I have been looking to move from Focusrite Scarlett (first gen) to either RME or MOTU. The RME UCX is over my budget and the MOTU ultralite mk series and AVB series look promising from a feature and price point compared to the Babyface Pro. I have heard some complaints about MOTU driver/latency issues in cake forums and outside, esp on Windows. On the other hand RME's driver stability is a known fact. I want to see if there are happy MOTU-Sonar users before I can make a final decision.So people using MOTU interfaces, please help !
Thanks in advance.

I recently (a couple of months ago) moved from a Roland Octa-Capture to an MOTU 896mk3 Hybrid.  The Octa-Capture developed problems and the quoted price from Roland for the parts was more than I wanted to pay.  I get slightly better latency with the MOTU (USB) with a 64 samples buffer (lowest it will go).  It also has better preamps.  With the Octa-Capture I always used a mic preamp.  I find I don't need it with the MOTU.  But, if I wanted to use an external preamp, I can bypass the built in preamps.  Couldn't bypass the preamps (that I  know of) in the Octa-Capture.
 
I didn't like their control program at first.  It took some hands on demonstration by another MOTU user to understand it.
 
Latency, as reported by Sonar Platinum, using ASIO and USB
Input 2.7 msec 121 samples
Output 3.3 msec 146 samples
Total roundtrip 6.1 msec 267 samples

You may have followed the other MOTU thread, which we had going until recently due to some connectivity issues (now resolved) ...
 
About 3 months back I was also facing the RME vs. MOTU question - and after researching options either interfaces provide I went with the MOTU AVB series (meanwhile I got 2 1248 units) and while scalability, routing options, etc. were the reason I went with MOTU, they are quite intimidating in the first few weeks. Even being a tech-savvy person, I had to admit that it took several weeks of using it to get maximum value from what it offers.
 
So now with connectivity issues resolved and details of functionality properly understood, I'm really happy with it. It can take a huge load and perform well (see e.g. here).
 
All of my experience relates to the more expensive 1248 AVB units, but the ultralite AVB runs off the same drivers.

I've owned some highly varied gear. Over 25 years of PC/Mac use. I've had from a cakewalk SP20 up to a RME HDSPe Madi with Orion 32. In between I've owned and still have a Motu Traveller MK3. While FireWire might be out of style, if it is any indication of MOTUs commitment to equality to RMEs driver stability, imho you can't go wrong.

Tony

Rob[atSound-Rehab]
 
About 3 months back I was also facing the RME vs. MOTU question - and after researching options either interfaces provide I went with the MOTU AVB series (meanwhile I got 2 1248 units) and while scalability, routing options, etc. were the reason I went with MOTU, they are quite intimidating in the first few weeks. Even being a tech-savvy person, I had to admit that it took several weeks of using it to get maximum value from what it offers.
 

Thanks for the useful information. My concern is that I am not that tech-savvy when it comes to tweaking audio interfaces .I am looking for something that I can plug-in, install the drivers, set the latency and focus on my music. Your feedback and similar ones I read else where are hinting clearly that "if you very carefully set things up correctly, it will work" which is what is making me move away from MOTU.

Looking back, the biggest issue is it has a lot of options (options that I'll probably never use).   But, its not unlike some of the other hardware interface's control programs.  I used to have a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 and the control program for that is a bit confusing, due to the any routing options. 

Do not mistake available complexity with lack of ease of plug and play :).

I was a very happy MOTU user for 10 years. Zero complaints. Then it broke.
 
I couldn't afford to replace it with the newer model, and couldn't afford the RME I'd planned on eventually upgrading to. So I did a lot of research and wound up buying a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40. I only had to give up a couple minor features and the Focusrite was 1/3 the price of the MOTU. It's done a fine job in the 18 months I've had it.
 
Had I known the MOTU was about to give up the ghost, I'd have saved up and gotten the RME. But stuff breaks when you least expect it, and often when you're least-prepared to absorb the expense. The Focusrite was a life saver.

Own a 896mk3 Hybrid (am using USB2.0) for routing.  Am using it at its lowest setting 64 spls 2.7/3.3ms with np.  It has a built in hardware mixer (via CueMix [no latency]) that allows you to mix in all 32 inputs into 8 stereo busses and can be used stand-alone.

I'm really enjoying mine and using it to get audio (mostly stereo) out of my PC and into my VS-2480 (another hardware unit [no latency]) and back into my DAW.

Own an FA-08 that I use to convert all midi to .wav and load into my DAW for quality mixing while mastering is done in the Roland VS-2480.  Also own a a JV-1010, Axon Terratec Producer, DigiTech GSP1101, VoiceLive Rack which I use for Vocals and Instruments, and a Casio WK-3700, and Korg Triton-Le.

Since I've gotten my Roland FA-08 I haven't been using the JV-1010, Axon, nor the Casio/Korg keyboards.  I still use my MOTU MTP/AV (Timepiece), but no longer using it for midi, just synchronization.

However, since the Pre's are better on the 896mk3 than the VS-2480, and the mixer is better than my Behringer EuroRack, I now use the MOTU 896mk3 for all of my routing/mixing and it is working quite well for me.

Have a look at Antelope. I ordered the Zen Tour, which offers better than RME quality at almost half the price of their UFX+.