MOTU 828
UPC/EAN #839128006270
MPN #9390
28 x 32 USB3 audio interface for Mac, Windows and iOS with mixing and effects
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 5 Gbps USB 3 (compatible with 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.
From studio to stage, the 828 delivers exceptional sound quality, state-of-the-art operation and rock-solid performance.
Features
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 S/MUX 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.
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
1M Ohm impedance on the line/instr inputs
Analog inputs
8 x 1/4-inch TRS line in (balanced/unbalanced)
2 x 1/4-inch insert returns function as 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 (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 3.1 / USB2 - audio class compliant
1 x IF-certified USB 3.2 Gen1 Type C-to-C cable included
Compatible with USB Type A (with C-to-A cable)
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: <1 Ohm
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 10.13 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
6 GB of loops and sounds from Big Fish Audio, LucidSamples, Loopmasters and MOTU
Analog I/O
Connector Dynamic Range THD+N Max
Channel Type (A-weighted) (unweighted) Level
Line Input 1/4" TRS, balanced, tip hot 120 dB -114 dB (0.0002%) +21 dBu
Line Output 1/4" TRS, balanced, tip hot 125 dB -114 dB (0.0002%) +21 dBu
Mic input XLR, balanced, pin 2 hot 118 dB THD+N: -114 dB 0 dBu (without pad)
EIN: -129 dBu Preamp gain: +74 dB
Phones 1/4", TRS stereo 118 dB -110 dB (0.0003%) Max level: 14.4 dBu
Output Impedance: <1 Ohm
Compatible Mac Software
The 828 ships with standard Core Audio drivers for macOS 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 828 ships with standard ASIO and Wave drivers for Windows 10 and 11 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)
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