The M4 is a 4-in/4-out USB-C audio interface for Mac, Windows and iOS that offers best-in-class audio quality, best-in-class speed (ultra-low latency) and best-in-class metering with a full-color LCD. Record vocals, instruments or other audio sources quickly and easily.
The M4 includes MOTU Performer Lite and Ableton Live Lite production software, 100+ instruments, dozens of plug-ins, and over 6 GB of loops and samples to start making music right away.
Additional features include two mic/line/hi-Z instrument XLR combo inputs, individual preamp gain and 48V phantom power, two balanced 1/4-inch line inputs, one-touch hardware monitoring for all inputs, support for stereo monitoring, mix knob for balancing live input with computer playback, four balanced 1/4-inch DC-coupled outputs, four unbalanced RCA outputs (mirrored), ESS-driven headphone output with independent volume control, MIDI in/out, driver "loopback" channels for live-streaming and podcasting, and USB bus power with power switch (USB cable included).
- 4-in / 4-out USB audio interface with studio-quality sound
- Best-in-class audio quality driven by ESS Sabre32 Ultra™ DAC Technology
- Best-in-class speed (ultra-low latency) for host software processing
- Best-in-class metering for all inputs/outputs with a full-color LCD
- 2x mic/line/hi-Z guitar inputs on combo XLR/TRS
- Individual preamp gain and 48V phantom power for each input
- 2x balanced 1/4-inch line inputs
- Hardware (direct) monitoring for each input (mono or stereo for inputs 1-2, stereo for inputs 3-4)
- Monitor mix knob to balance live inputs and computer playback
- Measured -129 dB EIN on mic inputs
- 4x balanced, DC-coupled 1/4-inch TRS outputs
- Measured 120 dB dynamic range on the 1/4-inch balanced TRS outputs
- 4x RCA (unbalanced) analog out (mirrored)
- 1x headphone out (driven by ESS converters) with independent volume control
- MIDI in/out
- Support for 44.1 to 192 kHz sample rates
- USB audio class compliant for plug-and-play operation on Mac (no driver required)
- Windows driver with 2.5 ms Round Trip Latency (32 sample buffer at 96 kHz)
- Mac driver (optional, for 2.5 ms RTL@32/96 kHz and loopback feature)
- iOS compatible (USB audio class compliant)
- Driver loopback for capturing host output, live streaming and podcasting
- Bus powered USB-C (compatible with USB Type A) with power switch (USB cable included)
- Rugged metal construction
- Workstation software included (MOTU Performer Lite 10 and Ableton Live Lite 10)
- 100+ instruments (in Performer Lite)
- Over 6 GB of included free loops, samples and one-shots from industry leading libraries
- Kensington security slot
- Built in the USA
- Two-year warranty
Technical Specifications
| Sample rates | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz |
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| Mic/line/guitar | 2 x XLR/TRS "combo jack" mic/line/Hi-Z guitar inputs Independent preamp gain, 48V phantom power and monitor switch for each input |
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| Analog inputs | 2 x 1/4" line in |
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| Analog outputs | 4 x 1/4" TRS line out (balanced, DC coupled) 4 x RCA (unbalanced) analog out (mirrored) 1 x 1/4" TRS stereo headphone |
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| Computer I/O | 1 x USB-C (compatible with USB Type A) 2.0 audio class compliant |
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| MIDI I/O | 1 x MIDI IN 1 x MIDI OUT 16 MIDI channels to/from computer host |
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| Headphone | 1 x 1/4" TRS stereo phone |
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| Phantom power | 2 x individual +48V |
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| Front panel | 1 x 1/4" TRS headphone output 2 x XLR/TRS combo inputs 1 x potentiometer • monitor vol 1 x potentiometer • phone vol 1 x potentiometer • input monitor mix 2 x potentiometer • mic/line/guitar input gain 5 x switches • (2) 48V, (2) MON and (1) 3-4 160 x 120 pixel full-colored LCD with input and output level meters |
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| Power | Bus-powered through USB |
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| Dimensions and weight | (width x depth x height, enclosure only) 8.25 x 4.25 x 1.75 inches 20.955 x 10.8 x 4.5 cm 1.55 lbs / 0.7 kg |
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System Requirements
| Mac System Requirements | 1 GHz Intel-based Mac or faster 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended macOS version 10.11 or later Available USB port A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording) |
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| 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 USB port A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording) |
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| Class-Compliant Support | USB audio class compliant for plug-and-play operation on Mac or iOS (no driver required) |
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| Included Software | MOTU Performer Lite Ableton Live 10 Lite 6GB of loops and sounds from Big Fish Audio, LucidSamples, Loopmasters and MOTU |
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| Operating Systems | macOS 10.11 or later; Windows 7 or later |
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Analog I/O
| Connector type | Dynamic range (A-weighted) | THD+N (unweighted) | Max level |
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| Line Output | 1/4" TRS, balanced, tip hot | 120dB | -110dB | +16dBu |
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| Line Input | 1/4" TRS, bal/unbal, tip hot | 115dB | -106dB | +18dBu (at minimum gain) |
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| Mic input | XLR, balanced, pin 2 hot | 115dB | -129dBu EIN | +10dBu (at minimum gain) |
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| Phones | 1/4", TRS stereo | 115dB | -110dB | +12.5dBu |
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Compatible Mac Software
The M4 ships with standard Core Audio drivers for Mac OS X for compatibility with virtually all Core Audio-compatible apps, including:
- MOTU Performer Lite
- 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 M4 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 Performer Lite
- 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)
