Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) Traveler Portable Firewire Audio Interface

Sturdy lightweight construction. Compact size. 20 channels with 4 mic inputs.

Item: MTUTRAVELER

Choose a model below and select "Add to Cart"

  • Pricing
    • $849.95
    • Installment Plan:4 payments of $212.48
    • List: $895.00
    • SAVE 5%
  • Standard Shipping
    Ground
    free shipping
  • Expedited Shipping
    2 Day Shipping
    $15.99
     | Overnight
    $49.99

what's new?

  • More expected Thursday, October 16, 2008. Preorder today.
  • On Order

    We have been given a date of Thursday, October 16, 2008 for the arrival of this item. This date is not guaranteed, rather an estimate based on either information obtained directly from the manufacturer or historical delivery data for the specific manufacturer.

    x close

  • Pricing
    • $749.95
    • Installment Plan:4 payments of $187.48
    • List: $895.00
    • SAVE 16%
  • Standard Shipping
    Ground
    free shipping
  • Expedited Shipping
    2 Day Shipping
    $15.99
     | Overnight
    $49.99

what's warehouse resealed?

Warehouse Resealed

This is typically a customer return. This inventory includes all parts, components, manuals (hard copy or downloadable) and the full factory warranty. However, it is not in absolutely perfect unused condition like our new inventory. This inventory is a great value.

x close

  • Only 2 Left! :: Will Ship Today
  • Limited Inventory

    We only have 2 left. Though our system does indicate availability for this item, there is a chance that the item will not be available. Multiple orders may be placed within a short period before our system can update the availability on our website. If there are any problems shipping this item, you will be notified.

    x close

Click here to read details about our 'Play As You Pay' Installment Payment Plan. Play As You Pay is available only by phone.

Or call 800.ZZOUNDS (996.8637) right now. You get the same low price and shipping discounts online or by phone!

No Sales Tax. (Except NJ)

Seen a lower price? We'll beat it! details

Be a zZounds Spy!


related accessories

Main

Shure SM57

from $99.00

Main

Audio-Technica AT2020

from $99.95

customer reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

63 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 6 out of 10

8 People wrote reviews

* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"Good product."

Feature:
Remember that if you want this to be powered off the bus, then it must be a 6-pin firewire that connects to your computer's power supply. Desktop Mac and PC users should be fine (PC users can always get a PCI card). If you are stuck with a PC laptop that only has 4-pin, then you are out of luck and must either plug the traveller in or plug the 6-pin firewire pcmcia card in. Fortunately, if you must have true portability, the traveller supports xlr 4-pin battery packs, which I am purchasing. I will say I wish this had more xlr instrument inputs as I am a drummer and I like to record each mic as its own track, which amounts to at least 6 mics. For now, I must use another mixer to convert or simply use xlr-1/4-inch converters. I also wish that this product worked in Linux. All MOTU needs to do is release the appropriate specs to ALSA developers. I'm a multi-platform guy and this thing rocks in Windows or MAC. I just wished I could invite Tux to the party.

Quality:
It feels good and I have yet to destroy it in my outings.

Value:
A tad expensive for this beginning studio guy but I feel this is a good entry point product if you are serious about recording.

Desirability:
Portability is cool. Problems with many people's laptops aside, the ability to bring your laptop and this anywhere, bust it out and record is quite cool.

Sound:
Perfect. I will admit that this is my first piece of true professional recording gear (I previously used sub-pro sound cards that maxed out at 44100 Hz for recording), but this sounds MAGNITUDES better. I'm re-recording all my songs and each one sounds better by far than it did before, especially now that I am able to record each drum mic individually.

Ease of Use:
Quite intuitive, but as expected, making the mixes from the front face knobs is tedious and confusing at first. To remedy this, they would have to make more buttons and that would just be no good. I like it the way it is.

Support:
Haven't had to call support yet, so I don't know.

Overall:
A very good start for my studio. It's portability features simply mean more ways it can be powered than simply plugging it in and that it's not too heavy or long (front-back). If you were to not buy this strictly on the count of your laptop not providing the right kind of port, I say just get a battery pack. Firewire-powered devices will drain your laptop anyway. This is my new favorite toy.

Submitted: 3/11/2006

Style of Music: Industrial, Dark Ambient, Folk, Rock, New Wave, Techno, Noise

* * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

"Get one!"

Feature:
Came with PSU, firewire cable and software. Knobs on the front are very useful. Feels solid enough for me

Quality:
Can't fault them

Value:
Well researched product, great sound, worth the money

Desirability:
Sexy

Sound:
Very good product. For someone migrating from Windows to Mac and from Emu 1820 to Traveler, I have two things to say. Signal routing on the Emu is friendlier and a simple thing like being able to mute my monitors on the Emu, is extremely useful. This feature is not available on the Traveler. Both Cards have got extremely clean sound.

Support:
Send them an email and you definitely get a response! Keep it up guys

Overall:
Very long. Motu is just one of those companies you can trust. Their DP4.6 is easily one of the top sequencers available.

Submitted: 1/1/2006

Style of Music: R&B

Read all reviews...

Additional Images:

Main
Main
Talkback Function
Talkback Function
Rear
Rear
SMPTE Window
SMPTE Window
Front Back and Side
Front Back and Side
Cuemix Front Panel
Cuemix Front Panel
Cuemix Window
Cuemix Window

30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Applies On This Item - Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

About This Product!
Description
From Our Catalog
News
The Traveler is everything you need to turn your computer into a mobile 24-bit, 192kHz digital audio workstation. Powered by your computer's FireWire bus, the Traveler gives you a complete, battery-operated studio wherever your recording projects take you.

Features:
Sturdy lightweight construction -- ready to travel with you anywhere

Compact size (14.75 x 9 in.) -- fits easily into a knapsack, briefcase or computer bag and sits perfectly under any laptop

Powered by computer* or battery -- no additional power supply necessary for complete recording freedom

20 channels with 4 mic inputs -- all the I/O you need

Individual 48V phantom power -- mix and match microphones

Digital Precision Trim -- adjust preamp gain in 1dB increments; save and recall multiple trim setups

Record at sample rates up to 192kHz

CueMix DSP -- provides latency-free monitoring system

Front-panel control -- access your entire mix, or any Traveler setting, directly from the front panel

Stand-alone operation -- program your mixes at the studio and then bring the Traveler to your gig -- no computer needed. Just plug in any DC power adapter (10-24 volts, tip positive or negative). Need to tweak the mix? Do it on site using the back-lit LCD and front-panel controls.

Multiple CueMix DSP mixes -- create different monitor mixes for the main outs and headphones. Add send/return loops for outboard gear -- with no latency

4 mic pre-amps with switchable 48-volt phantom power, front-panel Digital Precision Trim controls and pre-amplified sends

20 inputs / 22 outputs -- there's no channel sharing in the Traveler; the mic inputs, S/PDIF I/O, AES/EBU I/O, and headphone out are all handled as simultaneously active, independent channels.

8 channels of 24-bit ADAT optical input/output. Eight channels at 44.1/48kHz. Four channels at 88.2/96kHz

Sample-accurate digital transfers between ADAT digital tape decks and the computer via the ADAT sync port

Sample-accurate MIDI -- connect a MIDI controller and/or sound module with no separate interface needed. MIDI I/O is sample-accurate with supporting software

Expandable -- add additional 828, 828mkII, 896 or Traveler FireWire interfaces for additional I/O

Eight 24-bit 192kHz outputs on balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS jacks

Four 24-bit 192kHz inputs on balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS jacks

Separate headphone jack, with independent volume control

Stereo 24-bit 96kHz S/PDIF in/out

Word clock in and out

Sample-accurate ADAT sync

Built-in SMPTE time code sync

Includes drivers for Mac & PC, including ASIO, WDM, Wave, GSIF, Core Audio, and Core MIDI. Supports all popular Macintosh and Windows audio software.

100% compatible with all host-based effects processing in today's popular audio programs

Includes AudioDesk full-featured sample-accurate workstation software for the Macintosh with recording, editing, mixing, real-time 32-bit effects processing & sample-accurate sync

2 FireWire ports for daisy-chaining without a hub

Front panel meters for all analog, digital and MIDI I/O, plus SMPTE sync tach and lock LEDs

Dedicated front panel clock status LEDs

*Bus power requires a non-adapted 6-pin FireWire port

The Traveler Front Panel
The Traveler provides eight channels of pristine 192kHz analog recording and playback, combined with all of the digital I/O you need: ADAT optical, AES/EBU and S/PDIF (both TOSLink and RCA). Expand your system by connecting additional Traveler, 828 or 896 FireWire audio interfaces.

Precision Trim and On-Board Mixing
The Traveler's four microphone/instrument pre-amps are equipped with individual 48V phantom power switches and digital Precision Trim controls, conveniently adjusted from the front panel or the included CueMix Console software. No mixer is required, thanks to CueMix DSP, the Traveler's latency-free, 8-bus digital mixer. Connect all of your studio gear, including microphones, guitars, synths, keyboards, drum machines and even effects processors. Then monitor all of these live inputs via the Traveler's main outs, headphone jack and/or any other output -- with no latency and no processor drain on your computer. You can even create separate monitor mixes for the main outs, headphones and other outputs. Control everything from the CueMix Console software or directly from the Traveler's front-panel.

Bus Power and Extended Battery Operation
Time to hit the road? The Traveler slides easily into your backpack or briefcase and fits neatly beneath your laptop. Record in the most remote locations with the complete freedom of battery power. You can even use the Traveler as a stand-alone mixer. Tweak your mix on the spot with the Traveler's backlit LCD and front-panel controls.

Ideal for Studio and Stage
Back in the studio, mount the Traveler in your rack with the included rack ears. Eight channels of ADAT optical I/O make the Traveler an ideal companion for a digital console. The ADAT lightpipe connection supports sample rates up to 96kHz.

Additional Features
The Traveler includes a 16-channel MIDI interface. Simply plug in your FireWire cable, and both MIDI and audio are ready to go. Connect any MIDI device, such as a controller keyboard, synth module, automated control surface or drum machine. Timing is sample-accurate with supporting software.

The Traveler provides cross-platform compatibility with Mac OS X (10.2.3 or higher), Windows Me/2000/XP/Vista and all of your favorite audio software and host-based effects via WDM/ASIO/Core Audio drivers. Or you can use the included AudioDesk workstation software for Macintosh, with 24-bit recording/editing and 32-bit mixing/processing/mastering.

Traveler Inputs and Outputs
All inputs and outputs are discrete and simultaneously active. For example, a mic-preamp input does not "steal" an input from the TRS analog I/O bank. In addition, the headphones and main outputs are available as separate mix destinations. They are not forced to "mirror" another output pair, although you can configure the headphones to mirror any output pair you wish.

Traveler MIDI
The Traveler includes a 16-channel MIDI interface that provides sample-accurate timing with supporting software. Connect a MIDI keyboard, sound module or control surface, and you are ready to go. The FireWire cable carries both MIDI and audio so you don't need to connect an additional USB cable for MIDI.

Traveler CueMix DSP
The Traveler provides DSP-driven digital mixing and monitoring for all 20 inputs. You can connect mics, guitars, synths and effects processors, and monitor everything from the Traveler's main outs or headphone jack with no separate mixer needed and no latency.

The Traveler supports up to 4 separate stereo monitor mixes assigned to any 4 digital or analog output pairs. For example, you could set up separate monitor mixes for the main outs and headphone outs, while 2 additional stereo buses could be used for send/return loops to reverb units or other outboard gear. Each mix can support all 20 inputs: 8 TRS analog (including 4 TRS/mic combo inputs), 8 ADAT optical digital, 2 S/PDIF digital, and 2 AES/EBU).

Bounce Back
A new "CueMix Bounce Back" feature lets you route one of the 4 CueMix DSP mixes back to the computer. This allows you to record, for example, your entire mix -- including monitored inputs -- back into the computer.

Talkback
CueMix Console provides Talkback and Listenback buttons. Talkback allows an engineer in the control room to temporarily dim all audio and talk to musicians in the live room. Conversely, Listenback allows musicians to talk to the control room. For Talkback, you can set up a dedicated mic in your control room and connect it to a mic input on your Traveler. For Listenback, you can set up a dedicated listenback mic in the live room for the musicians and connect it to another mic input.

Stand-Alone Mixing
The Traveler can function as a stand-alone digital mixer. Create up to 4 independent stereo mixes and adjust them on the fly with the front panel display.

Traveler SMPTE
The Travler provides on-board SMPTE time code synchronization features that allow you to slave your Traveler system to SMPTE time code without a synchronizer.

The Traveler provides a DSP-driven phase-lock engine with sophisticated filtering that provides fast lockup times and sub-frame accuracy.

The included MOTU SMPTE Console software provides a complete set of tools to generate SMPTE for striping, regenerating or slaving other devices to the computer. Like CueMix DSP, the synchronization features are cross-platform and compatible with all audio sequencer software that supports the ASIO2 sample-accurate sync protocol.
Studio to go! Up to 24/192 operation. Its simultaneously-active 20 ins and 22 outs include 4 XLR/instrument inputs with preamps and phantom power, 4 line inputs, 8 line outputs, ADAT optical, coaxial S/PDIF, and XLR AES/EBU connections. ADAT and word clock sync. 1 x 1 MIDI I/O. Bus powered, but also runs on an optional adapter or DV battery pack! Includes Audio Desk software for Mac.
  • 09/23
    Price cut,
     Warehouse Resealed, saves you $10.00, now $749.95. 

what our customers say about zZounds

"Service is the biggest thing I look for amd judge upon in online shopping, and zZ has it in spades!" - customer on August 10, 2008

Free Catalog

First Name Last Name
Address 1 Address 2
City State
Zip Email

Would you like to receive periodic email notices of new items, special buys, and promotions? WE WILL NOT SHARE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH ANYONE ELSE. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Tell us

Is there something you want to tell us? How can we serve you better? Want to see different products? Is this shirt ugly? Let us know!