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MOTU 8pre

Item ID: 8pre

16-in/12-out FireWire Audio Interface, 24-bit/96kHz, with 8 Preamplifiers, 2 Banks of ADAT I/O, and CueMix DSP - Mac/PC

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From Our Research Team:

16-channel, 8-preamp 24-bit/96kHz FireWire Audio Interface

The MOTU 8pre is a handy multipurpose solution for the modern DAW user. For starters, it's a powerful 24-bit/96kHz FireWire audio interface, boasting a full complement of eight microphone preamplifiers. Better yet, the MOTU 8pre has two banks of ADAT optical ports, so you can easily connect it into your existing interface system, to beef it up with eight more preamplifiers. And, beyond all that, it has MOTU's CueMix DSP functionality, so you can flexibly route audio to create separate monitor mixes and headphone mixes on the MOTU 8pre - with no latency.

MOTU 8pre 24-bit/96kHz FireWire Audio Interface at a Glance:
  • Fully featured interface for any recording setup
  • Give your existing rig eight more preamplifiers
  • CueMix DSP lets you create effective monitor mixes - with no latency
  • Control CueMix with your iPad
  • 16 channels of MIDI I/O
  • SMPTE time code synchronization

Fully featured interface for any recording setup
The MOTU 8pre is designed to serve as the centerpiece of any DAW-based recording studio. With its eight quality microphone preamplifiers - on XLR/TRS combo jacks - you'll have enough inputs to handle nearly any recording situation. Add to that its excellent 24-bit/96kHz resolution and fast FireWire connectivity (two ports available), and the MOTU 8pre is all you need to achieve great-sounding recordings, whether that's in your studio or out in the field. If you need more inputs, the 8pre features two banks of ADAT optical I/O - you can easily pipe in any ADAT-output-equipped audio interface and record more channels through the MOTU 8pre.

Give your existing rig eight more preamplifiers
If you already have a working studio setup, you can easily expand your rig with the MOTU 8pre. Because it offers ADAT output, you can connect it up to your unused ADAT port and take advantage of 8pre's eight stellar microphone preamplifiers - it's a great way to turn your rig into one that can handle miking an entire band, including professionally miking the drums. And, the great part is, that because the 8pre can operate as a standalone audio interface, you won't be locking yourself into getting "just" an 8-channel microphone preamplifier. So, if your needs require, you can always leave the rest of your studio connected at home, while you take the 8pre out to a friend's house or to a live show, to record on a smaller scale.

CueMix DSP lets you create effective monitor mixes - with no latency
Connect up all your gear to the MOTU 8pre, then use its onboard CueMix DSP to create complex monitor mixes - without hitting up your computer for processing power. With CueMix and your 8pre, you can create up to four separate stereo monitor mixes, assigned to any digital or analog output pairs. Each mix can support all 16 of the 8pre's inputs - its 8 XLR/TRS analog inputs and its 8 ADAT optical digital inputs. Just blend in whatever amount of them you like, then let CueMix DSp do all the work. CueMix DSP supports talkback and listenback, as well, so you and musicians can communicate between the live rooms and control rooms.

Control CueMix with your iPad
MOTU's CueMix FX software, the mixing software that drives the powerful routing of the 8pre, can be controlled from your iPad. MOTU created CueMix templates for the TouchOSC controller app, giving you complete control over your 8pre's mixing and effects processing over a Wi-Fi network. This means that when you're recording in your studio, you don't need to keep going back to your computer to adjust gain levels, change monitoring effects, or virtually anything else you rely on CueMix for.

16 channels of MIDI I/O
The MOTU 8pre features an integrated 16-channel MIDI interface, delivering sample-accurate timing to software hosts that support it. The FireWire signal carries your MIDI signal to your computer.

SMPTE time code synchronization
Beyond its robust I/O and routing capabilities, the MOTU 8pre features onboard SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) time code synchronization, so you can slave your 8pre to SMPTE, without a synchronizer.

MOTU 8pre Features:
  • FireWire audio interface for Mac/PC, also functions as an A/D optical converter
  • 16 inputs and 12 outputs
  • 8 mic/line/instrument inputs
  • Individual 48V phantom power, 20dB pad
  • Individual front-panel trim knobs per mic input (45dB)
  • 8-channel analog-to-optical converter
  • Onboard 6x8 CueMix DSP mixing
  • 5-segment metering for microphone inputs
  • Sample-accurate MIDI
  • Onboard SMPTE synchronization
  • Clock status and Mode LEDs
  • Volume control for headphones and main outputs
  • Main outputs with front-panel volume knob
  • 8 channels of optical I/O, supporting four channels at 96kHz
  • 2 FireWire ports for daisy chaining

The 8pre adds eight great-sounding MOTU preamplifiers to any interface or computer DAW!
Specification Detail
Computer Connection Type FireWire
Form Factor Rackmount
Simultaneous I/O 16 x 12
A/D Resolution 24-bit/96kHz
Built In DSP/FX Yes
Number of Audio Inputs 8
Audio Input Types 8 x Combo (Mic/Line/Hi-Z)
Number of Audio Outputs 3
Audio Output Types 2 x TRS (Main), 1 x TRS (Headphone)
Number of Digital Inputs 8
Digital Input Types 2 x ADAT (Optical, 8 Ch@48kHz/8 Ch@96kHz)
Number of Digital Outputs 8
Digital Output Types 2 x ADAT (Optical, 8 Ch@48kHz/8 Ch@96kHz)
Number of Mic Preamps 8
Phantom Power Yes
MIDI I/O In, Out
Bus Powered No
Rack Units 1U
Depth 7"
Width 19"
Height 1.75"
Manufacturer Part Number 8500

8pre Image Gallery

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Reviews

based on 26 reviews

Off-the-charts Excellent Interface!

by Phil from Midwest USA
August 5, 2011
Music Background: Hobbiest
Everything I've ever heard about MOTU's amazing, bullet-proof hardware is spot on accurate. I purchased my 8pre to replace another interface, which shall remain nameless. Suffice it to say that the pr... read more [+]oblem with this unnamed interface was that the drivers were so shoddy, the only thing I could rely on it for was to tank whatever software I tried to run. The 8pre, on the other hand, proved to be a refreshing change of pace.

Here's my experience adding the MOTU 8pre to my rig. I hooked it up, and it worked. That's it. No long, tedious trial and error trying to get it to sync correctly with my ADAT-equipped Focusrite OctoPre MkII Dynamic (also a killer piece of gear), no swearing, no drama, just 100% ready to go. What's more, this thing sounds FANTASTIC! We're talking about crystal-clear, totally transparent pres. close [-]

SOLID!!!!!

by Steven "KIKA-BOO" Reed from SouthSide, VA
June 24, 2011
Music Background: 2 year Alumni (Berklee Music), Music Producer
I love the stability, quality of sound, and ease of use. This is a must have for a home studio set up!!!!

MOTU 8 pre, great interface, great price

by Steve Hebert MD from Allen, TX
May 1, 2011
Music Background: hobbyist, Home Studio Owner
I purchased this unit so I could have an additional 8 channels. I used it via the ADAT outs back into my MOTU 896. Worked great. Recently I really needed to put together a mobile recording setup. ... read more [+]I already had a MacBookPro but really needed a mobile interface. Then it hit me, why not just use the 8 Pre? Hooked right up no problems and its only one rack space so its super portable. I'm using this interface recording 8 simultaneous tracks every week at church with no issues off of a Yamaha Ov196 via the ADAT in's. Super easy to setup. I really love MOTU equipment ! close [-]

MOTU 8pre

by Peter Young from N/A
July 28, 2010
Music Background: Musician, Recording engineer
Originally bought 2 of these to have 16 channels of audio into my DAW until I could afford something better. Now, 3 years down the road, I have gone through most of the popular interfaces out there, a... read more [+]nd I still haven't found anything as stable or convenient to record with. The sound quality is consistently excellent, always on par with anything else out there. I now use them for location recording as well as anything requiring multiple channels "in the room" like recording drums or overdubbing guitars with ambient mics when I'm recording by myself, or when I'm playing drums with a band on a recording project. One 3 space shallow rack, my laptop, and an external hard drive (glyph porta gig) and I'm good to go anywhere, anytime. An excellent solution for bands looking for an inexpensive way to record or for the home recordist looking for their first interface, or just to expand the amount of channels in their current setup. Highly recommended. close [-]

i luv it

by J.L from Pittsburgh Pa
October 11, 2008
Music Background:
just gat it today hooked it up iam very impressed
Read more reviews

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See Also: FireWire Interfaces , MOTU , MOTU FireWire Audio Interfaces

MOTU 8pre

Today's Payment: $193.00
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