MOTU 848 28x32 Thunderbolt and USB4 Audio Interface

MOTU 848 28x32 Thunderbolt and USB4 Audio Interface, New, Action Position Back

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Hello, TB4 -- see you later, latency! The 848 joins the ranks of MOTU's high-performance interfaces with 28x32 I/O including 4 preamps, and ESS Sabre32 DACs.

Overview

- 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,… read more 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.

Features:

- Next-gen 28 x 32 Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 audio interface
- New 3.9-inch TFT display
- Superb analog audio quality and high-end converters
- Ultra-low latency and proven, high-performance MOTU drivers
- Universal Thunderbolt/USB-C connectivity
- 60 simultaneous audio channels
- Advanced mic channels
- Flexible insert returns
- Dolby Atmos monitoring
- 64-channel mixing with effects
- Patchbay routing and splitting
- AVB Networking
- Wi-Fi control
- Precision boost/trim for analog I/O
- Control room features
- Two flexible headphone outputs
- Two banks of optical I/O
- Word clock in/out/thru
- DC-coupled TRS outputs
- Guitar re-amping
- Loopback for live streaming and podcasting
- Flexible front-panel metering

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Specs

- Sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
- Mic/line/instr inputs:
- 4 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 3-4
- Analog inputs:
- 8 x 1/4-inch TRS line in (balanced/unbalanced)
- 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:
- 12 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 I/O:
- 28 in / 32 out (60 total channels) at 1x sample rates
- 20 in / 24 out (44 total channels) at 2x sample rates
- 12 in / 16 out (28 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
- 4 x encoder * preamp gain
- 8 x switches * (4) PAD and (4) 48V
- 6 x switches * control room
- 1 x encoder * menu navigation
- 2 x switches * menu nav
- 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:
- 19 x 12.25 x 1.75 inches / 48.26 x 31.1 x 4.44 cm
- 11 lbs / 5 kgs