MOTU 8A
The MOTU 8A is a Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 audio interface with AVB ethernet connectivity and integrated DSP- / Mixing console functions. Among the analog ports are 8 Line in- and outputs. Furthermore there is an optical ADAT I/O that can be used as stereo TOSLink and S/PDIF.
Technical Specifications
| Sample rates | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz |
| Analog inputs | 8 x 1/4" TRS line inputs (balanced/unbalanced) Max level: +24 dBu (range -96 to +22) |
| Analog outputs | 8 x 1/4" TRS line out (balanced, DC coupled 5v) Max level: +20 dBu (range -4 to +20) 1 x 1/4" TRS stereo headphone |
| Digital I/O | 1 bank (8 ch) of ADAT optical at 1x sample rates 1 bank (4 ch) of SMUX optical at 2x sample rates Switchable to stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) |
| Total I/O | 16 inputs / 18 outputs (34 total) at 1x sample rates 12 inputs / 14 outputs (26 total) at 2x sample rates 8 inputs / 10 outputs (18 total) at 4x sample rates |
| Computer I/O | 1 x Thunderbolt 1 (Mac and Win) Thunderbolt 2 & 3 compatible 1 x USB 3.0 (Mac and Win) USB 2.0 and iOS compatible (class compliant) 1 x AVB/TSN Ethernet (Mac only) Requires OS X 10.11 or later |
| Computer I/O channels | Thunderbolt (44.1 to 96 kHz): 128 in/out Thunderbolt (176.4 to 192 kHz): 64 in/out USB 3.0 (44.1 to 96 kHz): 128 in/out USB 3.0 (176.4 to 192 kHz): 64 in/out AVB/TSN Ethernet: 16 to 128 in/out depends on host computer speed |
| Headphone | 1 x 1/4" TRS stereo phone (assignable) |
| Network I/O | 1 x RJ45 AVB/TSN Ethernet (1 Gbps) |
| AVB streams (8 channels per stream) |
8 in / 8 out @ 44.1 or 48 kHz 8 in / 8out @ 88.2 or 96 kHz 8 in / 8 out @ 176.4 or 192 kHz |
| Front panel | 1 x 1/4" TRS headphone output 1 x digital rotary encoder • phone volume 5 x switches • menu navigation 160 x 128 pixel RGB LCD for level meters / menu nav Power switch |
| Power | External 12-18V DC power supply 1.0A max • tip pos or neg |
| Dimensions and weight |
(width x depth x height, enclosure only) 8.6 x 7 x 1.75 inches 22 x 17.75 x 4.5 cm 2.2 lbs / 1.0 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, USB or AVB/TSN Ethernet port*
- A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
- *AVB/TSN Ethernet audio interface operation requires OS X 10.11 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 or USB port
- Available Ethernet port for firmware updates
- 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.
- Web client must be connected to the same network as the MOTU interface by wire or Wi-Fi.
Included Software
- 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 4.0 for Mac & PC (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 | -110 dB | +20 dBu | 24 dB (-4 to +20) |
| Line input | 1/4" TRS, bal/unbal, tip hot | 117 dB | -110 dB | +24 dBu | 118 dBu (-96 to +22) |
| Phones | 1/4", TRS stereo | 108 dB | -100 dB | Max. 80 mw | 128 dB |
Compatible Mac Software
The 8A 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
- Cockos Reaper
- Propellerhead Record & Reason
- Native Instruments Kontakt
- Steinberg Cubase
- Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
Compatible Windows Software
The 8A 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
- Propellerhead Record & Reason
- Sony Vegas Pro
- Sony Sound Forge
- Sony Acid
- Steinberg Cubase
- Native Instruments Kontakt
- Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
8A Feature Summary
Superb analog audio quality and high-end converters
Renowned ESS Sabre32 Ultra™ DAC technology delivers 123 dB dynamic range and the same proven, award-winning audio quality as MOTU's flagship 16A.
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.
Mobile operation and universal connectivity
Connects to your computer with Thunderbolt™, super-speed USB 3.0 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 iPad™ with a standard camera connection kit (adapter).
34 simultaneous audio channels
8 x 8 balanced analog, 8-channel ADAT optical and independent phone out for 16 inputs and 18 outputs.
DSP mixing and effects processing
Flexible 48-input digital mixer with 7 stereo aux busses, 3 group sends, access to 64 network inputs, and DSP effects, including reverb, 4-band EQ, gate and compression.
32-bit floating point processing
The 8A's 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 audio 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.
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/TSN 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.
Optical I/O
Connect outboard digital processors, digital mixers or other gear. 8 channels of ADAT at 44.1/48 kHz, 4 channels of SMUX at 88.2/96 kHz or stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) up to 96 kHz.
Comprehensive metering
The full-color LCD lets you view 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.
AudioDesk®
Includes AudioDesk workstation software for Mac and Windows with 24-bit recording, sample-accurate editing and 32-bit mixing and mastering.
