Precision digital trim, Mic/guitar sends, Main outs – MOTU 828x 28x30 Audio Interface with ThunderTechnology User Manual
Page 13: Optical, S/pdif, Midi i/o, On-board smpte synchronization
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A B O U T T H E 8 2 8 X
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The quarter-inch outputs are referenced to a +4
dBu line level output signal. The inputs have
+22 dB of input gain and -96 dB of cut, allowing
them to accommodate both -10 dBu and +4 dBu
level signals.
Precision Digital Trim™
All of the 828x’s analog inputs are equipped with
digitally controlled analog trims, adjustable in 1 dB
increments. The mic/guitar input trims can be
adjusted using front-panel digital rotary encoders
that provide feedback in the front panel LCD with
up to 53 dB of boost. All analog inputs, including
eight rear-panel TRS analog inputs, can be
trimmed using the front panel LCD or using the
828x’s included CueMix FX control software for
Mac and Windows. This gives you finely-tuned
control of trim settings for synths, effects modules,
and a wide variety of analog inputs for optimum
levels. Different trim configurations can then be
saved as preset configurations for instant recall.
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 828x via one
of the eight TRS analog inputs on the rear panel, for
routing to the computer and/or inclusion in the
828x’s built-in monitor mixes.
Main Outs
The main outs are equipped with 24-bit 192 kHz
D/A converters and serve as independent outputs
for the computer or for the 828x’s on-board
CueMix FX mixes.
Optical
The two optical banks provide 16 channels of
ADAT optical at 44.1 or 48 kHz, 8 channels of S/
MUX optical I/O at 96 kHz or two banks of stereo
TOSLink at rates up to 96 kHz. The banks operate
independently, including input and output,
allowing you to mix and match any optical formats.
For example, you could receive 4 channels of
96 kHz S/MUX input on Bank A while at the same
time sending 96 kHz stereo optical S/PDIF
(“TOSLink”) from the Bank A output.
S/PDIF
The 828x rear panel provides S/PDIF input and
output in two different formats: RCA “coax” and
optical “TOSLink”. The RCA jacks are dedicated to
the S/PDIF format. The TOSLink jacks can be used
for either TOSLink or ADAT optical, as discussed
earlier.
MIDI I/O
The 828x’s standard MIDI IN and MIDI OUT jacks
supply 16 channels of MIDI I/O to and from the
computer via the 828x’s Thunderbolt connection.
Timing accuracy can be sample-accurate with host
software that supports it.
On-board SMPTE synchronization
The 828x can resolve directly to SMPTE time code
via the quarter-inch SMPTE input, without a
separate synchronizer. A SMPTE out jack is also
provided for time code generation. The 828x
provides a DSP-driven phase-lock engine with
sophisticated filtering that provides fast lockup
times and sub-frame accuracy.
The included MOTU SMPTE Setup™ software
includes a complete set of tools for generating and
regenerating SMPTE time code, providing a way to
slave other devices to the computer.