MOTU Announces MicroBook – Forgets To Pay Industrial Designer
MOTU has announced the aesthetically-challenged MicroBook, a USB bus-powered audio interface. The MicroBook turns a Mac or PC computer into a personal 4×2 “recording studio.”
“Our tests show that it matches or exceeds the measured audio specifications of other so-called ‘high-end’ interfaces on the market that cost two and three times as much,” Jim Cooper, MOTU’s Marketing Director exaggerated.
The MicroBook provides four simultaneous inputs for a microphone, a guitar, and a keyboard or other stereo line level device. The mic preamp specs out with a 20 dB pad and 48V phantom power for condenser mics. Programmable analog, digital, and headphone outputs provide flexible monitoring options.
Due to its uninspired slim form factor, the MicroBook’s mic input is a balanced quarter-inch jack. If a user would prefer to use a mic cable with an XLR plug, the MicroBook package includes an XLR-to-quarter-inch adapter. 48V phantom power can be enabled, powered by the MicroBook’s USB connection to the computer.
The guitar input provides the proper impedance loads for guitars, so users can play through guitar processing plug-ins in their host software.
Features:
» 4-input, 2-output bus-powered “plug-and-play” USB audio interface for Mac and Windows.
» 4 x 8 physical input/output channels.
» 10-bus digital mixer to route and mix live inputs with live computer tracks.
» Pre-amp equipped mic input with Precision Digital Trim, 48V phantom power, and 20 dB pad.
» Guitar input with Digital Trim.
» Stereo line level analog input (balanced TRS quarter-inch or stereo mini).
» Stereo balanced TRS quarter-inch line level main outs.
» Stereo eighth-inch “mini” line level out.
» S/PDIF digital out (duplicates main out).
» Headphones output on eighth-inch stereo “mini” jack with independent volume control.
» Digitally controlled analog trim for all analog inputs.
» Digital trim for all outputs.
» CueMix FX no-latency mixing and monitoring with EQ and dynamics processing.
» 7-band parametric EQ and compression.
» Test tone and white/pink noise generator.
» Advanced audio analysis software tools, including FFT display, spectrogram “waterfall” display, oscilloscope, X-Y plot, and phase torch.
» Industry standard Mac and Windows audio drivers (Core Audio, Wave, and ASIO) for across-the-board compatibility.
» Compatible with all current and recent generation Macs and PCs.
» Includes AudioDesk DAW software for Mac, USB cable, and mic cable adapter.
MOTU’s MicroBook will ship sometime in July for $269. More information on the MOTU MicroBook.
