New MOTU Portable Audio Interface

MOTU is now shipping the OctaLite, which they describe as a compact 16 x 12 half-rack USB audio interface for macOS, Windows and iOS with eight mic/line/instrument inputs, DSP mixing, effects processing and best-in-class analog audio quality. The OctaLite includes optical input and output for additional digital I/O and operation as an optical expander to add eight mic/line/instrument inputs to another ADAT optical-equipped device.

Jim Cooper, Director of Marketing at MOTU, told us, "The OctaLite is truly unique because it's the only audio interface on the market that offers eight mic preamps in a super-portable half-rack unit."

Here's more details direct from MOTU...

Users can connect the OctaLite to a computer through hi-speed USB-C 2.0 (compatible with USB 3/4 and iOS) with optimized ultra-low latency drivers (2 ms RTL), or without a driver via USB audio class compliant operation, and record at sample rates up to 192 kHz with eight combo XLR/TRS mic/line/hi-Z guitar inputs (two on the front panel and six on the back panel). Each mic input supports individual 48V phantom power, -20 dB pad, phase invert, and pre/post FX option for sending dry or DSP-processed input signals to the host DAW (or other audio software). With very high impedance (1 M_), the quarter-inch input jacks are well suited for DI guitar recording, delivering authentic feel when playing through live amp sims and guitar FX processing on the host computer.

For monitoring, powered speakers can be connected to two balanced quarter-inch analog outputs. The front-panel quarter-inch headphone out delivers near-zero impedance to drive even the most demanding professional headphones.

Superb analog audio quality is present throughout, delivered by 32-bit ESS PRO SABRE_ DAC Technology (125 dB DR) and Burr-Brown__engineered Texas Instruments_ preamps and op-amps. The preamps deliver +74 dB of gain with clean, quiet, neutral performance (-129 dB EIN).

For operation as an optical expander (to convert eight mic inputs to eight channels of ADAT optical digital output), users simply choose "Analog In 1-8" as the source signal for the optical out bank. Conveniently, this setting is available in the front panel menu and in the CueMix 5 app for macOS, Windows and iOS. A 2nd extra optical output port supports channels 5-8 when employing the 4-channel SMUX optical format at high sample rates (88.2 or 96 kHz).

Users can monitor live inputs directly with DSP-driven mixing and create separate, unique monitor mixes for the headphones and monitor outputs. On-board effects include reverb, 4-band parametric EQ, compressor and gate. With its compact size and rugged metal chassis, users can take the OctaLite on the road as a portable stand-alone mixer controlled by the CueMix_ 5 app running on a laptop, iPad_ or iPhone_.

The OctaLite can be installed in a standard 19-inch equipment rack with the Half-Rack Mounting Kit or Half-Rack Coupler Kit (both sold separately). The Coupler Kit allows users to join two OctaLites, or an OctaLite and MOTU's UltraLite-mk5, and install them side by side in a single rack space. In this configuration, two OctaLites provide sixteen mic inputs in a single rack space. Alternately, the OctaLite and UltraLite-mk5 can be installed in compact, half-rack road cases like the Odyssey FZHR02 2U Half Rack Flight Case.

Pricing and Availability:
The OctaLite is now shipping. Price is $849.95. 

More information:

• OctaLite

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