Comments about:

MOTU Traveller, a new firewire interface

While I understand the criticisms of this design, I feel that you really should be trying to see what MOTU are attempting to produce.

In a studio context, while space should not be squandered, there is room to put in an extra box or two to provide desirable features. If a given unit is 2U instead of 1U, it's rarely a deal-breaker.

I work almost exclusively on location. Having everything that I'm likely to need in one small housing will more than offset any inconvenience brought about by having MIDI sockets on the side.

When something has to be squeezed into a finite space, compromises have to be made. They might have chosen two D25 connector for 8 analogue audio inputs and outputs, but instead specified individual connectors. I would certainly welcome individual outputs as it means that most of the interconnecting leads will be bog-standard ones. The choices made appear to be sensible ones under the circumstances.

Don't forget, the unit is called 'The Traveller' - it's intended for people who need everything possible squeezed into a tiny space.

Judging solely on your report and on the pictures, I think that MOTU have come up with another winner.

There is nothing "new" about this box. Metric Halo has had the Mobile I/O on the market for over 4 years. I t has just taken the MOTU guys this long to fiugure out how to make work what the Mobile I/O has been doing effortlessly for four years.
I would also venture a guess that this unit dosen't sound any better than the other MOTU prosumer boxes already being sold.
If you want to check out a truly professional "portable" line of gear go to:

http://www.mhlabs.com/metric_halo/products/mio/

Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery and the MOTU guys really know how to flatter.

Obviously the Metric Halo has been around for a while, but as far as I'm concerned, it's quite different.

The new MOTU has the usual analogue & digital inputs, but also combines SMPTE and MIDI features.

As far as I'm aware, only this unit and MOTU's 828 offer those features.

I'm rather surprised that you claim that it's taken MOTU four years to copy Metric Halo. MOTU's 828 was around in Jan 2001 and has sold well ever since.

We all have different requirements. It doesn't matter if you believe one unit is audibly superior if it fails to provide a significant feature that's vital to another user.

i cant say how this MOTU interface will sound, but from what i heard, MetricHalo interfaces rocks !
MetricHalo channelStrip is also one of my favorite TDM plug-in.

MH are used to make no compromise systems and software.
I cant say the same about MOTU which products quality vary from the worst (remember the digital sync, which was a nightmare) to some really good ones (like performer or MTP).

The 828 is not exactly oriented the same for the field recording. There are some power issues…

The Traveller is supposed to address that, now without figures of power consumming in use… We have the spec, we want the reality.

There is now info on the MOTU site about Traveller.
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/traveler/

Bland!
Cool for those mobile peeps, but they need to get far busier on their R & D if they want to stay ahead of the game in the studio, those firewire interfaces need a shot of adrenaline, RME Fireface anyone?

Has anyone seen or used this yet? I would love to have something like this for mobile recording to a 17"PB.....

MOTU told about them at the last AES, given it's just out (I don't even know if it's already available here in France, MOTU is always a little late for us here -certainly translation stuff). there must be ***loads around.

Hey SOMEONE?