MOTU has announced that it is now shipping its 1U rack-mounted audio interface for macOS, Windows and iOS. The 28×32 848 connects to a Mac, PC or iPad with 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 with low-latency, high-performance drivers to deliver 60 total channels of I/O, 64-channel mixing with effects, and 128 channels of AVB network input and output.
Universal connectivity with Thunderbolt 4, USB4, USB3, and USB2
With superb analog performance driven by renowned ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC technology, the 848 connects to a Mac, PC or iOS device with the included 40 Gbps Thunderbolt-compatible USB4 C-to-C cable (compatible with USB3 and USB2) for up to 256 audio channels (128 in and 128 out). Class-compliant firmware and industry standard drivers work with any audio apps and deliver roundtrip latency (RTL) less than 1.9 ms (at 96 kHz with a 32 sample host buffer). A second Thunderbolt port connects additional computer peripherals, such as a 2nd monitor, hard drive, USB hub or Thunderbolt dock.
Front Panel
On the front panel, a large, bright 3.9-inch full-color TFT display provides luxurious, high-resolution metering for all analog and digital I/O. Custom meter configurations, such as “Analog Only” can be chosen from front-panel menu controls. Two headphone outputs provide independent volume control and fully-programmable source selection, including analog or digital inputs or outputs, mixer buses (with built-in reverb), host audio channels, or even network channels.
Individual controls for preamp gain (+74 dB), -20 dB pad, and 48V phantom power are provided for the unit’s four rear-panel mic inputs. Phase invert is also provided via included software, and all preamp settings can be controlled remotely from a computer or iOS device. Control room features include talkback with front panel “Talk” button and “A/B/C” monitor select, Mute, and (sum to) Mono buttons for the designated monitor outputs, to quickly compare mixes on up to three sets of studio monitors.
Rear Panel I/O
The 848 rear panel provides 12 balanced TRS analog (line-level) outputs suitable for Dolby Atmos Monitoring configurations up to 7.1.4. Equipped with ESS Sabre32 DACs, the analog outputs deliver a measured dynamic range of 125 dB with -114 dB THD+N. Four rear-panel “combo” style XLR/TRS mic/line/hi-Z guitar inputs provide advanced mic channels with cutting-edge components that deliver ultra-transparent sound with -114 dB THD+N, 118 dB dynamic range and -129 dBu EIN. Inputs 3-4 include a dedicated send/return insert for outboard gear processing. When nothing is connected to the combo jacks, the two returns function as additional balanced line inputs with identical signal path characteristics as the other eight line inputs.
Additional audio I/O includes 8 balanced/unbalanced TRS analog (line-level) inputs and two banks of 8-channel ADAT optical I/O (switchable to stereo optical S/PDIF on bank A). All analog inputs and outputs can be calibrated with boost or trim in precise 1 dB increments. All line outputs are DC-coupled, so they may be used to manipulate and sequence voltage-controlled modular synthesizers from a host DAW. Also included are BNC word clock I/O (with optional Thru), two Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Type-C ports, and two AVB Ethernet ports.
Flexible networking
The 848 features an integrated AVB switch with two Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing users to daisy-chain as many as eight 848 and/or 16A units using standard network cabling, with full access to all units from the host computer. An external AVB switch can be added to expand the network further with multiple interfaces, computers, and ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (hundreds of meters). Each 848 can transmit and receive 128 audio channels to and from the network, with hundreds of audio channels streaming among devices and computers on the network. The 848 is compatible with previous-generation MOTU AVB devices.
Mixing and effects processing
Powerful 32-bit floating point DSP delivers 64-channel mixing from any sources: the physical inputs on the 848 interface itself, audio channels from host software, audio network streams, or even mixer outputs. Accessed in the included CueMix Pro app for macOS, Windows and iOS, the mixer provides 26 aux busses, plus main, reverb, monitor, and solo buses. All mixer inputs and output buses provide 4-band double-precision parametric EQ and a compressor at all sample rates up to 96 kHz. Additionally, all input channels include a High-Pass Filter and Gate. The 848 can be used for monitor mixing while tracking in the studio or for stand-alone mixing for live sound, with Wi-Fi control of all mix settings from an iPad or iPhone.
Comprehensive routing and splitting
Using intuitive, virtual patch cords in CueMix Pro, or a comprehensive routing grid, users can easily route any source signal to any destination. Sources include analog or digital inputs on the interface, computer channels, mixer bus outputs, or audio network streams from other devices on the network. Destinations include interface outputs, host software inputs, mixer inputs, or any other device (or computer) on the network. Users can even split any single source (or stereo pair) to unlimited multiple output destinations.
Included Software
The 848 ships with the CueMix Pro App and low-latency Thunderbolt/USB drivers for macOS, Windows and iOS, MOTU Performer Lite workstation software for macOS and Windows, and 6GB of loops and sounds from Big Fish Audio, LucidSamples, Loopmasters and MOTU.
Now shipping, the 848 is priced $1,595 USD.
More information: MOTU
