User Manual

ABOUT YOUR MOTU AVB AUDIO INTERFACE
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Ethernet cable. You can network up to five MOTU
interfaces together using a MOTU AVB Switch™
(sold separately), and then run them as a stand-
alone network or as an extended bank of I/Os for
your computer-based production system (or
both). You can even connect multiple computers,
each with full access to all devices on the network
(including the other computers).
With additional standard AVB switches (from
MOTU or other brands) and standard Ethernet
cabling, you can build an extensive AVB audio
network. The entire network operates with near-
zero network latency, even over very long cable
runs. MOTU’s AVB implementation allows you to
stream hundreds of audio channels among devices
and computers on the network with guaranteed
Quality of Service (QoS), prioritizing audio
streams over less important traffic.
Matrix routing and multing
Each MOTU interface provides completely flexible
matrix-style audio routing and multing. You can
route any analog or digital input, computer
channel, or network stream to any other output,
computer, or network device. You can also mult any
single input to unlimited multiple output
destinations.
256 channels of network audio I/O for your
host computer
The 1248, 8M, and 16A interfaces let you stream up
to 128 audio channels in and out, simultaneously,
through their Thunderbolt connection to a host
computer. Sources and destinations can include
inputs and outputs on the device, inputs and
outputs on other interfaces on the network, and
even audio software apps running on other
computers connected to other devices on the
network.
Web app control
You can control on-board DSP, mixing, device
settings, clock/sync settings, and network audio
routing from the MOTU AVB Control web app
software running in your favorite browser on a
laptop, tablet or smart phone connected to your
MOTU interface directly, or through your local
WiFi network. Multiple devices can be used simul-
taneously to access any audio interface settings on
the network.
Stand-alone mixing with wireless control
If you connect your MOTU interface to an Apple
Airport or other WiFi router with a standard
Ethernet cable, you can control its powerful mixing
and DSP effects from your smart phone or tablet,
without a computer — great for live sound mixing
from your iPad, tablet, or other wireless device.
ADAT digital I/O
The 1248, 8M and 16A interfaces each provide two
8-channel banks of optical digital I/O. Connect
outboard digital processors, digital mixers or other
gear: 16 channels at 44.1/48 kHz or 8 channels at
88.2/96 kHz.
S/PDIF digital I/O with SRC
The 1248 provides S/PDIF digital input and output
on standard RCA “coax” connectors. The input is
equipped with Sample Rate Conversion (SRC),
allowing you to input a digital signal running at a
different sample rate than the 1248. See “S/PDIF
with sample rate conversion” on page 46.
Word clock
Each MOTU interface supports standard word
clock synchronization at any supported sample
rate. When the interface is operating at 96 kHz, it
can generate word clock output at either 96 or
48 kHz; the 1x equivalence is available as an option
for word clock output when running at high
sample rates (from 88.2 to 192 kHz). The word
clock OUT port can alternately be used as a THRU