Short Description:

 Professional USB 3/Thunderbolt Audio Interface. In Used, Excellent condition

What We Think:

The MOTU 828es is an absolute workhorse for project studios, tracking spaces, and hybrid mixing setups that demand elite conversion and expansive connectivity. Built around ESS Sabre32 Ultra™ DAC technology, it delivers pristine transparency, wide 3D depth, and an impressive 123 dB dynamic range. It turns a single rack space into a fully featured control center capable of handling complex tracking dates and multi-speaker monitoring setups with ease.

What sets the 828es apart from standard rack interfaces is its deep hardware feature set. Dual full-color LCD screens provide instant visual feedback across all 60 audio channels, while front-panel A/B speaker switching, dedicated talkback, and hardware inserts on the preamps bring console-style control directly to your fingertips. Combined with a 48-channel DSP mixer, latency-free vintage FX modeling, and AVB Ethernet expandability, it offers a level of routing horsepower and flexibility that is tough to match at this price point.

Manufacturer Description:

The MOTU 828es is a flagship 28x32 Thunderbolt and USB 2.0 audio interface designed for professional studio tracking, mixing, and live sound applications. Built on MOTU's renowned ESS Sabre32 Ultra™ DAC technology, the 828es delivers an outstanding 123 dB dynamic range and ultra-low harmonic distortion, providing pristine audio clarity and transparent signal conversion across every input and output.

Engineered with dual high-resolution full-color LCD screens, the 828es provides real-time metering for all 60 simultaneous audio channels, along with hardware controls for quick access to essential monitoring and routing functions. Channel highlights include two transparent, front-panel mic/line/instrument preamps equipped with individual V-Limit™ overload protection, send/return inserts, and dedicated A/B speaker select switching for studio monitoring. Equipped with MOTU's powerful 48-channel DSP mixer, onboard vintage FX modeling, ultra-low latency drivers, and AVB/TSN networking capabilities, the 828es serves as a comprehensive central hub for modern hybrid studios.

• ESS Sabre32 Ultra™ DAC Technology: Industry-leading D/A conversion delivering 123 dB dynamic range and ultra-low noise for pristine monitoring and mixing fidelity.

• Dual Full-Color LCD Displays: Real-time visual feedback for all 28 inputs and 32 outputs, complete with comprehensive gain staging and signal routing controls.

• 48-Channel DSP Digital Mixer: Onboard floating-point DSP provides a flexible 48-input mixer with 7 stereo aux buses, 3 group sends, and access to modeled 32-band parametric EQ, classic compression, and vintage reverb.

• Ultra-Low Latency & Flexible Connectivity: Thunderbolt 2 and USB 2.0 connection speeds provide sub-millisecond round-trip latency, complemented by class-compliant macOS and iOS compatibility.

• Built-in Talkback & A/B Speaker Select: Dedicated front-panel controls for control room talkback and instant switching between two pairs of studio monitors.

• AVB/TSN Network Expansion: Easily expand your I/O infrastructure using standard Ethernet networking to connect additional MOTU AVB interfaces or build complex audio networks.

Specifications:

• Form Factor: 1U Rackmount
• Simultaneous I/O: 28 Inputs / 32 Outputs
• Preamps: 2 × Mic/Line/Instrument (Front Combi Jacks)
• Analog Inputs: 2 × XLR/TRS Combi, 8 × 1/4" TRS Line Inputs
• Analog Outputs: 8 × 1/4" TRS Line Outputs, 2 × XLR Main Outputs, 2 × 1/4" TRS Headphone Outputs
• Digital Inputs/Outputs: 2 × ADAT Optical (16 ch @ 44.1/48kHz), 1 × Stereo S/PDIF (Coaxial), 1 × Word Clock I/O
• Computer Connectivity: Thunderbolt 2, USB 2.0 (Audio Class Compliant, USB 3.0 Compatible), Ethernet (AVB/TSN)
• DSP Processing: Modeled British Console EQ, LA-2A Style Compressor, Peak/RMS Limiter, Dynamic EQ, Reverb
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 19" × 1.75" × 12.25" (483 mm × 44.4 mm × 311 mm)
• Weight: 10.0 lbs (4.5 kg)