MOTU 8A

8A™
Thunderbolt™ / USB3 / AVB Ethernet audio interface with DSP and mixing

Equipped with renowned ESS Sabre32™ DAC technology, the 8A packs the same superb analog audio quality and proven, award-winning performance as MOTU’s flagship 16A audio interface into a sturdy, mobile half-rack enclosure. With 34 channels of audio I/O (16 ins and 18 outs), the 8A connects to any computer or iPad™ with Thunderbolt™, super-speed USB 3.0 or AVB/TSN Ethernet. Class-compliant firmware and new optimized MOTU drivers work with any audio apps, delivering industry-leading, ultra-low round-trip latency (RTL) performance as low as 1.6ms at 96kHz over Thunderbolt with high-performance DAW hosts. Powerful DSP delivers large console style mixing with 48 channels, 12 stereo busses, and 32-bit floating point effects processing, including modeled analog EQ, vintage compression and classic reverb. Extensive routing patches ins to outs, or splits inputs to multiple destinations. Use the 8A as a stand-alone mixer and control everything over Wi-Fi with an innovative web app running on your iPad™, iPhone™, tablet, smartphone and laptop. Connect a second AVB-equipped MOTU interface with a simple Ethernet cable. Add more I/O with the MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately). From studio to stage, the 8A delivers exceptional sound quality, state-of-the-art operation and rock-solid performance.

Feature highlights:

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 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 with dedicated main outs, 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 groups, access to 32 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 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.

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.

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.