MOTU 828 – 28 x 32 USB3 Audio Interface with DSP and Effects MOTU

The completely redesigned 828 delivers everything you need to turn your computer into a powerful 24-bit/192 kHz digital audio workstation. The 828 connects to a Mac or PC with Super-speed (5 Gbps) USB 3 or Hi-speed USB 2, with up to 60 audio channels (28 in and 32 out). Proven, reputable MOTU drivers work with all your favorite audio apps, delivering industry-leading, ultra-low round trip latency (RTL) performance as low as 2 ms at 96 kHz with high-performance DAW hosts. USB audio class-compliant firmware allows connection to your iPad™ or any iOS™ device via USB-C or a standard camera connection kit (Lightning adapter, sold separately).

The 828 is equally well-suited for studio and stage. As an interface or standalone mixer, the 828 provides 28 separate inputs and 32 separate outputs, including two XLR/TRS ‘combo’ mic/line/guitar inputs, dedicated main outs on XLRs, and two independent front-panel headphone outs. Renowned ESS Sabre32™ DAC technology delivers superb analog performance.

Connect all of your studio gear, including microphones, guitars, synths, keyboards, drum machines and effects processors. Record, monitor, and process all of these live inputs with no latency and no processor strain on your computer. Powerful DSP delivers separate 24-channel monitor mixes for all analog output pairs, including the two headphone outputs, with on-board effects processing, including reverb, 4-band EQ and compression.

Take control of your recording sessions with the front-panel talk button. Connect two sets of speakers and check your mixes instantly with front-panel A/B speaker select buttons. Stream your sessions to the web with loopback channels and your customized mix of any 828 inputs.

After recording and mixing in the studio, unplug the 828 from the computer and take it on stage for operation as a stand-alone mixer with effects. Control everything over Wi-Fi from the CueMix 5 app running on your laptop, tablet and smartphone.

• Next-gen 28 x 32 USB3 audio interface — Builds on 22 years of proven success as an industry-leading audio interface brand.
• New 3.9-inch TFT display — The bright, 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™ 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 2 ms at 96kHz with high-performance DAW hosts.
• Universal connectivity — Connects to your computer with 5 Gbps USB3 (compatible with USB2) for up to 60 audio channels. Class-compliant firmware and industry standard drivers work with any audio apps. Connects to an iPad™ with USB-C or a Lightning adapter kit (sold separately).
• 60 simultaneous audio channels — 28 inputs and 32 outputs, including two combo XLR/TRS mic/line/hi-Z guitar inputs with send/return inserts, 8 TRS analog (line-level) in/out, separate main outs on XLR jacks, two banks of 8-channel optical I/O, stereo RCA S/PDIF digital 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. Each mic channel includes a dedicated send/return insert for outboard gear processing.
• Flexible insert returns — When nothing is connected to the front-panel mic inputs, the two rear-panel returns function as additional line inputs with identical signal path characteristics as the other eight line inputs.
• DSP mixing and effects processing — Flexible 24-input digital mixer with 8 stereo busses and DSP effects, including reverb, 4-band EQ, gate and compression.
• Wi-Fi control — If the 828 is connected to a computer on your Wi-Fi network, you can control everything wirelessly from the CueMix 5 app running on mobile devices or other computers on the same network — even multiple devices at the same time. Manage access to the 828 with network discovery and password protection.
• 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 front-panel ‘talk’ button and ‘A/B’ speaker select buttons to quickly compare your mixes on two sets of studio monitors.
• Two flexible headphone outputs — With independent volume control, each headphone output can mirror each other, the Main Outs, any other analog output pair, any CueMix bus, or any USB output channels. Or you can create a completely customized mix for each headphone that includes live 828 inputs and built-in reverb.
• Two banks of optical I/O — Connect outboard digital processors, digital mixers or other gear with 16 channels of ADAT at 44.1/48 kHz or 8 channels of SMUX at 88.2/96 kHz. Bank A can optionally provide stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) I/O up to 96 kHz.
• Foot switch input — Connect a standard foot pedal switch (sold separately) for hands-free punch-in and punch-out while recording. Or map the pedal to any keystroke function in your host software.
• MIDI in/out/thru — connect MIDI gear without the need for a separate MIDI interface.
• Word clock in/out/thru — Supports all sample rates up to 192 kHz.
• DC-coupled TRS outputs — Use the 828 to manipulate and sequence voltage-controlled modular synthesizers from a host DAW.
• Loopback for live streaming and podcasting — 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.
• Guitar re-amping — Connect 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.
• CueMix 5 app — Control mixing and settings from your Mac, PC or iOS device.
• Performer Lite — Workstation software with over 100 included instruments, dozens of effects and 6 GB of included loops to make music right away. Also includes Ableton Live Lite.