User Manual

8A Rear Panel
1. These ADAT optical “lightpipe” jacks provide 8
channels of 24-bit ADAT optical digital I/O at 1x
sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz) and 4 channels at 2x
sample rates (88.2 or 96 kHz). They are disabled at
higher sample rates. Alternately, they can operate
as stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) connectors.
2. Connect the 8A to the computer here with
Thunderbolt or USB 3.0, using a standard Thunder-
bolt or USB cable (one or the other, but not both).
For details, see chapter 4, “Hardware Installation”
(page 33).
3. The analog ANALOG OUTS provide line level analog
output to any suitable destination, including
studio monitors, surround monitors, an analog
mixer or any other desired destination. These
connectors are balanced (tip/ring/sleeve), but they
also accept an unbalanced plug. They are
DC-coupled. Control volume from the MOTU Pro
Audio Control web app or your host audio
software.
To hear audio playback from your host audio
software on one of these output pairs, use the
Audio Interface preset and then assign audio tracks
(and master fader) to one of these output pairs.
You can also use the MOTU Pro Audio Control web
app to route live 8A inputs (and network inputs) to
directly to these outputs as well.
4. Equipped with very high quality 24-bit 192 kHz
converters, these analog LINE INPUTS are balanced
TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) quarter-inch connectors that
can also accept an unbalanced plug (with the ring
disconnected). Use them for keyboards or other
line level analog sources. These inputs are
equipped with the 8A’s Precision Digital Trim™
feature: digitally controlled analog trims that let
you adjust input level in 1 dB increments from the
MOTU Pro Audio Control web app.
5. This jack accepts any standard 12-18V DC power
supply (1.0A max) with tip-positive polarity.
6. This AVB/TSN Ethernet port provides industry
standard IEEE 802.1 network connectivity to other
network devices. Examples include:
■ Another 8A or any other MOTU AVB-equipped
audio interface, such as the 1248, 8M, 16A, 24Ai,
24Ao, 112D, Monitor 8, 624, etc.
■ A standard Ethernet hub or Wi-Fi router (for
internet connection and communication with
the web app software).
■ A standard AVB Ethernet switch for high-speed,
low-latency, high-capacity audio connectivity to
an AVB audio network.
■ A recent-generation Mac (any Mac with a
Thunderbolt port) running OS X El Capitan
(10.11) or later. This allows you to operate the 8A
as an audio interface over Ethernet.
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