MOTU 828 28 x 32 USB 3.0 Audio Interface for Mac, Windows and iOS

The MOTU 828 28 x 32 USB 3.0 Audio Interface for Mac, Windows and iOS is an ideal choice for musicians, audio engineers, and producers who want to take their recordings to the next level. With a 28 x 32 USB 3.0 audio interface, the 828 allows you to create a powerful digital audio workstation with 24-bit/192 kHz capabilities.

Versatile Connectivity and Advanced Mic Channels
The 828 is a perfect fit for both studio and stage. It provides 28 separate inputs and 32 separate outputs, including two XLR/TRS “combo” mic/line/guitar inputs, dedicated main outs on XLRs, and two independent front-panel headphone outs. The ESS Sabre32 DAC technology delivers superb analog performance, ensuring that you get the highest quality sound possible. Connect all your studio gear, including microphones, guitars, synths, keyboards, drum machines, and effects processors. Record, monitor, and process all of these live inputs with no latency and no processor strain on your computer.

DSP Mixing and Effects Processing
The 828 features powerful DSP for separate 24-channel monitor mixes for all analog output pairs, including the two headphone outputs, with on-board effects processing, including reverb, 4-band EQ and compression. Take control of your recording sessions with the front-panel talk button, and easily connect two sets of speakers and check your mixes instantly with front-panel A/B speaker select buttons. Stream your sessions to the web with loopback channels and your customized mix of any 828 inputs.

Additional Features
After recording and mixing in the studio, unplug the 828 from the computer and take it on stage for operation as a stand-alone mixer with effects. Control everything over Wi-Fi from the CueMix 5 app running on your laptop, tablet and smartphone.

The 828 comes with a new 3.9-inch TFT display, providing 480 x 128-pixel high-resolution metering for all analog and digital I/O. It also comes with advanced mic channels, cutting-edge components that deliver ultra-transparent sound with -114 dB THD+N, 118 dB dynamic range and -129 dBu EIN.

The 828 is equipped with flexible insert returns, allowing the two rear-panel returns to function as additional line inputs with identical signal path characteristics as the other eight-line inputs. It also features precision boost/trim for analog I/O, allowing you to calibrate analog input and output signals in precise 1 dB increments.

The 828 comes with a foot switch input, MIDI in/out/thru, word clock in/out/thru, and DC-coupled TRS outputs that allow you to manipulate and sequence voltage-controlled modular synthesizers from a host DAW. It also supports loopback for live streaming and podcasting, and guitar re-amping, allowing you to connect your guitar to the front-panel input, use CueMix's near-zero latency to loop to any output (with a re-amp adapter, if needed), and record both the dry signal and your mic’d up amp simultaneously.

Finally, the 828 includes the CueMix 5 app to control mixing and settings from your Mac, PC or iOS device, as well as Performer Lite, a workstation software with over 100 included instruments, dozens of effects and 6 GB of included loops to make music right away. It also includes Ableton Live Lite.

Key Features

• Enhanced 28 x 32 USB3 audio interface that builds upon a successful 22-year track record as a leading brand in the industry.
• Upgraded 3.9-inch TFT display featuring a vibrant 24-bit RGB LCD, providing high-resolution metering (480 x 128 pixels) for both analog and digital I/O. It also offers detailed status information and easy access to hardware settings through a user-friendly menu.
• Exceptional analog audio quality and top-of-the-line converters thanks to the renowned ESS Sabre32™ DAC technology, delivering an impressive dynamic range of 125 dB. Supports all standard sample rates up to 192 kHz.
• Unparalleled low latency and reliable MOTU drivers that ensure high-performance. Achieves round-trip latency (RTL) as low as 2 ms at 96 kHz when used with high-performance DAW hosts.
• Versatile connectivity options, including a 5 Gbps USB3 connection (compatible with USB2) for up to 60 audio channels. Class-compliant firmware and industry-standard drivers enable seamless integration with any audio applications. Can also connect to an iPad™ using USB-C or a Lightning adapter kit (sold separately).
• Offers an impressive 60 simultaneous audio channels, comprising of 28 inputs and 32 outputs. Features two combo XLR/TRS mic/line/hi-Z guitar inputs with send/return inserts, 8 TRS analog (line-level) in/out, separate main outs on XLR jacks, two banks of 8-channel optical I/O, stereo RCA S/PDIF digital I/O, and two front-panel headphone outputs.
• Advanced mic channels equipped with cutting-edge components that deliver transparent sound quality, boasting -114 dB THD+N, 118 dB dynamic range, and -129 dBu EIN. Each mic channel provides individual controls for +74 dB of preamp gain, -20 dB pad, 48V phantom power, and phase invert. All settings can be remotely controlled from a computer or iOS device. Additionally, each mic channel includes a dedicated send/return insert (balanced) for external gear processing.
• Flexible insert returns that can be utilized as additional line inputs with identical signal path characteristics as the other eight-line inputs when the front-panel mic inputs are not in use.
• Equipped with DSP mixing capabilities and effects processing, featuring a versatile 24-input digital mixer with 8 stereo busses and DSP effects.

Technical Specifications

Sample rates
44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
Mic/line/instr inputs
2 x XLR/TRS “combo” jacks
Individual -20 dB pad and 48V phantom power
Preamp gain: +74 dB in 1 dB increments
1 MΩ impedance on the line/instr inputs
Analog inputs
8 x 1/4-inch TRS line in (balanced/unbalanced)
2 x 1/4-inch insert returns function as balanced TRS
line inputs (with no mic inputs connected)
Max level: +21 dBu
+20 dB digital gain on each input
Analog outputs
8 x 1/4-inch TRS line out (balanced, DC coupled)
2 x male XLR out
Max level: +21 dBu
2 x 1/4-inch TRS stereo headphone (see below)
2 x 1/4-inch TRS sends (balanced, pre-converter)
Digital I/O
2 banks (16 ch) of ADAT optical I/O at 1x sample rates
2 banks (8 ch) of S/MUX optical I/O at 2x sample rates
Bank A switchable to stereo TOSLink I/O (optical S/PDIF)
1 x stereo S/PDIF I/O on RCA (up to 96 kHz)
Computer I/O
1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) USB2 compatible
USB audio class compliant
1 x IF-certified USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C-to-C cable included
Compatible with USB Type A (with a C-to-A cable, sold separately)
Total USB audio channels: see “Total Audio I/O” below
Round Trip Latency (RTL): ~2 ms (32 sample buffer at 96K)
Total audio I/O
28 in / 32 out (60 total channels) at 1x sample rates
20 in / 24 out (44 total channels) at 2x sample rates
10 in / 14 out (24 total channels) at 4x sample rates
MIDI I/O
1 x MIDI In
1 x MIDI Out/Thru
16 MIDI channels to/from computer host
Headphone
2 x 1/4-inch TRS stereo headphones
Output impedance: <1Ω
Max output: 14.4 dBu
Phantom power
2 x individual +48V
Foot Switch
1 x 1/4-inch foot switch input
Mapping: pedal up/down to any host keystrokes
Sync I/O
1 x BNC Word Clock In
1 x BNC Word Clock Out/Thru
Sample rates: all (from 44.1 to 192 kHz)
Front panel
2 x XLR/TRS combo inputs
2 x 1/4” TRS headphone outputs
2 x potentiometer headphone volume
2 x potentiometer mic/instr input gain
1 x potentiometer menu navigation
1 x large potentiometer main volume
12 x switches (2) 48V, (2) pad, (6) control room, (2) nav
1 x 3.9-inch 480 x 128 pixel 24-bit RGB TFT display
1 x latching power button
Power
Internal 100-240V autoswitching supply
50-60 Hz 0.5A max
Dimensions and weight
(width x depth x height, enclosure only)
19 x 12.25 x 1.75 inches / 48.26 x 31.1 x 4.44 cm
11 lbs / 5 kgs
System Requirements
Mac System Requirements
Intel Core i3 Mac or faster (including Apple silicon Macs)
4 GB RAM; 8 GB or more recommended
macOS version 10.13 or later
Available Hi-Speed or Super-Speed USB port
A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
Windows System Requirements
Intel Core i3 PC (or AMD equivalent)
4 GB RAM; 8 GB or more recommended
Windows 10 or later (x64 AMD/Intel only)
Available Hi-Speed or Super-Speed USB port
A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
Class-Compliant Support
USB audio class compliant for plug-and-play operation on Mac or iOS (no driver required)
Included Software
CueMix 5
MOTU Performer Lite
Ableton Live Lite
6GB of loops and sounds from Big Fish Audio,
LucidSamples, Loopmasters and MOTU
Compatible Mac Software
The 828 ships with standard Core Audio drivers for macOS for compatibility with virtually all Core Audio-compatible apps, including
MOTU Performer Lite
MOTU Digital Performer
Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
Apple Logic Pro
Apple Garage Band
Ableton Live
Presonus Studio One
Steinberg Cubase
Cockos Reaper
Native Instruments Kontakt
Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
Compatible Windows Software
The 828 ships with standard ASIO and Wave drivers for Windows 10 and 11 for compatibility with virtually all ASIO- and Wave-compatible audio apps, including
MOTU Performer Lite
MOTU Digital Performer
Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
Ableton Live
Cakewalk Sonar
Cockos Reaper
Image Line FL Studio
Native Instruments Kontakt
Presonus Studio One
Magix Vegas Pro
Magix Sound Forge
Magix Acid
Steinberg Cubase
Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)