Ultra-low latency and proven, high-performance MOTU drivers
The best possible latency performance
The 8A delivers round-trip latency (RTL) performance as low as 1.6 ms at 96kHz
over Thunderbolt™ — and an astonishing 1.9 ms over USB — with high-performance DAW hosts.
Mobile operation and universal connectivity
Ultimate portability and flexibility
Connects to your computer with Thunderbolt™, super-speed USB 3.0 or AVB/TSN Ethernet — with support for up to 256 audio channels (128 in and 128 out). USB audio class-compliant firmware and high-performance, industry-standard drivers work with any audio apps. Connects to your iPad™ with a standard camera connection kit (adapter).
DSP mixing and effects processing
Console-style mixing with 48 channels and 12 busses
The 8A's full-fledged 48-input digital mixer delivers 7 stereo aux busses, 3 groups, access to 64 network inputs, and DSP effects, including reverb, 4-band EQ, gate and compression. If you know your way around a large-format mixing console, you'll feel right at home. If you've ever wished to mix on a large console, the driver's seat is now yours.
Flexible matrix routing and splitting
Route your audio anywhere with one-click ease
Send any input to any output, or multiple outputs. Includes routing to and from the computer, plus any devices on the audio network.
Web app control from any device
Control everything from your laptop, tablet and smartphone
The software that you use to control the 624 doesn't reside on your hard drive. It's a web app served from the hardware itself. This means you can control the 624's on-board DSP, mixing, device settings, and network audio routing from your favorite web browser on a laptop, tablet or smartphone connected by wire or Wi-Fi to your local area network. Use any web client on any platform — Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android — as long as it shares the same network.
Comprehensive metering
View all I/O activity at a glance — in full color
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.
System expansion
Expand your system with more I/O and Wi-Fi control
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).
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.
AudioDesk
Powerful audio workstation technology for Mac and Windows
Includes AudioDesk workstation software for Mac and Windows with 24-bit recording, sample-accurate editing and 32-bit mixing and mastering
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 2 (Mac and Win) Thunderbolt 1 & 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) |
Front panel | 1 x 1/4" TRS headphone output 1 x digital rotary encoder • main/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 & Windows (finds connected MOTU interfaces)
- MOTU Discovery App for iOS (available from Apple App Store)
- MOTU web app (served from the hardware itself)
- AudioDesk 4.0 for Mac & Windows (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
- Propellerhead Record & Reason
- Steinberg Cubase
- Cockos Reaper
- Native Instruments Kontakt
- 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
- Steinberg Cubase
- Propellerhead Record & Reason
- Image Line FL Studio
- Sony Vegas Pro
- Sony Sound Forge
- Sony Acid
- Cockos Reaper
- Native Instruments Kontakt
- Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)