Sample rates | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz |
Analog inputs |
8 x XLR/TRS combo-style mic/line/instrument inputs
Preamp gain: 0 to +53 dB (digitally controlled) TRS max level with pad: +17 dbU (V-limit at +7) |
Analog outputs |
8 x 1/4" TRS line out (balanced, DC coupled)
Max level: +20 dBu (digitally adjustable -4 to +20) 1 x 1/4" TRS stereo headphone |
Digital I/O |
2 banks (16 ch) of ADAT optical at 1x sample rates
1 bank (8 ch) of SMUX optical at 2x sample rates Stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) on Bank A (optional) |
Total I/O |
24 inputs and 26 outputs (50 total) at 1x sample rates
16 inputs and 18 outputs (34 total) at 2x sample rates 8 inputs and 10 outputs (18 total) at 4x sample rates |
Computer I/O |
1 x Thunderbolt (compatible with 1 and 2)
1 x USB 2.0 audio class compliant USB 3.0 and iOS compatible 1 x AVB Ethernet (requires OS X Yosemite) |
Computer I/O channels |
Thunderbolt (44.1 to 96 kHz): 128 in/out
Thunderbolt (176.4 to 192 kHz): 64 in/out USB 2.0 (44.1 to 48 kHz): 64 in/out USB 2.0 (88.2 to 96 kHz): 32 in/out USB 2.0 (176.4 to 192 kHz): 24 in/out AVB Ethernet: 16 to 128 in/out, depending on host computer speed |
Sync I/O | 1 x word clock in 1 x word clock out |
Network I/O | 1 x RJ45 AVB/TSN Ethernet (1 Gbps) |
AVB streams (8 channels per stream) |
16 in / 16 out @ 44.1 or 48 kHz
16 in / 16 out @ 88.2 or 96 kHz 8 in / 8 out @ 176.4 or 192 kHz |
Headphone | 1 x 1/4" TRS stereo phone (assignable) |
Phantom power | 8 x individual +48V |
Front panel |
1 x 1/4" TRS headphone output
1 x digital rotary encoder • phone volume 8 x digital rotary encoders • mic preamp gain 16 x switches • (8) Pad and (8) 48V Phantom switch 324 x 24 pixel LCD for level meters / menu nav 1 x AC power switch |
Power |
International 100-240V autoswitching supply
50-60 Hz • 0.5A max |
Dimensions and weight |
(width x depth x height, enclosure only)
19 x 7 x 1.75 inches 48.3 x 17.75 x 4.5 cm 4.6 lbs / 2.08 kg with rack brackets removed: 17.25 inches (43.8 cm) wide 4.5 lbs / 2.04 kg |
Connector type |
Dynamic range (A-weighted) |
THD+N (unweighted) |
Max level |
Trim range (in 1 dB steps) |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Line output | 1/4" TRS, balanced, tip hot | 123 dB | -110 dB | +20 dBu | 24 dB (-4 to +20 dBu) |
Line input | 1/4" TRS, bal/unbal, tip hot | 112 dB | -102 dB | +17 dBu (with pad) |
53 dB |
Mic input | XLR, balanced, pin 2 hot | 112 dB | -104 dB | +24 dBu (with pad) |
53 dB |
Phones | 1/4", TRS stereo | 102 dB | -92 dB | Max. 80 mw | 128 dB |
The 8M ships with standard Core Audio drivers for Mac OS X for compatibility with virtually all Core Audio-compatible apps, including:
The 8M ships with standard ASIO and Wave drivers for Windows 7*, 8 and 10 for compatibility with virtually all ASIO- and Wave-compatible audio apps, including:
For example, the balanced TRS analog outputs produce 123 dB dynamic range and -110 dB THD+N (0.0003%) at -1 dBFS, Unweighted, 1 kHz.
Eight XLR/TRS combo inputs with individual preamps/pad/48V power, 8 balanced/unbalanced TRS analog outs, and 2 x 8-channel ADAT optical ports for 24 inputs and 26 outputs.
Eight combo jacks provide balanced analog input, hi-Z 1/4” guitar input or XLR mic input with individual phantom power and pad.
Digitally controlled analog preamp gain provides accurate adjustments in 1 dB increments from either the front panel controls or web app software, with the ability to save gain settings.
Hardware-based input limiter on the mic/guitar inputs prevents digital clipping and distortion from overloaded signal levels up to +9 dB over zero.
Connects to a computer with Thunderbolt, standard AVB Ethernet or audio class compliant high-speed USB 2.0 (compatible with USB 3.0 and iOS). Discovery app and web app software works alongside any host audio software.
Flexible 48-input digital mixer modeled after large format mixing consoles, with 12 stereo busses and DSP effects, including reverb, 4-band EQ, gate, and compression.
The 8M's mixing and effects DSP engine delivers virtually unlimited headroom and the utmost in sound quality.
Classic reverb. Compression modeled after the legendary LA-2A compressor. EQ modeled after British analog console EQs.
Add a 2nd MOTU AVB interface (1248, 8M or 16A) with a simple Cat-5e ethernet cable. Connect up to five MOTU interfaces using a MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately). Build a network with multiple interfaces and computers using standard AVB switches and network cabling, with ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (hundreds of meters). Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network.
Flexible, matrix-style audio routing and splitting for any analog or digital input, computer channel or network stream to any other output, computer, or network device. Split any single input to unlimited multiple output destinations.
Record and monitor up to 128 networked audio channels in and out, simultaneously, through the Thunderbolt connection to a host computer.
Control on-board DSP, mixing, device settings, and network audio routing from web app software running in your favorite browser on a laptop, tablet or smart phone connected by wire or Wi-Fi to your local area network.
Connect an Apple Airport™ or other Wi-Fi router directly to the 8M with a standard Ethernet cable and control the 8M's powerful mixing and DSP effects from your smart phone or tablet, without a computer. Great for live sound mixing.
Connect outboard digital processors, digital mixers or other gear. 16 channels at 44.1/48 kHz or 8 channels at 88.2/96 kHz.
The large backlit 324 x 24 LCD lets you view all signal activity at a glance with detailed metering for all analog and digital I/O. Access hardware settings from a simple and convenient menu.
Includes AudioDesk workstation software for Mac and Windows with 24-bit recording, sample-accurate editing and 32-bit mixing and mastering.
*After a ten-year run, Windows 7 has been officially end-of-lifed (EOL) by Microsoft as of January 4, 2020. Therefore, MOTU products no longer officially support Windows 7, although existing installed products (as of June 2020) should still continue to function as they have been under Windows 7. However, future updates, including drivers, may require Windows 8 or later.