At AES, Motu unveiled the Motu Traveller, a new bus powered 24Bit 192kHz Firewire audio interface equipped with 4 Mic-Pre's (all with individual phantom power) and a total of 20 channels of I/O. The Traveler draws power directly from your computer via FireWire, with no AC or DC power required and can record at sample rates up to 192kHz. This new interface will feature: Compact size (14.75 x 9 inches), Powered by computer or battery, 20 channels with 4 mic inputs (individual 48V phantom power), Record up to 192kHz, 8-bus monitor mixer, Stand-alone operation, ADAT optical, AES/ EBU, S/PDIF digital I/O, Midi, Word clock, SMPTE & ADAT sync.
Now if we stand back a little from these specs, we can see that: the compact size which is praised in some comments to sit comfortably under a laptop (which is true) won't make a decent support. it's great to have something compact, but no, it won't go under the laptop. Why? The heat won't be a friend, so maybe it's the reason MOTU talks about it running "alongside" in its AES advert. Another point, heard from the grapevine from an AES visitor is about the MIDI ports. Neat cool feature it is. Now the thing can be racked, removable ears, great idea, but in a rack? Shall we bound to use 90° angled DINs just to use MIDI ports rejected on the side? Another perverse effect of the compact size: there's not enough room for everything in the back. So the mixed use studio/moving out there in the bush should be closely looked upon when the final product will reach us at last. Last, it can be standard battery powered, cool. But for how long with a standard battery set?
Even if MOTU did some great job at thinking about an interface at ease both in the studio and outside of it, small details like the fireWire bus powering, the on/off button in front like the individual phantom power, the eventual shortcomings as it's really crowded in the back, and the MIDI on the side as if we don't use them in the studio make us think about it twice.
MOTU Traveller is expected "for 2005", with an estimated price of "more than an 828Mk2 but less than an 896HD!" …hmm… $1,125??
At AES, Motu unveiled the Motu Traveller, a new bus powered 24Bit 192kHz Firewire audio interface equipped with 4 Mic-Pre's (all with individual phantom power) and a total of 20 channels of I/O. The Traveler draws power directly from your computer via FireWire, with no AC or DC power required and can record at sample rates up to 192kHz. This new interface will feature: Compact size (14.75 x 9 inches), Powered by computer or battery, 20 channels with 4 mic inputs (individual 48V phantom power), Record up to 192kHz, 8-bus monitor mixer, Stand-alone operation, ADAT optical, AES/ EBU, S/PDIF digital I/O, Midi, Word clock, SMPTE & ADAT sync.
