The 24Ai from MOTU is a single rack space USB 2.0 interface with industry-standard AVB networking for sub-millisecond network latency, and offers twenty-four channels of analog audio input combined with three banks of ADAT optical, for a total of seventy-two channels of I/O. The unit connects to a computer through USB 2.0, which provides more than enough bandwidth for the twenty-four analog channels, and when connected through AVB networking, supports hundreds of network channels.
All devices on an AVB network can stream audio to and from a computer, and everything can be controlled simultaneously from any computers, tablets, and smart phones connected to the network. The interface delivers excellent analog performance with digitally controlled analog trim on the analog inputs, and includes a forty-eight-channel software mixer modeled after large format mixing consoles, DSP effects with 32-bit floating point precision, flexible matrix-style routing and splitting, stand-alone operation, and Wi-Fi control.
Highlights
- Employs the same analog design as MOTU's 1248, 8M and 16A audio interfaces
- Seventy-two simultaneous audio channels: Twenty-four balanced analog inputs on three banks of multichannel connectors (D-sub and Phoenix), plus three banks of eight-channel ADAT optical
- Connects to a computer with audio class compliant high-speed USB 2.0 (compatible with USB 3.0 and iOS)
- Discovery app and web app software works alongside any host audio software
- On-board DSP with mixing and effects
- Flexible forty-eight input digital mixer modeled after large format mixing consoles, with twelve stereo busses and DSP effects, including reverb, four-band EQ, gate and compression
- DSP-driven mixing and effects engine delivers virtually unlimited headroom utilizing 32-bit floating point processing
- Modeled vintage effects processing with compression modeled after the legendary LA-2A compressor and EQ modeled after British analog console EQs
- Add a second MOTU AVB interface (24Ai, 24Ao, 1248, 8M or 16A) with a simple Cat-5e Ethernet cable
- Connect up to five MOTU interfaces using a MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately)
- Build an AVB network with multiple interfaces and computers using standard AVB switches and network cabling, with ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (100 meters point to point)
- Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network
- Matrix routing and splitting allows for sending any input to any output, or multiple outputs, including routing to and from the computer, plus any devices on the AVB network
- Control on-board DSP, mixing, device settings and network audio routing from web app software running in a preferred browser on a laptop, tablet or smart phone connected by wire or Wi-Fi to a local area network
- Standalone mixing with wireless control - connect an Apple Airport or other Wi-Fi router directly to the 24Ai with a standard Ethernet cable and control mixing and DSP effects from a smart phone or tablet, without a computer, great for live sound mixing
- Use the 24Ai as a twenty-four channel optical expander for other gear (24 channels at 44.1/48 kHz or 12 channels at 88.2/96 kHz)
- Large backlit 324 x 24 LCD allow for viewing all signal activity at a glance with detailed metering for all analog and digital I/O
- Access hardware settings from a simple and convenient menu
- Includes AudioDesk workstation software with 24-bit recording, sample-accurate editing and 32-bit mixing and mastering
Technical Specifications
- Sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
- Connectivity: USB 2.0 audio class compliant
- Bit Depth: 24-bit
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 17 x 7 x 2" (432 x 178 x 51 mm) without included rack ears
Whats In The Box
- MOTU AVB Discovery App for Mac (finds connected MOTU interfaces)
- MOTU AVB Discovery App for iOS (available from Apple App Store)
- MOTU AVB Control web app (served from the hardware itself)
- AudioDesk 4.0 for Mac and Windows (separate download)
System Requirements
PC
- 1 GHz Pentium-based PC compatible or faster
- 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended
- Windows 7 or later
- Available USB 2.0 or 3.0 port
- Available Ethernet port for firmware updates
- A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
Mac
- 1 GHz Intel-based Mac or faster
- 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended
- Mac OS X version 10.8 or later
- Available high-speed USB 2.0 or AVB Ethernet port*
- A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
- AVB Ethernet audio interface operation requires OS X Yosemite
