MOTU 10pre Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Audio Interface

MOTU 10pre Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Audio Interface, New, Action Position Back

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With 26x28 I/O including 10 preamps with 74 dB gain, this ultra-low-latency TB4/USB4 audio interface delivers the performance you expect from MOTU, and more.

Overview

The 10pre delivers cutting-edge Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 universal connectivity for Mac, PC, iOS and iPadOS. Connect your host device with the included 40 Gbps USB-C cable and the 10pre negotiates the fastest possible connectivity speed, up to 40 Gbps, with backward compatibility for Thunderbolt 3, USB3 and USB2 host connections. Thunderbolt and USB4 connections deliver an astonishing 256 channels of computer I/O (128 in and 128 out) at sample rates up to 96 kHz.

Renowned ESS Sabre32 DAC technology delivers 125 dB dynamic range and extremely low harmonic distortion. Analog performance is driven by decades of engineering expertise in audio interface technology.

Connect all your studio gear, including monitors, headphones, microphones, guitars, synths, keyboards, drum machines, outboard processors, optical expanders, and more. All 26 inputs and 28 outputs are available simultaneously.

Optimized drivers for both Mac and PC deliver renowned, ultra-low latency performance. With a high-performance DAW such as Digital Performer, the 10pre delivers an astonishing round trip latency (RTL) of ~1.8 ms (milliseconds) over Thunderbolt and USB at 96 kHz with a 32-sample host buffer.

Daisy-chain the 10pre with up to six other Thunderbolt devices, all connected to your host computer with massive 40 Gbps bandwidth to easily handle hundreds of audio channels, 8K video, terabytes of hard drive storage, and more. Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB-C cable included (length = 2 meters)
Transparent mic… read more channels and hi-Z guitar inputs
Capture your recorded material in its truest, most natural form with -114 dB THD+N, 118 dB dynamic range and -129 dBu EIN performance. Each mic channel has individual preamp gain, pad, 48V phantom power and remote control from your computer or iOS device. Each combo jack alternately provides a 1/4-inch high-impedance TS guitar input for DI tracking and reamping.

Do you work with compressors and other outboard gear? Mic inputs 1-2 each offer a dedicated analog send/return loop, allowing for both mono or stereo mic channel outboard processing via fully balanced connections.

Control your 5.1 or 7.1 surround speaker system with a single fader. The Monitor Group gives you the flexibility to choose any analog outputs you wish to control.

Take control of your recording sessions with the front-panel talkback switch. Connect three sets of monitors and check your mixes instantly with front-panel A/B/C select buttons.

The 10pre is equipped with a 64-channel mixer designed just like a large format mixing console. The 64 inputs can take signal from anywhere: the physical inputs on the 10pre interface itself, audio channels from host software on your computer, audio network streams, or even mixer outputs. The mixer provides 26 aux busses, plus main, reverb, monitor, and solo buses. All inputs and output buses provide 4- band double-precision parametric EQ and a compressor. Additionally, input channels include a High-Pass Filter and Gate. In essence: capable and transparent mixing.

For complex workflows that involve routing and splitting at scale, the Routing Grid provides a global "bird's-eye" view of all the connections in your 10pre system. Manage hundreds of audio channels quickly, at a glance. Check for signal with convenienct activity meters. Show and hide audio banks to customize your routing environment. Display destinations on either the right side or left side of the grid, as you prefer.

Features:

- Next-gen 26 x 28 Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 audio interface -- Built on 30 years of proven success as an industry-leading audio interface brand.
- New 3.9-inch TFT display -- 24-bit RGB LCD provides 480 x 128 pixel high-resolution metering for all analog and digital I/O, plus detailed status info and access to hardware settings from a simple and convenient menu.
- Superb analog audio quality and high-end converters -- Renowned ESS Sabre32(TM) DAC technology delivers 125 dB dynamic range. Support for all standard sample rates up to 192 kHz.
- Ultra-low latency and proven, high-performance MOTU drivers -- Round-trip latency (RTL) performance as low as 1.8 ms at 96kHz with high-performance DAW hosts.
- Universal Thunderbolt/USB-C connectivity -- Connect to any computer with the included 40 Gbps Thunderbolt-compatible USB4 cable (compatible with USB3 and USB2) for up to 256 audio channels (128 in and 128 out), depending on the host computer connection. Class-compliant firmware and industry standard drivers work with any audio apps. Connects to an iPad(TM) with USB-C or a Lightning adapter kit (sold separately). Use the second Thunderbolt port to connect additional computer peripherals, a USB hub or Thunderbolt dock.
- 54 simultaneous audio channels -- 26 inputs and 28 outputs, including 10 mic/line/instrument inputs on flexible combo jacks, 8 TRS analog (line-level) outputs, two banks of 8-channel optical I/O, and two front-panel headphone outputs.
- Advanced mic channels -- Cutting-edge components deliver ultra-transparent sound with -114 dB THD+N, 118 dB dynamic range and -129 dBu EIN. Each mic channel provides individual controls for +74 dB of preamp gain, -20 dB pad, 48V phantom power, and phase invert. All settings can be controlled remotely from a computer or iOS device. Mic inputs 1-2 include a dedicated send/return insert for outboard gear processing.
- Flexible insert returns -- When nothing is connected to mic inputs 1-2, the two returns function as additional line inputs with identical signal path characteristics as the other eight line inputs.
- 64-channel mixing with effects -- Powerful 32-bit floating point DSP delivers 64-channel mixing with 64 inputs, 32 busses, and effects processing, including reverb, 4-band double-precision EQ, high-pass filter, gate and compression at all sample rates up to 96 kHz.
- Patchbay routing and splitting -- Using intuitive, virtual patch cords, or a comprehensive routing grid, easily route any source signal to any destination. Split any source to multiple destinations.
- Optical Expansion -- Connect the 10pre to other gear equipped with 8-channel optical I/O to add 10 mic inputs and 8 line outputs to your setup. Choose the Optical Expander preset in the front panel menu for effortless setup.
- AVB Networking -- Use two Gigabit network ports to daisy-chain multiple units using standard network cabling, or add an AVB switch to build a network with multiple interfaces and computers with ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (hundreds of meters). Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network. Compatible with previous-generation MOTU AVB devices.
- Wi-Fi control -- Control everything wirelessly over Wi-Fi from the CueMix Pro app running on mobile devices or other computers on the same network -- even multiple devices at the same time.
- Precision boost/trim for analog I/O -- Calibrate analog input and output signals in precise 1 dB increments. Apply phase invert individually to analog inputs.
- Control room features -- Control your sessions with "talk" button and "A/B/C" speaker select buttons on the front panel to quickly compare your mixes on three sets of studio monitors. Mute and sum-to-mono buttons are also included.
- Two flexible headphone outputs -- With independent volume control, each headphone output can mirror each other, the Main Outs, any other analog output pair, any mixer bus, or any computer output channels. Or you can create a completely customized mix for each headphone that includes live 10pre inputs and built-in reverb.

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Specs

- Sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
- Mic/line/instr inputs:
- 10 x XLR/TRS "combo" jacks
- Individual -20 dB pad and 48V phantom power
- Preamp gain: +74 dB in 1 dB increments
- 1 MOhm impedance on the line/instr inputs
- Independent balanced send/return inserts on channels 1-2
- Analog inputs:
- 2 x 1/4-inch insert returns function as balanced TRS
- line inputs (with no mic inputs connected)
- Max level: +21 dBu
- +20 dB digital gain on each input
- Analog outputs:
- 8 x 1/4-inch TRS line out (balanced, DC coupled)
- Max level: +21 dBu
- -99 dB digital trim on each output
- 2 x 1/4-inch TRS stereo headphone (see below)
- Digital I/O:
- 2 banks (16 ch) of ADAT optical I/O at 1x sample rates
- 2 banks (8 ch) of S/MUX optical I/O at 2x sample rates
- Bank A switchable to stereo TOSLink I/O (optical S/PDIF)
- Computer I/O:
- 2 x Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4.1 (40 Gbps) Type C:
- USB3 / USB2 compatible
- USB audio class compliant (no driver needed)
- 1 x Thunderbolt-compatible / USB4 GEN3 C-to-C cable:
- 40Gpbs / 240W
- Length = 2 meters
- Cable included
- Provides 15W power downstream / 0W upstream
- Compatible with USB2 Type A with a C-to-A cable:
- (sold separately)
- Round Trip Latency (RTL): ~1.8 ms:
- (32 sample buffer at 96K)
- Total audio channels: see "Total Audio I/O" below
- Total audio I/O:
- 26 in / 28 out (54 total channels) at 1x sample rates
- 18 in / 16 out (34 total channels) at 2x sample rates
- 10 in / 12 out (22 total channels) at 4x sample rates
- Headphone:
- 2 x 1/4-inch TRS stereo headphones
- Output impedance: <1Ohm
- Max output: 13.3 dBu
- Networking:
- 2x Gigabit AVB Ethernet ports
- 16 AVB streams in/out at sample rates up to 96 kHz
- 8 AVB streams in/out at 176.4 or 192 kHz
- 1-8 audio channels configurable per stream
- Up to 128 audio channels in & out (up to 96 kHz)
- Supports 1722.1 for Connection Management and Control
- Supports AAF stream formats & legacy AM8-24 format
- Stream format configurable per stream
- Sync I/O:
- 1 x BNC Word Clock In
- 1 x BNC Word Clock Out/Thru
- Sample rates: all (from 44.1 to 192 kHz)
- Front Panel:
- 2 x 1/4" TRS headphone output
- 2 x encoder: headphone volume
- 1 x encoder: input channel select
- 1 x encoder: preamp gain
- 4 x switches: 2 channel select, 1 PAD, 1 48V
- 6 x switches: control room
- 1 x encoder: menu navigation
- 2 x switches: menu nav (Back & Select)
- 1 x large encoder: main volume
- 1 x 3.9-inch 480 x 128 pixel 24-bit RGB TFT display
- 1 x latching power button
- Power: Internal 100-240V autoswitching supply 50-60 Hz, 1.0A max
- Dimensions and weight (W x D x H, enclosure only): 19 x 12.25 x 1.75 inches / 48.26 x 31.1 x Weight: 4.44 cm 11 lbs / 5 kgs