MOTU 828X - 28x30 Thunderbolt and USB Audio Interface

Thunderbolt technology

The future of connectivity

Thunderbolt fulfills the promise of a truly state-of-the-art connectivity standard for personal computers. With massive bandwidth, Thunderbolt allows you to connect displays, hard drives, and other peripherals to your computer, along with the 828x, up to six devices total (with the 828x at the end of the chain), and the Thunderbolt bus won't even break a sweat. Thunderbolt combines plug-and-play convenience with massive bandwidth and low latency for truly professional audio interface performance.

Hi-speed USB 2.0

Mac, PC, and USB 3.0 compatible

As Thunderbolt becomes more widely adopted, Hi-speed USB 2.0 provides across-the-board compatibility with virtually all laptops and desktops on both Mac and Windows. Since USB 2.0 devices are compatible with USB 3.0-equipped hosts, your 828x interface is a future-proof investment in your studio.

28 inputs and 30 outputs

How can one audio interface offer this much I/O?

We pack it in, like no one else can: two combo-style mic/guitar inputs with preamps, 8 balanced analog in/out, XLR main outs, 16 channels of ADAT optical (8 channels at 96 kHz), plus S/PDIF, word clock and MIDI. Connect all of your studio gear, including microphones, guitars, synths, keyboards, drum machines and even effects processors.

Recording up to 192 kHz

Audio quality without compromise

Now in its fifth generation, the 828 has become a benchmark for the industry, setting the bar by which others are judged. How has this level of respect been earned? Through consistent design integrity and intelligent use of current-generation parts and design technologies.

Studio-grade mic channels

Enjoy extras like sends and optional hardware limiting

Do you work with outboard EQs and compressors? Each 828x mic input offers a pre-converter send for mono or stereo mic channel outboard processing. The 828x's unique V-Limit™ hardware limiter employs a proprietary design to offer an additional 12 dB of headroom over digital zero with no digital clipping or harsh artifacts, for that added protection in dynamic recording situations. The 828x's preamps are clean and neutral, allowing you to use your favorite plug-ins and host software to color the sound just the way you want for each recording application.

On-board digital mixer with effects

Mixing and effects for monitoring and live mixing

Record, monitor, route and process all live inputs using the professional on-board CueMix FX digital mixer – with no latency and no processor strain on your computer. Apply DSP-driven compression, EQ and reverb to every input and output, independent of your host computer.

Stand-alone operation as a mixer

Go instantly from studio to stage

After programming the on-board mixing in the studio, unplug the 828x from the computer and take it on the road for operation as a stand-alone mixer with effects. All mixing and effects parameters are adjustable using the front panel backlit LCD.

Solid metal chassis

MOTU interfaces are built to last, and last, and last…

We still get calls and Facebook posts from happy users of the original 828, introduced more than 10 years ago! Like all MOTU interfaces, the 828x's aluminum alloy chassis is lightweight, yet incredibly sturdy and durable, and designed to withstand the rigors of the studio, stage, and road. In a world awash with cheap plastic, the cool feeling of the 828x's metal exterior in your hands is a reassuring reminder that you are holding quality engineering and construction.

Support for Mac OS X and Windows

Run all your favorite audio apps

The 828x provides time-tested drivers for Mac OS X and Windows (8, 7 and Vista) for cross-platform compatibility with virtually all audio software via WDM, ASIO, and Core Audio drivers.

Two mic inputs with individual preamps

These mic inputs are packed with extras

Two convenient front-panel mic/guitar inputs are equipped with pristine, transparent preamps and offer individually adjustable 48V phantom power and -20 dB pad. All settings can be adjusted directly on the front panel, or from the 828x CueMix FX software running on your computer. Mic inputs can be operated individually or in stereo pairs, as needed.

Flexible combo jacks for guitar input

True hi-Z guitar pickups for authentic feel

The two mic inputs are combo jacks that also accept quarter-inch plugs from a guitar or bass, without an amp or cabinet, so you can run your guitar input through amp/cab simulation plug-ins in your host software.

Individual 48V, pad and gain

Use any combination of mics

Each mic input has individual 48V phantom power, -20dB pad and preamp gain to give you maximum flexibility with the microphones you choose to work with.

Precision trim™

Digitally controlled analog trim

You get the best of both worlds: analog trim with digital precision and control. The 828x preamps provide 53 dB of gain, which you can adjust in approximately 1 dB increments using the detented digital rotary encoder. As you turn the encoder, you see graphic and numeric feedback in the front panel LCD, so you know exactly how much gain you are applying. 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.

V-Limit™ overload protection

This hardware limiter has got your back

Both mic/guitar inputs are equipped with V-Limit™, a hardware limiter that helps prevent digital clipping from overloaded input signals. With V-Limit enabled, signals can go above zero dB (where limiting kicks in) to as high as +12 dB above zero with no distortion due to digital clipping.

Soft Clip™

Further protection for volatile inputs

Additional protection can be applied to the mic/guitar inputs by enabling the 828x's Soft Clip™ feature, which engages just before clipping occurs and helps reduce perceptible distortion.

Sends

Bring in your outboard gear

Each mic input has a corresponding rear panel send that allows you to insert outboard gear before the signal goes digital. Any input can be used as a return.

A plethora of analog I/O

Eight glorious balanced TRS ins and outs

Eight balanced (TRS) 24-bit analog inputs and outputs, as well as two XLR main outs and the two preamp inputs, can operate at sample rates up to 192 kHz (a total of ten analog inputs and outputs).

Eight separate stereo mixes

Dial up a separate mix for each output pair

The 828x mixer employs 32-bit floating point processing to take signals from its 28 inputs 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 a pair of line outs, so you can easily monitor your guitar sound. You get eight separate mixes, which you can freely assign to any eight output pairs on the 828x.

CueMix Software

On-screen mixing and control

CueMix FX gives you comprehensive graphic control over your mix and other settings in the 828x. CueMix FX can be operated side by side with any host audio software for Mac or Windows, and it can be controlled from the Mackie Control Universal Pro automated worksurface.

Multi-touch iPad control

Use an iPad to control your 828x mix

It's the ultimate hands-on experience: use TouchOSC software (sold separately) with a custom-designed template for your 828x and enjoy hands-on control of all mixing, EQ and compressor settings. Refining your mix has never been this fluid and intuitive.

Classic reverb

Five room types and tails up to 60 seconds

CueMix FX Classic Reverb™ provides five different room types, three frequency bands with adjustable crossover points, shelf filtering, and reverb lengths up to 60 seconds. Each input, output and mix bus provides a send to the Classic Reverb processor, which then feeds reverb returns to mix busses and outputs, with a selectable split point between them to prevent send/return feedback loops.

Modeled analog EQ

Smooth and musical, 
not harsh and sterile

British analog mixing consoles are renowned for their musical EQ profiles. The 828x meticulously models these classic EQ curves to give you the very same, magical EQ settings found on these coveted desks. Seven separate filters are available on every input and output, including low-shelf and high-shelf, with intuitive graphic control of each EQ parameter.

Classic compression

No studio is complete without a compressor

The 828x provides a classic compressor on each input and output, so you can apply compression liberally with the flexibility to decide if and when you want to "commit" to your mix. You can change the 828x's compression settings at any time while recording or listening.

Control room monitoring

Talkback and listenback

CueMix provides Talkback and Listenback features. Talkback allows an engineer in the control room to temporarily dim all audio and talk to musicians in the live room. Conversely, Listenback allows musicians to talk to the control room. For Talkback, you can set up a dedicated mic in your control room and connect it to a mic input on your interface. For Listenback, you can use one of the recording mics in the live room or you can set up a dedicated listenback mic for the musicians and connect it to a spare mic input.

Routing back to the host

Send a complete mix back to your host software using dedicated return channels

When mixing live inputs with computer tracks, sometimes you want to capture the result. The 828x driver provides dedicated return channels, making it a snap: just record the 828x's 'return' bus back into your host software. Done! Say goodbye to jerry-rigged patching of cables from inputs to outputs…

Stereo operation

Configure inputs as stereo pairs

Two channels can be grouped to a single fader for true stereo operation. Two stereo panning modes are available: balance and width. Balance mode works much like a normal stereo balance control, one channel fades in and the other fades out. Width mode collapses the stereo image to mono by adjusting the relative pans of each channel gradually to center.

Front-panel LCD control

Complete mixing at your fingertips

CueMix FX allows you to apply no-latency effects processing to inputs, outputs or busses directly in the 828x hardware, independent of the computer. Effects can be applied when the 828x is operating stand-alone (without a computer) as a complete rack-mounted mixer. All of the mixer settings in the 828x are accessible from the programmable front-panel backlit LCD, for quick tweaks when a computer is not connected.

Comprehensive metering

Get a bird's-eye view of all busses at one glance

Signal activity of all inputs, busses and outputs can be monitored via the meters pane. In addition to the meters present on individual channels, a high-resolution meter and output bus activity associated with that channel can be displayed in the primary status window.