User Manual

CHAPTER
27
1 About Your MOTU AVB Audio
Interface
The 1248, 8M, and 16A are hybrid Thunderbolt™/
USB2 audio interfaces with 48-channel digital
mixers and AVB Ethernet networking capability.
They can operate as audio interfaces for a
computer, as stand-alone digital mixers, as
gateways to an expanded studio system, as
components of an extended AVB audio network, or
as capable hybrid devices performing all of these
roles simultaneously.
Together, they are designed to be a central
component of a modern, high performance
recording studio or live mixing platform. The
following sections provide a brief overview of their
main features and characteristics.
State-of-the-art A/D and D/A conversion
The analog section of each interface employs state-
of-the-art 24-bit DACs and ADCs, which deliver
analog recording and playback with remarkably
high dynamic range at sample rates from 44.1 to
192 kHz.
Complementary I/O configurations
Each interface delivers an exceptional array of
analog and digital audio. In addition, the interfaces
are designed to complement one another in terms
of delivering a wide range of I/O options; you can
mix and match several interfaces and operate them
as a unified I/O and mixing system. The following
sections provide a bird’s-eye glance of the I/O
configurations offered by each interface in the
MOTU AVB family.
Each interface provides a variety of analog and
digital interconnects, all active simultaneously,
designed to provide everything you need for a well-
equipped recording studio.
1248
66 simultaneous audio channels
8M
50 simultaneous audio channels
16A
64 simultaneous audio channels
Network I/O
Each interface is also capable of handling 128
channels of network audio input and output for an
additional 256 simultaneous audio channels.
Connection Input Output
Quarter-inch analog on bal/unbal TRS 8 12
Mic inputs with individual preamps on XLR 4 -
Hi-Z guitar inputs 2 -
Headphone output - 2 x stereo
ADAT optical digital (at 44.1 or 48 kHz) 16 16
RCA S/PDIF digital up to 96 kHz with SRC stereo stereo
Total 32 34
Connection Input Output
Quarter-inch analog on bal/unbal TRS - 8
Mic/guitar inputs on combo XLR/TRS 8 -
Headphone output - stereo
ADAT optical digital (at 44.1 or 48 kHz) 16 16
Total 24 26
Connection Input Output
Quarter-inch analog on bal/unbal TRS 16 16
ADAT optical digital (at 44.1 or 48 kHz) 16 16
Total 32 32