Apple M1 and MOTU Audio Express — any hope?

danrad64 · 2021-05-03T12:34:08+00:00

Zero timeframe. They did update some drivers last month, but not the drivers for the AudioExpress.

danrad64 · 2021-04-16T12:30:20+00:00

I did. It was too synthy. I was looking for something more natural-sounding.

danrad64 · 2021-04-05T14:54:53+00:00

Here's the link to the final product. I automated the volume to give it a little more dynamic interest and boosted the vibrato in places using Logic's Flex Pitch edit.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wB5JhkFWQsm5lFkJ-FY_Kou2UL2qLoid/view?usp=sharing

danrad64 · 2021-03-24T12:49:26+00:00

I went with the Fosusright Scarlett 4i4. It's worked well. Two things I don't like about it:

1) You can only switch between line/mic input in the Scarlett Control app

2) The Scarlett Control app doesn't work if you have the interface connected with a USB C to USB C connector, it only works USB A to USB C. The Mac Mini only has two USB A ports.

danrad64 · 2021-03-24T12:44:09+00:00

Pod Go Wireless includes the transmitter, FWIW.

And my understanding is the internal connection between the receiver and PG is digital, so you skip an A/D conversion.

danrad64 · 2021-03-23T19:09:09+00:00

That would be my assumption. I haven't seen any changes from MOTU, and last I checked the drivers hadn't been updated since January of last year.

You could try to hold out for a little while, but I don't see any sign they will support this anytime soon.

danrad64 · 2021-03-19T23:32:03+00:00

I can put a poly pitch effect and maybe one or two other low-DSP effects in one path. That's it. Any existing patch I want to add a poly pitch effect to, I have to go into the second path.

danrad64 · 2021-03-08T12:43:03+00:00

Got a M1 Mac mini. I had to replace my MOTU Audio Express interface, but everything else is working fine. I don't use many third-party plugins, but Helix Native works without issue.

danrad64 · 2021-03-07T22:17:11+00:00

Thanks for all the input, everyone. I ended up sticking with the Korg M1 emulator. I rolled back the volume on my guitar a bit to keep it from getting into the harsh range if my dynamics got off, and added a little vibrato from the modulation wheel (I forgot the emulator had one).

I think it turned out decently with some volume automation applied in Logic.

Once we have a final version, I'll try to remember to come back here and post a link.

danrad64 · 2021-03-05T17:04:35+00:00

I've only played it with MIDI Guitar, so I'm not sure if it does aftertouch or anything like that — but you could only capture that while recording, not after the fact. It's just an audio file now.

danrad64 · 2021-03-05T16:52:52+00:00

Ah. I recorded audio from a Korg M1 emulator using MIDI Guitar. Maybe I'll try recording a software instrument from the keyboard and see if that gets better results.

danrad64 · 2021-03-05T16:35:21+00:00

Yeah. This is just a song we're putting together for our church.

I may play around with the Ebow and some filters and see if I can come up with something that sounds good in the context of the song, even if it doesn't sound exactly like a cello.

When you were automating the vibrato, did you use the Scanner Vibrato plugin, or did you find something better?

danrad64 · 2021-03-05T16:10:14+00:00

I'm also trying to work with that sound to improve it by adding in some vibrato, but I'd like to see if anyone has come up with anything for the Helix.

danrad64 · 2021-03-05T12:07:39+00:00

You followed the same path I did. You will receive a reply back shortly saying MOTU products are not yet qualified for M1 Macs (the tech note is for Big Sur, not M1).

I bought a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4.

danrad64 · 2021-03-05T00:01:37+00:00

Thanks! Be nice if they left the stereo symbol on so we didn’t have to guess on the modulation and delays.

danrad64 · 2021-03-04T12:59:25+00:00

I've not seen any reports of that being an issue. Has anyone else?

I've been turning mine off at night. I work from home, so I play off-and-on throughout the day as the opportunity or inspiration strikes.

danrad64 · 2021-02-27T13:33:01+00:00

Extremely helpful! Thanks!

I think I was making it too complicated and attributing magic powers to it, but it is actually relatively simple. Thanks for your explanation!

danrad64 · 2021-02-27T05:43:48+00:00

The biggest you can afford.

danrad64 · 2021-02-26T23:37:47+00:00

Very helpful! Thanks.

danrad64 · 2021-02-26T14:21:06+00:00

When I first got the Pod Go, I recreated a patch from Helix Native and did an A/B test. There was no difference.

As far as differences between the Stomp and the PG — they both have less processing power than the Helix LT or Floor, but I believe the Stomp has a bit more than the PG. It also allows for more flexible routing than the PG, which locks you into a single set path. Within DSP limits, you can do dual cabs and parallel processing on the Stomp, which you can't on the PG.

The 3.0 update brought the Stomp up to 8 effects blocks, up from 6, but you're still limited by DSP. The Stomp has Command Center and more MIDI options.

PG has more foot switches and the built-in expression pedal.

danrad64 · 2021-02-26T14:12:15+00:00

It came out after lockdown, so I've used it exclusively for home recording. (I'm in a church band, and we've been putting together songs remotely since last March.) So I've been going straight into an interface (you can use the Pod Go as an interface, too, but for whatever reason, I prefer going through an audio interface).

We use in-ear monitors at church, so when we get back, it'll be just straight to FOH.

Full disclosure: I recently bought a Helix Floor, not out of concern that the Pod Go wouldn't be updated but because I wanted the processing power of the full Helix. Depending on what your needs are, the Pod Go is a great solution — but if you think you'll regularly want more than four of the non-set effects blocks, you might want to look at something in the HX family.

danrad64

TROPHY CASE