RME 802 vs MOTU 8m

I cant speak for Motu because my 828 startet to burn while using it.

I now use the RME ff 400, since 2005, and the 800 since 2010 - without any issues.

Buy the RME 802.
The simple reason, driver and firmware updates at RME are always up to date.
I never had downtime, and they do sound very good too.
They have a great working e-mail service too.

Sure you will find Motu Lovers as well.

If your friend only needs two channels analog I/O I have to give the Tascam UH-7000 my highest recommendation. I know that's not what you suggested but I just wanted to mention it, in case smaller form factor and lower price were an option. Best $400 I've ever spent. Actually I paid even less, and still haven't heard anything that really tops it.

Also version 1 Apollo's are going for very good deals right now, since the black versions were introduced. Certainly worth consideration.

Steinberg UR824 integrates with Cubase. It has 8 Preamps (2 with Hi-Z). 8 TRS outputs. Nice Yamaha Preamps. Nice conversion. Nice DSP Reverb. Guitar amp modeling (never used that). It will get the job done. Just as good or better than some more expensive units.

+1, the UR824 is a steal.  Performs just as well as a lot of more expensive stuff.  You can get them used for $500 sometimes, now that's a deal.

Hi folks, I am the friend mentioned by lpedrum.  Have already received some great info reading the
existing posts on the subject.  I actually have the UR44 at home which, for my first outing,  has been
great.  But we are beginning to record in another friends livingroom (hi arched ceiling & wonderful
acoustics) and include basic tracks with drums bass and guitar.  So we are beginning to think about
and upgrade in number of inputs as well as perhaps a more professional conversion.  I guess my first
question would be, is there any objective comparison of converters between, say RME 802 and the
new Motu 8M?  The 802 would definitely be stretching the budget.

the presonus studio 192 is about 1 week away from being shipped. I would put it on the list as well as it has a lot of flexibility and spec seem ok and is usb3 compatible.

I'm thinking you'll need to go with something from Prism to get any appreciable difference in quality. Which is to say, I don't believe the Motu is going to be that much above the UR824, and may be equal or less. Maybe different color-wise, but for even double the price, not worth it quality wise; even if it were slightly better.

While the Steinberg units share the same transparent Pre-amps, they don't share the same converters. The UR824 has the best conversion, plus 2 banks of ADAT in and 2 banks out, 2 headphone amps, W/C, standalone usage. For the money, buying a used UR824 and a good mic would get you further along. Or, for the price of the 802, get a couple of real good mics with the UR824. The good mics and Pre-amps are important. With those two links taken care of, the differences in converters becomes less of a weak link. Don't get me wrong, conversion matters, but with a poor mic to match the source and a lesser preamp, the best conversion in the world wont matter much. Getting the front end, up to the converter is more important today, because all of the converters in the mid-range price point units are far better than they used to be and in the same class.

My point: In the price ranges being discussed, we're splitting hairs over quality. The UR824 is transparent and holds it own against units costing more, and has even repeatably been found to be better quality than the RME interfaces of the past. I don't think the Motus have historically been any better than either the Steinberg UR or MR series or RME. And the extra cost of the older RME interfaces has not been justified.

My 2 cents, of course.

You are comparing the new Steinberg with the older RME and MOTU.  I think to be fair you would have to grant that the next-gen RME and MOTU have made improvements as well, like you stated in the middle part of your post.  IE the new ones are even better than the old ones, probably.

I don't even know that I would expect to hear much of a difference in conversion between the 44 & 824. Maybe on some material. Probably a little more headroom on the 824... I have plenty of headroom and have to use the pad with a tube DI. The preamps do not color the sound of my guitars or pedal steel... You get what you'd expect. I don't use the Hi-Z at all. I think Steinberg added the amp modeling because of those of us who complained about our clean guitar sound not being preserved. No one that uses distortion complained.

I don't know if you'd hear a difference between the UR824 & MR816 either. Some say so, some say no. I've heard some very nice productions with using either of those two, only; including nice mics.

So, on your UR44 you have at least 4 more preamps and MIDI in/out. I wouldn't be afraid to use those for cymbals or anything else really. I would throw in a UR22 if I needed a couple of extra channels too.

Don't forget, as transparent as the preamps are, you'll have add any coloring you might like by other means. Maybe a preferred mic will take care of that well enough for some uses.

Thanks again b1. BTW, I play pedal steel as well. Have a Sierra Artist which does the trick for most venues. Think I need to get one of those Peavey Nashville amps to get a better sound out of it.