Included in the design is a through-monitoring system called Cuemix Plus for no-latency monitoring of input signals when recording or overdubbing, though with modern computers, latency will often be so low as to be insignificant. Sample rates of up to 48kHz are supported but 96kHz has been omitted to keep the cost down and also, presumably, not to place too much of a bandwidth burden on the FireWire link. The analogue inputs use very nice-sounding 24-bit, 64x oversampling converters, while the outputs use 128x oversampling. The other analogue inputs have level controls that operate as pairs 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8.

This is less than the mic amp gain of a typical mixing console, but adequate for normal vocal recording or instrument close miking. Both XLR inputs have 48V phantom power, switchable as a pair, and both have gain controls with a maximum gain of 40dB. The remaining two inputs are on Neutrik combo XLR/jacks, enabling them to accept line-level or mic-level inputs.

No PCI card is needed.Īll the analogue line out connections and six of the inputs use balanced TRS jacks operating at +4dBu and these are all serviced by 24-bit converters. Connection to the computer is via a single FireWire cable and, like all FireWire devices, the 828 can be hot-plugged. These are configured as eight analogue connections, two optical digital connections that can be used as either ADAT or TOSLink ports, and a pair of phonos dedicated to S/PDIF in and out. In a nutshell, the 828 unit is a mains-powered, 1U rackmounting audio interface for MacOS or Windows that can handle up to 18 simultaneous inputs and outputs at either 16- or 24-bit resolution. A Mac multitrack audio recording application called AudioDesk is bundled with the interface. MOTU's own software, such as Digital Performer, bypasses ASIO and talks to the interface directly, though a control panel providing the same options is used to set the interface parameters within other ASIO-compatible software.

MOTU's 828 answers that need and is designed to work with any Mac or PC audio software that supports ASIO 2 drivers and that runs on a computer with IEEE 1394 connectivity. Paul White tests Mark Of The Unicorn's new FireWire-based multi-channel audio interface for Mac or PC.Įver since the launch of high-power Apple Mac computers without PCI slots, such as the latest generation of PowerBook portables and the G4 Cube, users have been asking for a serious FireWire audio interface, and demand can only increase as FireWire becomes standard on more and more new PCs.

Motu 828 mkiii review