MOTU Monitor 8

Introducing Monitor 8

24x16x8 monitor mixer, 6-channel headphone amp and USB/AVB audio interface with 48-channel mixing and AVB audio networking.

Monitor 8 is three products in one: monitor mixer, headphone amp and audio interface. With exceptional analog audio quality, Monitor 8 can serve as your primary audio interface or as the ultimate monitor mixer, on stage and in the studio.

Made for Mixing 24 inputs and 8 stereo output groups

Monitor 8 can mix 24 inputs, multi-channel computer audio, and dozens of AVB audio network channels to eight stereo output groups: Main, Aux, and Monitor Groups A through F.

Input sources include 8 channels of high-quality balanced (TRS) analog, 16 channels (2 banks) of ADAT optical, 64 channels of audio streamed from other devices on a connected AVB audio network (if present), and host software audio channels coming from the computer over USB or AVB Ethernet.

Made for Monitoring Six monitor groups with multiple outputs

Connect the Main Outs and Aux Outs to your primary and secondary studio speakers or PA pairs. Six additional, independent monitor groups each provide multiple mirrored outputs, including two headphone outs (front and rear panel), summed quarter-inch mono out for stage monitors, and, with groups A-D, balanced stereo quarter-inch outs, which can be fed to i-ear monitoring systems or other stereo destinations. Each monitor mix can go to two pairs of headphones, a wireless in-ear module, and a stage wedge-simultaneously.

For example, you could connect 12 headphones, 6 stage monitors, 4-stereo in-ear modules and 2 sets of monitors or PA speakers. And that’s just the outputs!

Inputs could include keyboard synths and other local line inputs, 16 channels of optical input from an external digital mixer, dozens of disk tracks from your computer, and up to 64 channels of audio from additional MOTU interfaces on the AVB network.

Superb audio quality Pure sound, without compromise

Monitor 8 employs latest-generation ESS Sabre32 Ultra ™ converters, known for their industry-leading performance, together with expertly engineered analog circuits that reflect more than three decades of pro audio engineering expertise. The result? Monitor 8 achieves actual, measured performance of 123 dB dynamic range (A-weighted, 20 Hz to 20 kHz) on its balanced TRS analog outputs.

Audio class compliant USB 2.0 Broad compatibility with future-proof connectivity

Hi-speed USB 2.0 provides across-the-board compatibility with pretty much all laptops and desktops. Monitor 8 is USB audio class compliant, which means you enjoy OS-level USB compatibility and support, including iPad support (with a camera connection kit). Since USB 2.0 devices are compatible with USB 3.0 equipped hosts, your Monitor 8 interface is a future-proof investment in your studio.

48-channel digital mixing

Monitor 8 is equipped with a 48-channel digital mixer designed just like a large format mixing console. The 48 inputs can take signal from anywhere: the physical inputs on the Monitor 8 interface itself, audio channels from host software on your computer, audio network streams, or even mixer outputs. The mixer provides 7 stereo aux busses, 3 groups, a reverb bus that can alternately serve as a 4^th group, a Main Mix bus and a separate Monitor bus that can serve as a solo bus. In essence: comprehensive and transparent mixing.

Modeled analog EQ and compression Vintage processing with 32-bit floating point precision

British analog mixing consoles are renowned for their musical EQ profiles. Monitor 8 meticulously models these classic EQs to give you the very same, magical EQ response found on these coveted desks. Each input channel also provides a classic compressor module with optional peak/RMS operation. Groups and the Main Mix bus are equipped with MOTU's Leveler™, an accurate model of the legendary Teletronix™ LA-2A™ optical leveling amplifier, known for its unique and highly sought-after Automatic Gain Control (AGC) characteristics.

Matrix routing and splitting

Put the ultimate patch-bay at your fingertips

With one click on the Monitor 8's routing grid, you can route any source signal to any destination. Sources can be analog or digital inputs on the interface, computer channels, mixer bus outputs, or audio network streams from other devices on the network. Destinations include interface outputs, host software inputs, mixer inputs, or any other device (or computer) on the AVB network. You can even route each input to multiple output destinations.

System expansion and audio networking

Expand your system with more I/O and Wi-Fi Control

The Monitor 8 network port delvers AVB Ethernet, the new industry standard developed by the IEEE for professional audio networking. Add a second MOTU AVB interface with simple Cat-5e or CAT-6 ethernet cable.

Connect up to five MOTU interfaces using a MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately).