MOTU MicroBook IcI Mac PC USB Audio Interface

As the "c" appended to its name implies, the updated MicroBook IIc is now USB audio class compliant, which means that you can connect it to an Apple iPad with a standard Lightning to USB Camera Adapter (purchased separately) for studio-grade audio I/O for your iPad music and audio apps. If you are serious about the music you make with your iPad and laptop, the MicroBook IIc offers the perfect combination of excellent analog audio quality, studio-grade connectivity and rugged, ultra-portable design and construction.

Wall power and bus power

When connected to an iPad, the MicroBook IIc is powered by a standard Micro-B-to-Type-A USB cable with attached AC power adapter (both included). This helps preserve maximum battery life for the iPad. When connected to a Mac or PC, the MicroBook IIc is bus-powered by the USB connection to the computer. No separate power connection is necessary.

Feature highlights

The MicroBook IIc inherits all of the advanced features of the MicroBook II, including:

• 6-bus digital mixer to route and mix live inputs with audio software tracks.
• Mic input with Precision Digital Trim™, 48V phantom power, and 20 dB pad.
• Guitar input with Precision Digital Trim.
• Stereo line input (1/4-inch or stereo mini).
• Stereo 1/4-inch balanced main outs, plus 1/8-inch mini line-level out.
• S/PDIF digital out at rates up to 96 kHz.
• Multi-band EQ, compressor, and test tone/noise generator.
• Instrument tuner and analysis tools, including FFT display and oscilloscope.
• AudioDesk DAW software for Mac and Windows.

Three Separate Mixes

The MOTU MicroBook II mixer takes signals from its four inputs, plus output from your computer, and mixes them to an output pair, such as the main outs. You control the volume of each input. Better yet, you can adjust input volumes differently for each output pair. In other words, each output pair can have its own unique mix. For example, you might create a balanced mix going to your PA via the main outs, but bring up the guitar for the mix going to your stage monitors via the line outs, so you can easily monitor your guitar sound. You get a separate mix for main out, line out, and phones.
 

Multi-Touch iPad Control

Use an iPad to control your MicroBook II mix. It's the ultimate hands-on experience: use TouchOSC software (sold separately) with a custom-designed template for your MOTU MicroBook II USB audio interface and enjoy hands-on control of all mixing, EQ and compressor settings. Refining your mix has never been this fluid and intuitive.
 

CueMix FX Software

The included CueMix FX software for Mac OS X and Windows gives you graphic, on-screen control of the MicroBook II's on-board audio mixer, with up to four separate stereo mixes. For example, you can mix all the inputs to the main outs, but also mix them to the line outs with completely different levels than the main outs. Other advanced features include a tuner, oscilloscope, FFT/spectrogram, and phase analysis tools.
 

AudioDesk Workstation Software for Mac OS X

The MOTU MicroBook II interface includes AudioDesk, the workstation software for Mac OS X, which provides advanced recording, editing, mixing, processing, and mastering. AudioDesk delivers the power of modern digital audio workstation technology in an easy-to-use, inspiring multitrack recording experience. Together, AudioDesk and the MicroBook II audio interface transform your computer desktop into a pro recording studio.
 

Ultra-Compact Size

The MOTU MicroBook II USB audio interface is an impressively small 5.5 by 3.6 by 1.25 inches, which means that it slides easily into your backpack - or a large pocket. It also sits nicely next to your laptop or desktop computer.
 

Studio-grade Sound

The MicroBook II has been engineered with MOTU's renowned, award-winning audio interface technology, for uncompromising audio quality and rock-solid performance MOTU interfaces are known for worldwide. You can always record and mix with confidence, even in most demanding pro recording situations, knowing that decades of engineering experience are behind you, every step of the way. The MOTU MicroBook II delivers measured audio specs that rival interfaces costing hundreds more.
 

High Bandwidth and Low Latency

The MicroBook II USB interface can record and play all channels simultaneously, and high-speed USB 2.0 provides plenty of bandwidth, even at 96 kHz.
 

Flexible Volume Control

The two digital rotary encoders on the MicroBook II interface not only look good, they feel good, too. Push the volume knob repeatedly to cycle among the main outs, headphones, or both, as indicated by the LEDs. For the mic input, adjust trim and toggle 48V phantom power or the -20 dB pad. Hands-on control is immediate and intuitive.
 

XLR Mic Input

Go ahead, plug in your $5,000 microphone. The MOTU MicroBook II's exceptionally transparent preamp faithfully preserves the characteristics and nuance of even the finest mics. Control trim, -20 dB pad and 48V phantom power from the digital rotary encoder on the top of the unit, or from the included CueMix FX software.
 

Hi-Z Guitar Input

The MicroBook II USB audio interface's dedicated hi-Z DI guitar input provides high-impedance load characteristics suitable for passive and active pickups alike, to produce authentic guitar tone and feel with your guitar processing software.
 

Stereo Line Inputs

The MOTU MicroBook II analog inputs are designed to be flexible, so that you can address a wide range of recording situations. The line inputs provide proper level matching for keyboards, analog mixers, effects processors, or other gear with either -10 dB or +4 dB reference level.
 

Professional Headphone Jack

The MicroBook II audio interface provides a quarter-inch phone jack equipped with a high-end D/A converter for studio-grade headphones. All-around audio quality this good deserves pro headphones.
 

Digitally Controlled Analog Trim

The MOTU MicroBook II preamp delivers clean sound, 60 dB of gain, and adjustments in approximately 1 dB increments using the top-panel digital encoder or the on-screen CueMix software. The gain adjustment itself is smooth because it is analog, but the digital control gives you both precision and the ability to save and recall trim settings. So you get the best of both worlds: analog trim with digital precision and control. Trim is adjusted at the input, before the mixer, so it applies to all mixes. Mix levels are controlled separately from trim, so you never sacrifice sound quality for a balanced mix.
 

Features:

- 4-input, 6-output bus-powered 'plug-and-play' high-speed USB 2.0 audio interface
- Impressively small 5.5 by 3.6 by 1.25 inches for great portability
- 6 x 8 physical inputs and outputs
- 8-bus digital mixer to route and mix live inputs with computer tracks
- Pre-amp equipped mic input with Precision Digital Trim 48V phantom power, and 20 dB pad
- Hi-Z guitar input with -20 dB pad Precision Digital Trim
- Stereo line level analog input (balanced TRS quarter-inch or stereo mini)
- Stereo balanced TRS quarter-inch line level main outs
- Stereo eighth-inch 'mini' line level out
- S/PDIF digital out (duplicates main out)
- Headphones output on quarter-inch stereo jack with independent volume control
- Digitally controlled analog trim for all analog inputs
- Digital trim for all outputs
- Output volume digital rotary encoder. Push to cycle among three modes: main out, phones, or both
- Mic input digital rotary encoder for adjusting trim level, 48V and pad
- Dedicated 3- or 4-segment LED meters for all inputs and outputs
- Support for recording and playback at 2x sample rates (88.2 and 96 kHz)
- CueMix FX no-latency mixing and monitoring with EQ and dynamics processing
- 7-band parametric EQ and compression
- Built in instrument tuner
- Test tone and white/pink noise generator
- Advanced audio analysis software tools, including FFT display, spectrogram 'waterfall' display, oscilloscope, X-Y plot, and phase torch
- 100 percent compatible with all host-based effects processing in today's popular audio programs
- Industry standard Mac and Windows audio drivers (Core Audio, Wave, and ASIO) for across-the-board compatibility
- Compatible with all current and recent generation Macs and PCs
- Includes AudioDesk full-featured audio workstation software for Mac OS X
- USB cable included