MOTU 16A - 32-Input 34-Output Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 Audio Interface

The completely redesigned 16A delivers everything you need to turn your computer into a powerful 24-bit/192 kHz digital audio workstation.

The 16A connects to a Mac, PC or iOS device with the included 40 Gbps USB-C cable (compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4, USB4, USB3 and USB2) for up to 256 audio channels (128 in and 128 out), depending on the host computer connection. Class-compliant firmware and reputable MOTU drivers work with all your favorite audio apps, delivering industry-leading, ultra-low round trip latency (RTL) performance less than 2 ms at 96 kHz with high-performance DAW hosts. USB audio class-compliant firmware allows connection to your iPad™ or any iOS™ device via USB-C or a standard camera connection kit (Lightning adapter, sold separately).

The 16A is equally well-suited for studio and stage. As an interface or standalone mixer, the 16A provides 32 separate inputs and 34 separate outputs, including 16 balanced 1/4-inch TRS analog (line-level) in/out, two banks of 8-channel optical I/O, and a front-panel headphone output. Renowned ESS Sabre32™ DAC technology delivers superb analog performance.

Connect all of your studio gear, including microphones, guitars, synths, keyboards, drum machines and effects processors. Record, monitor, and process all of these live inputs with no latency and no processor strain on your computer. Powerful 32-bit floating point DSP delivers 64-channel mixing with 64 inputs, 32 busses, and effects processing, including reverb, 4-band EQ, high-pass filter, gate and compression at all sample rates up to 96 kHz.

Use two Gigabit network ports to daisy-chain multiple units using standard network cabling, or add an AVB switch to build a network with multiple interfaces and computers with ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (hundreds of meters). Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network. The 16A is compatible with previous-generation MOTU AVB devices.

Take control of your recording sessions with talkback. Connect up to three sets of speakers and check your mixes instantly with A/B/C speaker select switching. Stream your sessions to the web with loopback channels and your customized mix of any 16A inputs.

After recording and mixing in the studio, take the 16A on stage for operation as a stand-alone mixer with effects. Control everything over Wi-Fi from the CueMix Pro™ app running on your laptop, tablet and smartphone.

From studio to stage, the 16A delivers exceptional sound quality, state-of-the-art operation and rock-solid performance.

Features:

• Next-gen 32 x 34 Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 audio interface - The world’s first Thunderbolt 4 audio interface built on 30 years of proven success as an industry-leading audio interface brand.
• New 3.9-inch TFT displays - Two bright, 24-bit RGB LCDs provide 480 x 128 pixel high-resolution metering for all analog and digital I/O, plus detailed status info and access to hardware settings from a simple and convenient menu.
• Superb analog audio quality and high-end converters - Renowned ESS Sabre32™ DAC technology delivers 125 dB dynamic range. Support for all standard sample rates up to 192 kHz.
• Ultra-low latency and proven, high-performance MOTU drivers - Round-trip latency (RTL) performance as low as 1.8 ms at 96kHz with high-performance DAW hosts.
• Universal Thunderbolt/USB-C connectivity - Connect to any computer with the included 40 Gbps Thunderbolt-compatible USB4 cable (compatible with USB3 and USB2) for up to 256 audio channels (128 in and 128 out), depending on the host computer connection. Class-compliant firmware and industry standard drivers work with any audio apps. Connects to an iPad™ with USB-C or a Lightning adapter kit (sold separately). Use an additional Thunderbolt port to connect additional computer peripherals, a USB hub or Thunderbolt dock.
• 66 simultaneous audio channels - 32 inputs and 34 outputs, including 16 TRS analog (line-level) in/out, two banks of 8-channel optical I/O, and a front-panel headphone output.
• 64-channel mixing with effects - Powerful 32-bit floating point DSP delivers 64-channel mixing with 64 inputs, 32 busses, and effects processing, including reverb, 4-band double-precision EQ, high-pass filter, gate and compression at all sample rates up to 96 kHz.
• Patchbay routing and splitting - Using intuitive, virtual patch cords, easily route any source signal to any destination. Split any source to multiple destinations.
• AVB Networking - Use two Gigabit network ports to daisy-chain multiple units using standard network cabling, or add an AVB switch to build a network with multiple interfaces and computers with ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (hundreds of meters). Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network. Compatible with previous-generation MOTU AVB devices.
• Wi-Fi control - Control everything wirelessly over Wi-Fi from the CueMix Pro app running on mobile devices or other computers on the same network - even multiple devices at the same time.
• Precision boost/trim for analog I/O - Calibrate analog input and output signals in precise 1 dB increments. Apply phase invert individually to analog inputs.
• Control room features - Control your sessions with "talk" button and "A/B/C" speaker select buttons to quickly compare your mixes on three sets of studio monitors.
• Flexible headphone output - With independent volume control and front panel source select knob, the headphone output can mirror any output pair, any CueMix bus, or any Thunderbolt/USB channels. Or create a completely customized mix that includes live 16A inputs and built-in reverb.
• Two banks of optical I/O - Connect outboard digital processors, digital mixers or other gear with 16 channels of ADAT at 44.1/48 kHz or 8 channels of S/MUX at 88.2/96 kHz. Bank A can optionally provide stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) I/O up to 96 kHz.
• Word clock in/out/thru - Supports all sample rates up to 192 kHz.
• DC-coupled TRS outputs - Use the 16A to manipulate and sequence voltage-controlled modular synthesizers from a host DAW.
• Loopback for live streaming and podcasting - Easily route computer output back to the computer, where you can mix it with live inputs from the 16A in your host software for live streaming or podcasting.
• Flexible front-panel metering - Choose customized meter views for analog I/O only, digital I/O only and other combinations to best support your workflow.
• CueMix Pro app - Control mixing and settings from your Mac, PC or iOS device. Note: iOS app coming soon to the Apple App Store.
• Performer Lite - Workstation software with over 100 included instruments, dozens of effects and 6 GB of included loops to make music right away.

Superb analog audio quality
Renowned ESS Sabre32™ DAC technology delivers 125 dB dynamic range and extremely low harmonic distortion. Analog performance is driven by decades of engineering expertise in audio interface technology.

Thunderbolt™ and USB connectivity for Mac, PC and iOS
The 16A is the first audio interface to deliver cutting-edge Thunderbolt™ 4 and USB4 universal connectivity for Mac, PC and iOS. Connect your host device with the included 40 Gbps USB-C cable and the 16A negotiates the fastest possible connectivity speed, up to 40 Gbps, with backward compatibility for Thunderbolt 3, USB3 and USB2 host connections. Thunderbolt and USB4 connections deliver an astonishing 256 channels of computer I/O (128 in and 128 out) at sample rates up to 96 kHz.

66 simultaneous audio channels
Sixteen balanced/unbalanced TRS analog inputs and outputs, 2 x 8-channel ADAT optical ports, and an independent stereo headphone output deliver a total of 32 inputs and 34 outputs. Use the 16A for expanded analog I/O for your computer, or as a flexible, comprehensive patchbay and mixer. Or both!

Ultra-low latency performance
Optimized drivers for both Mac and PC deliver renowned, ultra-low latency performance. With a high-performance DAW such as Digital Performer, the 16A delivers an astonishing round trip latency (RTL) of ~1.8 ms (milliseconds) over Thunderbolt and USB at 96 kHz with a 32-sample host buffer.

Plug and play ease with massive bandwidth
Daisy-chain the 16A with up to six other Thunderbolt devices, all connected to your host computer with massive 40 Gbps bandwidth to easily handle hundreds of audio channels, 8K video, terabytes of hard drive storage, and more. Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB-C cable included (length = 2 meters).

64-channel mixing with 32-bit floating point precision
The 16A is equipped with a 64-channel mixer designed just like a large format mixing console. The 64 inputs can take signal from anywhere: the physical inputs on the 16A interface itself, audio channels from host software on your computer, audio network streams, or even mixer outputs. The mixer provides 26 aux busses, plus main, reverb, monitor, and solo buses. All inputs and output buses provide 4-band double-precision parametric EQ and a compressor. Additionally, input channels include a High-Pass Filter and Gate. In essence: capable and transparent mixing.

Patchbay routing and splitting
Using intuitive, virtual patch cords, you can easily route any source signal to any destination. Sources can be analog or digital inputs on the interface, computer channels, mixer bus outputs, or audio network streams from other devices on the network. Destinations include interface outputs, host software inputs, mixer inputs, or any other device (or computer) on the network. You can even split any single source (or stereo pair) to unlimited multiple output destinations.

Flexible system expansion
Audio networking has come of age, delivering a world of possibilities. The 16A features an integrated AVB switch with two Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing you to daisy-chain multiple 16A units using standard network cabling. Alternatively, expand your network by connecting an external AVB switch to build a network with multiple interfaces, computers, and ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (hundreds of meters). Each 16A can transmit and receive 128 audio channels to and from the network. Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network. The 16A is compatible with previous-generation MOTU AVB devices.