New dual-LCD design
Two full-color LCDs display all signal activity at a glance with detailed metering for all analog and digital I/O. Access hardware settings from a simple and convenient menu.
Superb analog audio quality and high-end converters
Renowned ESS Sabre32™ DAC technology delivers 123 dB dynamic range and the same proven, award-winning audio quality as MOTU's flagship 1248.
Ultra-low latency and proven, high-performance MOTU drivers
Round-trip latency (RTL) performance as low as 1.6 ms at 96kHz over Thunderbolt™ with high-performance DAW hosts.
Universal connectivity
Connects to your computer with Thunderbolt™, hi-speed USB 2.0 or AVB/TSN Ethernet for up to 256 audio channels (128 in and 128 out). Class-compliant firmware and industry standard drivers work with any audio apps. Connects to an iPad™ with a standard camera connection kit (adapter).
60 simultaneous audio channels
28 inputs and 32 outputs, including two mic preamps with sends, 8 TRS analog in/out, separate main outs on XLR jacks, two banks of optical, S/PDIF, MIDI in/out, time code in/out, word clock I/O, and two front-panel headphone jacks.
DSP mixing and effects processing
Flexible 48-input digital mixer with 7 stereo aux busses, 3 groups, access to 32 network inputs, and DSP effects, including reverb, 4-band EQ, gate and compression.
32-bit floating point processing
The 828es mixing and effects DSP engine delivers virtually unlimited headroom and the utmost in sound quality.
Modeled vintage effects processing
Classic reverb. Compression modeled after the legendary LA-2A compressor. EQ modeled after British analog console EQs.
Flexible matrix routing and splitting
Send any input to any output, or multiple outputs. Includes routing to and from the computer, plus any devices on the AVB network.
Stand-alone operation with wireless control
Connect an Apple® Airport™ or other Wi-Fi router with a standard Ethernet cable for wireless control of device settings, powerful 48-channel mixing and DSP effects.
Web app control from any device
Control everything from your favorite web browser on a laptop, tablet and smartphone connected to your local Wi-Fi network.
Precision Digital Trim™
Digitally controlled analog trim on all analog inputs (mic/guitar inputs + quarter-inch TRS inputs) provides accurate adjustments in 1 dB increments.
Control room features
Built-in talkback mic with front-panel "talk" button and"A/B" speaker select buttons.
System expansion
Add a 2nd MOTU AVB-equipped interface with a simple CAT-5e ethernet cable. Connect up to five MOTU interfaces using a MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately).
AVB/TSN audio networking
Build a network with multiple interfaces and computers using standard AVB/TSN switches and network cabling, with ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (100 meters point to point). Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network.
Redesigned mic channels
Cutting-edge components deliver ultra-transparent sound with -108 dB THD+N, 118 dB dynamic range and -128 dBu EIN. Each mic channel provides individual preamp gain, pad, 48V phantom power, digital remote control and analog (pre-converter) sends for mono or stereo outboard processing.
Two headphone jacks
Each headphone output can be programmed with the same or different mixes, with independent front-panel volume control.
Two banks of optical I/O
Connect outboard digital processors, digital mixers or other gear. 16 channels of ADAT at 44.1/48 kHz, 8 channels of SMUX at 88.2/96 kHz or 4 channels of TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) up to 96 kHz. Mix and match formats among in/out ports.
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.
Time code support
Dedicated time code input and output jacks. Converts SMPTE time code (LTC) to MIDI Time Code (MTC) and passes MTC on to any MTC-compatible host software.
MIDI I/O
Connect MIDI gear without the need for a separate MIDI interface.
Direct Digital Synthesis™ (DDS)
DSP-driven phase lock engine and internal clock source produces imperceptibly low jitter characteristics (below the noise floor), even when the 828es is resolved to an external clock source via SMPTE time code.
DC-coupled TRS outputs
Use the 828es to manipulate and sequence voltage-controlled modular synthesizers from a host DAW.
Instrument tuner and audio analysis tools
Includes an oscilloscope, real-time FFT, X-Y Plot, and graphic phase analysis.
AudioDesk
Workstation software for Mac and Windows with 24-bit recording, sample-accurate editing and 32-bit mixing and mastering.
Technical Specifications
| Sample rates | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz |
| Mic/line/instr inputs | 2 x XLR/TRS "combo style" inputs
Preamp gain: 0 to +63 dB (digitally controlled) |
| Analog inputs | 8 x 1/4" TRS line inputs (balanced/unbalanced)
Max level: +24 dBu (digitally adjustable -96 to +22) |
| Analog outputs | 8 x 1/4" TRS line out (balanced, DC coupled)
Max level: +20 dBu (digitally adjustable -4 to +20)
2 x male XLR with +20 dBu max
2 x 1/4" TRS stereo headphone
2 x 1/4" TRS sends (pre-converter) |
| Digital I/O | 2 banks (16 ch) of ADAT optical at 1x sample rates
2 banks (8 ch) of SMUX optical at 2x sample rates
1 bank switchable to TOSLink (optical S/PDIF)
1 x stereo S/PDIF on RCA (up to 96 kHz) |
| Total I/O | 28 in / 32 out (60 total) at 1x sample rates
20 in / 24 out (44 total) at 2x sample rates
10 in / 14 out (24 total) at 4x sample rates |
| Computer I/O | 1 x Thunderbolt 1 (Mac and Win)
Thunderbolt 2 & 3 compatible
1 x USB 2.0 audio class compliant
USB 3.0 and iOS compatible |
Computer I/O channels
Thunderbolt | 128 in/out at 1x or 2x (44.1 to 96 kHz)
64 in/out at 4x (176.4 to 192 kHz) |
Computer I/O channels
USB | 64 in/out at 1x (44.1 to 48 kHz)
32 in/out at 2x (88.2 to 96 kHz)
24 in/out at 4x (176.4 to 192 kHz) |
| MIDI I/O | 1 x MIDI IN
1 x MIDI OUT
16 MIDI channels to/from computer host |
| Foot switch | 1 x 1/4" pedal input |
| Sync I/O | 1 x BNC word clock in/out
1 x 1/4" time code in/out |
| Network I/O | 1 x RJ45 AVB/TSN Ethernet (1 Gbps) |
AVB streams
(8 channels per stream) | 4 in / 4 out @ 44.1 or 48 kHz
4 in / 4 out @ 88.2 or 96 kHz
2 in / 2 out @ 176.4 or 192 kHz |
| Headphone | 2 x 1/4" TRS stereo phone (assignable) |
| Phantom power | 2 x individual +48V |
| Front panel | 2 x 1/4" TRS headphone output
2 x XLR/TRS combo inputs
2 x digital rotary encoders • phone vol
2 x digital rotary encoders • mic/instr input gain
2 x large digital rotary encoders • main vol / menu
4 x small switches • (2) Pad / (2) 48V Phantom pwr
8 x large switches • menu nav / A/B mon select, etc.
2 x LCD (128 x 160) for level meters / menu nav |
| Power | International 100-240V autoswitching supply
50-60 Hz • 0.5A max |
Dimensions
and weight | (width x depth x height, enclosure only)
19 x 7 x 1.75 inches
48.3 x 17.75 x 4.5 cm
4.1 lbs / 1.9 kg
with rack brackets removed:
17.25 inches (43.8 cm) wide
4.0 lbs / 1.8 kg |
Mac System Requirements
- 1 GHz Intel-based Mac or faster
- 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended
- Mac OS X version 10.8 or later
- Available Thunderbolt 1/2/3, USB 2/3 or AVB/TSN Ethernet port*
- A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
- *AVB/TSN Ethernet audio interface operation requires OS X El Capitan or later
Windows System Requirements
- 1 GHz Pentium-based PC compatible or faster
- 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended
- Windows 7, 8 or 10
- Available Thunderbolt 1/2/3 or USB 2/3 port
- A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
Web App Support
- Any web client platform: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Any web browser: Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Explorer, etc.
- Thunderbolt and USB 2.0 drivers
- MOTU Discovery App for Mac & PC (finds connected MOTU interfaces)
- MOTU Discovery App for iOS (available from Apple App Store)
- MOTU Pro Audio Control web app (served from the hardware itself)
- MOTU Audio Tools (FFT, oscilloscope, X-Y plot, phase analyzer)
- AudioDesk for Mac & Windows (separate download)
Operating Systems
- For computer audio I/O: Mac OS X 10.8 or later; Windows 7 or later
- For web app control: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Analog I/O Specifications
|
Connector type | Dynamic range
(A-weighted) | THD+N
(unweighted) | Max
level | Trim range
(in 1 dB steps) |
|---|
| Line output | 1/4" TRS, balanced, tip hot | 123 dB | -108 dB | +20 dBu | 24 dB (-24 to 0) |
| Line input | 1/4" TRS, bal/unbal, tip hot | 118 dB | -108 dB | +24 dBu | 118 dBu (-96 to +22) |
| Mic input | XLR, balanced, pin 2 hot | 118 dB | -128 dB EIN | +24 dBu
(with pad) | 63 dB |
| Phones | 1/4", TRS stereo | 108 dB | -100 dB | Max. 80 mw | 128 dB |
Compatible Mac Software
The 828es ships with standard Core Audio drivers for Mac OS X for compatibility with virtually all Core Audio-compatible apps, including:
- MOTU Digital Performer
- Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
- Apple Logic Pro
- Apple Logic Express
- Apple Garage Band
- Apple SoundTrack Pro
- Ableton Live
- Presonus Studio One
- Propellerhead Record & Reason
- Steinberg Cubase
- Cockos Reaper
- Native Instruments Kontakt
- Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
Compatible Windows Software
The 828es ships with standard ASIO and Wave drivers for Windows 7, 8 and 10 for compatibility with virtually all ASIO- and Wave-compatible audio apps, including:
- MOTU Digital Performer
- Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
- Ableton Live
- Cakewalk Sonar
- Cockos Reaper
- Image Line FL Studio
- Native Instruments Kontakt
- Presonus Studio One
- Propellerhead Record & Reason
- Sony Vegas Pro
- Sony Sound Forge
- Sony Acid
- Steinberg Cubase
- Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
