MOTU 828 User manual

™
828
1280 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Business voice: [phone]
Business fax: [phone]
Web site: www.motu.com
Tech support: www.motu.com/support
Title Page
User Guide

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS FORTHE 828 (“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 VOLTAGES: CONTACT MAY CAUSE ELECTRIC SHOCK OR BURN. TURN OFF UNIT BEFORE SERVICING.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR OTHER MOISTURE.
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICINGTO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL.
WARNING: THIS EQUIPMENT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR USE IN LOCATIONS WHERE CHILDREN ARE LIKELY TO BE PRESENT.
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 plugrequires a
mating three-conductor grounded type outlet as shown in FigureA below. Ifthe outlet you are planning to usefor the MOTU product is of the two prong type, DO NOT REMOVE OR ALTERTHE 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 theTWO prong outlet with a properly grounded THREE
prong outlet.An adapter as illustrated below in FigureB isavailable forconnecting plugsto two-prong receptacles. In the EU, use the supplied EU power cord and be sure that the power outlet is properly grounded (Figure C).
WARNING: THE GREEN GROUNDING LUG EXTENDING FROM THE ADAPTER MUST BE CONNECTED TO A PERMANENT GROUND SUCH AS TO 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 inCanada by the Canadian Electrical Code.Use only threewire 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 - Donot defeat thesafety purpose of thepolarized orgrounding-type plug.A polarized plug hastwobladeswith 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 attentionto cords and plugs,convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit
from the unit.
12. Power button - Install the product so that the power button 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 onlywith 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 theuse of a different line cord and/or attachment plug.
19. Installation - Do not install the product in an unventilatedrack, 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 - Uponcompletion 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
OperatingTemperature: 10°C to 40°C (50°F to 104°).The product should be situated awayfrom 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
Danmark: Apparatets stikprop skal tilsluttes en
stikkontakt med jord som giver forbindelse til
stikproppens jord.
Suomi: Laite on liitettävä
suojakoskettimilla varustettuun
pistorasiaan.
Norge: Apparatet må
tilkoples jordet stikkontakt.
Sverige: Apparaten skall
anslutas till jordat uttag.
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 Figure C
Grounded outlet
The device with CLASS I construction
must be connected to the mains socket
with a protective earthing connection.

About the Mark of the Unicorn License
Agreement and Limited Warranty on Software
TO PERSONSWHO 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 theenclosed program on a single computer; (b) physically transfer
the program from one computer to another provided that the program is used on
onlyonecomputer atatime and thatyouremoveanycopiesoftheprogramfromthe
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 ofthe program orthe documentation toothers;
(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, orotherwise alter the program or
related documentation without the prior written consent of MOTU.
THIS LIMITEDWARRANTY AND RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT IS IN LIEU OF, ANDYOU
HEREBYWAIVE, ANY AND ALL OTHERWARRANTIES, BOTH EXPRESS AND IMPLIED,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TOWARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.THE LIABILITY OF MOTU PURSUANT TO THIS LIMITED
WARRANTY SHALL BE LIMITEDTOTHE REPLACEMENT OFTHE 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 LIMITEDTO
LOSSOFUSE,LOSSOFPROFITS,LOSSOF DATAOR DATABEINGRENDEREDINACCURATE,
OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BYTHIRD PARTIES EVEN IF MOTU HAS BEEN ADVISED OFTHE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.THISWARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS
WHICH MAYVARY FROM STATE TO STATE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOWTHE
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 © 2023 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 ofthe Unicorn, Inc.,1280
Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138, U.S.A.
Limited Warranty on Hardware
Mark of the Unicorn, Inc. (“MOTU”) warrants this equipment against defects in
materialsand workmanshipundernormaluseforaperiod ofTWO(2)YEARSfromthe
date of original retail purchase.TheWarrantyTerm begins on the date of purchase
from an authorized MOTU reseller and applies solely to the original retail purchaser,
who must activate the warranty by creating a user account at motu.com to register
the product within 90 days of 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 contact MOTU technical support by phone, email or web
(motu.com/support) to verify the warranty on your MOTU equipment and obtain a
Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA). 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 as instructed by MOTU, with transportation charges prepaid. If you purchased
your equipment in any country other than the USor Canada, you will be instructedto
return the equipment to an authorized MOTU distributor or representative in the
country of purchase. You must use the product’s original packing material for the
shipment, and insure the shipment for the value of the product. Please include your
name, address, phone number, email address,a description of theproblem, and the
original, dated bill of sale with thereturned unit; do NOT include additional
accessories such as cables, power supplies, manuals, etc. Please clearly print the
Return Merchandise Authorization Number on the outside of the box below the
shipping address. Repaired or replaced equipment will be returned to you via UPS
Groundprepaid.(ExpeditedshippingmethodssuchasUPSnextday,2-day,and3-day
services are available for an additional cost.) Repaired equipment will be warranted
for a period equal to the remainder of the original LimitedWarranty orfor 90 days,
whichever is longer.
WARRANTY EXCLUSIONS: This warranty does not apply if the equipment has been
damaged by accident, abuse, misuse, or misapplication; hasbeen modified without
the written permission of MOTU; or if the product serial number has been removed or
defaced.The following examples, without limitation, are NOT covered by this
hardware warranty:
• Equipmentpurchasedthroughanyresellernotdirectlyauthorizedby MOTUor itsauthorized
international distributors.
• “Used”equipment purchased from a third party.
• Equipment purchased in another country.
• Normal cosmetic and mechanical wear of the equipment.
• Equipment damaged by improper installation or connections.
• Equipment damaged in transit to/from MOTU for warranty repair.
• Physicallydamagedequipment,includingbutnotlimitedtowaterdamage,cracksordents,
missing or bent parts, burns or other damage caused byfaulty or failed electric power
ALLIMPLIEDWARRANTIES,INCLUDINGIMPLIEDWARRANTIESOFMERCHANTABILITY
AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATIONTOTWO (2)
YEARS FROMTHE DATE OFTHE ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASE OFTHIS PRODUCT. THE
WARRANTY AND REMEDIES SET FORTH ABOVE ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL
OTHERS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. No MOTU dealer, agent, or
employee is authorized to make any modification, extension, or addition to this
warranty.MOTU IS 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 REPRO-
GRAMMING, OR REPRODUCING ANY PROGRAM OR DATA STORED IN OR USEDWITH
MOTU PRODUCTS.
Some states do not allow the exclusionor limitation ofimplied warranties or liability
forincidentalorconsequentialdamages,so the abovelimitationorexclusionmaynot
apply to you.This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other
rights which vary from state to state.
Version 1.04

IV
This equipment has been type tested and found to comply with thelimits 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 aresidential
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 theseparation between theequipment 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
musthaveshieldedinterfacecablesin ordertocomplywiththeClass BFCClimitsonRF
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.

v
Contents
Part 1: Getting Started
9Quick Start Guide
10 A Typical 828 Setup
11 828 Front Panel
12 828 Rear Panel
13 About the 828
17 Packing List and System Requirements
19 Software Installation
23 Hardware Installation
Part 2: Using the 828
35 Front Panel Operation
41 CueMix 5
57 Working with Host Audio Software
63 Optical Expander Mode
Part 3: Appendices
67 Troubleshooting
69 Audio Specifications
73 Index

vi

Part 1
GettingStarted

9
Quick Start Guide
Thank you for purchasing an 828! Follow these
easy steps to get started quickly.
MAC USERS START HERE
1Visit motu.com/828-start to download and run
the MOTU Gen 5 Installer.
2Connect the included power cord to your 828
unit.
3Connect the 828 to your Mac using the
included USB-C cable. Alternately, if your Mac
requires it, use a USB-C-to-A cable. See “A note
about USB cables and adapters” on page 23.
4Choose Apple menu > System Preferences and
click Sound to choose the 828 as the input and
output device.
5Proceed to “For all users” below.
WINDOWS USERS START HERE
1BEFORE you connect the 828 to your
computer, visit motu.com/828-start to download
and run MOTU Gen 5 Setup.
2Connect the included power cord to your 828
unit.
3Connect the 828 to your computer using the
included USB-C cable. Alternately, if your
computer requires it, use a USB-C-to-A cable. See
“A note about USB cables and adapters” on
page 23.
4Go to the Windows Sound Control Panel and
choose 828 as the default recording and playback
device.
5Proceed to “For all users” below.
FOR ALL USERS
6As shown on the next page, connect speakers to
the 828 Main Out Left/Right, or connect a pair of
headphones to either headphone output on the
front panel, so you can hear your computer’s audio
output.
7You are now ready to start using your 828
interface.
8Visit motu.com/828-start to register your 828,
download the included software and watch brief
how-to videos, including:
Q How to connect a mic, guitar, keyboard or other
audio source.
Q How to use the 828 with your recording
software.
Q How to get the most out of the 828.
 Register your 828 to gain access to all the
software, virtual instruments, loops and sounds
that are included with your 828 purchase.
Registered users also qualify for technical support
and information about software updates, so please
register today!
RACK-MOUNT INSTALLATION
The 828 can be mounted in a standard 19-inch
(48.26 cm) equipment rack using four standard
10-32 5/8th-inch or M6 1mm pan head rack
screws. It is one rack unit (1U) high (1.75 inches,
44.45 mm) with a depth of 12.25 inches (31 cm).

A Typical 828 Setup
Mic or guitar Mic or guitar
Headphones
MIDI modules
Word clock
generator/distributor Aux speakers
Main speakers Keyboards and synths
Mac, PC or iOS device
I/O expansion Home theater
Studio/stage monitors
Outboard processors
MIDI controller
Surround speakers
Foot pedal MIDI modules

828 Front Panel
1. These XLR/TRS combo jacks accept a mic cable or a
quarter-inchcable, balancedor unbalanced, from a
guitar or line level source. Use the front panel
controls (3) to adjust individual preamp gain, 48V
phantom power and optional -20 dB pad for each
mic input.
2. Two independent HEADPHONE OUTPUTS with
volume control. As you turn the knob, the LCD
provides visual feedback with a volume meter.
3. Individual MIC INPUT preamp gain, switchable 48V
phantom power, and optional -20 dB pad switches
for each mic input. The Precision Digital Trim™
knob provides 74 dB of preamp gain.Turn the knob
to see the gain adjustments in the LCD.
4. Push AB ON to enable A/B monitor selection. Then
use the A and B monitor select buttons to switch
your studio’s primary stereo output between two
pairs of studio monitors connected to the 828 XLR
main outs and Line Out 3-4, as explained by “A/B
Mode”on page 38. To enable both pairs simultane-
ously, push both buttons simultaneously.
5. Push MUTE to silence the Main Outs, the current
Monitor Group (all channels in the group), or both
pairs of A/B monitor outputs (if enabled).
6. Push MONO to sum the current main monitor
stereo pair (Main Out, A or B) to mono. Push it
again to return to stereo operation.
7. The 828 color LCD displays metering, device
settings and menu navigation. Use the Meter View
MENU setting to choose among several different
meter arrangements. Use the MENU knob and
BACK/SELECT buttons for menu navigation.
8. Turn the MENU knob to enter the LCD menu and
scroll through menu options. Push SELECT to go
into the sub-menus, if applicable.To choose the
current setting, push SELECT. Use the BACK button
to return tothe previous menu level. Push BACK
repeatedly to return to the main screen.
9. The large monitor knob controls the volume of
both the A and B monitor output pairs, regardless
of which one is currently selected.To change the
relative volume between the A and B monitor outs,
see “Monitor control” on page 37.This knob also
supports surround monitoring. See “The Monitor
Group”on page 37.
10. This is the POWER button for the unit.
11. Push SELECT (or turn the MENU knob) to enter the
menus. Push SELECT to select or confirm the
currently selected menu setting. Push BACK to go
back one level.
12. Push BACK to go back one level in the menu.When
the display is showing meters, push BACK to clear
the peak indicators and clip indicators, if any.
13. Push TALK to speak to musicians located in a
separate studio room or isolation booth via a
connected talkback mic. See “Talkback” on
page 39.
1
13 12 11
2 43 5 6 7 8 9 10

828 Rear Panel
31 5 7
1. The 828 is equipped with a universal international power
supply (100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 0.5A max) with an
standard IEC connector.
2. These are standard BNCWORD CLOCK jacks. Use them for
a variety of applications, such as digital I/O with devices
that cannot resolve to the clock supplied by their digital
I/O connection with the 828. See “Syncing word clock
devices”on page 31.
3. These two banks of ADAT optical “lightpipe”connectors
each provide 8 channels of 24-bit ADAT optical digital I/O
at 1x sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz) and 4 channels at 2x
sample rates (88.2 or 96 kHz). They are disabled at
higher sample rates. Bank A can alternately operate as
stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) connectors. See “Optical
I/O”on page 27 and “Syncing optical devices”on
page 30.
Note: you can choose independent formats for Bank A IN
and OUT. For example, you could choose ADAT for the
optical A IN (for eight channels of input from your digital
mixer, for example) and stereo TOSLink for the optical A
OUT (for a set of auxiliary speakers, for example).
4. These jacks provide stereo, 24-bit RCA (coaxial) S/PDIF
digital input and output at all supported sample rates
(up to 96 kHz).When connecting a source to the input,
be sure to set the clock source correctly, as explained in
“Syncing S/PDIF devices”on page 30.
5. Connect a MIDI device here using standard MIDI cables.
Connect the 828 MIDI OUT port to the MIDI IN port on the
other device. Conversely, connect the 828 MIDI IN port to
the MIDI OUT port on the other device.You can connect
different devices toeach port, such as a controller device
to the IN port and a sound module to the OUT port. You
can also daisy-chain MIDI devices, but be sure to manage
their MIDI channels (so that they don’t receive or trans-
mit on the same channel). See “Connecting additional
gear with MIDI THRUs”on page 28. The 828’s MIDI
output can be alternately configured as a MIDITHRU
port. See “MIDI Thru”on page 28.
6. 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 item #7 in the Device tab
overview (page 45).
7. The eight LINE OUT jacks are balanced, DC-coupled
quarter-inch connectors that can also accept aTRS plug
with the ring disconnected for unbalanced operation
(see “TRS quarter-inch line inputs/outputs”on page 25
for moreon this). They provide additional analog output
for secondary studio monitors, surround monitoring,
sub-mixes or any other desired destination.The output
trim can be adjusted from the Device Tab in the CueMix 5
app. For surround monitoring, connect your surround
speakers to outputs 1-6 (or 1-8) and see “The Monitor
Group”on page 37.
8. These two XLR MAIN OUT jacks serve as the 828 main
output pair for primary (powered) studio monitors, PA
speakers or any other desired destination.You can
control their volume from the front panel MONITOR knob
(#9 on page 11). They also serve as monitor pair A for the
828 front panel A/B monitor switching feature (#4 on
page 11). See “A/B Mode”on page 38.
To hear audio playback from your host audio software on
the MAIN OUT pair, assign audio tracks (and master
fader) to these main outs.You can also use the CueMix 5
app to route live 828 inputs here as well.
9. These eight LINE IN jacks are balanced (TRS) quarter-
inch connectors that can also accept an unbalancedTS
plug. Use with line level analog signals up to +21 dBu,
including synthesizers, drum machines, effects proces-
sors, etc. These inputs are also equipped with the 828
Precision Digital Gain™ feature: digitally controlled
analog gain that let you adjust input level in 1 dB incre-
ments from the included CueMix 5 app.
10. These two balanced quarter-inch SEND jacks supply the
pre-amplified input signal from the mic/line/instrument
inputs on the frontpanel (#1 on page 11). Use them to
insert your favorite compressor, EQ, reverb or other
outboard effect. Use the corresponding return jack
below to return the signal to the Input 1 or2 signal path.
11. These two balanced quarter-inch RETURN jacks re-insert
the signal back into the correspondingInput 1 or 2 signal
path. If nothing is plugged in to the corresponding input
on the front panel (#1 on page 11), this return acts as an
additional line input that is identical to the other analog
inputs (9). When nothing is connected to these returns,
they are automatically “normaled”to the send to receive
signal directly from the preamp.
12. Connect the 828 to a computer or iOS devicehere using a
standard USB-C cable. For details, see chapter 4,
“Hardware Installation”(page 23).
2 4
12
810
11
6 9

CHAPTER
13
1 About the 828
The 828 is an 28 x 32 USB audio interface with
mixing, DSP effects, and very high quality
A/D/A conversion at sample rates up to 192 kHz
for on-the-go mobile audio recording.
Hardware-driven DSP delivers monitor mixes on
all analog output pairs, with seven stereo buses
and 32-bit effects processing, including EQ,
compression and reverb.
The 828 can operate as an audio interface for a
studio workstation (DAW), as a standalone mixer,
or as an auxiliary monitor mixing system in the
studio or on stage. This chapter provides a brief
overview of its main features and characteristics.
Comprehensive I/O
The 828 provides a variety of analog and digital
interconnects, all active simultaneously, designed
to provide everything you need for a well-
equipped desktop recording studio.
† The 828 optical connectors support the industry-
standard ADAT and TOSLink optical
I/O formats, which provide varying channel
counts. TOSLink is available on Bank A, and
ADAT is available on both banks (A and B). See
“Optical I/O” on page 27 for details about optical
bank operation.
All inputs and outputs are discrete. For example,
using a mic input does not “steal” an input from
the TRS analog I/O bank.
Universal connectivity
The 828 connects to a computer via USB, using
isochronous Hi-Speed USB 2.0 (480 Mbits/s) or
SuperSpeed USB 3.x (5 Gbits/s) connectivity,
depending on the host computer. It is USB audio
class-compliant, which means that it is iOS
compatible and does not require driver
installation for USB connection to macOS or iOS
hosts.
Mic/guitar inputs with preamps
The two front-panel mic/line/instrument inputs
are equipped with preamps and “combo” XLR/
TRS jacks, which accept XLR microphone inputs
or quarter-inch line/instruments inputs.
Individual 48 volt phantom power and a -20 dB
pad can be applied independently to each mic
input. The Precision Digital Gain™ knobs on the
front panel for each mic/instrument input provide
up to 74 dB of gain in precise 1 dB increments.
Mic/guitar sends
Before A/D conversion, the pre-amplified signal
from each front-panel mic/guitar input is routed
to one of the two rear-panel quarter-inch analog
sends, so that you can insert a favorite outboard
EQ, compressor, amp or effects processor to the
mic/guitar input signal before it is converted to
digital form. The resulting output from the
outboard gear can be fed back into the 828 via the
corresponding return jack for the channel on the
rear panel, for routing to the computer and/or
inclusion in the 828es built-in monitor mixes. If
Connection Input Output
Quarter-inch analog on bal/unbal TRS 8 8
Main out on XLR - 2
Mic/guitar inputs on combo XLR/TRS 2 -
Headphone output - 2 x stereo
S/PDIF digital I/O on RCA 2 2
ADAT optical digital (at 44.1 or 48 kHz)† 16 16
Total 28 32

ABOUT THE 828
14
nothing is plugged in to the front panel input jack,
the return jack can serve as an additional line
input, identical to the other eight analog inputs.
Flexible analog I/O with Precision Digital Trim™
All quarter-inch analog inputs can accept either a
balanced or unbalanced plug. The eight line inputs
are equipped with digital gain, adjustable in 1 dB
increments.
Equipped with renowned ESS Sabre32™ DAC
technology, all analog outputs offer trim (cut), also
adjustable in 1 dB increments.
All quarter-inch outputs are DC-coupled, so they
can be used for control voltage (CV) output.
Independent XLR main outs
The XLR main outs are equipped with very high
quality ESS Sabre32 D/A converters and serve as
independent outputs for the computer or the 828
on-board mixer.
On-board DSP with mixing and processing
The 828 is equipped with a DSP engine that drives
a 44 x 16 monitor mixer, which supplies each
analog output pair with a unique monitor mix.
Each mix can include any chosen inputs, plus
computer output and the separate reverb bus.
Effects include 4-band parametric EQ,
compression and reverb. The included CueMix 5
app provides easy and intuitive on-screen control
of everything from your computer or iOS device.
32-bit processing
The DSP engine delivers 32-bit floating point
processing for virtually infinite headroom, with
64-bit double-precision processing for the EQ
filters for the utmost in sound quality.
Software control
Control the 828 on-board mixing and device
settings from the CueMix 5 app software running
on a laptop or iOS device.
Stand-alone mixing
Connect an iOS device to the 828 for complete
control of all settings on the road at rehearsals or
gigs — great for live sound mixing.
ADAT digital I/O
The 828 provides 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. Alternately, the
optical Bank A ports can be independently
configured to support stereo TOSLink (optical
S/PDIF).
Bank A input and output operate independently,
allowing you to mix and match optical formats.
For example, you could receive four channels of
96 kHz S/MUX input while at the same time
sending 96 kHz stereo optical S/PDIF
(“TOSLink”) to the output.
S/PDIF
The 828 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 optical jacks can be used
for either TOSLink or ADAT optical, as discussed
earlier.
MIDI I/O
The 828’s standard MIDI IN and MIDI OUT jacks
supply 16 channels of MIDI I/O to and from the
computer through its USB connection. The MIDI
OUT port can be configured as a MIDI THRU
port, if desired.
Word clock
The 828 supports standard word clock synchroni-
zation at any supported sample rate.
Foot switch input
The quarter-inch foot switch input accepts a
standard foot switch. When you push the foot
switch, the 828 triggers a programmable keystroke
on the computer keyboard. For example, with

ABOUT THE 828
15
MOTU’s Digital Performer audio sequencer
software, the foot switch could trigger the 3 key on
the numeric keypad, which toggles recording in
Digital Performer. Therefore, pressing the foot
switch is the same as pressing the 3 key. The
CueMix 5 app lets you program any keystroke you
wish.
Full-color LCD display
The 3.9-inch full-color 24-bit RGB IPS TFT LCD
display has 480 x 128 pixel resolution and shows
all signal activity at a glance with precise, detailed
metering for all I/O. You can access many
hardware settings directly from the front panel.
Two independent headphone outputs
The 828 front panel provides two independent
headphone jacks with separate volume control.
You can program each phone output to mirror
another set of outputs or act as its own
independent output with its own mix.
Control room features
Control room features include talkback with front
panel TALK button and A/B monitor select, mute
and sum-to-mono buttons for the main outs.
Surround monitoring is also supported for both
5.1 and 7.1 surround.
Rack mount or desktop operation
The 828 is housed in a rugged steel full-rack
enclosure.
Performer Lite
Performer Lite is a full-featured audio workstation
software package for Mac and Windows that is
available as a free download for you as an 828
owner. Visit motu.com/download to obtain your
copy. Performer Lite provides multi-track MIDI
and audio production, over 100 included virtual
instruments, automated virtual mixing, graphic
editing, music notation editing, real-time effects
plug-ins with crossfades, support for many third-
party audio plug-ins, sample-accurate editing and
placement of audio, and more.

ABOUT THE 828
16

CHAPTER
17
2 Packing List and
System Requirements
PACKING LIST
The 828 ships with the items listed below. If any of
these items are not present in the box when you
first open it, please immediately contact your
dealer or MOTU.
Q 828 audio interface
Q USB-C-to-C cable
Q IEC power cord
Q Printed user guide
Q Getting Started card
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Q Intel Core i3 Mac (including Apple silicon
Macs) or PC (or AMD equivalent). Faster CPUs
are recommended for best performance.
Q 4GB RAM; 8 GB or more recommended.
Q macOS 10.13 or later; Windows 10 or later.
Q Available high-speed USB2 or USB3 port.
Q A large hard drive (preferably at least 512 GB).
PLEASE REGISTER TODAY!
Please register the 828 today: visit
www.motu.com/register.
As a registered user, you will be eligible to receive
free bundled software, technical support and
announcements about product enhancements as
soon as they become available. Only registered
users can receive the included free software, so
please register today.
Thank you for taking the time to register your new
MOTU products!

PACKING LIST AND SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
18

CHAPTER
19
3 Software Installation
USB audio class-compliant operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Software installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Audio drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
CueMix 5 app. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Performer Lite workstation software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Working with host audio software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
MIDI I/O on Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
MIDI I/O setup on the Mac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
USB AUDIO CLASS-COMPLIANT OPERATION
The 828 is a USB audio class-compliant device.
This means that you can connect it to your Mac
(running Mac OS 10.13 or higher) with a USB
cable and use it without installing any software
drivers. The computer recognizes the 828 as a USB
audio device and makes its inputs and outputs
available to your host audio software. Basic
settings, such as the hardware’s sample rate, are
made in either your host software or the front-
panel menu.
 In this scenario, the 828 provides basic audio
input and output, and no software driver
installation is necessary. Use the Mac’s Audio
MIDI Setup utility to manage the 828 audio inputs
and outputs for your Mac. That said, it is best to
install the software so you can take full advantage
of the 828’s low-latency performance and all its
great features (accessed via the CueMix 5
application).
Connection to iOS devices (iPad and iPhone)
Audio-class compliant operation allows you to
connect the 828 to any iOS device (via either
USB-C or a standard Lightning camera
connection kit adapter). The 828 then provides
multi-channel audio I/O to your audio apps, and
you can access all of its settings, features, and
mixing with the CueMix 5 app.
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
If you don’t want to operate the 828 as a USB audio
class compliant device, or if you are using
Windows on a PC, install the software as follows.
1Visit www.motu.com/828-start to download the
latest Mac or Windows MOTU Gen 5 installer.
2Run the installer and follow the directions it
gives you.
 We recommend that you run the software
installer before you connect the 828 to your
computer and power it on. This ensures that all
driver components are properly installed in your
system.
AUDIO DRIVERS
The installer provides a USB audio driver for Mac
(CoreAudio) and Windows (ASIO and Wave).
Industry-leading I/O latency performance
On macOS and Windows, the 828 driver provides
exceptionally low I/O latency performance. For
example, with a 32-sample buffer size, an 828
interface operating at 96 kHz produces round trip
latency (RTL) performance of approximately 2
milliseconds (ms) on macOS and Windows. RTL
is the measurement of the time it takes audio to
pass from an analog input, through a high-
performance DAW host such as Digital Performer,
to an analog output.
ASIO Driver support
On Windows, to enable the 828 in your ASIO host
software, choose the MOTU Gen 5 ASIO driver, as
shown in Figure 7-1 on page 58.

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
20
WDM / Wave driver support
On Windows, the MOTU Gen5 driver includes
support for WDM (Wave) compatible audio
software. See item #15 on page 44.
Host Buffer Size
When connected to a Windows computer, the
Host Buffer Size menu is available in the Device tab
(item #13 on page 44). This setting determines the
amount of latency (delay) you may hear when live
audio is patched through your Windows audio
software. Smaller buffer sizes produce lower
latency, with sizes of 256 samples or less producing
virtually imperceptible delay. Many host
applications report audio hardware I/O latency, so
you can see what happens to the reported latency
when making adjustments to this setting.
Be careful with very small buffer sizes, as they can
cause performance issues from your host software
or PC.
 At sea level, audio travels approximately one
foot (30 cm) per millisecond. A latency of ten
milliseconds is about the same as being ten feet
(three meters) from an audio source.
Host Safety Offset
When connected to a Windows host, the Host
Safety Offset menu (item #14 on page 44) also
becomes available. This setting allows you to fine
tune host latency. Larger offsets allow the driver
more time to process audio as it transfers to and
from the hardware. Lower settings produce lower
latency, but if you go too low, your host software
may experience performance issues. Generally
speaking, 64 samples should serve as a good
baseline setting. You can then experiment with
lower settings from there. Be mindful, however,
when reducing the safety offset, as this parameter
can have a significant impact on your computer
system’s performance.
Sync Windows sample rate to device
Enable the Sync Windows sample rate to device
option (item #16 on page 44) to link the 828
sample rate setting with the sample rate setting in
Windows. If you change the sample rate for the
828, it will change the Windows sample rate as
well, and vice versa. This option is enabled by
default for best performance with many Windows
audio applications. When this option is
unchecked, the 828 driver performs sample rate
conversion to reconcile the difference in sample
rates between Windows and the 828 hardware.
CUEMIX 5 APP
CueMix 5 is an easy-to-use app for macOS,
Windows and iOS that gives you complete control
over all the settings in your 828 interface. For
details, see chapter 6, “CueMix 5” (page 41).
PERFORMER LITE WORKSTATION SOFTWARE
Performer Lite is an easy to use audio workstation
software package for macOS and Windows that
lets you record, edit, mix, process, bounce and
master multi-track recording projects. Advanced
features include over 100 included virtual
instruments, real-time effects processing,
recording, and much more.
To obtain Performer Lite, visit motu.com to
register your MOTU audio interface, download
Performer Lite and activate it on your computer.
Figure 3-1: Performer Lite.