MOTU1248 48 CH Thunderbolt Audio Interface

Item#
N13-2968
$1,495.00

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MOTU 1248 48 CH Thunderbolt

In addition to a plethora of features to vast to list in this succinct description, the MOTU 1248 gives users enough I/O’s for a formidable studio. The interface provides a total of 32 inputs and 34 outputs, including four mic inputs, two hi-Z guitar inputs, 8x12 balanced analog with independent main and monitor outputs, two 8-channel ADAT optical, and RCA/SPDIF. If all this wasn’t enough, the interface boasts minimal latency unmatched by other products in a similar price range. 

The 1248 makes excellent use of its Thunderbolt connectivity. Using the connection, users have access to 256 channels of computer I/O (that’s 128 each way). These channels can be used for a variety of applications, including routing audio to the 1248’s inputs and outputs, as well as the interface’s internal 48-channel mixer and audio network streams. 

The internal mixer derives its signals from pretty much anywhere: the 1248’s audio inputs, software audio channels, audio network streams, or mixer outputs. In addition to extremely flexible I/O options, the mixer contains seven stereo aux busses, three groups, a single reverb bus that serves as a fourth group if necessary, a main mix bus, and a monitor bus that doubles as a solo bus.

1248 48 CH Thunderbolt Features

  • Balanced TRS analog outputs produce 123 dB dynamic range and -110 dB THD+N (0.0003%) at -1dBFS, Unweighted, 1 kHz.
  • 66 simultaneous audio channels
  • 4 mic inputs
  • 2 guitar inputs
  • 8 x 12 balanced analog with dedicated main and monitor outs
  • 2 x8-channel ADAT optical, RCA S/PDIF (with SRC)
  • Two independent phone outs for 32 inputs and 34 outputs.Universal connectivity:
  • Connects to your computer with Thunderbolt or high-speed USB 2.0 (compatible with USB 3.0).
  • Class-compliant firmware and Industry standard drivers work with any audio software.
  • On-board DSP with mixing and effects
  • Flexible 48-input digital mixer modeled after large format mixing consoles
  • Digital mixer features 12 stereo busses and DSP effects including reverb, 4-band EQ, gate, and compression.
  • 32-bit floating point processing
  • The 1248's mixing and effects DSP engine delivers virtually unlimited headroom and the utmost insound quality.
  • Modeled vintage effects processing: Classic reverb.Compression modeled after the legendary LA-2A compressor.
  • EQ modeled after British analog console EQs.
  • System expansion and audio networking: 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
  • 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.
  • 256 channels of network audio I/O for your host computer
  • Record and monitor up to 128 networked audio channels in and out,simultaneously, through the Thunderbolt connection to a host computer.
  • Web app control: 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-Fito your local area network.
  • Connect an Apple Airport™ or other Wi-Fi router directly to the 1248 with a standard Ethernet cable and control the 1248's powerful mixing and DSP effects from your smart phone or tablet, without a computer.
  • Great for live sound mixing.
  • ADAT digital I/O: Connect outboard digital processors,digital mixers or other gear. 16 channels at 44.1/48 kHz or 8 channels at88.2/96 kHz.
  • The large backlit 324 x 24 LCD lets you view all signal activity at a glance with detailed metering for all analog and digitalI/O.
  • Access hardware settings from a simple and convenient menu.
  • Sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz

Analog inputs

  • 4 x XLR mic inputs
  • 2 x 1/4" hi-Z guitar inputs (front panel)
  • 8 x 1/4" TRS line inputs (balanced/unbalanced)

Analog outputs

  • 12 x 1/4" TRS line out (balanced)
  • 2 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 RCA S/PDIF up to 96 kHz (with SRC on input)

Total I/O

  • 32 inputs and 34 outputs (66 total) at 1x sample rates
  • 24 inputs and 26 outputs (50 total) at 2x sample rates
  • 14 inputs and 16 outputs (30 total) at 4x sample rates

Computer I/O

  • 1 x Thunderbolt (compatible with 1 and 2)
  • 1 x USB 2.0 audio class compliant (3.0 compatible)
  • Sync I/O  1 x word clock in
  • 1 x word clock out
  • Headphone  2 x 1/4" TRS stereo phone (assignable)
  • Phantom power  4 x individual +48V

Front panel

  • 2 x 1/4" TRS headphone output
  • 2 x TRS hi-Z guitar input
  • 2 x digital rotary encoders • main/monitor volume
  • 2 x digital rotary encoders • phone volume
  • 2 x digital rotary encoders • guitar input gain
  • 4 x digital rotary encoders • mic preamp gain
  • 8 x switches • (4) Pad and (4) 48V Phantom switch
  • 324 x 24 pixel LCD for level meters / menu nav
  • 1 x AC power switch

Power

  • International 100-240V autoswitching supply50-60 Hz • 0.5A max

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 or high-speed USB 2.0 port
  • A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)

Windows System Requirements

  • * Windows support is coming soon…
  • 1 GHz Pentium-based PC compatible or faster
  • 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended
  • Windows 8 or later
  • Available Thunderbolt or high-speed USB 2.0 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.
  • Web client must be connected to the same network as the MOTU AVB interface by wire or Wi-Fi.

Included Software

  • Thunderbolt and USB 2.0 drivers
  • MOTU AVB Discovery App for Mac (finds connected MOTU interfaces)
  • MOTU AVB Discovery App for iOS (available from Apple App Store)
  • MOTU AVB Control web app (served from the hardware itself)
  • AudioDesk 4.0 (available as a separate download)

Operating Systems

  • For computer audio I/O: Mac OS X 10.8 or later; Windows 8 or later*
  • For web app control: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

Compatible Mac Software

  • The 1248 ships with standard Core Audio drivers for Mac OS X for compatibility with virtually all Core Audio-compatible apps, including:
  • MOTU Digital Performer
  • Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
  • Apple Logic Pro
  • Apple Logic Express
  • Apple Garage Band
  • Apple SoundTrack Pro
  • Ableton Live
  • Propellerhead Record & Reason
  • Steinberg Cubase
  • Cockos Reaper
  • Native Instruments Kontakt
  • Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)

Compatible Windows Software (Windows support comingsoon…):

  • The 1248 ships with standard Wave and ASIO drivers for Windows 8 for compatibility with virtually all Wave-compatible audio apps, including:
  • MOTU Digital Performer
  • Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
  • Ableton Live
  • Cakewalk Sonar
  • Steinberg Cubase
  • Propellerhead Record & Reason
  • Image Line FL Studio
  • Sony Vegas Pro
  • Sony Sound Forge
  • Sony Acid
  • Cockos Reaper
  • Native Instruments Kontakt
  • Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
MOTU 1248 48 CH Thunderbolt Audio Interface Reviews