I went for a Scarlett 4i4 I know I’d. achieve pretty much the same results.

[@eightrodway]

I went through a lot of research in April and ended up with a MOTU M6. It's been great, and this video causes no regrets. Not to dump on Focusrite, my friend gets excellent results from his, but I find that the separate basic and "Air" pre-amp configuration to be a gimmick. Just give me the best pre that you can. Why would i select the lesser one?

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

I like how the different Air modes sound but you’re right - the Motu just sounds better.

[@mikeme4456]

Motu M2 for sure. Sounds rounder, warmer especially on guitar recording. Also, MiDi and different out connectors = heaven! Bought it!

[@townee23]

for me, it was the motu's midi in/out which convinced me.

[@dzejovski]

This comparison video is what I needed! My pick is Scarlett 2i2 as I'm pretty new to music production and I find it a little bit better for my needs :) Thanks!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Nice! It has some great features that beginners will find really helpful.

[@unsertrefflicher4678]

As a owner of both .... I would say good luck with the scarlett latency, shitty impedance and headphone output power, etc. I hope you will never try the m2, because if you do ... then you will be soooooo disappointed with the scarlett purchase. Sometimes not knowing the truth is better. So, my advice don't try the m2, NEVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@sunmaw108]

​@@unsertrefflicher4678what kind of advice is that....

[@Chicxulubs]

@@unsertrefflicher4678 I wanted the m2 but people say the shure mics require a lot of dB or something along those lines, I have a shure mv7x mic and still debating on what audio interface to get but this one seems good for its high dB gain. I searched up mv7x with audio interfaces and the ones I was interested in(motu m2) seemed to have issues with it

[@merel9601]

The Motu is the clear winner for me simply because I can select phantom power per input rather than having to have it on or off on both inputs like the scarlett forces you to. The metering is also much better on the Motu and together with the lower latency that wins me over. I do like the new features on the scarlett, but the scarlett is missing the individual phantom power control, and the indipendent direct monitoring. Both also need to get a direct monitoring blend knob in future revisions if you ask me.

[@Nayah9]

And what would you need independent 48V Phantom Power for, may I ask? You do realise that all modern microphones (dynamic and ribbon included) run perfectly fine with 48V activated, right? The only mics you can actually harm with 48V are a couple of extremely old vintage ribbon mics. Focusrite knows this, which is why they simplified the Phantom Power feature by placing a single switch on their audio interfaces.

[@merel9601]

@@Nayah9 oh no i didn't know that! What about when you plug a mic that requires 48v in input 1, and a line input (say a guitar/amp) in input 2, that doesn't need the 48v. will that cause issues or not?

[@Nayah9]

@@merel9601 Nope, no issues for instruments either, since 48V can only pass through XLR. You don't need to worry about it. Ever.

[@bumerangrabaciones]

Loved the warmth, low latency and PL sounds just great. M series 🤘

[@chebtamer]

For me Scarlett is a kind of easy tool, not by any means a premium or even close to it, On the other side, some audio interfaces offer a greater audio experience, and Motu is -imo- on top of them! And if we talk about included software, nothing -yet- can beat M-Audio AIR 192x14 in addition to being one of the most accessible interfaces price-wise. Knowing that the Motu M series is not RME, UA, or Neumann, it is still a nice choice for music enthusiasts.

[@WombatSlug]

Listening to the sound demos, the Motu M2 has a much cleaner and crisper sound than the Focusrite. I'm not in the market for a new interface since I just purchased the Volt 2 earlier this year, which I really like. I still like to keep in the loop of what's coming out, though.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Yep, the Scarlett definitely doesn’t sound quite as ‘clean’ as the Motu I agree.

[@jaydee816]

Do you like your volt 2?? I jus bought one waiting on it to arrive please respond

[@DanielRoujansky]

Thanks for the comparison. It was extremely helpful! Out of curiosity, which DAW do you prefer to work with and your opinion of Reaper? Most Appreciated!

[@omniinvestments7128]

What a cheeky review although it was really not a review. I came here expecting a more technical review. It turned out to be a "listen to the guitar and tell me which one you like better" review, LOL😅

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

You miss the spec, design and feature comparison sections?

[@bobbyboyderecords]

Would the lower latency of the motu M2 be better for a PC based guitar app like BIAS FX?

[@filotest3093]

Wow, 16ms latency at 32 samples for Focusrite? That's incredibly high there must be something wrong with current drivers. I have an old Scarlett Solo 2gen and can get to 5ms at 48kHz at 32 samples (Win10 + Reaper)

[@CamiloSoto]

Right?, I have a 2i2 2nd gen, and I can make 7,9 ms at 32

[@icmz]

Purchased the Motu M2 2 years ago and its been great. I was on the fence about which to buy. I did my research but as my first audio interface purchase I picked the right one especially because the lower latency, the slick look and the interface was what made me purchase it.

[@MrRichard1280]

Love my Motu M2

[@sionjones1675]

Huh, interesting. I'm torn between these two. The lower latency of the Motu is amazing, but in the examples given in the video, the Scarlett sounds significantly nicer. I made sure to listen to that section with the window minimised, whilst reading my emails, and the jump in difference was very noticeable

[@Freudenfreude1]

Love my M2

[@pony-boy3822]

I have to Ask a question. My head is spinning with all this information, Lately . I do thank you for all your videos they’re very Insightful and educational. At the moment I’m leaning towards a volt 476P. I’m wondering how that compares now to this new focus for a fourth generation release. I also only have a two more days before the free software , $3 hundred dollars worth, that comes with the volt has ended. The 3 interfaces I was looking at at the moment was this model a little bigger though, a volt 476 P, or possibly the Evo 16. But I’m leaning more between focusrite or Volt. Which way would you go? Thanks

[@guyb7005]

3:30 well played shir! Questions: 1) does the 2i2 double XLR and double 1/4" input allow for 4 simultaneous channels? 2) Can you explain us simpler folk which one has the best free software?

[@mikomi1408]

On the Motu M2 you can turn on / off the phantom power for every input individually. Is that also possible on the Focusrite?

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

EDIT - No, you cannot select 48v PP for individual inputs. When activated it turns on for all inputs.

[@mikomi1408]

@@TheGaragebandGuideThank you!

[@nilespeshay1734]

Meaning no disrespect, just adding this for anyone who might read this in the future: you CANNOT turn phantom power on/off for the individual inputs on the Scarlett. Neither by hardware buttons nor software. 48v is either on or off +globally+ - for all inputs.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

I’ve just double checked the Manual and you are correct, 48v phantom power works globally for all inputs. I’ve edited my initial reply. Thanks for the correction, I appreciate it!

[@johnvender]

The MOTU metering and low latency are great but to me the 4th gen 2i2 sounded quite a lot better with your examples, the air mode works great, and there are times when having it set the input level or prevent clipping could be very handy. Main thing I could see being a pain for some is having to get to the back of it for the XLR inputs.

[@Gabriel_Drake]

Great comparison. I'm looking for a budget setup for youtube videos. My main objectives is commentary and voiceover. In your sample it looked the Scarlet sounded a bit too low, with some improvement when the Air function was active. While the MOTU was more clear than the Scarlett. However, I have a really powerful voice, that can send me into the Red Zone quite fast, and the "safe" button appears helpful towards this issue. Quite the difficult choice. I've noticed also the Scarlett offers a (Studio) bundle with its own Microphone and Headphones, unlike the MOTU. Obviously I do not expect a super quality out of those devices, but for a starter like me, looking for a budget all-in-one bundle solution to begin, it may be enough.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Id completely agree that the Scarlett is better suited to beginners, especially if you can grab it as part of the bundle. Focusrite have a voiceover specific audio interface available too that you may want to check out:focusrite.com/products/vocaster-one

[@Gabriel_Drake]

@@TheGaragebandGuide Wow. I've totally missed that. Thank you very much.

[@AKSKMY]

Hmm seems like the MOTU is a bit not as clear as the scarlett. But the full color LED monitoring is nice tho.

[@mattmattmatt6700]

Returned my 2i2 gen 4. Went back to my m2

[@andymcdearmon8873]

I went with M2 and I think I made the best decision. I love my M2

[@marcsmith3739]

I have both…..I like the motu a bit more but both are great….

[@EasyHeat]

I picked up a Scarlett 18i8 Gen 2 at a killer deal not long after the Gen 3 was released, and it has served me well for the years since. Not the best at direct guitar though, but I’ve been using a Vox Valve Energy “Silk Drive” as clean preamp, and it has dramatically improved my experience with amp sims. A relative hidden gem that little discontinued pedal is. I aspire to collect the whole lineup at some point, but for now the Silk Drive has been a game changer. The MOTU has recently caught my eye however, as I have been exclusively been playing electronic drums since moving into an apartment, and as a result? The lowest possible latency is increasingly ideal. My studio computer is a 2013 iMac (i74770,16gb,256gb NVME), so I’m limited to Thunderbolt 2 if I wanted really super duper low latency. Which means I’d either need a TB2 Apollo twin (out of my budget), a Clarett 2 pre (half the price), or possibly a TB2 Zoom TAC (which I hear is a driver nightmare). MIDI in/out is also a necessity so… Anyway, thanks for this helpful comparison my dude! Cheers!

[@Pushing_Pixels]

Good point about the drums. I'm thinking of getting an electronic drum kit to learn (also in an apartment) and I would hate to buy one then find out I was getting put out by latency issues when trying to record along to a DAW track.

[@EasyHeat]

@@Pushing_Pixels As long as you take the time to tweak the buffer settings and the interface has decent drivers? USB 2/3.0 works. I moved from a Win10PC to an older intel iMac, but unfortunately I’m locked into Thunderbolt 2. Been thinking about getting either a TB2 UA Apollo Twin or PreSonus Quantum. Then I’d be well under 3ms, but for now? I’m fine.

[@batphink2655]

Both sound great, if both of these could be combined in one unit it would be the absolute best interface in it's class barre none! The Scarlett was a bit more clear while the MOTU was a bit warmer and fuller. I'll stay with my MOTU M4 I love it! Great review again Pat Cheers! 👍

[@OpenGL4ever]

Have you tried to use your MOTU M4 in Linux?

[@mpalin11]

Excellent review 👍

[@Pushing_Pixels]

I think the sound is noticeably better on the M2. It seems like something is missing in the sound of the 2i2, and I suspect it might be them knocking down a few frequencies in their default mode so that their "air mode" sounds more noticeably "better" (even though all it seems to do is boost treble a bit). Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want, but I think the sound is very different between these two, and I don't remember thinking that with the Gen 3. I think if the M2 had a headphone mixer knob it would be perfect. The metering, the on/off switch, and the independent phantom power controls are all standout features IMO. Moreso than a treble boost button, although having a limiter (safe mode) is certainly nice.

[@DawnHub666]

Bought the Motu M4 a while back. it is superior in sound and latency and metering.

[@lbmusic444]

Are you on windows 11? I hear there’s pops clicks and driver issues

[@DawnHub666]

@@lbmusic444 No windows 10

[@RobinB787]

I use my M2 on win 11 and no pops or clicks

[@zeitakulobusta]

Knurled knobs on the Motu. Game over innit.

[@Skoora]

On those particular audio samples, definitely the Focusrite. The voice was more clear and intelligible, as well as the guitar. The Motu had more low end but it needed post to clear it up as it made the guitar boomy and smeared in the bass and the voice seemed to lose distinction and have added sibilance. With the 2i2 you just hear something ready to go and don’t think of it as thin until you hear the Motu. Now it could all be remedied for the Motu with a different mic and or placement and then the Motu may be a “warmer” choice. In the context of rock, which I deal with, I’m more commonly shelving excessive bass and trying to get bite, snap and rawness. So for me the Focusrite seems it would get there quicker. Plus it opens up a fun purchase for a Neve clone to get the fatter warmth when I want it…lol

[@Jeronnimooo]

@thegarageband and @skoora, I have Genelecs 8010APs in my edit studio. Would you recommend the MOTU or Scarlett? I also noticed the 'boomy' sound in the lows of MOTU.

[@Skoora]

@@Jeronnimooo I just recently needed an interface after selling a Scarlett 8i6. Sounded fine, I needed a few more inputs and wanted ADAT expansion. Because I hate the Control software that Focusrite uses I ordered a MOTU Ultralite MKV (over getting an 18i20). I used the first gen Ultralite in the past and it was very good. I don’t know if the M series are using different pre’s than the Ultralite but I still felt confident getting the MOTU ultralite, even not liking the results in this particular video.

[@Skoora]

Well wow, I just got the Ultralite and within minutes it was doing weird things with panning or losing one side of the stereo field (by itself) and cutting out of audio. It’s going back. Looked online and it looks like there are many issues with the MKV. Looks like I’ll end up with Focusrite by default..:(

[@Jeronnimooo]

OK. So not the MOTU M2? Thank you for sharing your experiences.

[@OpenGL4ever]

Another test, where the the same audio recording is run through a digital Low-pass filter and another one with a high-pass filter would help here to better find out, how they both perform in comparison.

[@mariajanice5524]

great comparisons. i would love to see some reviews on buying a second interface, i.e is it worth upgrading an interface like scarlet 2i2 3rd gen, without spending thousands . thanks for your great info always

[@Nachofercri]

Hi! Great video! I only got one doubt, is true that the focusrite 2i2 4th gen has some problems with reaching the necessary energy to power the DT770 250ohm sound correctly and loud? Thank you very much for your video!

[@TheTurbanatore]

Any updates on this?

[@MissuMissu362]

The Scarlett sounded compressed a bit on vocals but the Motu m2 sounded the best and the more natural

[@macjeffff]

Motu M2. I’m happy with my current Presonus 68c, but the Motu M2 would be better for my voiceovers.

[@sonyphotoguy6601]

No Midi. No power button. No chance to choose phantom power for one channel. That is the dealbreaker for the Focusrite. Why is it so hard to put these basic features in? The "air" button is for kids. I use a DAW. ;-) But the reason to buy the MOTU is the latency and the sound.

[@matthaberek]

Have you had any issues with needing a cloud lifter with the motu m2? I plan on using 80ohms headphones and was told I might not get enough volume to monitor myself if I use 250ohms headphones. Have seen debates in Reddit if it can drive high ohms headphones

[@SilverWizy]

Can somebody make it easy for me and tell me which preamp is better? That's a decisive factor, and I can't make the difference, technically speaking! Which audio interface is suitable for a deep-voice singer who wants to have rich, warm vocals? It can be other than these two options! Thanks to anyone who will answer!

[@GODLYNXofficial]

I got the 4i4 and it works fine but when i put my pc to sleep then wake it up, the scarlet will not power up with it. I have to physically unplug it and plug it back in. (And yes its the same on all my pc's usb-c outputs). This is obviously a huge problem and very annoying as over time it will put un-needed wear and tear on the cables and input. This could easily be solved with a power button so im gunna have to switch to the motu. What were they thinking not adding a power button??!

[@ketchupjonmustard4514]

I have a second gen focusrite. It’s the one with 4 inputs on the front. Do you think it’s work upgrading to the motu if I’m looking for more db and low latency? I like the independent phantom power and volume knobs on the motu.

[@Nathan-fl6is]

Hi, thank you for the video; great info! I know no one asked for my opinion, but I do think your lighting is a bit too dark. I think you might benefit from extra lighting on your face.

[@lbmusic444]

You wouldn’t happen to be using the m2 on a win 11 machine are you? I hear there’s all kinds of driver issues and wondering if they have been fixed as of yet. Thanks for the nice comparison vid!

[@icmz]

I've been using the M2 for 2 years now. And I just moved to W11 about 8 months ago with no issues. I just install the drivers and plugin my mic/guitar at ease. Then again I have a high end PC that can handle what I throw at it.

[@lbmusic444]

@@icmz Hey, Thanks for the reply. I'm actually in the process of building a new DAW with higher end specs. My old 10+year was DOA out of the blue and so due for an upgrade/replacement (Thanks Black Friday Sales) . That's good to hear that you have no issues with the MOTU 2. though I wish your reply would have been earlier as I got a deal on a Volt276 and is now on the way. Are you on 23H2 update? Also what kind of track count do you average and type/# of of plug-ins on channels. Thanks

[@icmz]

@@lbmusic444 Yes up to date 23H2. Honestly I've never pushed this rig yet but I've used about 30+ tracks and used multiple heavy plugins from Kontakt and Amplitube. No crashes yet with DAW or plugins just opening old music projects that are not up to date with current FLS.

[@STATiSBEATS]

I have the volt 1 in the same price range, great interface and only 4.6ms roundtrip latency

[@dexsik]

lol how did you make "like button" flashing? and i'll go probably with scarlet. motu don't have that's many fancy futures

[@Maxischupp93]

is there an interface with noticably lower roundtrip latency than the motu m2? preferably under 500 € ? its really hard to find a comparison chart for rtl somehow :(

[@alexpark1542]

Awesome video! I'm still indecisive as to which one to get though. I really liked the sound of Focusrite Air and Air 2 with your samples, and am really interested in the free software package that the Focusrite comes w/, especially with autotune and the Marshall. The only thing that makes me consider the M2 is it's signficantly lower latency and included MIDI plug-ins. I'm thinking if using direct monitoring will fix the latency issue and I buy a quality MIDI to USB cable like the Roland UM-ONE-MK2, it might be worth going with the Focusrite, but not sure.

[@ranmoc]

im with you.... same probleme here... what to do? :D

[@Pushing_Pixels]

You can get that "air" sound in post without too much difficulty using EQ. Better to have a clean signal and tweak it, IMO, than add qualities you can't undo later. Another good option to consider is the Arturia MiniFuse 2. It also has great pre-amps (most do these days), MIDI in/out, and it has a headphone mixer knob, so you can blend the direct input and the DAW track to your liking. It also has a USB port that lets you plug a MIDI controller or keyboard into it, rather than taking up a port on your computer. I'm also indecisive, currently tossing-up between the Arturia and the M2, as the separate phantom power controls, on/off switch and that metering screen on the M2 are standout features, while the Arturia has the headphone mixer, better software, a 5 year warranty vs two years, and it's a fair bit cheaper. Both sound great and have really solid builds. M2 has better latency... this decision has taken nearly a week so far, of watching videos and reading reviews, smh.

[@Levi89723]

​@@Pushing_Pixelshey, what did you end up going with and why? :)

[@Pushing_Pixels]

@@Levi89723 I ended up talking myself into spending more than I wanted and got a Universal Audio Volt 476p. (it also has a colouration function they call "vintage", which is EQ but also a touch of harmonic distortion for a very slight "saturation" effect). It has a built in "76" compressor on each channel, that gives the option of adding some analogue compression before the AD conversion (it only has 3 settings though, so it's not an actual 76, but still useful in certain situations). It also has two headphone outs. It's quite expensive because of the compressors and the fact it has a mic preamp on all four inputs. I convinced myself I might need them one day, probably stupidly, as I haven't used more than two at a time yet. I always do this to myself; the longer I look around and research, the more I talk myself into feature creep and spending more money. I couldn't find a single Motu M2 for sale in my country, or I probably would've bought it. The Arturia is still a good option though, as it's less than 1/3 the price of the Volt 476p I ended up getting and does all of the most important things you need in a USB interface pretty well. I would get the Arturia over the Focusrite, or the M2 over both of those.

[@HarmonicaTool]

So the Motu has less gimicks as it is the older of the two but despite being the older interface it beats the new one in latency and with a better display? 😅

[@jenslempke7501]

Moto M2, clearer, punchier, more lower register to my ears.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

It just sounds GREAT, doesn’t it?

[@EasyHeat]

Agreed. Winner winner chicken dinner

[@dragonstone6594]

Moto M2 for the laterncy.

[@hinky7729]

Had massive problems with the motu m2 with a mac m1 - sold it. Drivers werent solid at that time - dont know how it is now.

[@louisecollins9213]

Just got Motu M2 sounds warmer to me which is a big plus when it comes to Mastering. Although to be fare i had the Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen before

[@lbmusic444]

Are you on win 11 machine? How is the playback quality and drivers for it. Read about all kinds of problems with win..

[@davidfabien7220]

I think the MOTU M2 sounds better.

[@VeitLehmann]

Did you compare the Hi-Z instrument inputs and the headphone amps? My main focus would be recording bass/guitar, and I'd like to use my high-impedance Beyerdynamic DT880 on the interface. I'd choose the better one in these areas if there's a clear winner, otherwise I'd lean towards the Motu M2, for their low latency and MIDI input (I also have an older electric piano, would be cool to be able to connect it without getting an additional MIDI to USB converter). Other options I consider are the Arturia MiniFuse 2 (I also like that it can blend the direct signal to the headphone out) and the UA Volt 2

[@Levi89723]

Hey, what interface did you end up getting?

[@VeitLehmann]

@@Levi89723 It took me some time to finally get some interfaces to compare. I just received the MiniFuse 2 and the UA Volt 2 and will test them in the next couple of days. The Motu M2 was too expensive for my budget, it's almost twice the price of the MiniFuse 2 or the Volt 2 in Germany right now. I didn't consider the Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen in the end because of its high latency and missing MIDI.

[@VeitLehmann]

@@Levi89723 So, another update: I got the Motu M4 instead, which combines most of the pros of the MiniFuse 2 and the Volt 2 and adds some nice things. The MiniFuse's headphone output was sometimes too low for my DT 880 600 Ohms, especially with direct monitoring. The Volt 2 is powerful enough here, but it's missing the mix blend knob for direct monitoring. The Volt 2 also has no loopback and I couldn't get the included plugins working. The M4 has a mix blend knob, powerful headphone output, nice input/output metering, super low latency, awesome sound and recording quality, is build very well and easy to operate. So it ticks all the boxes for me.

[@rohitRraina]

Please suggest me an awesome interface I don't need much I/O 2in and 2 out is fine But it must have higher quality Dac/ADC converters.

[@bayuardyawan]

Motu M2 Feels more alive on acoustic guitar.

[@Qissa-Ai]

What the best for voiceover ?

[@williamsk001]

As a 2i2 3rd gen owner, i dont see anything that MAKES me want to upgrade to either of these two. Maybe if one of them comes out with both the built-in screens from the Motu AND the extra Safe and Air buttons from the Focusrite? *shrug*

[@satyabratasatapathy6615]

U didn't even compare the headphone and instrument monitor which is improved in 4th gen vs motu

[@martinclark9636]

Just starting out with my wee music production set up and the motu M2 clinches it for me with the midi connection for my korg monologue I've had for a year just jamming with it getting to know it and having fun.. Listening to the playback through my decent headphones the M2 did sound better compared to the scarlett..

[@zeitakulobusta]

There's something mismatched between the 2 voiceover takes, mic position, angle, Scarlett head the air switch in or something as the Motu obviously sounds way too murky by comparison.

[@Venomancerous]

Should i buy focusrite gen 4 2i2 for krk 5s or motu m2? I mostly play games and watch movies(listen to music also). Thanks.

[@buiphat20790]

me too

[@klayface]

With the focusrite would I be able to use a dynamic and a condenser microphone simultaneously?

[@ojara]

No, you can't. You only have one button for Phantom Power. For both channels.

[@Godzillah]

2i4 is better but 2i2 doesn’t have enough power to drive sm7b or enough amp for audiophile headphones. Both M2 and 2i2 is $200 but check m2 back midi connector. Also on the 2i2 there’s a one second delay which isn’t bad but always throws off my timing.

[@SepphirohX]

Which interface would be better for guitar rig?

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Either or honestly. Scarlett might be easier to gain stage.

[@aselma10]

The scarlette sounded twice better in your demo

[@helethead]

What didn’t you include Presonus?

[@seenuhello1]

I have a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen. The sound ouhput goes bonkers a couple of times a day. It has the latest Windows 10 driver, but it stlll happens. I have to restart it each time. I wonder if the USB hub is the problem. I should try using the Scarlett without the hub.

[@foreignwoods8138]

Is the Focusrite 2i2 4th Gen good enough for the Neumann Tlm 102?

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Yeah absolutely.

[@NisseOhlsen]

Motu sounds much better, much warmer/less fatiguing to my ears. So how much to climb the ladder to find a better sounding/more 'musical' interface than the Motu M2 ? Straight to the Arturia AudioFuse ?

[@Uuuuyyyyuuu]

I don't trust Arturia for hardware to be honest. I love their software tho. Apollo Twin is in the running for warmest sounding interface, but tis expensive

[@GalaxiaDeFavio]

Where is the focusrite review video?

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

I've hea4d the motu M's are tough to beat with incredibly low latency

[@dennisdimaandal1488]

who has a lower latency when loaded?

[@JWNRW59]

Do I see correctly that the gen4 drops the two combo inputs ?What the????

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Yep, now separate XLR inputs on the back.

[@JWNRW59]

@@TheGaragebandGuide Think I prefer my Gen 3 with the combo jacks.

[@majkon93]

@@TheGaragebandGuide It would be nice if it had extra outputs instead of separated inputs, for an headphone amp..

[@mygoogle1525]

Has any one ever used iconnectivity 4c? What is tge latency like?. It is realy hard to find any information.

[@bighousemusic628]

The scarlett overall sounds way better than that motu no bias and i didnt get pay from any of them to say this buy the dynamic range of that scarlett sounds like the focusrite rednet interfaces to me

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

They upgraded these new Scarlett’s with the same preamps found in the rednet range I believe.

[@bighousemusic628]

@@TheGaragebandGuide they do and i read that they put the same converters from their rednet aswel so no contest here the scarlett is waaay better than the motu and the apollo and ssl and audient

[@Sniper_T_2x]

I don't know what you was listening to, the motu sounded better

[@tokyogamer5825]

Correct me if I am wrong but the Motu M2 60db gain couldn't possibly be enough gain for the Shure sm7b

[@rudyvrobertsjr2893]

Who had better plugins

[@adilmalik4648]

Scarlett for sure

[@tonytino4509]

Really don’t like that air feature from fucusrite. It is a bit too much. If I bought it ,I would keep that feature off. Btw real good video from you. Loved it.❤️❤️❤️

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Cheers! Yeah, it’s definitely noticeable and won’t be for everyone. The Motu sounds fantastic without any additional modes.

[@ojara]

Motu has better A/D converters. The Air feature is just some eq and saturation inside the hood for a fake sound. That's something you can do in post. I've worked with a clarett 8 pre, Scarlett 18i20, a motu M2, and a solo 4th. gen. for voiceover. Thr Motu has the best quality of sound.

[@iRsopp]

My M2 has been incredibly unreliable (output just cuts out, and now the input does too, requiring a power cycle every 5mins) and when I contacted MOTU about a replacement they refused to acknowledge there was a problem and told me to speak to the retailer.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Oh really? That sucks, we’re you able to get a refund/exchange via the retailer you bought it from?

[@iRsopp]

@@TheGaragebandGuide unfortunately not as it was out of the manufacturers warranty at that point (my fault for taking so long) Sorry - wasn't meant to be a rant but rather note that I'm excited that the 4th gen offers a competitive replacement

[@internetkid1]

thanks for this! What would be your take on 2i2 vs ur22c? Seems like this is a great competitor for a lower price point which I havent heard many people talk about.

[@OpenGL4ever]

I watched a couple of videos and the ur22c is in my opinion definitely in a lower class.

[@internetkid1]

@@OpenGL4ever ty!! was literally about to buy, do you know what made it a lower class in comparison?

[@OpenGL4ever]

@@internetkid1 Mainly Latency and the ones from Motu do have a higher build quality in my opinion. Motu does have solid caps.

[@internetkid1]

@@OpenGL4ever ty! :) do you think it’s worth double the price? in my country (aus) i can get ur22c for $220 and motu m2 for $400

[@OpenGL4ever]

@@internetkid1 I think it depends on the rest of your setup and your recording room. A more expensive MOTU won't help if your microphone is of poor quality. And if the noise level in your room is too high, even the best recording devices won't work wonders. So it depends on the overall concept, for example if your mic is bad, it makes more sense to invest the money in a better mic. If the room does not provide good conditions for audio recording, then it may make sense to invest the money in a better room acoustic, etc.. And then the question arises as to what you want to do with it or what requirements you have. But if you have the money left over, then I would take the MOTU. By the way, it also makes sense to take a look at the MOTU M4, because this also has 2 line-in inputs. This is useful, for example, for electronic instruments with a line-out output.

[@Moonuhhh]

Amazing

[@scot_smith]

Interesting and 2 very good interfaces for the buck! I was particularly interested in the sound samples for voice of the 2i2 (non air) at 7:43 and m2 at 7:58. I like both and the 2i2 sounds a little clearer if less present (or just less loud?) to my ears (that thinness may be helping my particular ears atm)

[@DadPlaysBass]

Motu is the clear winner for sure… and is also cheaper!

[@renahere1885]

Entered a drawing to win one of these...hope I win!!🏆...good to know what it has...thanks👍

[@DoMorrMusic]

What autotune plug-ins would you recommend?

[@john_enx]

Safe and Air seems like a gimmick... I would prefer lower price, I remember buying the 2i2 2nd gen half the price....

[@humbuckermudgeon]

I tried the Motu M2. Definitely does not like Windows. The lag was unuseable.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Did you install the drivers?

[@humbuckermudgeon]

Yes and made sure the firmware was up to date. It didn't work.