MOTU 10pre Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Audio Interface

Product Description

Similar to their 16A and 848 interfaces, the MOTU 10pre connects to a Mac, PC or iOS device with the included 40 Gbps Thunderbolt-compatible USB4 C-to-C cable (compatible with USB3 and USB2) for up to 256 audio channels (128 in and 128 out). Class-compliant firmware and industry standard drivers work with any audio apps and deliver roundtrip latency (RTL) less than 1.9 ms (at 96 kHz with a 32 sample host buffer). A second Thunderbolt port connects additional computer peripherals, such as a 2nd monitor, hard drive, USB hub or Thunderbolt dock.

 

TEN MIC/LINE/INSTRUMENT INPUTS

The 10pre offers a unique array of ten mic/line/instrument (hi-Z) analog inputs on XLR/TRS “combo” style connectors equipped with advanced preamp circuits (118 dB dynamic range), delivering extremely quiet performance (-129 dBu EIN), intentionally neutral sound, very low noise (-114 THD+N), and plenty of preamp gain (+74 dB). Users can rack-mount the 10pre and hard-wire a full bank of eight mic inputs (channels 1-8) into their studio system, while also enjoying two additional, identical, fully independent mic/line/instrument inputs (9-10) on the front panel for on-the-spot connections during recording sessions. As “primary” recording channels, inputs 1-2 (on the rear panel) offer a dedicated send/return insert for outboard gear processing.

 

FRONT PANEL

In addition to mic inputs 9-10 on the front panel, a large, bright 3.9-inch full-color TFT display provides luxurious, high-resolution metering for all analog and digital I/O. Two headphone outputs provide independent volume control and fully-programmable source selection, including analog or digital inputs or outputs, mixer buses (with built-in reverb), host audio channels, or even network channels. The INPUT channel select knob (with accompanying ± buttons) lets users choose any input and then adjust its individual preamp gain (+74 dB), -20 dB pad, and 48V phantom power switch. Phase invert is also provided via included software, and all input settings can be controlled remotely from a computer or iOS device. Control room features include talkback with front panel “Talk" button and “A/B/C” monitor select, Mute, and (sum to) Mono buttons for the designated monitor outputs, to quickly compare mixes on up to three sets of studio monitors.

 

REAR PANEL I/O

The 10pre rear panel provides eight mic/line/instrument inputs (channels 1-8) on flexible “combo” style XLR/TRS jacks, with two sets of quarter-inch send/return inserts for inputs 1-2. In addition, eight balanced TRS analog (line-level) outputs equipped with ESS Sabre32 32-bit DACs deliver a measured dynamic range of 125 dB with -114 dB THD+N. Also included are two banks of 8-channel ADAT optical digital I/O (switchable to stereo optical S/PDIF on bank A). All analog inputs and outputs can be calibrated with boost or trim in precise 1 dB increments. All line outputs are DC-coupled, so they may be used to manipulate and sequence voltage-controlled modular synthesizers from a host DAW. Also included are BNC word clock I/O (with optional Thru), two Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Type-C ports, and two AVB Ethernet ports.

 

FLEXIBLE NETWORKING

Similar to the 16A and 848, the 10pre features an integrated AVB switch with two Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing users to daisy-chain as many as eight 10pre, 848, and/or 16A units using standard network cabling, with full access to all units from the host computer. An external AVB switch can be added to expand the network further with multiple interfaces, computers, and ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (hundreds of meters). Each 10pre can transmit and receive 128 audio channels to and from the network, with hundreds of audio channels streaming among devices and computers on the network. The 10pre is compatible with previous-generation MOTU AVB devices.

 

MIXING AND EFFECTS PROCESSING

Driven by the same powerful 32-bit floating point DSP engine as the 16A and 848, the 10pre delivers 64-channel mixing from any sources: the physical inputs on the 10pre interface itself, audio channels from host software, audio network streams, or even mixer outputs. Accessed in the included CueMix Pro app for macOS, Windows and iOS, the mixer provides 26 aux busses, plus main, reverb, monitor, and solo buses. All mixer inputs and output buses provide 4-band double-precision parametric EQ and a compressor at all sample rates up to 96 kHz. Additionally, all input channels include a High-Pass Filter and Gate. The 10pre can be used for monitor mixing while tracking in the studio or for stand-alone mixing for live sound, with Wi-Fi control of all mix settings from an iPad or iPhone.

 

COMPREHENSIVE ROUTING AND SPLITTING

Using intuitive, virtual patch cords in CueMix Pro, or a comprehensive routing grid, users can easily route any source signal to any destination. Sources include 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. Users can even split any single source (or stereo pair) to unlimited multiple output destinations.

 

INCLUDED SOFTWARE

The 10pre ships with the CueMix Pro App and low-latency Thunderbolt/USB drivers for macOS, Windows, iOS and iPadOS, MOTU Performer Lite workstation software for macOS and Windows, and 6GB of loops and sounds from Big Fish Audio, LucidSamples, LoopCloud and MOTU.

 

MOTU 10PRE FEATURES:

26x28 Thunderbolt/USB4 audio interface with mixing, effects and networking

Mac, PC or iOS device connectivity with included 40 Gbps Thunderbolt-compatible USB4 C-to-C cable (compatible with USB3 and USB2)

Class-compliant firmware and industry standard drivers deliver roundtrip latency (RTL) less than 1.9 ms

Ten mic/line/instrument (hi-Z) analog inputs on XLR/TRS “combo” style connectors with preamp circuits featuring 118 dB dynamic range

3.9-inch full-color TFT display provides metering for all analog and digital I/O

Integrated AVB switch with two Gigabit Ethernet ports for daisy-chaining as many as eight 10pre, 848, and/or 16A units

32-bit floating point DSP engine

More Information

Condition New

Chassis 19-inch Rack-Mount

Rack Spaces 1U

Number of Inputs 26

Input Connectors Ethernet, Optical, 1/4-inch TRS, XLR Combo Jack TRS

Number of Outputs 28

Output Connectors Ethernet, Optical, 1/4-inch TRS

Computer Connection Thunderbolt, USB

Number of Preamps 10

Clock I/O In, Out

Maximum Sampling Rate 192 kHz

Digital Format ADAT