MOTU 848 – 28 x 32 Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 Audio Interface – for macOS, Windows, and iOS

OVERVIEW

The MOTU 848 is a next-generation 1U rackmount audio interface that redefines connectivity and performance for professional studios. Offering 28 inputs and 32 outputs, the 848 connects seamlessly to macOS, Windows, and iOS devices with Thunderbolt™ 4 / USB4 for lightning-fast transfer speeds, class-compliant drivers, and sub-2 ms round-trip latency. At its heart, renowned ESS Sabre32 Ultra™ DACs deliver pristine sound quality with a 125 dB dynamic range and –114 dB THD+N, ensuring every detail of your recordings translates with absolute clarity.

With dual AVB Ethernet ports, the 848 integrates into scalable network setups, supporting up to 128 channels of AVB I/O and daisy-chaining multiple units with ultra-low latency. It features four premium mic preamps (+74 dB gain, –129 dBu EIN), 12 balanced outputs for Dolby Atmos monitoring (up to 7.1.4), and dual independent headphone outs with customizable source routing. Onboard DSP provides 64-channel CueMix Pro™ mixing, complete with EQ, compression, reverb, gating, and flexible routing for studio or live workflows. Compact, powerful, and future-proof, the MOTU 848 is the ultimate hub for today’s hybrid studios.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Universal Connectivity with Thunderbolt 4, USB4, USB3, and USB2:

With superb analog performance driven by renowned ESS Sabre32 Ultra™ DAC technology, the 848 connects to a Mac, PC, or iOS device with the included 40 Gbps Thunderbolt-compatible USB4 C-to-C cable (compatible with USB3 and USB2) for up to 256 audio channels (128 in and 128 out). Class-compliant firmware and industry-standard drivers work with any audio apps and deliver round-trip latency (RTL) less than 1.9 ms (at 96 kHz with a 32-sample host buffer). A second Thunderbolt port connects additional computer peripherals, such as a 2nd monitor, hard drive, USB hub, or Thunderbolt dock.

Front Panel:

On the front panel, a large, bright 3.9-inch full-colour TFT display provides luxurious, high-resolution metering for all analog and digital I/O. Custom meter configurations, such as “Analog Only,” can be chosen from front-panel menu controls. Two headphone outputs provide independent volume control and fully programmable source selection, including analog or digital inputs or outputs, mixer buses (with built-in reverb), host audio channels, or even network channels. Individual controls for preamp gain (+74 dB), -20 dB pad, and 48V phantom power are provided for the unit’s four rear-panel mic inputs. Phase invert is also provided via the included software, and all preamp settings can be controlled remotely from a computer or iOS device. Control room features include talkback with front panel “Talk” button and “A/B/C” monitor select, Mute, and (sum to) Mono buttons for the designated monitor outputs, to quickly compare mixes on up to three sets of studio monitors.

Rear Panel I/O:

The 848 rear panel provides 12 balanced TRS analog (line-level) outputs suitable for Dolby Atmos Monitoring configurations up to 7.1.4. Equipped with ESS Sabre32™ DACs, the analog outputs deliver a measured dynamic range of 125 dB with -114 dB THD+N. Four rear-panel “combo” style XLR/TRS mic/line/hi-Z guitar inputs provide advanced mic channels with cutting-edge components that deliver ultra-transparent sound with -114 dB THD+N, 118 dB dynamic range, and -129 dBu EIN. Inputs 3-4 include a dedicated send/return insert for outboard gear processing. When nothing is connected to the combo jacks, the two returns function as additional balanced line inputs with identical signal path characteristics as the other eight line inputs.

Additional audio I/O includes 8 balanced/unbalanced TRS analog (line-level) inputs and two banks of 8-channel ADAT optical I/O (switchable to stereo optical S/PDIF on bank A). All analog inputs and outputs can be calibrated with boost or trim in precise 1 dB increments. All line outputs are DC-coupled, so they may be used to manipulate and sequence voltage-controlled modular synthesizers from a host DAW. Also included are BNC word clock I/O (with optional Thru), two Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Type-C ports, and two AVB Ethernet ports.

Flexible Networking:

The 848 features an integrated AVB switch with two Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing users to daisy-chain as many as eight 848 and/or 16A units using standard network cabling, with full access to all units from the host computer. An external AVB switch can be added to expand the network further with multiple interfaces, computers, and ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (hundreds of meters). Each 848 can transmit and receive 128 audio channels to and from the network, with hundreds of audio channels streaming among devices and computers on the network. The 848 is compatible with previous-generation MOTU AVB devices.

Mixing and Effects Processing:

Powerful 32-bit floating point DSP delivers 64-channel mixing from any sources: the physical inputs on the 848 interface itself, audio channels from host software, audio network streams, or even mixer outputs. Accessed in the included CueMix Pro™ app for macOS, Windows, and iOS, the mixer provides 26 aux busses, plus main, reverb, monitor, and solo buses. All mixer inputs and output buses provide 4-band double-precision parametric EQ and a compressor at all sample rates up to 96 kHz. Additionally, all input channels include a High-Pass Filter and Gate. The 848 can be used for monitor mixing while tracking in the studio or for stand-alone mixing for live sound, with Wi-Fi control of all mix settings from an iPad or iPhone.

Comprehensive Routing and Splitting:

Using intuitive, virtual patch cords in CueMix Pro or a comprehensive routing grid, users can easily route any source signal to any destination. Sources include analog or digital inputs on the interface, computer channels, mixer bus outputs, or audio network streams from other devices on the network. Destinations include interface outputs, host software inputs, mixer inputs, or any other device (or computer) on the network. Users can even split any single source (or stereo pair) to unlimited multiple output destinations.

Included Software:

The 848 ships with the CueMix Pro App and low-latency Thunderbolt/USB drivers for macOS, Windows, and iOS, MOTU Performer Lite workstation software for macOS and Windows, and 6GB of loops and sounds from Big Fish Audio, LucidSamples, Loopmasters, and MOTU.

FEATURES

• Ultra-Low Latency Performance: Achieves round-trip latency as low as ~2 ms at 96 kHz with a 32-sample buffer using high-performance DAW hosts.

• Universal High-Speed Connectivity: Connects via 5 Gbps USB-C (USB 3 compatible) with support for up to 60 simultaneous audio channels.

• Rich Analog I/O:

  • 2 combo XLR/TRS mic-line/instrument inputs with –20 dB pad, individual 48 V phantom power, +74 dB gain, 1 MΩ impedance, and balanced send/return inserts.

  • 8 balanced TRS line inputs, plus dual insert returns that double as line inputs when mic channels aren’t in use.

  • 8 balanced TRS line outputs, 2 XLR main outs, and 2 TRS headphone outputs.

• Flexible Digital I/O:

  • Dual ADAT optical banks (up to 16 channels) at 1× sample rates

  • Dual S/MUX optical banks (up to 8 channels) at 2× sample rates

  • Bank A is switchable to stereo TOSLink I/O.

  • A dedicated RCA stereo S/PDIF I/O (up to 96 kHz).

• Comprehensive MIDI, Sync & Footswitch Support:

  • 1 MIDI In and 1 MIDI Out/Thru port with 16-channel support.

  • BNC Word Clock In and Out/Thru that support sample rates from 44.1 to 192 kHz.

  • Footswitch input configurable via host software.

• Advanced Front-Panel Controls & Display:

  • 3.9″ 480×128 px 24-bit RGB TFT display for metering and status info.

  • Dedicated controls: gain, monitor/phone volume, menu navigation pot, 12 function switches (pads, phantom, control room, navigation).

• Extensive Routing & Monitoring:

  • Flexible analog input/output routing with precise 1 dB gain trims and phase invert.

  • Two fully programmable headphone outputs offering independent mixes with DSP effects and reverb.

  • On-board DSP mixer with 8 stereo busses, EQ, gate, compression, and reverb.

• Superior Audio Quality:

  • ESS Sabre32 DACs deliver up to 125 dB dynamic range on outputs.

  • Mic inputs offer 118 dB dynamic range, –129 dBu EIN, and –114 dB THD+N.

  • Balanced line outputs: 120 dB dynamic range, –114 dB THD+N

• Robust, Studio-Ready Build:

  • Sturdy 19″ rack chassis with internal universal power supply (100–240 V, 0.5 A max).

  • USB audio class-compliant; iOS compatible.

TECHNICAL SPECS

Sample Rates Supported: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz

Total Audio I/O (USB Channels):

• 1 × 28 ins / 32 outs (60 channels)
• 2 × 20 ins / 24 outs (44 channels)
• 4 × 10 ins / 14 outs (24 channels)

Analog I/O:

• 2 × XLR/TRS combo mic/line/instr inputs (±74 dB gain, pads, phantom)
• 8 × TRS line inputs
• 8 × TRS line outputs
• 2 × XLR main outputs
• 2 × TRS headphone outputs

Digital I/O:

• 2 × ADAT optical banks (16 ch) at 1×
• 2 × S/MUX optical banks (8 ch) at 2×
• TOSLink and RCA S/PDIF I/O

Clocking & Sync: Word Clock In/Out (BNC) for 44.1–192 kHz

MIDI I/O:

• 1× MIDI In
• 1× MIDI Out/Thru – 16-channel support

Front-Panel Controls:

• Gain control
• Monitor volume
• Phone volume
• Menu knob
• Power button
• Function switches
• TFT display

Included Software & Control:

• CueMix 5, MOTU Performer Lite, plus loops and samples
• Wi-Fi control compatible via app

Audio Performance Metrics:

• Line input: 120 dB dynamic range, –114 dB THD+N
• Mic input: 118 dB dynamic range, –129 dBu EIN, THD+N –114 dB
• Line output: 125 dB dynamic range, –114 dB THD+N