MOTU 896mk3 User manual

™
MOTU 896mk3
User Guide for Mac
1280 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Business voice: [phone]
Business fax: [phone]
Web site: www.motu.com
Tech support: www.motu.com/support

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS
CAUTION! READ THIS SAFETY GUIDE BEFORE YOU BEGIN INSTALLATION OR OPERATION. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
COULD RESULT IN BODILY INJURY OR EQUIPMENT DAMAGE.
HAZARDOUS VOLAGES: CONTACT MAY CAUSE ELECTRIC SHOCK OR BURN.TURN OFF UNIT BEFORE SERVICING.
WARNING:TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSETHIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR OTHER MOISTURE.
CAUTION:TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
WARNING: DO NOT PERMIT FINGERS TO TOUCH THE TERMINALS OF PLUGS WHEN INSTALLING OR REMOVINGTHE PLUGTO OR FROMTHE OUTLET.
WARNING: IF NOT PROPERLY GROUNDEDTHE MOTU 896mk3 COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK.
The MOTU 896mk3 is equipped with a three-conductor cord and grounding type plug which has a grounding prong, approved by Underwriters' Laboratories and the Canadian Standards Association.
This plug requires a mating three-conductor grounded type outlet as shown in Figure A below. If the outlet you are planning to use for the MOTU 896mk3 is of the two prong type, DO NOT REMOVE
OR ALTER THE GROUNDING PRONG IN ANY MANNER. Use an adapter as shown below and always connect the grounding lug to a known ground. It is recommended that you have a qualified
electrician replace the TWO prong outlet with a properly grounded THREE prong outlet. An adapter as illustrated below in Figure B is available for connecting plugs to two-prong receptacles.
WARNING:THE GREEN GROUNDING LUG EXTENDING FROM THE ADAPTER MUST BE CONNECTED TO A PERMANENT GROUND SUCH ASTO A
PROPERLY GROUNDED OUTLET BOX. NOT ALL OUTLET BOXES ARE PROPERLY GROUNDED.
If you are not sure that your outlet box is properly grounded, have it checked by a qualified electrician. NOTE:The adapter illustrated is for use only if you already have a properly grounded two-prong
receptacle. Adapter is not allowed in Canada by the Canadian Electrical Code. Use only three wire extension cords which have three-prong grounding type plugs and three-prong receptacles which
will accept the MOTU 896mk3 plug.
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
1. Read these instructions. All the safety and operating instructions should be read before operating the 896mk3.
2. Keep these instructions.These safety instructions and the 896mk3 owner’s manual should be retained for future reference.
3. Heed all warnings. All warnings on the 896mk3 and in the owner’s manual should be adhered to.
4. Follow all Instructions. All operating and use instructions should be followed.
5. Do not use the 896mk3 near water.
6. Cleaning - Unplug the 896mk3 from the computer and clean only with a dry cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.
7. Ventilation - Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Heat - Do not install the 896mk3 near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or another apparatus (including an amplifier) that produces heat.
9. Overloading - Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire or electrical shock.
10. Grounding - Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other.A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong.The wide blade
or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult and electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
11. Power cord - Protect the 896mk3 power cord from being walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them. Pay particular attention to cords and plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the unit.
12. Power switch - Install the 896mk3 so that the power switch can be accessed and operated at all times.
13. Disconnect - The main plug is considered to be the disconnect device for the 896mk3 and shall remain readily operable.
14. Accessories - Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
15. Placement - Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the 896mk3.When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
16. Surge protection - Unplug the 896mk3 during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
17. Servicing - Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the 896mk3 has been damaged in any way, such as when a power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen
into the 896mk3, the 896mk3 has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
18. Power Sources - Refer to the manufacturer’s operating instructions for power requirements.Be advised that different operating voltages may require the use of a different line cord and/or attachment plug.
19. Installation - Do not install the 896mk3 in an unventilated rack, or directly above heat-producing equipment such as power amplifiers. Observe the maximum ambient operating temperature listed below.
20. Power amplifiers- Never attach audio power amplifier outputs directly to any of the unit’s connectors.
21. Replacement Parts - When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions
may result in fire, electric shock or other hazards.
22. Safety Check - Upon completion of any service or repairs to this MOTU 896mk3, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in safe operating conditions.
ENVIRONMENT
Operating Temperature: 10°C to 40°C (50°F to 104°)
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK OR FIRE
Do not handle the power cord with wet hands. Do not pull on the power cord when disconnecting it from an AC wall outlet. Grasp it by the plug. Do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. Do not place objects containing liquids on it.
AC INPUT
100 - 240VAC ~ • 50 / 60Hz • 25 Watts.
3-prong plug
Grounding prong
Properly grounded 3-prong outlet
Grounding lug
Screw
3-prong plug
Adapter
Make sure this is connected to
a known ground.
Two-prong receptacle
Figure A Figure B

About the Mark of the Unicorn License Agreement and
Limited Warranty on Software
TO PERSONS WHO PURCHASE OR USE THIS PRODUCT: carefully read all the
terms and conditions of the “click-wrap” license agreement presented to you when
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responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

3
Contents
5
Quick Reference: 896mk3 Front Panel
6
Quick Reference: 896mk3 Rear Panel
7
Quick Reference:
MOTU Audio Setup
9
About the 896mk3
15
Packing List and
Mac System Requirements
17
Installing the 896mk3 Hardware
33 Installing the 896mk3 Mac Software
35
MOTU Audio Setup
43
896mk3 Front Panel Operation
53
Digital Performer
57
AudioDesk
61
Other Mac OS X Audio Software
69
Reducing Monitoring Latency
75 CueMix Console
103
MOTU SMPTE Console
107
Troubleshooting
109
Index

Quick Reference: 896mk3 Front Panel
Push the CHANNEL knob repeatedly to cycle among the four main sections of the mixer:mix busses, inputs,outputs and the reverb module. Push the PARAM knob to enter the SETUP menu,which provides global 896mk3 settings,such as the global sample rate,etc.
The phone jack labeled (MAIN OUT) is a standard quarter-inch stereo headphone jack. Its output is hard-wired to mirror the XLR main outs on the rear panel.From the factory,the MASTER VOL knob above it controls the main outs and this jack,but MASTER VOL can be programmed to control any combination of outputs.See “The Monitor Group”on page 97 for details.Push the knob once to view the current volume setting in the LCD display;push it again to mute the monitor group;push a third time to return to the previous volume.Note:if the Monitor group is programmed to not include the main outs,the MASTER VOL knob will no longer control the volume of this phone jack,either.
These toggle switches provide phantom power for a condenser mic plugged into this input and a -20dB pad.For 48V power,up is on.To engage the pad,flip the PAD switch up.
These 10-segment level meters are dedicated to the 896mk3’s eight analog inputs.The top red‘HOLD’LED illuminates when the signal reaches full scale—for even just one sample—and remains illuminated until you clear it in the software.The‘CLIP’LED below only lights up momentarily so thatyou can continue to adjust level even after clipping has just occurred.The remaining LEDs provide two different scales for operation with or withoutV-Limit™,which provides hardware limiting and clip prevention for signal levels as high as +12dB over zero.WithoutV-Limit,the LED scale goes up to -1 dB and clips at zero.With V-Limit,the LED scale goes up to +12 dB and clips when the input signal goes over + 12 dB.
The CLOCK LEDs indicate the global sample rate at which the MOTU 896mk3 is operating.Use MOTU Audio Setup to set the sample rate or to choose an external clock source,from which the sample rate will be set.When no sample clock is currently present,these lights flash.For example,if you’ve set the MOTU 896mk3 to slave to an external clock,such as ADAT,but there is no clock signal currently being detected,these lights will flash.
FireWire is a“plug-and-play”proto- col.That means that you can turn off the MOTU 896mk3 and turn it back on (or even unplug it) without restarting your computer.Keep in mind,however, that if you wish to change the MOTU 896mk3’s settings in MOTU Audio Setup,the MOTU 896mk3 needs to be plugged in and switched on.
Theseeight trimknobsprovide over +60 dB of preamp gain adjustment for each analog input (not including the pad). Trim applies to either the XLR mic input or the quarter-inch TRS input.
Use this knob to choose which audio bank you are viewing with the programmable meters above.
Connect a standard foot switch here for hands-free punch-in and punch-out during recording.For details about how to set this up,see “Enable Pedal”on page 41.
This bank of level meters can be programmed to display any input or output bank:analog,optical (ADAT orTOSLINK),or“digital”(AES/EBU and S/PDIF). Use MOTU Audio Setup or the METERS knob below to choose which bank you’d like to view with these meters.The LEDs to the right show which bank you are currently monitoring.
The light that is illuminated here tells you which bank you are monitoring with the program- mable meter bank to the left.
These meters display the level for the 896mk3’s main outs.
This section controls the 896mk3’s built-in CueMix FX mixer and effects.There are eight stereo mix busses:each bus mixes all inputs (or any subset you wish) to a stereo output of your choice.You can apply EQ and compression to inputs and outputs,plus reverb to ins,outs and mixes.The four knobs below the LCD correspond directly to the four labeled sections of the LCD.Use the CHANNEL knob to choose the input,output or mix you wish to edit.Push it to switch among inputs,outputs and busses,then turn it to choose the desired channel or bus.Use the PAGE,PARAM and VALUE knobs to access the settings for the chosen channel.
From the factory, the PHONES jack is a discrete output (at 44.1/48 kHz),but it can mirror any other output pair (digital or analog).For example, at 88.2/96 kHz,it defaults to mirroring the main outs.As the primary phone jack,it has its own dedicated volume knob.

Quick Reference: 896mk3 Rear Panel
These AES/EBU connectors can handle any supported sample rate up to 96 kHz,and they are also equipped with a sample rate converter so you can input or output at a different rate than the 896mk3.For details,see “Syncing AES/EBU devices”on page 25.At the 4x sample rates,(176.4 and 192kHz),AES/EBU is disabled.
These two XLR jacks serve as the MOTU 896mk3’s main analog outputs.You can connect them to a set of powered studio monitors and then control the volume from the front panel MASTERVOL knob.These jacks are always mirrored by the MAIN OUT headphone jack on the front panel. To hear disk tracks in your audio software on these main outs,assign the disk tracks (and master fader) to these main outs.Also make sure the Main Out Assign option is set to
Main Out 1-2
.See “Main Out Assign”on page 39.You
can also use CueMix FX to monitor live 896mk3 inputs here as well.
These XLR/TRS combo jacks accept either a mic cable or a quarter-inch guitar cable.Both the low-impedance XLR jack and the high-impedance TRS jack are equipped with a preamp (so don’t connect a +4 line level XLR cable!) 48V phantom power and 20 dB pad can be applied via the switches provided on the front panel.The trim knob provides over 60 dB of gain.
The MOTU 896mk3’s eight analog outputs are XLR connectors referenced to +19 dBU. They are equipped with 24-bit D/A converters capable of 192kHz.
These jacks provide stereo, 24-bit S/PDIF digital input and output at all supported sample rates (up to 96 kHz).
The 896mk3 is equipped with an auto-switching international power supply.
Connect the 896mk3 to the computer here using the standard 1394 FireWire cable provided with your MOTU 896mk3.Use the extra FireWire port to daisy-chain up to four 896mk3’s to a single FireWire bus.You can also connect a MOTU 828,FireWire hard drive or other FireWire device.For details,see “Connecting multiple MOTU FireWire interfaces”on page 29.
Use the word clock input and output for digital transfers with devices that cannot slave to the clock supplied by their digital I/O connection with the 896mk3.
These optical digital I/O connectors can be connected either to an ADAT-compatible“lightpipe”device (such as a digital mixer) or to a S/PDIF optical (“TOSLINK”) compatible device,such as an effects processor or DAT machine.Be sure to set the format in the MOTU Audio Setup software (or using the front panel LCD).(see “Optical input/output”on page 39 for details.) ADAT optical supplies eight channels of 24-bit digital I/O per bank (4 channels per bank at 96kHz).TOSLINK is stereo at sample rates up to 96 kHz. One special note:you can choose independent formats for each bank,A and B,as well as IN and OUT within each bank.For example,you could choose ADAT for the optical A IN (for,say, eight channels of input from your digital mixer) and stereoTOSLINK for the optical A OUT (for,say,your DAT machine).

CHAPTER
7
Quick Reference:
MOTU Audio Setup
Provides several options for the 896mk3’s
AES/EBU sample rate conversion.See,
“Syncing AES/EBU devices”on page 25.
The 896mk3 driver provides a stereo return
back to the computer.This return feeds the
signal on any 896mk3 output pair directly
back to the computer,where you can record,
process,monitor or otherwise use it.This is a
great way to“bounce”full mixes,complete
with live audio routed through the 896mk3
only, back into the computer.
Determines the clock source for your
896mk3.If you’re just using the analog
ins and outs,set this to‘Internal’.The
other settings are for digital transfers
via AES/EBU,S/PDIF or optical ports,or
for slaving the 896mk3 to word clock.
Specifies the stereo input and
output pair when the 896mk3 is
chosen for Mac OS X audio I/O.
Choose the global sample rate
for the system here.
If you are running an 896mk3
interface at a high sample rate
(88.2,96, 176.4 or 192 kHz),this
option appears in the interface
tab.It lets you choose a word
clock output rate that either
matches the global sample rate
(e.g.96kHz) or reduces it to the
corresponding 1x rate (e.g.48kHz
instead of 192 kHz).
This menu lets you choose what you will
hear from the PHONES jack.To mirror the
main outs,choose Main Out 1-2.Or you can
mirror any other output pair.To hear the
phones as their own independent output,
choose Phones 1-2 (at 44.1 or 48 kHz).At
higher sample rates,the phones must
mirror any other available output pair.)
Click the tabs to access general
MOTU FireWire interface settings
or settings specific to the 896mk3
(or other connected interface.)
Check this option if you would like the MOTU
Audio Setup icon to appear in the application
dock as soon as a MOTU FireWire interface is
detected (switched on,plugged in,etc.) In the standard Mac OS X
fashion,the console
appears in the dock when
you launch it.If the Launch
option is checked (as
shown above),the icon
appears as soon as you
switch on your 896mk3
interface.If you click and
hold on the dock icon
(instead of clicking it) or
control-click,a menu of
hardware settings appears
as shown to the right.You
can view and configure any
hardwaresettingsfromthis
menu,without opening the
console window.
Click the General tab to access these settings.
Each optical bank can be config-
ured independently ADAT or
TOSLINK.Disable them when not
in use to conserve DSP and
FireWire bus bandwidth.
Choose the output pair you would
like the main outs to mirror,or
choose Main Outs to operate them
as their own independent pair.
If you have a foot switch connected to the
896mk3,these settings let you map the foot
switch to any computer keyboard key for
both the up and down position.For details
about how to set this up,see “Enable Pedal”
on page 41.
This button opens another dialog that lets
you assign your own customized names to
each 896mk3 input and output.For example,
if you have a lead vocal mic plugged into
input 1,you could name it“Lead Vox”.Your
customized names then appear in your host
audio application (if it supports Core Audio
input naming).
Lets you choose what to monitor
withthe896mk3’sprogrammable
front panel meters.
The Clip Hold Time controls how long the
top-most red LED remains illuminated after
clipping.Choose ‘Infinite’if you want to be
able to clear the LED from Digital Performer.
The Peak HoldTime controls how long the
highest illuminated LED remains lit before
going dark.

8

CHAPTER
9
1
About the 896mk3
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The 896mk3 rear panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The 896mk3 front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
16-bit and 24-bit recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
CueMix FX 32-bit floating point mixing and effects. . 13
AudioDesk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Digital Performer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Other host audio software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
OVERVIEW
The 896mk3 is a FireWire audio interface for Mac
and Windows that provides 28 separate inputs and
32 separate outputs (at 44.1 or 48kHz). Both
analog and digital I/O are offered at sample rates
up to 96 kHz, and analog recording and playback is
offered at rates up to 192 kHz.All inputs and
outputs can be accessed simultaneously. The
896mk3 consists of a standard 19-inch, double
space, rack-mountable I/O unit that connects
directly to a computer via a standard IEEE 1394
FireWire™ cable.
The 896mk3 offers the following main features:
■ Eight 24-bit XLR analog outputs
■ Eight 24-bit c analog inputs equipped with
XLR/TRS “combo” jacks
■ Eight mic preamps (one on each input)
■ Independent 48V phantom power and 20 dB
pad for each mic input
■ Independent front-panel trim for each input
■ Two extra XLR analog main outs
■ Operation on all analog I/O at standard sample
rates up to 192 kHz
■ Two banks of optical digital I/O that provide 16
channels of ADAT optical at 48 kHz, 8 channels of
S/MUX optical I/O at 96 kHz or two banks of
stereo TOSLINK at rates up to 96 kHz
■ AES/EBU digital I/O at samples rates up to
96 kHz with sample rate conversion
■ RCA S/PDIF at sample rates up to 96 kHz
■ Word clock input and output
■ On-board SMPTE synchronization via any
analog input and output
■ Two FireWire jacks for chaining multiple units
■ Foot switch input for hands-free punch-in/out
■ Two phone jacks with independent volume
control
■ Programmable master volume knob
■ CueMix™ FX no-latency mixing, monitoring
and effects processing
■ Front-panel LCD programming for the mixer
and all other settings
■ Dedicated 10-segment LED level meters for all
eight analog inputs
■ Dedicated 10-segment level meters for main outs
■ Programmable 10-segment LED level meters
that display levels for any 8-channel input or output
bank, as well as AES/EBU or S/PDIF digital I/O
■ Auto-switching international power supply
■ Stand-alone operation
■ Mac and Windows drivers for multi-channel
operation and across-the-board compatibility with
any audio software on both platforms

ABOUT THE 896MK3
10
■ AudioDesk™, full-featured audio workstation
software for Mac OS that supports both 16-bit and
24-bit recording
With a variety of I/O formats, mic preamps, no-
latency mixing and processing of live input and
synchronization capabilities, the 896mk3 is a
complete, portable “studio in a box” when used
with a Mac or Windows computer.
THE 896MK3 REAR PANEL
The 896mk3 rear panel has the following
connectors:
■ Eight 24-bit 192 kHz XLR analog outputs
■ Eight 24-bit 192 kHz“combo” (XLR + balanced
quarter-inch) analog inputs, each equipped with a
mic preamp, front-panel 48V phantom power,
front-panel pad switch and front-panel trim knob
■ Two XLR main analog outputs with volume
knob (on the front panel)
■ Two sets of optical connectors (in and out),
individually switchable among ADAT optical
“lightpipe”, 96 kHz S/MUX optical or S/PDIF
“TOSLINK”
■ AES/EBU input and output
■ RCA S/PDIF in/out
■ BNC word clock input and output
■ Two 1394 FireWire jacks
28 inputs and 32 outputs
All 896mk3 inputs and outputs can be used simul-
taneously, for a total of 28 inputs and 32 outputs at
44.1/48kHz:
* The phone jack below the MASTERVOL knob is
hard-wired to (mirrors) the XLR main outs. The
PHONES output can operate as an independent
output pair, or it can mirror any other 896mk3
output pair, such as the main outs.
† The 896mk3 optical connectors support several
standard optical I/O formats, which provide
varying channel counts. See “Optical input/
output”on page 39 for details about optical bank
operation.
With the exception of the phone jack on the front
panel labeled“(MAIN OUT)”, all inputs and
outputs are discrete. For example, using the main
outs does not“steal” an output pair from the bank
of eight XLR analog outputs. The same is true for
the headphone outs.
Analog
All 10 analog inputs and outputs are equipped with
24-bit 192 kHz A/D converters.All audio is carried
to the computer in a 24-bit data stream.
Mic/guitar preamps
All eight analog inputs are equipped with a preamp
on a combo-style connector that accepts either an
XLR or quarter-inch (guitar) plug. Individual 48V
Connection Input Output
24-bit 192kHz XLR analog 8 8
24-bit 192kHz XLR main outputs - stereo
Headphone output* - stereo
ADAT optical digital† 16 16
AES/EBU 24-bit 96kHz digital stereo stereo
RCA S/PDIF 24-bit 96kHz digital stereo stereo
Total 28 32

ABOUT THE 896MK3
11
phantom power and 20 dB pad are supplied by
separate front panel switches for each input. In
addition, each input has its own trim knob, which
provides over 60 dB of gain.
Analog input overload protection
All eight mic inputs are equipped with V-Limit™, a
hardware limiter that helps prevent digital clipping
from overloaded input signals.With V-Limit
enabled, signals can go above zero dB (with
limiting applied) to as high as +12 dB above zero
with no distortion due to digital clipping.
Additional or alternative protection can be applied
to the mic/guitar inputs by enabling the 896mk3’s
Soft Clip feature, which engages just before
clipping occurs and helps reduce perceptible
distortion.
Main Outs
The main outs are equipped with 24-bit 192kHz
D/A converters and serve as independent outputs
for the computer or for the 896mk3’s on-board
CueMix FX mixes. The main out volume can be
controlled with the front panel volume knob.
Optical
The two optical banks provide 16 channels of
ADAT optical at 44.1 or 48 kHz, 8 channels of
S/MUX optical I/O at 96 kHz or two banks of
stereo TOSLINK at rates up to 96 kHz. The banks
operate independently,including input and output,
allowing you to mix and match any optical formats.
For example, you could receive 4 channels of
96 kHz S/MUX input on Bank A while at the same
time sending 96 kHz stereo optical S/PDIF
(“TOSLINK”) from the Bank A output.
AES/EBU with sample rate conversion
The 896mk3 rear panel provides a standard
AES/EBU digital input and output that supports
digital I/O at 44.1,48, 88.2 and 96 kHz.In addition,
input or output can be sample-rate converted to
any of these sample rates in situations that call for a
different rate than the 896mk3’s global sample rate.
The AES/EBU jacks are disabled at the 4x sample
rates (176.4 and 192kHz).
S/PDIF
The 896mk3 rear panel provides S/PDIF input and
output in two different formats: RCA“coax” and
optical “TOSLINK”. The RCA jacks are dedicated
to the S/PDIF format. The TOSLINK jacks can be
used either for either TOSLINK or ADAT optical,
as discussed earlier.
Word clock
The 896mk3 provides standard word clock that can
slave to any supported sample rate. In addition,
word clock can resolve to and generate“high” and
“low”sample rates. For example, if the 896mk3
global sample rate is set to 96 kHz, the word clock
input can resolve to a“low” rate of 48 kHz.
Similarly, when the 896mk3 is operating at
192 kHz, MOTU Audio Setup lets you choose a
word clock output rate of 48 kHz (the
Force 44.1/
48kHz
setting).
On-board SMPTE synchronization
The 896mk3 can resolve directly to SMPTE time
code via any TRS analog input, without a separate
synchronizer. The 896mk3 can also generate
SMPTE time code via any XLR analog output. The
896mk3 provides a DSP-driven phase-lock engine
with sophisticated filtering that provides fast
lockup times and sub-frame accuracy.
The included MOTU SMPTE Console™ software
provides a complete set of tools for generating and
regenerating SMPTE time code, which allows you
to slave other devices to the computer. Like
CueMix FX, the synchronization features are
cross-platform and compatible with all audio
sequencer software that supports the ASIO2
sample-accurate sync protocol.

ABOUT THE 896MK3
12
1394 FireWire
The two 1394 FireWire jacks accept a standard
IEEE 1394 FireWire cable to connect the 896mk3
to a FireWire-equipped Mac or Windows
computer. The second jack can be used to daisy
chain multiple interfaces — up to four MOTU
FireWire interfaces — on a single FireWire bus. It
can also be used to connect other FireWire devices
without the need for a FireWire hub. Keep in mind,
however, that the 896mk3 uses more FireWire bus
bandwidth when one or both optical banks are
enabled, or when it operates at higher sample rates.
These operating configurations will limit the
number of devices you can daisy chain on a single
FireWire bus.
THE 896MK3 FRONT PANEL
Metering
The front panel of the MOTU 896mk3 displays two
eight-channel banks of 10-segment ladder LEDs.
The left-hand bank always shows the eight analog
inputs. The right-hand bank shows any other bank
you choose with the Meters knob: Analog out,
optical I/O (ADAT or TOSLINK) or digital I/O
(AES/EBU and S/PDIF).A status LED to the right
shows which bank you are currently viewing.You
can also adjust this setting in the MOTU Audio
Setup software.
The 896mk3 front panel also displays stereo meters
for the main analog outs.
The
Clock lights indicate the global sample rate (as
chosen in the MOTU Audio Setup software). The
Rate Convert LEDs indicate if sample rate
conversion is being applied to the AES/EBU input
or output, and if so, the rate being converted to.
Input trim knobs, phantom power & 20 dB Pad
The front-panel input trim knobs provide
independent trim for the eight analog inputs.
The phantom power switch for each input provides
48V phantom power. Up is on; down is off.
The -20 dB pad switch for each input reduces the
mic input signal going to the A/D converter by
20 dB. Up is on (pad engaged); down is off.
Headphone output and main volume control
The 896mk3 front panel provides two independent
headphone jacks with independent volume knobs,
one of which also controls the XLR main outs on
the rear panel.Alternately, this MASTER VOL
knob can be programmed to control any
combination of outputs (analog and/or digital).
For example, it can control monitor output for an
entire 5.1 or 7.1 surround mix.
Foot switch
The quarter-inch Foot Switch jack accepts a
standard foot switch.When you push the foot
switch, the 896mk3 triggers a programmable
keystroke on the computer keyboard.For example,
you could program the foot switch to toggle
recording in your host software. The MOTU Audio
Setup software lets you program any keystroke you
wish.
Programmable backlit LCD display
Any 896mk3 setting, including the powerful
CueMix FX on-board 16-bus mixer with effects,
can be accessed directly from the front panel using
the four rotary encoders and the 2x16 backlit LCD
display.
16-BIT AND 24-BIT RECORDING
The 896mk3 system handles all data with a 24-bit
signal path, regardless of the I/O format.You can
record and play back 16-bit or 24-bit audio files at
any supported sample rate via any of the 896mk3’s
analog or digital inputs and outputs. 24-bit audio
files can be recorded with any compatible host
application that supports 24-bit recording.

ABOUT THE 896MK3
13
CUEMIX FX 32-BIT FLOATING POINT
MIXING AND EFFECTS
All 896mk3 inputs and outputs can be routed to the
on-board CueMix FX 16-bus (8 stereo) digital
mixer driven by hardware-based DSP with 32-bit
floating point precision. The mixer allows you to
apply no-latency effects processing to inputs,
outputs or busses directly in the 896mk3 hardware,
independent of the computer. Effects can even be
applied when the 896mk3 is operating stand-alone
(without a computer) as a complete rack-mounted
mixer. Input signals to the computer can be
recorded wet, dry, or dry with a wet monitor mix
(for musicians during recording, for example).
Effects include reverb, parametric EQ and
compression/limiting. The 896mk3’s Classic
Reverb™ provides five different room types, three
frequency bands with adjustable crossover points,
shelf filtering and reverb lengths up to 60-seconds.
Two forms of compression are supplied: a standard
compressor with conventional threshold/ratio/
attack/release/gain controls and the Leveler™, an
accurate model of the legendary LA-2A optical
compressor, which provides vintage, musical
automatic gain control.
CueMix FX also provides 7-band parametric EQ
modeled after British analog console EQs,
featuring 4 filter styles (gain/Q profiles) to
effectively cover a wide range of audio material.
Low-pass and high-pass filters are also supplied
with slopes that range from 6 to 36 dB. The EQ
employs extremely high precision 64-bit floating
point processing.
The 838mk3’s flexible effects architecture allows
you to apply EQ and compression on every input
and output (a total of 58 channels), with enough
DSP resources for at least one band of parametric
EQ and compression on every channel at 48 kHz.
However, DSP resources are allocated dynamically
and a DSP meter in the CueMix FX software allows
you to keep tabs on the 896mk3’s processing
resources. Each input, output and mix bus
provides a send to the Classic Reverb processor,
which then feeds reverb returns to mix busses and
outputs, with a selectable split point between them
to prevent send/return feedback loops.
AUDIODESK
AudioDesk is a full-featured, 24-bit audio
workstation software package included with the
896mk3 system (for Mac only).AudioDesk
provides multi-channel waveform editing,
automated virtual mixing, graphic editing of ramp
automation, real-time effects plug-ins with 32-bit
floating point processing, crossfades, support for
many third-party audio plug-ins, background
processing of file-based operations, sample-
accurate editing and placement of audio, and more.
DIGITAL PERFORMER
The 896mk3 system is fully integrated with
MOTU’s award-winning Digital Performer audio
sequencer software package.
OTHER HOST AUDIO SOFTWARE
The 896mk3 system includes a standard Mac OS X
CoreAudio driver for multichannel I/O with any
audio application that supports CoreAudio.

ABOUT THE 896MK3
14

CHAPTER
15
2
Packing List and
Mac System Requirements
PACKING LIST
The 896mk3 ships with the items listed below. If
any of these items are not present in your 896mk3
box when you first open it, please immediately
contact your dealer or MOTU.
■ One 896mk3 I/O rack unit
■ One 6-pin to 6-pin IEEE 1394“FireWire” cable
■ Power cord
■ One 896mk3 Mac/Windows manual
■ One AudioDesk manual
■ One cross-platform installer CD
■ Product registration card
MAC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
The 896mk3 system requires the following Mac
system:
■ A G4/500MHz Power Mac or faster equipped
with at least one FireWire port
■ At least 256MB (megabytes) of RAM (512MB or
more is recommended)
■ Mac OS X (version 10.4.9 or later)
■ A large hard drive (preferably at least 100GB)
PLEASE REGISTER TODAY!
Please register your 896mk3 today. There are two
ways to register.
■ Visit www.motu.com/register
OR
■ Fill out and mail the included product
registration card
As a registered user, you will be eligible to receive
technical support and announcements about
product enhancements as soon as they become
available. Only registered users receive these
special update notices, so please register today.
Be sure to do the same for the included AudioDesk
software, which must be registered separately.You
can do so online or by filling out and mailing the
included software registration card found at the
beginning of your AudioDesk manual. Please be
sure to register AudioDesk as well, so that you will
be eligible to receive technical support and
announcements about AudioDesk software
enhancements as soon as they become available.
Thank you for taking the time to register your new
MOTU products!

PACKING LIST AND MAC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
16

CHAPTER
17
3
Installing the 896mk3 Hardware
OVERVIEW
Here’s an overview for installing the 896mk3:
Connect the 896mk3 interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Connect the 896mk3 to the computer.
Connect audio inputs and outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Make optical and analog connections as desired.
Connect a foot switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Connect a footswitch to trigger any keystroke.
A typical 896mk3 setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
An example setup for computer-based mixing/FX.
Making sync connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
If you need to resolve the 896mk3 with other
devices, make the necessary sync connections.
Syncing to SMPTE time code directly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Syncing to video and/or SMPTE time code using a
synchronizer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Syncing S/PDIF devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Syncing optical devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Syncing AES/EBU devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Syncing word clock devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Connecting multiple MOTU FireWire interfaces . . . . . 29
CONNECT THE 896MK3 INTERFACE
1 Plug one end of the 896mk3 FireWire cable
(included) into the FireWire socket on the
computer as shown below in Figure 3-1.
☛
You can connect the 896mk3 to an 800Mbit
“FireWire B”port using a 9-pin to 6-pin FireWire B
cable (not shown). However, the 896mk3 will still
operate at its specified 400Mbit (FireWire A) data
rate.
2 Plug the other end of the FireWire cable into the
896mk3 I/O as shown below in Figure 3-1.
Figure 3-1: Connecting the 896mk3 to the computer.

INSTALLING THE 896MK3 HARDWARE
18
CONNECT AUDIO INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
The 896mk3 audio interface has the following
audio input and output connectors:
■ 8 combo-style XLR/quarter-inch analog inputs
■ 8 XLR analog outputs
■ 2 XLR main outs
■ AES/EBU input/output
■ S/PDIF input/output
■ ADAT optical input/output
Here are a few things you should keep in mind as
you are making these connections to other devices.
Analog inputs
Connect a microphone, guitar,instrument or other
analog input to any XLR/quarter-inch combo jack
with either a standard mic cable or a balanced cable
with a quarter-inch plug.
Phantom power
If you are connecting a condenser microphone or
other device that requires phantom power, flip up
the 48V switch on the front panel to engage
phantom power.
Tri m
Both the low-impedance XLR mic input and the
high-impedance quarter-inch guitar input are
equipped with over 60 dB gain. Use the
corresponding front panel trim knob to adjust the
input level as needed for each input.
20 dB pad
If the input signal is too hot with the trim turned all
the way down, engage (flip up) the 20dB pad
switch for the input on the front panel.
Analog outputs
For the XLR outputs, use high-quality shielded
cables. These outputs are referenced to +19 dBu.
Main outs
The XLR main outputs serve as independent
outputs. From the factory, the main out volume is
controlled by the MASTER VOL knob on the front
panel, although this knob can be programmed to
control any combination of outputs.For details,see
“The Monitor Group” on page 97. In a standard
studio configuration, the main outs are intended
for a pair of studio monitors, but they can also be
used as additional outputs for any purpose.
ADAT optical
The 896mk3 rear panel provides two sets of ADAT
optical (“lightpipe”) connectors: Bank A and B
(Figure 3-3). Each bank provides an input and
output connector. All four connectors can operate
independently and offer two different optical
formats: ADAT optical or TOSLINK (optical
S/PDIF). For example, you could connect
8-channel ADAT optical input from your digital
mixer and stereo TOSLINK output to an effects
processor.
Figure 3-2: the 896mk3 front panel.

INSTALLING THE 896MK3 HARDWARE
19
The 896mk3 supplies +12dB of digital trim (boost)
for each optical input, which can be adjusted from
CueMix FX (“Input trim” on page 81) or the front
panel (“The IN (inputs) menu” on page 48).
Below is a summary of optical formats:
Optical operation at 44.1 or 48 kHz
When configured for ADAT“lightpipe”, an optical
connector provides 8 channels at 44.1 and 48 kHz.
ADAT optical operation at 88.2 or 96 kHz
When configured for ADAT“lightpipe”, an optical
connector provides four channels at 88.2 or 96 kHz
(2x sample rates).When using the ADAT lightpipe
format at a 2x rate, be sure to choose either Type I
or Type II operation, as explained in “ADAT SMUX
Type” on page 47.
ADAT optical operation at 88.2 or 96 kHz
When configured for ADAT“lightpipe”, an optical
connector provides four channels at 88.2 or 96 kHz
(2x sample rates).When using the ADAT lightpipe
format at a 2x rate, be sure to choose either Type I
or Type II operation, as explained in “ADAT SMUX
Type” on page 47.
Choosing a clock source for optical connections
Be sure to review the digital audio clocking issues,
as explained in “Syncing optical devices”on
page 25.
S/PDIF
If you make a S/PDIF digital audio connection to
another device, be sure to review the digital audio
clocking issues, as explained in “Syncing S/PDIF
devices” on page 24.
The 896mk3 supplies +12dB of digital trim (boost)
for the S/PDIF input pair, which can be adjusted
from CueMix FX (“Input trim” on page 81) or the
front panel (“The IN (inputs) menu” on page 48).
AES/EBU
Connect standard AES/EBU input and output. 2x
sample rates (88.2 & 96 kHz) are supported; 4x
samples rates (176.4 or 192kHz) are not supported.
Be sure to review the digital audio clocking issues,
as explained in “Syncing AES/EBU devices”on
page 25.
The 896mk3 supplies +12dB of digital trim (boost)
for the AES/EBU input pair, which can be adjusted
from CueMix FX (“Input trim” on page 81) or the
front panel (“The IN (inputs) menu” on page 48).
CONNECT A FOOT SWITCH
If you would like to use a foot switch with your
896mk3, connect it to the FOOT SWITCH jack.
See “Quick Reference: MOTU Audio Setup” on
page 7 for information about how to program the
foot switch to trigger any computer keystroke you
wish.
Format 44.1 or 48 kHz 88.2 or 96 kHz
ADAT optical 8 channels 4 channels
TOSLINK stereo stereo
Figure 3-3: the 896mk3 rear panel.

INSTALLING THE 896MK3 HARDWARE
20
A TYPICAL 896MK3 SETUP
Here is a typical 896mk3 studio setup. This rig can
be operated without a conventional mixer.All
mixing and processing can be done either in the
896mk3, in the computer with audio software, or
both. During recording, you can use the 896mk3’s
CueMix™ FX mixer to apply reverb, EQ and
compression to what you are recording and
monitor it via the main outs, headphone outs, or
any other output pair.You can control everything
from the included CueMix Console software.
Figure 3-4: A typical 896mk3 studio setup.
Pedal jack (on front panel)
mic
AES/EBU
DAT deck
quarter-inch analog outs
synthesizer
monitors
guitar
quarter-inch analog outs
synths, samplers, effects units, etc.
sends to
FX unit (in
rack
below)
headphones
Headphone jack (on front panel)
FireWire
otheroutputs
(stage
monitors,
etc.)
foot switch
Mac
MOTU 8pre and/or
other optical devices
Optical output