MOTU just dropped the latest interface in their pro line. Should complement the recently released new version of the MOTU 16A well.
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Specs are quite impressive, but no MIDI is a bit disappointing.
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I have a MOTU 8M that I bought about 8 years ago. Haven’t had a need to replace it yet. Pretty happy with it. There was nothing like it at the time. The virtual mixer, gate, eq, limiter on each track, and routing grid. The gate per channel is especially useful to keep down noise when instruments aren’t playing. Only complaint is that the display got washed out/blanked out relatively early.
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The new units with the color TFT displays have the option to turn the screen off after a given timeout. Both the improved displays and the timeout option should hopefully mean very long screen life (unless someone foolishly disables the display timeout than leaves it on for months at a time).
@chapelierfou – 5-pin MIDI I/O would be great to have but looking at the front and back panels of the 848 I don’t see where they could have physically placed MIDI ports.
This thing is absolutely crammed full of connectivity:
- 2 ethernet ports – for AVB; great for daisy chaining; 64 channels
- 2 x ADAT I/O – 16 channels of ADAT!
- 2 x Thunderbolt 4 ports – woot!
- 12 analog ins, including 4 mic/line/instruments XLRs w/pre-amps and individual phantom power
- A pre-amp / pre-AtoD send return bus on inputs 3/4
- 12 analog outs
I actually had the new 16A on order but cancelled that and ordered the 848 as I intend to use this as my main interface and built in mic-pre’s are convenient. The four extra analog ins/out I have covered by a Presonus AVB network stagebox.
The digital patch bay option is super powerful too!
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so happy to see that they both listened to their customers and implemented dual TB/USB4 ports, and that they kept AVB as standard. If I would need a new audio interface this would be the prime choice for me in every regard.
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Received my 848 from Sweetwater.
Physically, unit feels very solid and quite heavy. Volume and gain knobs feel smooth and silky when turned. No wiggle. Overall feels appropriately “Pro” level – wouldn’t hesitate to take it on the road if I gigged.
Easy software setup and easy integration into my AVB network which is composed of a Studiolive 32R and a couple of Presonus NSB stage boxes. Presonus units have recently upgraded to Milan standard; MOTU not officially certified as Milan compliant but 848 and 16a speak the appropriate protocols. I’ve made the 848 the clock master and patching center for my AVB setup.
I haven’t tested analog I/O yet (other than main outs) so can’t really comment on A/D and D/A conversion quality yet, but from what I’ve played around with so far it sounds great.
Very pleased with this as new center of my studio!
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Can you tell me how did the Studiolive 32r work with the 848? I’m thinking of one as a stagebox…
The 32R works fine as a stage box for the 848.
There’s no real “stagebox” setting, so there’s a little bit of management / setup you need to do through Presonus’ UniversalControl app initially, but once you do you can do all the rest of the management through Cue Mix Pro and your OS’s AVDECC manger (at least on MacOS).
You might also consider one of the Presonus NSB boxes. The only “downside” is there is less direct management capability with the NSB boxes.
Wow, thanks for the quick reply! I’m on Windows 11 but the main thing is to be able to control the headamps in the 32R?
By “headamps” do you mean the preamps? If so, then you should get the 32R instead of the NSB 32.16 as you’ll need to manage them via UniversalControl to do so.
12 analog outs looks perfect to pair with a Model 1 mixer - also the reverse: 6 instruments in studio: record every channel and rework the mix later in your DAW
2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, as someone who never used more than 4 channel interfaces, what is the use of two thunderbolts?
Edit: ah it’s for daisy chaining
A shame there’s no talkback swatch input, I use that a lot!
I’m not sure what you mean. You can designate any of the inputs to be your talkback input and route the talkback output to one or more aux buses.
I suggest you check out the manual, which is pretty thorough. You can even install and play around with CueMixPro and setup a “Virtual 848” to explore the interface for routing and mixing even if you don’t own the device yet.
i know I can select an input for talkback, I mean on my 828es there is a footswitch input to allow switching talkback on/off with a footswitch.
Has anyone found a way to control the 848 mixer (CueMix 5) with midi?
I have no idea what MOTU’s long term plans are, but as of now the 848 and 16A do NOT appear as MIDI devices when attached to MacOS.
MOTU recently dropped another Thunderbolt 4 AVB interface, the 10 pre:
Between the 848, the new 16A, and the 10pre, the potential interface buyer can really choose the new MOTU interface that best suits them.
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Does anybody have the 16A with the Push 3 Standalone? Is it class compliant and running with no problems? I am looking for a interface with 16 line ins and having a look at the Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig or the MOTU 16A (2025).
I haven’t done extensive testing, but my MOTU 16A (2025) is recognized by my Push 3 SA (FW 2.3.1) and I see 64 ins / 64 outs on the Push.
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