MOTU 1248 User manual

™
1248
User Guide
1280 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Business voice: [phone]
Business fax: [phone]
Web site: www.motu.com
Tech support: www.motu.com/support
™
8M
™
16A
MOTU AVB Switch
™
Title Page

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 1248, 8M, 16A, and MOTU AVB SWITCH (“PRODUCT”)
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 REDUCETHE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCETO 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 REMOVING THE PLUG TO OR FROM THE OUTLET.
WARNING: IF NOT PROPERLY GROUNDED THE MOTU PRODUCT COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK.
The MOTU product 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 product 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 FROMTHE ADAPTER MUST BE CONNECTEDTO 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 product plug.
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
1. Read these instructions. All the safety and operating instructions should be read before operating the product.
2. Keep these instructions.These safety instructions and the product owner’s manual should be retained for future reference.
3. Heed all warnings. All warnings on the product 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 product near water.
6. Cleaning - Unplug the product 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 product 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 product 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 product 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 product 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 product. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
16. Surge protection - Unplug the product 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 product 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 product, the product 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 product 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 product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in safe operating conditions.
ENVIRONMENT, HEAT AND VENTILATION
Operating Temperature: 10°C to 40°C (50°F to 104°).The product should be situated away from heat sources or other equipment that produces heat. When installing the product in a rack or any other location, be sure there is adequate
space around the product to ensure proper ventilation. Improper ventilation will cause overheating and can damage the unit.
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 • 0.5A max
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

III
Contents Contents
Part 1: Getting Started
7
Quick Start Guide
9
1248 Front Panel
10 1248 Rear Panel
11
8M Front Panel
12
8M Rear Panel
13
16A Front Panel
14
16A Rear Panel
15
MOTU AVB Switch
17
MOTU Pro Audio Control Web App
31 About Your MOTU AVB Audio Interface
35
Packing List and System Requirements
37
Software Installation
41
Hardware Installation
Part 2: Using your MOTU interface
65
Presets
69 The Front Panel LCD
73
Working with Host Audio Software
81
Mixer Effects
89
MOTU Audio Tools
105
Networking
Part 3: Appendices
113 Troubleshooting
115
Audio Specifications
121
Mixer Schematics
125
Updating Firmware
127
OSC Support
129
Index

About the Mark of the Unicorn License Agreement and
Limited Warranty on Software
TO PERSONS WHO PURCHASE OR USETHIS PRODUCT:carefully read all the
terms and conditions of the “click-wrap” license agreement presented to you when
you install the software. Using the software or this documentation indicates your
acceptance of the terms and conditions of that license agreement.
Mark of the Unicorn, Inc. (“MOTU”) owns both this program and its documentation.
Both the program and the documentation are protected under applicable copyright,
trademark, and trade-secret laws.Your right to use the program and the
documentation are limited to the terms and conditions described in the license
agreement.
Reminder of the terms of your license
This summary is not your license agreement, just a reminder of its terms.The actual
license can be read and printed by running the installation program for the software.
That license agreement is a contract, and clicking “Accept” binds you and MOTU to
all its terms and conditions. In the event anything contained in this summary is
incomplete or in conflict with the actual click-wrap license agreement, the terms of the
click-wrap agreement prevail.
YOU MAY: (a) use the enclosed program on a single computer; (b) physically transfer
the program from one computer to another provided that the program is used on only
one computer at a time and that you remove any copies of the program from the
computer from which the program is being transferred; (c) make copies of the
program solely for backup purposes.You must reproduce and include the copyright
notice on a label on any backup copy.
YOU MAY NOT: (a) distribute copies of the program or the documentation to others;
(b) rent, lease or grant sublicenses or other rights to the program; (c) provide use of
the program in a computer service business, network, time-sharing, multiple CPU or
multiple user arrangement without the prior written consent of MOTU; (d) translate,
adapt, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise alter the program or
related documentation without the prior written consent of MOTU.
MOTU warrants to the original licensee that the disk(s) on which the program is
recorded be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for a
period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase as evidenced by a copy of your
receipt. If failure of the disk has resulted from accident, abuse or misapplication of the
product, then MOTU shall have no responsibility to replace the disk(s) under this
Limited Warranty.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY AND RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT IS IN LIEU OF,
AND YOU HEREBY WAIVE, ANY AND ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, BOTH
EXPRESS AND IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.THE
LIABILITY OF MOTU PURSUANT TO THIS LIMITED WARRANTY SHALL BE
LIMITED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE DISK(S), AND IN NO
EVENT SHALL MOTU OR ITS SUPPLIERS, LICENSORS, OR AFFILIATES BE
LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA OR
DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE, OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY THIRD
PARTIES EVEN IF MOTU HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGES.THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS
WHICH MAY VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW
THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Update Policy
In order to be eligible to obtain updates of the program, you must complete and return
the attached Mark of the Unicorn Purchaser Registration Card to MOTU.
Copyright Notice
Copyright © 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 by Mark of the Unicorn, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a
retrieval system, or translated into any human or computer language, in any form or
by any means whatsoever, without express written permission of Mark of the
Unicorn, Inc., 1280 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138, U.S.A.
Limited Warranty on Hardware
Mark of the Unicorn, Inc. and S&S Research (“MOTU/S&S”) warrant this equipment
against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of TWO (2) YEARS from
the date of original retail purchase.This warranty applies only to hardware products;
MOTU software is licensed and warranted pursuant to separate written statements.
If you discover a defect, first write or call Mark of the Unicorn at [phone] to
obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization Number.No service will be performed on
any product returned without prior authorization. MOTU will, at its option, repair or
replace the product at no charge to you, provided you return it during the warranty
period, with transportation charges prepaid, to Mark of the Unicorn, Inc., 1280
Massachusetts Avenue, MA 02138.You must use the product’s original packing
material for in shipment, and insure the shipment for the value of the product. Please
include your name, address, telephone number, a description of the problem, and
the original, dated bill of sale with the returned unit and print the Return Merchandise
Authorization Number on the outside of the box below the shipping address.
This warranty does not apply if the equipment has been damaged by accident,
abuse, misuse, or misapplication; has been modified without the written permission
of MOTU, or if the product serial number has been removed or defaced.
ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE
LIMITED IN DURATION TO TWO (2) YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE
ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASE OF THIS PRODUCT.
THE WARRANTY AND REMEDIES SET FORTH ABOVE ARE EXCLUSIVE
AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHERS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
No MOTU/S&S dealer, agent, or employee is authorized to make any modification,
extension, or addition to this warranty.
MOTU/S&S ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY BREACH OF
WARRANTY, OR UNDER ANY LEGAL THEORY, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS,
DOWNTIME, GOODWILL, DAMAGE OR REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT
AND PROPERTY AND COST OF RECOVERING REPROGRAMMING, OR
REPRODUCING ANY PROGRAM OR DATA STORED IN OR USED WITH
MOTU/S&S PRODUCTS.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties or liability for
incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not
apply to you.This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other
rights which vary from state to state.
MOTU, AudioDesk, Mark of the Unicorn and the unicorn silhouette logo are
trademarks of Mark of the Unicorn, Inc.
Thunderbolt and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S.
and/or other countries.
This equipment has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation.This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual,
may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio
or television equipment reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by any combination of the following measures:
• Relocate or reorient the receiving antenna
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver
• Plug the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected
If necessary, you can consult a dealer or experienced radio/television technician for additional
assistance.
PLEASE NOTE: only equipment certified to comply with Class B (computer input/output devices,
terminals, printers, etc.) should be attached to this equipment, and it must have shielded interface
cables in order to comply with the Class B FCC limits on RF emissions.
WARNING: changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

Part 1
GettingStarted

CHAPTER
7
Quick Start Guide
Thank you for purchasing a MOTU AVB interface!
Follow these easy steps to get started quickly.
1 Download and run the MOTU Pro Audio
Installer found here:
http://www.motu.com/proaudio
2 (Optional) For access to your MOTU interface
from your iPad or iPhone, download the MOTU
Discovery app from the Apple App Store.
☛
Your iPhone and iPad must be on the same
WiFi network as your computer.
3 Connect your MOTU interface to your
computer with a USB cable (included) or
Thunderbolt cable (sold separately). If you have a
Thunderbolt-equipped Mac running OS X El
Capitan (10.11) or later, you can alternately
connect your MOTU interface to the Mac’s
Ethernet port with a standard CAT-5e or CAT-6
Ethernet cable (sold separately).
4 Switch on your MOTU interface.
5 Open the MOTU Pro Audio Control web app by
doing one of the following:
■
Choose your interface from the MOTU
Discovery app menu (found in the Mac menu bar
or Windows taskbar).
■ Alternately, you can launch the MOTU Pro Audio
WebUI Setup
shortcut found on the Windows
desktop or in
Start menu> All Programs> MOTU .
■ From your iPad or iPhone, launch the MOTU
Discovery app, and tap your interface.
■
You should now see the MOTU Pro Audio
Control web app in your browser, as shown on
page 18. If not, visit Appendix A,“Trouble-
shooting” (page 113).
■
For advanced network options, and device
discovery from any modern browser, see
chapter 10,“Networking” (page 105).
6 Click Quick Setup and choose a preset.
Mac Windows

8

1248 Front Panel
1. MAIN OUT volume control.This setting,along with all
front panel settings,can also be adjusted from the
MOTU Pro Audio Control web app.
2. MONITOR OUT volume control.
3. PHONE OUTPUTS with volume control.
4. GUITAR INPUTS with trim control.These are high-
impedance guitar inputs that provide authentic guitar
amp volume response and feel.
5. MIC INPUT preamp gain,switchable 48V phantom
power, and optional -20 dB pad switches for each mic
input.The Precision DigitalTrim™ knob provides 63 dB
of preamp gain.Turn the knob to see the gain adjust-
ments on a large-scale,horizontal meter.
6. ANALOG INPUT METERS for the four mic inputs,two
guitar inputs,and eight balanced (TRS) quarter-inch
inputs on the rear panel.
7. ANALOG OUTPUT METERS for the eight balanced (TRS)
quarter-inch outputs,main outs,and monitor outs.
8. S/PDIF DIGITAL METERS (stereo input and output).
9. ADAT OPTICAL METERS.At 1x sample rates (44.1 or 48
kHz),there are sixteen channels of input and output.At
2x (88.2 or 96 kHz),there are eight channels.
10. The CLOCK section displays the current operating
sample rate and clock mode (source) for the unit.
11. POWER SWITCH:Thunderbolt,AVB, and USB are“plug-
and-play”protocols.That means you can turn the 1248
off and back on without restarting your computer.
12. The multi-purpose backlit LCD displays level meters for
all inputs and outputs.It can also show device settings
and network information,using the knobs to the left.
13. Push SELECT to enter the LCD menu.Turn SELECT to
scroll through menu options.Push again to descend
into the submenus,if applicable.To choose the current
setting,push SELECT a third time.Push BACK to return
to the previous menu level,and do so repeatedly to exit
the menu altogether.
14. Push ID to display network settings for the device,
including its IP address.
15. PushTRIM to enter trim mode.In this mode,the LCD
numerically displays gain settings for eight channels at
a time.Use the front panel knobs to adjust each
channel,from left to right,starting with the MAIN
volume knob.
121314
1065431 2 7 8 9 11
15

1248 Rear Panel
1
1. The 1248 is equipped with an auto-switching interna-
tional power supply.
2. BNC word clock jacks.Use them for a variety of applica-
tions,such as digital transfers with devices that cannot
slave to the clock supplied by their digital I/O connection
with the 1248.
3. These ADAT optical“lightpipe”jacks provide 16 channels
of 24-bit ADAT optical digital I/O at 1x sample rates (44.1
or 48 kHz) and 8 channels at 2x sample rates (88.2 or 96
kHz).They are disabled at higher sample rates.The IN
and OUT ports on the right provide channels 1-8 (or 1-4
at 2x sample rates),and the left-hand ports provide
channels 9-16 (or 5-8 at 2x sample rates).
4. These jacks provide stereo, 24-bit S/PDIF digital input
and output at all supported sample rates (up to 96 kHz).
The input provides sample rate conversion,as explained
in “S/PDIF with sample rate conversion”on page 53.
5. The MONITOR OUT pair provides auxiliary stereo analog
output for secondary studio monitors,or any other
desired destination.These connectors are balanced (TRS)
quarter-inch connectors that can also accept an unbal-
anced plug (with the ring disconnected).Control volume
from the MOTU Pro Audio Control web app or from the
front panel volume control.
6. The MAIN OUT pair provides stereo analog output for
primary (powered) studio monitors or PA speakers,or
any other desired destination.These connectors are
balanced (TRS) quarter-inch connectors that can also
accept an unbalanced plug (with the ring disconnected).
Control volume from the web app or from the front panel
volume control.
7. The 1248’s eight analog outputs are balanced (TRS)
quarter-inch connectors that can also accept an unbal-
anced plug (with the ring disconnected).The output trim
can be adjusted from the Output Setting section of the
Device Tab in the MOTU Pro Audio Control web app
software.
8. These eight analog inputs are balanced (TRS) quarter-
inch connectors that can also accept an unbalanced plug.
Use with line level signals up to +24 dBu,including
synthesizers,drum machines,effects processors,etc.
These inputs are also equipped with the 1248’s Precision
Digital Trim™ feature:digitally controlled analog trims
that let you adjust input level in 1 dB increments from
the included MOTU Pro Audio Control web app software.
9. Connect up to four microphones here.Each input
provides individual preamp gain (63 dB),switchable 48V
phantom power, and an optional -20 dB pad.
10. Connect the 1248 to the computer here via either
Thunderbolt or USB 2.0,using a standard Thunderbolt or
USB cable.For details, see “Setup for multipleThunder-
bolt and USB interfaces”on page 46.
11. This AVB Ethernet port provides industry standard IEEE
802.1 network connectivity to other network devices.
Examples include:
■ Another 1248 or any other MOTU AVB-equipped audio
interface,such as the 1248,8M,16A,24Ai,24Ao,112D,
Monitor 8, etc.
■ A standard Ethernet hub orWi-Fi router (for internet
connection and communication with the MOTU Pro
Audio Control web app software).
■ A standard AVB Ethernet switch for high-speed,low-
latency, high-capacity audio connectivity to an AVB
audio network.
■ A recent-generation Mac (any Mac with aThunderbolt
port) running OS X El Capitan (10.11) or later.This
allows you to operate the 1248 as an audio interface
over Ethernet.
2 3 7 8 94 5 6
11 10

8M Front Panel
1. HEADPHONE JACK with volume control.
2. MIC INPUT preamp gain,switchable 48V phantom
power, and optional -20 dB pad for each mic input.The
Precision DigitalTrim™ knob provides 53 dB of preamp
gain.Turn the knob to see the gain adjustments on a
large-scale,horizontal meter.
3. INPUT METERS for the eight mic inputs.If the 8M’s
V-Limit™ feature is engaged for a mic input,andV-Limit
kicks in,you’ll see a compression meter extend
downwards from the top right of the meter,as shown on
channels 1 and 6 in the illustration above.For more
information,see “8M mic/guitar input meters with
V-Limit™ compressor”on page 69.Also see “Soft Clip™”
on page 52.
4. OUTPUT METERS for the eight balancedTRS analog
outputs.
5. ADAT OPTICAL input and output metering.At 1x sample
rates (44.1 or 48 kHz),there are sixteen channels of input
and output.At 2x (88.2 or 96 kHz),there are eight
channels.
6. The CLOCK section displays the current operating sample
rate and clock mode (source) for the unit.
7. POWER SWITCH:Thunderbolt,AVB,and USB are“plug-
and-play”protocols.That means you can turn the 8M off
and back on without restarting your computer.
8. The multi-purpose backlit LCD displays level meters for
all inputs and outputs.It can also show device settings
and network information,using the knobs to the left.
9. Push SELECT to enter the LCD menu.Turn SELECT to scroll
through menu options.Push again to descend into the
submenus,if applicable.To choose the current setting,
push SELECT a third time.Push BACK to return to the
previous menu level,and do so repeatedly to exit the
menu altogether.
10. Push ID to display network settings for the device,
including its IP address.
11. PushTRIM to enter trim mode.In this mode,the LCD
numerically displays gain settings for eight channels at a
time.Use the front panel knobs to adjust each channel.
7
89
10
632
14 5
11

8M Rear Panel
1. The 8M is equipped with an auto-switching interna-
tional power supply.
2. BNC word clock jacks.Use them for a variety of applica-
tions,such as digital transfers with devices that cannot
slave to the clock supplied by their digital I/O connection
with the 8M.
3. These ADAT optical“lightpipe”jacks provide 16 channels
of 24-bit ADAT optical digital I/O at 1x sample rates (44.1
or 48 kHz) and 8 channels at 2x sample rates (88.2 or 96
kHz).They are disabled at higher sample rates.The IN
and OUT ports on the right provide channels 1-8 (or 1-4),
and the left-hand ports provide channels 9-16 (or 5-8).
4. The 8M’s eight analog outputs are balanced TRS quarter-
inch connectors that can also accept an unbalanced plug
(with the ring disconnected).They are equipped with
very high quality 24-bit 192 kHz converters.The output
trim can be adjusted from the Output Setting section of
the Device Tab in the MOTU Pro Audio Control web app
software.
5. These XLR/TRS combo jacks accept either a mic cable or a
quarter-inch cable,balanced or unbalanced, from a
guitar or line input.Use the front panel controls to adjust
individual preamp gain,48V phantom power,and an
optional -20 dB pad for each mic input.The quarter-inch
plug is equipped with a high-impedance circuit for
guitar input.
6. Connect the 8M to the computer here via either
Thunderbolt or USB 2.0,using a standard Thunderbolt or
USB cable.For details, see “Setup for multipleThunder-
bolt and USB interfaces”on page 46.
7. This AVB Ethernet port provides industry standard IEEE
802.1 network connectivity to other network devices.
Examples include:
■ Another 8M or any other MOTU AVB-equipped audio
interface,such as the 1248,8M,16A,24Ai,24Ao,112D,
Monitor 8, etc.
■ A standard Ethernet hub orWi-Fi router (for internet
connection and communication with the MOTU Pro
Audio Control web app software).
■ A standard AVB Ethernet switch for high-speed,low-
latency, high-capacity audio connectivity to an AVB
audio network.
■ A recent-generation Mac (any Mac with aThunderbolt
port) running OS X El Capitan (10.11) or later.This
allows you to operate the 8M as an audio interface over
Ethernet.
4 51 2 3
7 6

16A Front Panel
1. ANALOG INPUT METERS for the sixteen balanced (TRS)
quarter-inch inputs.
2. ANALOG OUTPUT METERS for the sixteen balanced (TRS)
quarter-inch outputs.
3. ADAT OPTICAL input and output metering.At 1x sample
rates (44.1 or 48 kHz),there are sixteen channels of input
and output.At 2x (88.2 or 96 kHz),there are eight
channels.
4. The CLOCK section displays the current operating sample
rate and clock mode (source) for the unit.
5. POWER SWITCH:Thunderbolt,AVB,and USB are“plug-
and-play”protocols.That means you can turn the 16A off
and back on without restarting your computer.
6. Push SEL (select) to enter the LCD menu.Push the
ARROW buttons to scroll through menu options.Push
again to descend into the submenus, if applicable.To
choose the current setting, push SELECT a third time.
Push BACK to return to the previous menu level,and do
so repeatedly to exit the menu altogether.
7. Push ID to display network settings for the device,
including its IP address.
67
431 52

16A Rear Panel
1. The 16A is equipped with an auto-switching interna-
tional power supply.
2. BNC word clock jacks.Use them for a variety of applica-
tions,such as digital transfers with devices that cannot
slave to the clock supplied by their digital I/O connection
with the 16A.
3. These ADAT optical“lightpipe”jacks provide 16 channels
of 24-bit ADAT optical digital I/O at 1x sample rates (44.1
or 48 kHz) and 8 channels at 2x sample rates (88.2 or 96
kHz).They are disabled at higher sample rates.The IN
and OUT ports on the right provide channels 1-8 (or 1-4),
and the left-hand ports provide channels 9-16 (or 5-8).
4. The 16A’s sixteen analog outputs are balancedTRS
quarter-inch connectors that can also accept an unbal-
anced plug (with the ring disconnected).The output trim
can be adjusted from the Output Setting section of the
Device Tab in the MOTU Pro Audio Control web app
software.
5. These sixteen analog inputs are balanced TRS quarter-
inch connectors that can also accept an unbalanced plug.
Use with line level signals up to +24 dBu,including
synthesizers,drum machines,effects processors,etc.
These inputs are also equipped with the 16A’s Precision
Digital Trim™ feature:digitally controlled analog trims
that let you adjust input level in 1 dB increments from
the included MOTU Pro Audio Control web app software.
6. Connect the 16A to the computer here via either
Thunderbolt or USB 2.0,using a standard Thunderbolt or
USB cable.For details, see “Setup for multipleThunder-
bolt and USB interfaces”on page 46.
7. This AVB Ethernet port provides industry standard IEEE
802.1 network connectivity to other network devices.
Examples include:
■ Another 16A or any other MOTU AVB-equipped audio
interface,such as the 1248,8M,16A,24Ai,24Ao,112D,
Monitor 8, etc.
■ A standard Ethernet hub orWi-Fi router (for internet
connection and communication with the MOTU Pro
Audio Control web app software).
■ A standard AVB Ethernet switch for high-speed,low-
latency, high-capacity audio connectivity to an AVB
audio network.
■ A recent-generation Mac (any Mac with aThunderbolt
port) running OS X El Capitan (10.11) or later.This
allows you to operate the 16A as an audio interface
over Ethernet.
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MOTU AVB Switch
1. Use these 1 gigabit AVB NETWORK ports to connect any of the following:
■ MOTU AVB interfaces (1248,8M and 16A)
■ Another MOTU AVB Switch (to extend the network)
■ A 3rd-party AVB switch
■ An Ethernet device,Wi-Fi router or Ethernet network
■ A third-party AVB device
2. This standard Ethernet port can be used to connect a standard 10/100/1Gb Ethernet
device,Wi-Fi router or Ethernet network.DO NOT connect AVB devices to this port; it does
not support AVB.
3. Connect the included 15V DC power supply here.Alternately, you can use any power
supply that conforms to the indicated specifications.
4. The front panel LEDs indicate signal activity for each port.When a 1 gigabit device is
connected to a port ,the 1 Gb LED illuminates.
NOTE:When making network connections,use shielded CAT-5e or CAT-6 cables (a higher
grade cable).For local connections,patch cables can be used,but will reduce the maximum
total cable run length.
The MOTU AVB Switch provides deep functionality that goes beyond
a standard Ethernet switch.
■ No configuration is necessary.The switch configures itself and manages all device
discovery, configuration,and system resource allocation.
■ The switch establishes and maintains extremely accurate timing and synchronization
among all connected devices.
■ The switch negotiates audio routing throughout the network and guarantees that audio
integrity is maintained,regardless of external (non AVB) network traffic.
■ The switch consolidates audio,synchronization,and control together.
For more information,see chapter 10,“Networking”(page 105).
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16

CHAPTER
17
MOTU Pro Audio Control Web App
OVERVIEW
MOTU Pro Audio Control is a web app that gives
you complete control over your MOTU audio
interface.If you have several MOTUAVB interfaces
networked together, such as the 1248, 16A and 8M,
you can control them all. If you are working with a
large-scale network of many MOTU AVB
interfaces, you can access and control any device
on the network.
IT’S NOT ON YOUR HARD DRIVE
The MOTU Pro Audio Control web app is served
from the MOTU interface hardware itself,therefore
it is not an application on your computer’s hard
drive. Instead, access it from the
MOTU Discovery
app (in the Mac menu bar or Windows taskbar),
the
MOTU Pro Audio WebUI Setup shortcut
(Windows only) or through your web browser.
USE YOUR FAVORITE WEB BROWSER
The MOTU ProAudio Control web app runs in any
modern web browser on any device connected to
your MOTU interface, either directly or wirelessly
through a WiFi network.You can use any device
you wish: a desktop computer, laptop, iPad, tablet,
iPhone or smart phone. If it can run a web browser,
it can run the web app.You can use any browser
you prefer: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc. The latest
versions are strongly recommended.
CONTROL FROM MULTIPLE DEVICES
You can run the web app on multiple host devices
simultaneously.
RUN THE INSTALLER, GET THE APP
Visit www.motu.com/proaudio to get the latest
MOTU Pro Audio Installer and run it on your
computer to install the
MOTU Discovery app,
MOTU Pro Audio WebUI Setup shortcut (Windows
only) and other software.Visit the Apple App Store
to install the discovery app on your iPad or iPhone.
MAKE HARDWARE AND NETWORK
CONNECTIONS
Connect your MOTU interface to your computer
or laptop with a Thunderbolt or USB cable. Make
sure your iPad, iPhone, tablet or smartphone is
connected to the same WiFi network as your
computer or device.You can use any network
connection scenario explained in “Setup for web
app control” on page 47.
LAUNCHING THE WEB APP
To launch the web app, do any of the following:
■ Choose your interface from the MOTU
Discovery app menu (in the Mac menu bar or
Windows taskbar, as shown on page 7) or launch
the
MOTU Pro Audio WebUI Setup shortcut
(Windows only).
■ From your iPad or iPhone, launch the MOTU
Discovery app.
■ In your favorite web browser, type this URL:
localhost:1280. (This URL requires a Thunderbolt
or USB connection to your MOTU interface.)
■ If the Ethernet port on your interface is
connected to your Ethernet orWi-Fi network,type
the unit’s IP address (see below) into your browser.
You should now see the MOTU Pro Audio Control
web app in your browser, as shown on page 18. If
not visit Appendix A,“Troubleshooting”
(page 113).
Obtaining your MOTU device’s IP address
On the front panel of the interface, push the ID
knob or button once. The LCD now displays the
unit’s IP address, which should look something like
this:
“IP: 192.168.1.209”.

MOTU PRO AUDIO CONTROL WEB APP
18
DEVICE TAB
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1. If you have two or more MOTU AVB
interfaces,the Devices list lets you
choose the one you are currently
controlling with the web app.
2. See “Touch Console”on page 28.
3. The Aux Mixing tab lets you view
each Aux bus in the mixer, by itself.
4. The Mixing tab gives you access to
the mixing and DSP in the interface.
5. The Routing tab displays a grid
matrix,where you can make direct
connections between inputs and
outputs,your computer, the mixer,
and network audio streams,if
networked interfaces are connected.
6. The Device tab has settings for the
hardware itself,such as mic input
phantom power and preamp gain.
7. Expands and collapses the sidebar.
8. Lets you create,save,recall and
manage presets for your MOTU AVB
interface.These presets capture and
recall the complete state of the
device (all settings in all tabs).
9. Choose the desired sample rate.
Make sure your host audio software
is set to the same rate.]
10. The Quick Setup button prompts
factory presets used to configure
your interface for a specific applica-
tion.See Chapter 6 for details.
11. Click to rename the interface.To
restore the default name,delete the
current name.
12. Click this device ID button to identify
the unit you are currently viewing
and controlling with the web app
software.The front panel LCD on the
hardware itself will flash the name
of the device,and its name will also
flash in the Device list (1).
13. If an update is available for your
device,and the computer you are
viewing it from is connected to the
internet,you’ll be notified here.Click
More Info to learn what’s new and
start the update process.Firmware
updating requires a network
connection.See Appendix D,
“Updating Firmware”(page 125).
14. Choose the clock source from the
Clock Mode menu.Your MOTU device
will resolve its digital clock to this
master source.See “Synchroniza-
tion”on page 58 and other clock-
related topics on pages 59-61.
15. Indicates that the current device (1)
is successfully resolved to its chosen
Clock Mode source (14).If it cannot
lock for some reason,this icon
flashes red.Check your chosen clock
source,cables,etc.
16. TheWord Clock output on the your
MOTU interface can operate as an
OUT or aTHRU.In addition,at higher
sample rates,it can either follow the
system clock or operate at the corre-
sponding 1x sample rate.For details,
see “Daisy-chaining word clock”on
page 60.
17. If you have multiple MOTU AVB
interfaces,one of them may serve as
a master clock source for the
network.Click this button to choose
the current interface (1) as the
master clock source.
18. (Windows only) Choose the Host
Buffer Size.Smaller values reduce
latencybut increaseyourcomputer’s
CPU load.See “Host Buffer Size”on
page 38.
19. (Windows only) Choose a Host
Safety Offset to fine tune host buffer
latency.See “Host Safety Offset”on
page 39.
20. The Input Settings section provides
gain settings for inputs,plus phase
invert for mic and guitar inputs,if
any.You can also toggle the 48V
phantom power and -20 dB pad for
the mic inputs.
21. The Output Settings section lets you
adjust the trim for any output or
output pair which supports it.
Phones,Main,and Monitor outputs
provide full volume control.Analog
outputs provide calibration control
(-24 to 0 dB).
22. The 8M mic inputs have these
additional input settings.See “8M
mic/guitar input meters with
V-Limit™ compressor”on page 69
and “Soft Clip™”on page 52.
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MOTU PRO AUDIO CONTROL WEB APP
19
DEVICE TAB (CONTINUED)
24
Scroll down to view these additional
Device tab settings.
23. In the Optical Setup section,you can
choose between 8-channel ADAT or
stereoTOSLink formats for bank A
input and output,independently.At
88.2 or 96 kHz,the ADAT setting
supports 4-channel SMUX format.
See “Optical”on page 52.
24. Your MOTU interface can resolve to
SMPTE time code,also referred to as
LTC (LongitudinalTime Code),by
choosing LTC from the Clock Mode
menu (item 14 on page 18).From
the LTC Input Source menu (24
above),choose the analog or digital
input that is receiving the time code.
If you would also like to send time
code (LTC) to the computer,where it
will be converted to MIDITime Code
(MTC) for resolving your DAW or
other software to MTC via OS X Core
Audio (a Mac-only feature),choose
an audio channel you are not using
for other purposes from the
Computer Channel for LTC-to-MTC
Conversion menu;otherwise,leave it
set to None.Choose the desired
frame format,or use the Enable
Format Autodetect to automatically
detect the frame format of the
incoming time code.When Enable
Jam Sync is turned on,your interface
will continue to operate under its
own clock and continue LTC-to-MTC
conversion,even after it stops
receiving time code.Click Stop Jam
Sync to exit this mode.For further
details about time code sync,see
“Syncing to SMPTE time code (LTC)”
on page 60 and “LTC-to-MTC conver-
sion”on page 80.
25. Use Restore Factory Presets to restore
the factory presets.
26. Use Set Password to password-
protect the interface on the
network.All settings are blocked,
except for aux bus mixing, as shown
above (26).This allows musicians to
access their personal monitor (aux)
mixes from their mobile
devices,while all other device
settings remain blocked.To
clear the password, log in and then
click Clear Password.If you forget the
password, you can clear it in the
Settings menu in the frontpanelLCD
(see page 71) with either the Clear
Password setting or by doing a
factory reset with the Factory
Default setting.
27. The System Information section
displays information about your
MOTU device,including the
firmware version and network IP
address.
28. Usethese buttonsto manually check
for and install updates for your
MOTU AVB device.For complete
details,see Appendix D,“Updating
Firmware”(page 125).Updating
from a file can be done offline from
your computer, using an update
you’ve obtained through MOTU’s
web site or tech support depart-
ment.The Check For Updates button
requires that the computer (or
device) you are using to view your
MOTU AVB interface is connected to
the internet through a local network
or WiFi.
29. Click Reboot to restart the interface.
30. When the ComputerVolume Controls
option is enabled (a Mac only
feature),the Audio MIDI Setup
utility in MacOS provides volume
control for each output channel to
your MOTU audio interface.In
addition,the volume controls for
your Mac (on your computer
keyboard) will control the channels
you’ve designated for computer
output in Audio MIDI Setup, if any.
Be careful when toggling this
setting because sudden changes in
your computer volume can result.
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MOTU PRO AUDIO CONTROL WEB APP
20
ROUTING TAB
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The RoutingTab lets you route inputs to
outputs.Outputs are listed by row on the
left;inputs are listed in columns across
the top.Simply click in the grid to make
a single connection.Click and drag to
make multiple connections in one
gesture.To route a single input to multi-
ple outputs,make multiple connections
vertically in the same column below the
input.To mix multiple inputs to the
same output,you’ll need to use the
mixer (page 22) and the Mix In bank in
the routing tab (17).
1. In its collapsed form,the sidebar
displays icons for each tab.
2. Click this icon to view the Routing
tab,shown on this page.
3. Click here to show or hide the
sidebar.
4. Create,save, recall and manage
routing presets.
5. Locks the grid to prevent accidental
changes.Unlock to make changes to
the grid.
6. Outputs are listed in rows on the left.
7. When you make a connection,the
source (input) signal is listed by
name here in the Source column,
just to the right of the output it is
being routed to.
8. Inputs are listed in columns across
the top of the grid,starting with the
physical inputs on the hardware
itself.In this example,each 1248
input bank is expanded to reveal
individual input channels,except for
the 8-channel ADAT A and B banks,
which are currently collapsed.
9. The From Computer input bank lets
you route audio channels from your
host audio software to any output,
including AVB network streams or
the mixer.In this example,the
column is collapsed to save space.
Use Routing setup (item 25 on
page 21) to choose how many
computer channels are available.
10. AVB streams are 8-channel banks
that let you route audio to or from
other devices on the AVB network (if
any are connected) to local
hardware outputs.Use the Routing
Setup tab (item 29 on page 21) to
configure how many AVB streams
you wish to work with.If you aren’t
working with network audio, you
can set the number of streams to
zero.
11. These input streams are busses that
originate from the mixer,which
supply the main mix bus,monitor
mix bus,seven stereo aux busses,
three stereo group busses,a reverb
returnbusand postFX channel sends
(for sending processed inputs to the
computer or elsewhere).You can
route these mixer busses to any
outputs you wish (5),including
physical outputs,host software on
your computer, other devices on the
AVB network,or even back in to the
mixer (beware of feedback loops!)
12. Use these triangles to expand or
collapse groups of inputs.For
example,it might be convenient to
collapse banks that you are not
using at the moment.
13. Click a channel label to rename it.
14. Audio activity indicators.
15. Click the grid to make a connection.
Click a connection to remove it.Click
and drag to make or break multiple
connections in one gesture.
16. In this example,analog inputs 7-8
are being routed directly to analog
outputs 5-6.Also,hardware inputs
and outputs are being routed to and
from the computer channels, which
are shown collapsed in this example.
17. TheMixIn grouplets yourouteaudio
to the 48-channel mixer.
18. These AVB output streams let you
route any audio to other devices on
the AVB network.
19. The To Computer output bank routes
any input to host audio software
running on your computer.Use
Routing setup (item 28 on page 21)
to choose how many computer
channels are available.
20. Use these triangles to expand or
collapse groups of outputs.
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