The MOTU Monitor 8 gives you three-in-one functionality: monitor mixer, headphone amp, and audio interface — all with exceptional audio fidelity. Monitor 8 lets you mix 24 inputs, multichannel computer audio, and dozens of AVB (IEEE 802.1) audio network channels to eight stereo monitor groups. Monitor 8’s extensive routing grid lets you effortlessly patch inputs to outputs, or splits your inputs to multiple destinations. You can use Monitor 8 as a standalone mixer and control everything from its web app running on your iPad, iPhone, tablet, smartphone, or laptop. Connect another MOTU AVB interface with a simple Ethernet cable. Read on to discover the many cool ways you can use the wonderfully innovative MOTU Monitor 8!
Audio Quality
Made for mixing: 24 inputs and 8 stereo output groups
Monitor 8 can mx 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 in-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.
Super audio quality
Pure sound, without compromise
Monitor 8 employs latest-generation ESS Sabre32 UltraTM 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.
| Dynamic Range | THD+N | |
| Line Out | 123 dB | -110 dB |
| Line In | 110 dB | -104 dB |
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
Control up to 12 separate stereo mixes
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 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 4th 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 split any single input (or stereo pair) to unlimited multiple output destinations.
System expansion and audio networking
Expand your system with more I/O and Wi-Fi control
The Monitor 8 network port delivers AVB Ethernet, the new industry standard developed by the IEEE for professional audio networking. Add a second MOTU AVB interface (24Ai, 24Ao, 1248, 8M or 16A) with a simple Cat-5e or CAT-6 ethernet cable.
System expansion and audio networking
Expand your system with more I/O and Wi-Fi control
Connect up to five MOTU interfaces using a MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately).
System expansion and audio networking
Expand your system with more I/O and Wi-Fi control
Build a network with multiple interfaces and computers using standard AVB switches and network cabling, with ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (hundreds of meters). Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network.
It’s an AVB Ethernet audio interface
A new era of audio interface connectivity is here
Looking for an alternative to USB for computer audio I/O? If you have a recent Mac running OS X Yosemite (10.10) or later, you have another option: AVB Ethernet. Connect Monitor 8’s Network port to the Ethernet port on your Mac with a standard CAT5e network cable (100 meter point to point), and you can use Monitor 8 as a standard multi-channel audio interface with any Core Audio compatible host software.
Web app control
Control everything from your laptop, tablet and smartphone
The software that you use to control the Monitor 8 doesn’t reside on your hard drive. It’s a web app served from the hardware itself. This means you can control the Monitor 8 on-board DSP, mixing, devices settings and network audio routing from the web app software running in your favorite web browser on a laptop, tablet or smartphone connected by wire or Wi-Fi to your local area network. Use any web client on any platform- Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android- as long as it shares the same network.
Stand-alone mixing with wireless control
Control everything from your iPAD or iPhone
Connect an Apple Airport or other Wi-Fi router directly to the Monitor 8 with a standard Ethernet cable and control the Monitor 8 powerful mixing and DSP effects from your smartphone or tablet, without a computer. Great for live sound mixing!
Comprehensive metering
View all I/O activity at a glance
The large backlit 324×24 LCD lets you view all signal activity at a glance with detailed metering for all analog and digital I/O. Access hardware settings from a simple and convenient menu.
Quick Setup presets
Completely transform your MOTU interface with one click
Monitor 8 is so flexible, it can serve many roles- in the studio, on stage, and throughout an installation. The Quick Setup menu lets you instantly reconfigure the Monitor 8 for many common situations, from operation as a standard audio interface to serving as a network “Snake” from one location to another. Once a preset is chosen, you can easily customize the routing grid and mixer settings to further suit your specific needs-and then save your own custom presets.
