Product Overview
Built around the MOTU's renowned ESS Sabre32™ DAC technology, with a dynamic range of 125 dB and exceptionally low harmonic distortion you'll hear every nuance of your tracks with pristine clarity. Easily connect the 828 to your Mac, PC, or iOS device (all sold separately) via 5 Gbps USB 3 (compatible with USB 2) that supports up to 60 audio channels (28 in and 32 out) simultaneously. Thanks to class-compliant firmware you'll enjoy plug-and-play functionality with Mac or iOS hosts, eliminating the need for drivers. High-performance drivers cater to any audio app, while direct connectivity to your iPad™ is facilitated via USB-C or a standard lightning adapter (sold separately). Seamlessly integrate all your studio gear, from microphones to synths, keyboards, drum machines, and more, with all 28 inputs and 32 outputs available simultaneously. Optimized drivers for both Mac and PC ensure ultra-low 2 ms round trip latency over USB (2 or 3) at 96 kHz with a 32-sample host buffer. The 828 is tailor-made for high-performance DAWs like Digital Performer. Each mic channel features individual preamp gain, pad, 48V phantom power, and remote control from your computer or iOS device. Plus, each combo jack doubles as a 1/4-inch high-impedance TS guitar input for DI tracking and re-amping. Dedicated analog send/return loops on each mic input facilitate outboard processing with compressors and other gear via fully balanced connections, whether mono or stereo. If you mix 5.1 or 7.1 surround material, the 828 can accommodate your needs with up to ten controllable outputs thanks to MOTU's Monitor Group capability. With 16 channels of ADAT optical and SPDIF I/O, MIDI In/Out/Thru, and two headphone outputs, the 828 will become the beating heart of your production workflow!
MOTU 828 Includes:
- Software
- CueMix 5
- MOTU Performer Lite
- Ableton Live Lite
- 6GB of loops and sounds from Big Fish Audio, LucidSamples, Loopmasters and MOTU
MOTU 828 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 (balanced) 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.
MOTU 828 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:
- 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 auto-switching 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
- Compatible Mac Software
- MOTU Performer Lite
- MOTU Digital Performer
- Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
- Apple Logic Pro
- Apple Garage Band
- Ableton Live
- Presonus Studio One
- Steinberg Cubase
- Cockos Reaper
- Native Instruments Kontakt
- Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
- Compatible Windows Software
- 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
- Magix Vegas Pro
- Magix Sound Forge
- Magix Acid
- Steinberg Cubase
- Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
- 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)
