Instruction manual

INSTALLING YOUR MOTU INTERFACE
17
CONNECTING MULTIPLE USB INTERFACES
The USB ( Universal Serial Bus ) specification allows
you to connect multiple MOTU interfaces to a
single PC. You can mix and match any combination
of MOTU USB interfaces to suit your needs.
The USB (
Universal Serial Bus ) specification allows
many USB devices — theoretically up to 127 — to
be connected to a single computer. However, many
USB devices, including all MOTU USB interfaces,
reserve USB bandwidth, so the theoretical and
practical limits for MOTU interfaces are
considerably fewer. In theory, the maximum
number of MOTU USB interfaces you can connect
to one computer is just over 30 interfaces.
Practically speaking, regardless of how slow or fast
your USB-equipped computer is, you should be
able to connect upwards of 10 or more MOTU USB
MIDI interfaces to the computer and still enjoy just
as much performance from each one as if it were
the only one connected. Just don’t try to run your
USB scanner or digital camera while playing back
and recording MIDI!
For further details about USB, visit www.usb.org.
To connect multiple MOTU interfaces to a
computer, you’ll need an inexpensive device called
a
USB Hub (purchased separately from your
computer peripherals dealer). A USB Hub has
multiple Type A ports on it, usually between 4 and
7 ports, to which you connect multiple USB MIDI
interfaces as shown in Figure 2-20. Connect them
to the hub in the standard fashion, as if you were
connecting them directly to the computer. If
needed, you can connect multiple hubs to each
other to get enough USB ports for your multiple
MOTU USB interfaces.
Figure 2-20: An ine xpensive, standard USB hub, such as the
machub4U™ shown above from Entrega, allows you to connect
multiple MOTU USB MIDI interfaces. You can even mix and match
different models of MOTU interfaces, using the combination that best
suites your needs for synchronization, number of MIDI ports, etc.
WHAT NEXT?
You’re ready to install software. Turn to chapter 3,
“Installing the MOTU USB MIDI Driver and
Console Software” (page 19).
The flat, “Type A” USB plug on the
USB cable from each MOTU interface
connects to the USB hub.
Standard USB Hub
USB
cables
!USB Interfaces Manual Book Page 17 Tuesday, October 10, 2000 12:43 PM