The market for low-cost desktop interfaces is crowded. Anyone who wants to make music requires an audio interface; most individuals don’t want to spend a lot of money, and every firm offers a device that meets those requirements.
It makes the consumer’s choice difficult because every entry-level interface offers a similar set of functionality at a comparable price. That being said, it would be difficult to buy a ‘poor’ one; nevertheless, it would also be difficult to discover an excellent one in the pile.
If you are interested in this model, keep reading our Motu M4 4×4 USB C Audio Interface review for more information below.
Motu M4 4x4 USB C Audio Interface
Description: Looking for a high-quality audio interface that isn’t too expensive? The MOTU M4 perfectly meets that criteria.
About: This 4-in/4-out USB-C audio interface features ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC technology for high-quality sound, as well as optimized drivers for low-latency performance.
Features
Individual gain control and phantom power are included in two great-sounding mic preamps, and 1-touch hardware monitoring provides seamless tracking. You’ll also like the M4’s full-color LCD screen’s simple front-panel metering.
Podcasters will love the built-in loopback feature, which includes a mix knob for balancing your live input with the playback on your computer. The MOTU M4 audio interface is bus-powered for ultimate mobility and packs a lot of power into a small, high-powered package.
Best-in-class D/A, minimal latency, and an abundance of I/O
MOTU have had a long-standing partnership because MOTU’s products provide clients with excellent sound and robust performance. The M4 follows suit, cramming excellent audio, extremely low latency, and plenty of I/O into a single-rack box.
The renowned ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC technology provides 120dB of dynamic range, guaranteeing that the M4’s analog audio quality can compete with the best on the market. With a 32 sample buffer and optimized drivers, round-trip latency may be as low as 2.5ms at 24-bit/96kHz.
The M4 features two mic preamps, four DC-coupled analog outputs, and an ESS-driven stereo headphone output, among other features. There is also MIDI I/O according to this Motu M4 4×4 USB C Audio Interface review.
The loopback capability facilitates live internet broadcasting
If you conduct live streaming or podcasting, the MOTU M4’s loopback capability will come in handy. Loopback combines your microphone or other input signals with your computer’s output and sends the resulting signal back to your computer.
This allows you to record the output of your computer as well as the entered content. The M4 also has a mix knob for mixing live input with computer playback according to this Motu M4 4×4 USB C Audio Interface review.
Hardware monitoring guarantees zero latency
Latency may devastate a performance – it’s a disconcerting experience. As a result, the M4 offers one-touch hardware monitoring. This feature allows all analog inputs on the interface to be routed straight to analog outputs, resulting in zero-latency operation.
This means there is no time lag between what you play and/or sing and what you hear via your headphones. The M4’s inputs may also be recorded concurrently, allowing you to monitor with minimal latency while tracking – essential for producing a natural-sounding performance.
Conversion of D/A
The M4 includes ESS Sabre32 Ultra converters. These are often found in interfaces costing $1,000 or more, and they deliver an incredible 120 dB of dynamic range at the M4’s primary outputs according to this Motu M4 4×4 USB C Audio Interface review.
Motu clearly tops the pack with best-in-class conversion at this pricing. The ESS chips also power the headphone output, allowing you to quickly connect any set of headphones you own. In terms of power, Motu’s headphone out rivals standalone headphone amps.
The M4 has also been tested to have incredibly low latency, with 2.5 ms roundtrip recording at 24-bit/96 kHz—virtually non-existent according to this Motu M4 4×4 USB C Audio Interface review.
Connectivity, I/O, and Metering
M4 is a 44 interface, which means it has four simultaneous inputs and outputs. The two combination connectors on the front provide a preamp with XLR microphone connection as well as 1/4′′ Hi-Z compatibility. A pair of Line Ins on the rear of the interface round out the inputs.
The Motu M4 has two sets of DC-coupled 1/4′′ balanced outs, one designated Monitor and the other Line Out. Line Out can be routed to an additional pair of monitors, PA speakers, or any other destination. Each pair of outputs is separate, and your DAW will name them as such.
Loopback
People nowadays don’t only use audio interfaces to record music. Streamers and live broadcasters link audio to their equipment as well, and Motu designed the M4 with this in mind. That kind of consideration for customers who aren’t musicians or engineers is wonderful.
Loopback feature combines your input signal with your computer’s output and sends the resulting mix back to your computer. That is, you may capture your computer’s output as well as its input.
On the front panel, there’s a separate Input Monitor Mix control for adjusting the mix of computer output audio and input audio for playback according to this Motu M4 4×4 USB C Audio Interface review.
Pros
- Works exactly as advertised
- Affordable
- Solution for home audio applications
Cons
- None
Conclusion: Motu M4 4x4 USB C Audio Interface [2022 Review]
We went through the specifications and looked at some of the cool features of this entry-level interface. To summarize our Motu M4 review, it is easily one of the best-in-class audio interfaces for around $300.
The conversion is excellent, the LED metering is a lovely touch not frequently found on low-cost interfaces, and the I/O is more than adequate for most project studios. We hope you liked our Motu M4 4×4 USB C Audio Interface review and it was helpful.
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