MOTU 8D

8D™
AES3 / SPDIF / USB / AVB-TSN audio interface with DSP and mixing

The 8D is a flexible digital audio interface, router, splitter, converter and stand-alone mixer with AVB-TSN networking and connectivity to a host computer through class compliant, high-speed USB 2.0 (compatible with USB 3.0 and iOS). The 8D provides four channels of AES3 (AES/EBU) I/O, four channels of RCA (coaxial) S/PDIF I/O, 64 channels of USB I/O, 32 channels of AVB-TSN network I/O and a headphone output, for a total of 210 simultaneous I/O channels. All AES3 and S/PDIF inputs are equipped with sample rate conversion. A convenient, assignable front-panel headphone output with volume control allows for convenient monitoring of any stereo channel pair.

Housed in a sturdy aluminum alloy half-rack enclosure, the 8D is ideal for routing AES3 and S/PDIF digital audio in live performance systems, AVB-TSN network installations or recording studios of any size. 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 input channels to multiple destinations. Use the 8D as a stand-alone mixer and control everything from the 8D’s innovative web app running on an iPad™, iPhone™, tablet, smartphone, and laptop. Connect a second MOTU AVB-TSN interface with a simple Ethernet cable. Incorporate the 8D into a larger AVB-TSN audio network with standard AVB-TSN switches and sub-millisecond latency, even over long cable runs. From studio to stage to corporate campus, the 8D delivers flexible digital routing/conversion, state-of-the-art operation and reliable performance.

Feature highlights:

Eight channels of digital audio I/O and conversion with SRC — Four channels of professional AES3 (AES/EBU) digital I/O, plus four channels of standard S/PDIF digital audio I/O, with sample rate conversion on all inputs.

Flexible, router, converter and splitter — Send any input to any output, or split to multiple output channels. Convert any format to any other (AES3, S/PDIF, AVB-TSN and USB). Includes routing to and from the computer, plus any devices on the AVB-TSN network.

Stand-alone operation with wireless control — Connect a standard Wi-Fi router with a standard Ethernet cable for wireless control of device settings, routing/splitting, powerful 48-channel mixing and DSP effects.

DSP mixing and effects processing — Flexible 48-input digital mixer with 7 stereo aux busses, 3 stereo groups, access to 32 network inputs, and DSP effects, including reverb, 4-band EQ, gate and compression.

Ultra-low latency and proven, high-performance MOTU drivers — Universal connectivity over high-speed USB 2.0 (3.0 and iOS compatible) and AVB. Renowned drivers deliver industry-leading low latency and rock solid performance.

Comprehensive metering — The full-color LCD lets you view all signal activity at a glance with detailed metering for all I/O. Access hardware settings from a simple and convenient menu.

Convenient headphone monitoring — Assignable front-panel headphone output with volume control allows for monitoring of any stereo channel pair.

Word clock I/O — Standard word clock input and output for resolving to other digital audio gear or house sync.

32-bit floating point processing — The 8D’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.

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.

Audio analysis tools — includes a full-screen real-time FFT display, spectrogram “waterfall” display, full-featured oscilloscope, X-Y plot and phase analyzer.

AudioDesk — Includes AudioDesk workstation software for Mac and Windows with 24-bit recording, sample-accurate editing and 32-bit mixing and mastering.