Product Highlights
- Compatible with Thunderbolt and USB
- 24 Inputs, 28 Outputs
- 24-Bit / 192 kHz Resolution
- 8 Microphone Preamps with +48V
- ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC
- Onboard Digital Mixer with Effects
- Standalone Analog Mixer Operation
- Built-In Talkback Microphone
- Flexible Monitor Controls
- Software Analysis Tools & AudioDesk DAW
- Overview
- Tech Specs
The MOTU 8pre-es is a 24x28 audio interface designed to provide versatile connectivity, DSP console-style mixing, and high-resolution audio for musicians and recording engineers in project studios, commercial facilities, home setups, and live stage applications. Packed with ESS Sabre32 Ultra digital-to-analog converters, it boasts a dynamic range of 123 dB and latency as low as 1.6 ms. The 8pre-es can be used at up to 24-bit / 192 kHz resolution with a host DAW or as a standalone mixer. It is compatible with Thunderbolt and USB on Mac OS X and Windows systems.
Its 24 inputs include eight XLR-1/4" combo jacks for mics, instruments, and line-level signal, as well as optical S/PDIF and ADAT ports. Among the outputs are eight 1/4" TRS jacks, two headphone outputs, ADAT, and S/PDIF.
Time code support is also on hand, as the machine converts SMPTE time code to MTC, then passes MTC on to any MTC-compatible host. The unit sports flexible monitoring thanks to its digital mixer, as well as a built-in talkback mic and front-panel talk button for communicating with your artists. The mixer is DSP-powered, offering console-style control over 48 channels, multiple aux buses and groups, and effects such as reverb, EQ, gating, and compression, and even LA-2A emulations.
Control the interface functions via a web app on a wired or wireless device. Additional power is unlocked via the supplied MOTU software package, which includes audio analysis tools and the AudioDesk digital audio workstation.
Sample Rates | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz |
Mic/line/instr inputs | 8 x XLR/TRS "combo style" mic/line/instr inputs Preamp gain: 0 to +63 dB (digitally controlled) TRS max level with pad: +17 dBu |
Analog Outputs | 8 x 1/4" TRS line out (balanced, DC coupled) Max level: +20 dBu (digitally adjustable -4 to +20) 2 x 1/4" TRS stereo headphone |
Digital I/O | 2 banks (16 ch) of ADAT optical at 1x sample rates 2 banks (8 ch) of SMUX optical at 2x sample rates Switchable to stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) |
Total I/O Channels | 24 in / 28 out (52 total) at 1x sample rates 16 in / 20 out (36 total) at 2x sample rates 8 in / 12 out (20 total) at 4x sample rates |
Computer I/O | 1 x Thunderbolt 1 (Mac and Win) Thunderbolt 2 & 3 compatible 1 x USB 2.0 audio class compliant USB 3.0 and iOS compatible |
Computer I/O channels Thunderbolt | 128 in/out at 1x (44.1 to 48 kHz) 128 in/out at 2x (88.2 to 96 kHz) 64 in/out at 4x (176.4 to 192 kHz) |
Computer I/O channels USB | 64 in/out at 1x (44.1 to 48 kHz) 32 in/out at 2x (88.2 to 96 kHz) 24 in/out at 4x (176.4 to 192 kHz) |
Sync I/O | 1 x BNC word clock in/out |
Network I/O | 1 x RJ45 AVB/TSN Ethernet (1 Gbps) |
AVB streams (8 channels per stream) | 4 in / 4 out @ 44.1 or 48 kHz 4 in / 4 out @ 88.2 or 96 kHz 2 in / 2 out @ 176.4 or 192 kHz |
Headphone | 2 x 1/4" TRS stereo phone (assignable) |
Phantom Power | 8 x individual +48V |
Front Panel | 2 x 1/4" TRS headphone output 2 x digital rotary encoders • phone vol 4 x digital rotary encoders • mic/instr input gain 2 x large digital rotary encoders • main vol / menu 8 x small switches • (4) Pad / (4) 48V Phantom pwr 10 x large switches • menu nav / A-B select, etc. 2 x LCD (128 x 160) for level meters / menu nav |
Power | International 100-240V autoswitching supply 50-60 Hz • 0.5A max |
Dimensions | (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 / 2.05 kg with rack brackets removed: 17.25 inches (43.8 cm) wide 4.5 lbs / 2.04 kg |
Mac System Requirements
- 1 GHz Intel-based Mac or faster
- 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended
- Mac OS X version 10.8 or later
- Available Thunderbolt 1/2/3, USB 2/3 or AVB/TSN Ethernet port*
- A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
- *AVB/TSN Ethernet audio interface operation requires OS X El Capitan or later
Windows System Requirements
- 1 GHz Pentium-based PC compatible or faster
- 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended
- Windows 7, 8 or 10
- Available Thunderbolt 1/2/3 or USB 2/3 port
- A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
Web App Support
- Any web client platform: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Any web browser: Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Explorer, etc.
Operating Systems
- For computer audio I/O: Mac OS X 10.8 or later; Windows 7 or later
- For web app control: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android