Maudio Quattro, any experience? Options

[mikehoff]

thanks to those that responded to my earlier posts re: EZBus.

I've now found the Quattro and wondering if any of you have had a luck using it in OS9 and/or osX.

also - if you ARE using it - with what software.

thaks again in advance!

Mike

[squid]

I Have an Audiosport Quattro and it is pretty cool... With acouple of odd things...

It needs a 9v wall wort, cant be powered off the USB buss which is a bummer.

Works with Digital Performer in OS 9, all four channels available.
Works with Pro Tools Free in OS 9, but only two channels available.
Works in OS X, shows up correctly labled in sound pref pannel and audio setup, works fine with Spak ME in OS X.

When recording all four channels at once in OS 9 with Performer I found that I needed to set it's latency high (in it's own controll pannel), if the latency was too low the audio files written had drop outs. Not sure how well all 4 channels work in OS X (still waiting for some X software Can do 24bit 96K if the software can do it. The four in's are 1/4" but they are balanced.

When I took the unit overseas, if the transformer I was using didn't kick out 105v or higher (dropping 240/220 down to 110) then the files it recorded had some strange hums I couldn't get rid of (lifting grounds, balanced vs. unbalanced didn't help). Sounds like a clocking problem maybee. As long as the voltage the Quattros wall wart sees is 105v or higher it seems to be cool.

Even with these problems I'm still pretty happy with it. The MIDI works great, at the same time it is recording audio. Having the audio and midi in one box is one reason I really like it. I have sucseffully used Coaster to record with it while sending MIDI program cahnge commands at the same time drom Digital Performer.

If it was bus powered it would be almost perfect.... The 4 channels in and out can be cool, but if you only need two channels, M-Audio is supposidly comming out with a new box that does two channels analog or digital and MIDI. (Quattro does not have digital in's/out's. If you don't need the MIDI there are tons of other boxes from the Apogee ($$$) to the mBox ($$) to the griffen imic($).

[continuity]

hi there,

the drivers on the Quattro are kinda sketchy. Many people (myself included) weren't able to get them working o n their set-up. I use Cubase---do a search under quattro or m audio on cubase.net or homerecording.com and you'll see all sorts of complaints bout the quattro. Still though, it does work for some people! If you're set on getting this unit make sure you have the option to return it as you're taking a risk!

[gorillacake]

Hi Mike,
In my opinion, the quattro is nowhere near as bad as people make it out to be. I use it in os9 with cubase 5 and reason and have had no problems. So far I've only used two of the audio ins at once but it was smooth with no drop outs or hits in the audio. The midi works great with very little latency (I don't notice any). As for osX, I've only used it with Reason but there have been no problems there either. And having your audio and midi interface in one box is definately a plus. The price is nice too. The only thing to consider is the lack of mic pre's with the quattro.

[lantzn]

I was having some sound popping issues with my Quattro in 10.2.2 and earlier but since updating to 10.2.3/4 it's worked flawlessly with both Sound Studio and my main BIAS apps Deck, Peak and Sound Soap. It always worked in OS9 but I haven't had to bootup into it since 10.2.3. I've been using Deck to record 2-tracks of guitars, electric and acoustic combos. No midi stuff.

[INQuisitor]

Hi, im having such a strange problem, I got the Quattro and am trying to us it with OS X 10.2, but i cant get it to work a tall, i have the most recent driver, and it even appears correctly in sound prefs and midi setup. Im just trying to record some vinyls onto my computer. But it doesnt get any input, the configuration is my turntable switched to line, mixer's headphones jack hooked up to input 1, and the input level 1/2 button switched on, the software i use, has it in its configuration as input source, but record, and get nothing. Whats going on, im sure its something very small that is my fault, and everything is actually working. please try to help

[lantzn]

Inquisitor, I'm not sure if this is your problem but any instrument or device that goes into the Quattro needs to be a line in "powered" device. The mixer needs to be the power supply and so you may need to use the main out on the mixer instead of the headphone jack. Just a guess from what info you've supplied. You also mention your using 10.2, make sure your using 10.2.3. In your Quattro System Prefs make sure you have the 1/2 in and 1/2 out boxes check and set the Latency to high. You didn't mention the software you used with it. Try down loading the trial version of Deck LE 3.5.1 which works great for me.

[INQuisitor]

u may have solved my problem, my driver is 10.2, not 10.2.3 where can i get that driver?

Thanks a lot

[Al Kmist]

I use SX on my iMac 800mhz 768 RAM with a Quattro. At first it was a nightmare. It didn't work at all. I went to return it to the store and they suggested I try another one. That one worked. No problems for the last four months. (Knock on wood.)

[lantzn]

Inquisitor, 10.2 and 10.2.3 are not drivers, they are the Apple operating system versions. If your running 10.2 and need to update you can either run the Software Update in the System Preferences located up in the Apple menu or download the 10.2.3 COMBO update from the Apple website.