MOTU 828ES

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19" Audio Interface with Thunderbolt and USB2 Connector

24 Bit / 192 kHz
ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC technology
Integrated DSP for EQ, Compressor and Reverb
2 XLR/Jack 6.3 mm mic/guitar inputs with integrated hardware limiter
48V Phantom power
8 Balanced line inputs and outputs
2 XLR main outputs
2 Send
2 ADAT inputs and outputs
Coaxial S/PDIF inputs and outputs (24 Bit / 96 kHz)
MIDI input and output
Word clock input and output
2 Headphone outputs
Thunderbolt connector (compatible with TB 1 and 2)
USB 2 connector
For Win Vista / 7 / 8 and MAC OSX 10.6 or higher
Format: 19" / 1 U
Includes software CueMix FX, Motu SMPTE Console and AudioDesk

30 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

3 3-Year Thomann Warranty

available since October 2017

Item number 423169

sales unit 1 piece(s)

Recording / Playback Channels 64x64

Number of Mic Inputs 2

Number of Line Inputs 10

Number of Instrument Inputs 2

Number of Line Outs 10

Headphone Outs 2

Phantom power Yes

Number of S/PDIF Connectors 1

Number of ADAT Connectors 2

Numer of AES/EBU Connectors 0

Number of MADI Connectors 0

Ethernet 0

Other Connectors No

MIDI interface Yes

Word Clock 1xIn, 1xOut

Max. sample rate (kHz) 192 kHz

Max. resolution in bit 24 bit

USB Bus-Powered No

Incl. power supply Yes

USB Version 2.0

Width in mm 483 mm

Depth in mm 178 mm

Height in mm 45 mm

Number of Line Outputs 10

Phantom Power 1

AES/EBU Connectors 0

Max. Samplerate 192 kHz

Max. Resolution in Bit 24 bit

Incl. Power Supply 1

Thunderbolt Version 2

Included in delivery USB cable, software

Zero latency monitoring 1

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B-Stock from $879 available

$949

The shipping costs are calculated on the checkout page.

Sales Rank

in USB Audio Interfaces

Bundles & offers

MOTU 828ES B-Stock
May have slight traces of use

$879

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39 Customer ratings

5 24 Customers 4 8 Customers 3 4 Customers 2 1 Customer 1 2 Customers

4.3 / 5

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26 Reviews

MOTU 828es - Excellent

muttmutt 02.01.2018

I wanted a unit that would have robust connection capability (usb, thunderbolt, audio, midi, spdif, adat, word etc); low latency, I work inside the DAW with vst all the time; DSP and excellent pre's and convertors. I looked at Focusrite, Presonus, Steinberg and RME but it was the MOTU 828es that ticked all of my boxes. I can use USB2 now until I move to a Thunderbolt mobo although the roundtrip is so good with USB2 I see no need to move yet but this interface is future proof. The pre's are great I've not heard Di'd Electric Guitars, Acoustics and Bass sound so good before going direct in (interface this replaced had Burr Browns and is a quality unit so comparable). The mixer is comprehensive and as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. I'm using Windows 10 pro and the MOTU drivers are solid so far. The front and back panel are well laid out and the two headphone outputs are well driven and more than enough. A great unit. Lovely sound driving my monitors with plenty of power.

Cons- I'm annoyed that the DP 9 version is in German only and I did consider returning based on principle but that's the German distributers fault not Thomann's or MOTU's. Incidentally I did check with DV247 in the UK and that is the German version only as well from the same distributor.

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Experience so far

producerdude 11.06.2021

My feelings are very mixed about the 828es.
I've been working with a US-1800 for a long time and decided it was time for an upgrade.
In the beggining, i was really hyped about the avb/tsn capability of this device, thinking i would be able to connect it to my laptops ethernet port (which does support avb/tsn) and have nonexistent latency and insane speed. Well, my enthusiasm went quickly down the drain on that one, as windows does not support this protocol as of yet and seemingly isn't planning to.
Next up, i hooked it up to my computer via USB and started cubase. It woked like a charm at the beggining. That is until i changed the buffer size from 512 samples to 128. Next thing you know, random clicks and pops all over the place ( like once every 30-45 seconds or so). To top that of, at some random point it changed my right output to become the left one and the left one dissapeared completely (shifted to and audio channel that shouldnt exist?). Only sollution was to restart the device and the DAW.
A real pity, considering that the sound quality i got from this machine is PRISTINE and i mean it. Compared to my old soundcard, it's like a deaf person hearing sound for the first time. And those preamps are stellar.
But the afforementioned grievances is by no means something i would expect from a 1000 euro proffesional audio equipment. I will give it another week, but it pains me to say that i most likely will have to return it.

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Reliable product with immersive sound and great mixing capabilities.

juszuf 16.02.2021

I have been using the 828ES since I bought it in March 2020 as a standalone mixer for live performances and rehearsals. The web based GUI is easy to use except the path routing feature. It behaves differently with a variety of web browsers, also it is not trivial to dial it in for the first sight. Having said that I also had to learn a bit from the manual and I quickly realised that the matrix based routing makes perfect sense. The firmware is very reliable, all my presets load quickly with the same crystal clear sound I tuned in. It is very handy in case of rehearsals, there is no need to tweak volumes, eqs etc. back and forth.

In terms of connectivity, this device offers multiple options and the built-in preamp sections for mics have the right amount of gain. By leveraging the digital IO connections a whole rock band can be mixed and recorded with the drums as well.

From the perspective of recording this device became the core element of my home studio. The only distressing thing I can mention, that currently this device is not compatible with new Apple M1 Macs. Hopefully MOTU can offer a solution for that in weeks.

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Great sound, regrettably poor software for a Pro model

UKUKUK 18.01.2020

Sound quality was superb

Build quality is a little on the light side

USB Wouldn't stay connected for more than an hour, then creating a very dense bit crushed sound to the audio

Switching the unit off and on again resulted in all bluetooth and usb on my computer being disconnected, meaning the computer had to be force shut down.

The mixing interface for "Motu Audio Tools" has taken a step back for the worse, and for some reason it will only open in safari / explorer, not as a standalone

The FFT / Spectogram does not display Key notes relevant to pitch anymore

Reported all problems to Motu with no help

I had high hopes for this unit so very disappointed at how its turned out

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MOTU 828ES

19" Audio Interface with Thunderbolt and USB2 Connector

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26 Reviews

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19" Audio Interface with Thunderbolt and USB2 Connector

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