MOTU 828 28 x 32 USB 3.0 Audio Interface
28 x 32 USB3 audio interface for Mac, Windows and iOS with mixing and effects
Audio Performance – Superb analog audio quality
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.
USB-C – Universal connectivity for Mac, PC and iOS
Connect to your Mac, PC or iOS device with 5 Gbps USB 3 (compatible with USB 2), with up to 60 audio channels (28 in and 32 out). Class-compliant firmware means you can plug-and-play with Mac or iOS hosts, no driver needed. Industry standard high-performance drivers work with any audio apps. Connect directly to your iPad™ via USB-C or a standard camera connection kit (Lightning adapter).
Connectivity – 60 simultaneous audio channels
Connect all your studio gear, including microphones, guitars, synths, keyboards,drum machines, outboard processors, MIDI gear, optical expanders — even a foot pedal. All 28 inputs and 32 outputs are available simultaneously.
High Performance Driver- Ultra-low latency performance
Optimized drivers for both Mac and PC deliver renowned, ultra-low latency performance. With a high-performance DAW such as Digital Performer, the 828 delivers an astonishing round trip latency (RTL) of ~2 ms (milliseconds) over USB (2 or 3) at 96 kHz with a 32-sample host buffer.
Mic Inputs – Transparent mic channels and hi-Z guitar inputs
Capture your recorded material in its truest, most natural form with -113 dB THD+N, 115 dB dynamic range and -129 dBu EIN performance. Each mic channel has individual preamp gain, pad, 48V phantom power and remote control from your compute or iOS device. Each combo jack alternately provides a 1/4-inch high-impedance TS guitar input for DI tracking and reamping.
Hi-Z Guitar Inputs – DIY guitar re-amping
DI your guitar to the front-panel input, use CueMix’s near-zero latency to loop to any output (with a re-amp adapter, if needed), and record both the dry signal and your mic’d up amp simultaneously. Then re-amp the dry signal later with different amps and cabs — or amp modeling plug-ins — to experiment with different tones. No need to re-plug cables between recording and re-amping.
Channel 1-2 Inserts – Extra line inputs when you need them
Do you work with compressors and other outboard gear? Each 828 mic input offers a dedicated analog send/return
loop, allowing for both mono or stereo mic channel outboard processing via fully balanced connections. If nothing is
plugged in to a mic input, its return serves as an extra line input with identical signal characteristics to all other line inputs.
Monitor Group- Control up to ten analog outputs
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.
Control Room – A/B speaker select and talkback
Take control of your recording sessions with the front-panel talkback switch. Connect two sets of monitors and check your mixes instantly with front-panel A/B select buttons.
CueMix™ 5 – Monitor Mixing with Effects
CueMix 5 for Mac, Windows and iOS gives you simple, yet comprehensive graphic control over your mix with attractive graphic mixing, graphic editing of parametric EQ, and a convenient touch-friendly interface (on iOS) for quick access to all mixing features, digitally controlled trims and other settings.
Wireless Control – CueMix 5 for iOS
Control all settings and mixing from your USB host or from an iPhone or iPad running the CueMix 5 app. You can even use multiple iOS devices simultaneously. Set a password for your 828 for network security.
ADVANCED EXTRAS
Loopback and live streaming
With 828 loopback channels, you can easily route computer output back to the computer, where you can mix it with live mics and/or guitar inputs from the 828 in your host software for live streaming or podcasting.
Optical I/O and optical expansion
Two optical banks provide 16 channels of ADAT optical at 48 kHz, 8 channels of S/MUX optical I/O at 96 kHz, with optional stereo TOSLink at rates up to 96kHz. Expand your 828 with other gear, or use it as an optical expander.
S/PDIF digital I/O
The 828’s standard RCA S/PDIF input and output make stereo digital transfers a snap, with optional external clocking and support for sample rates up to 96 kHz. Choose any source signal for the S/PDIF output.
MIDI I/O with MIDI Thru
Connect MIDI gear without the need for a separate MIDI interface. MIDI Thru mode lets you loop MIDI directly from IN to OUT, bypassing the computer (or with no computer connected).
Foot switch input
Connect a standard foot pedal switch (sold separately) for hands-free punch-in while recording. Or map the pedal to any keystroke function in your host software.
DC-coupled TRS outputs
All analog outputs are DC-coupled. This means you can use the 828 to manipulate and sequence modular synthesizers from a host DAW using control voltage (CV).
Two headphone outputs
Each headphone output can be programmed with the same or different mixes, with independent volume control from the front-panel or CueMix 5.
Balanced analog
The 828’s balanced I/O connections are well-protected against RF interference, AC hum, and other noise-producing environmental factors.
Meter Views
Not using the optical I/O? Or any digital I/O? The 828 provides customized meter views for analog I/O only, digital I/O only and other combinations to best support your workflow.
Start making music right away with included workstation software, virtual instruments and loops
Connect the 828 to your Mac or PC and start laying down tracks with the included Performer Lite production software, plus hundreds of loops, one-shots and sounds from industry leaders Big Fish Audio, Lucidsamples and Loopmasters.
Performer Lite
Performer Lite provides everything you need to record, edit, mix, process and master your own music tracks quickly and easily. Plug in your mic, guitar and MIDI keyboard and start
100+ Instruments
Performer Lite includes over 100 virtual instruments, including acoustic and electric pianos, guitars, basses, drums, organs synths, orchestral instruments, choirs, world instruments and much more. Take your musical muse wherever it wants to go.
tracking with over 100 virtual instruments, dozens of effects plug-ins, guitar FX processing and much more.
6 GB of free loops and sample packs
Performer Lite includes 6 GB of free loops and sample packs from leading sample content providers to help you start making music right away. From Performer Lite’s Content Browser, choose from dozens of musical styles, click to audition, then drag and drop in your projects timeline to build your track quick.
Technical Specifications
Sample rates – 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
Mic/line/instr inputs – 2 x XLR/TRS “combo” jacks Individual -20 dB pad and 48V phantom power Preamp gain: +74 dB in 1 dB increments 1 MΩ impedance on the line/instr inputs Independent balanced send/return inserts
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 – 8 x 1/4-inch TRS line out (balanced, DC coupled) 2 x male XLR out Max level: +21 dBu 2 x 1/4-inch TRS stereo headphone (see below) 2 x 1/4-inch TRS sends (balanced, pre-converter)
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) 1 x stereo S/PDIF I/O on RCA (up to 96 kHz)
Computer I/O – 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Type C • USB2 compatible USB audio class compliant (no driver needed) 1 x IF-certified USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C-to-C cable included Compatible with USB Type A (with a C-to-A cable, sold separately) Total USB audio channels: see “Total Audio I/O” below Round Trip Latency (RTL): ~2 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 10 in / 14 out (24 total channels) at 4x sample rates
MIDI I/O – 1 x MIDI In 1 x MIDI Out/Thru 16 MIDI channels to/from computer host
Headphone – 2 x 1/4-inch TRS stereo headphones Output impedance: <1Ω Max output: 14.4 dBu
Phantom power – 2 x individual +48V
Foot Switch – 1 x 1/4-inch foot switch input Mapping: pedal up/down to any host keystrokes
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 XLR/TRS combo inputs 2 x 1/4″ TRS headphone outputs 2 x potentiometer • headphone volume 2 x potentiometer • mic/instr input gain 1 x potentiometer • menu navigation 1 x large potentiometer • main volume 12 x switches • (2) 48V, (2) pad, (6) control room, (2) nav 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 • 0.5A max
Dimensions and weight – (width x depth x height, enclosure only) 19 x 12.25 x 1.75 inches / 48.26 x 31.1 x 4.44 cm 11 lbs / 5 kgs
System Requirements
Mac System Requirements – Intel Core i3 Mac or faster (including Apple silicon Macs) 4 GB RAM; 8 GB or more recommended macOS version 10.15 or later Available Hi-Speed or Super-Speed USB port A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
Windows System Requirements – Intel Core i3 PC (or AMD equivalent) 4 GB RAM; 8 GB or more recommended Windows 10 or later (x64 AMD/Intel only) Available Hi-Speed or Super-Speed USB port A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
Class-Compliant Support – USB audio class compliant for plug-and-play operation on Mac or iOS (no driver required)
Included Software – CueMix 5 MOTU Performer Lite Ableton Live Lite 6GB of loops and sounds from Big Fish Audio, LucidSamples, Loopmasters and MOTU
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