MOTU M2 5-stars Reviews

Best in class "Value for money"

I picked this audio interface for recording virtual instruments while listening to audio mix in real-time. Can output to high resistance headphones and has amazing studio grade pre-amplifiers for condenser microphones available in way more expensive hardware. I like on/off hardware switch and the visual indicator (display) for input and output levels. I like everything about this device. The price is best in class if you consider what you get for it. For real-time low latency monitoring I need to increase buffer to 2048 and calibrate latency in DAW (Ableton Live).

Replaced Scarlett 2i2 mk2

The upgrade of DAC/Amp was probably the biggest surprise. I couldn't believe the warmth compared to minutes prior. need a 2tk? get this

Excellent entry level usb interface

This is the first usb interface I purchased. I chose it after reading many reviews. This seems to be priced slightly above the competition of under 200 euros interfaces but this is an absolute winner. Super low noise, great product quality, very good DAC for its category and the front screen is very useful. On/off switch, separate 48v switch for each input channel, great dials and usb type c! I would recommend it!

A great entry level audio interface

A friend had bought me this interface as a birthday gift. I didn't own any sound card much better than PC motherboard integrated one. For me this one is a league apart -- headphones amp crystal clear, capable of driving 250 Ohm headphones -- no more background noise, no idle hiss in my ears.

Also tried it with 2 different microphones, a dynamic Rode Podmic and a large diaphragm condenser Audio Technica AT2035: this interface's pre-amp had enough "juice" to boost Podmic's signal to a comfortable level without becoming very noisy, had to crank the gain to about 90%, AT2035 fares much easier gain-wise: 50% level is loud and clear and crisp. Visual eq meters are quite useful to understand whether I'm about to make the mic clip.

Can't say anything about MIDI I/O or balanced output quality as I don't own any hardware to test it.

But all in all it's a great interface worth every penny of its price. If it has any cons, I didn't find any just yet.

easy!

This is soooo easy to use. And it works absolutely perfectly. I highly recommend this one!!

Very good quality

Very nice quality and the whole sound that produce is so much clean and good!

Great little sound interface

I use the Motu M2 as a replacement for my Tascam us 16x08 which started to loose quality in the headphone amp (left and right channels aren't exactly at the same level anymore). As I am currently working solely on my headphones, my main concern was the headphone amp. As many tests show, this interface has an incredible amp. Power over USB means it can be taken on the road easily, which is another plus.

I use this interface in two setups: one on my main computer with the DAW configured to receive inputs from the Tascam 16x08 and to output to the Motu M2, this works great (with protools).

I also use the M2 on my macbook pro 2017 and this is where things get weird... Sometimes when I turn off the interface, the macbook's touchbar turns off as well and won't boot back up. When trying to reboot the computer, it just hangs and I have to force it. This is not a major issue but it is still very annoying.

Absolutely excellent product

frame, inserts, lcd screen, midi in/out everything excellent in quality and condition.

price a bit high but you take it back in quality.

Best micro interface

Good clean sound even without driver on OsX.

A must have for the musician on the go.

The dream for a home studio

This is absolutely perfect. Plug and play with no hassle. The license for Ableton Live 10 Lite is a great plus. I will use it for recording voice-overs, lectures and homemade music.

The sound is absolutely brilliant with the promised incredibly small latency. Strong enough to power my Rode Procaster, which is a pretty quiet dynamic mic (with about 70% gain and thus acceptable noise levels). Could not be any happier!

Amazing DAC!

Coming from a Behringer 404hd and this blows it out of the water. The preamps are silent, headphone jack silent and best of all the DAC sounds amazing. Bass is very well reproduced and the soundstage is excellent. Things sound like they are in 3D and I hear details I have never heard before with the 404hd. Absolutely worth every single penny.

The only thing I wish is that the LED's showing the output match the volume of the output. in other words, turning the volume knob up does nothing to change the LED output which I find a bit odd.

FYI - installing the additional Motu drivers on macos (mojave at time of writing) will enable the volume up/down keys to work

The very best

After reading reviews, watching videos and listening to examples online I decided to buy this unit. Absolutely couldn't be happier. Blows all the competition out of the water at this price range. Definite buy this, you will not be disappointed.

Good for home

The volume knobs have a lil delay but it definitly good, mic preamp are awesome for the price of this Motu, and for a home DAW it's all I need

M2 = beautiful and true sound

In this price category up to 200E, it is an incredibly excellent sound card. The sound, in direct comparison with the Apollo Solo, seems even more legible, silkier and firmer in the bass field. It may not be as rich as Apollo, but it does what it does. No control software required. An important element is the ON / OFF switch. The driver for Windows 10 is completely stable. For use with a laptop but I recommend Windows settings according to these principles: you will achieve even with low-end CPU (i3 xxxxU) extremely low latency 64 samples buffer size without cracking, drops ... Very simple and sound excellent 1A sound. The headphone preamplifier works very well. Conclusion: Very simple and sound excellent 1A sound card. Big beautiful surprise. Thanks MOTU!

Excellent Interface - best at this price

I got this about a month ago and it has been stellar. Previously, I was using a Roland Rubix 22.

The Motu M2 has been reviewed in considerable depth already, so there isn't anything new I can say about it. From my personal perspective it has been excellent and I highly recommend it to anyone on a budget.

PROS:

- Best at this price range in multiple categories: balance, headphone amp (internal impedance and output power), distortion, noise, frequency response

- Can drive my 470 ohm headphones

- Solid build quality (body feels robust, knobs are smooth and have adequate weight when turning them)

- macOS driver and software shaved off additional seconds from the overall delay time in my DAW - REMEMBER to install them if you are a mac user

- Loopback functionality

- Display is not necessary but cool to have and accurate as well

- On/Off button

CONS:

- Included USB cable is dangerously close to being too short

Excellent audio interface!

I needed to change from a Firewire interface (Focusrite Saffire) to USB and when I saw the large LCD metering display on the MOTU I knew I wanted one! I like that it is USB powered, and that it needs no software to use its features. It has been great so far, and I recommend this to anyone in the market for a 2 channel USB interface.

Nice product

The goods were delivered on time, satisfied with the quality, the box is not damaged. Excellent service and equipment. Thank You :-)

Great interface!

Awesome interface that is built really well, sounds great, is well priced and has a great selection of ports.

Everything I could want out of an audio interface on this price range!

Great product, great sound

I was incredibly surprised the first time I turned it on. Crystal clear sound, both for vocals and live instruments. But the microphone must be top-end to hear the difference between a cheap and expensive microphone! Most pleased with the size and build quality! Excellent quality! This is the best card for the price / quality. Buy, do not regret it!

Fab unit

Great clean low noise recording. On off switch, independent phantom power, midi .... dirt cheap for what you’re getting.