The MOTU 112D Thunderbolt USB Audio Interfacefrom MOTU 112D Thunderbolt USB Audio Interfaceis a digital audio interface, router, format converter, and stand-alone mixer offering 224 channels of simultaneous inputs and outputs with Thunderbolt, AVB Ethernet, and USB connectivity. The 1U 19" rackmountable device features 24 channels of AES/EBU I/O and 24 channels of ADAT optical I/O, plus 64 channels of MADI I/O. Additional I/O can be added to the system through AVB networking.

The audio interface serves as a flexible 64-channel MADI interface, router, and converter with low-latency and flexible routing/splitting to and from the AVB network, computer, AES/EBU, and optical formats. Three 8-channel D-sub connectors supply 24 channels of AES/EBU, while six banks of ADAT support up to 24 channels of optical I/O at 96 kHz.

Using Thunderbolt connectivity, the audio interface can stream 128 audio channels in and 128 channels out to the interface's physical outputs, the DSP-powered 48-channel mixer, or AVB audio network streams. The interface can also use high speed USB 2.0 (3.0 compatible) using class compliant drivers to work with most digital audio workstations.

The 48-channel digital mixer can mix physical inputs on the interface, audio channels from your host computer software, AVB audio network streams, or mixer outputs. It features seven stereo auxiliary busses, three groups, a reverb bus that can serve as an alternate 4th group, a main mix bus, and a separate monitor bus that can function as a solo buss.

The mixer includes 32-bit floating point precision DSP-powered models of three British analog console EQ profiles, a classic compressor module with optional peak/RMS operation, and a model of the legendary Teletronix LA-2A optical leveling amplifier with automatic gain control (AGC) characteristics. Each input channel strip features a high-pass filter, a gate, a four-band parametric EQ, and a compressor.

The device's digital routing matrix allows you to route any source signal including digital interface input, computer channel, mixer bus output, or network stream to any destination such as an interface output, host software input, mixer input, or any other device (or computer) on the AVB network. A single input or stereo pair can also be split and sent to multiple destinations.

This interface features an AVB Ethernet port that adopts the AVB industry networking standard for transporting high-bandwidth, low-latency audio and video over Ethernet. It was developed by the IEEE and enables connection to a second MOTU AVB audio interface (1248, 8M, or 16A) via a CAT-5E or CAT-6 Ethernet cable. The standard is open meaning it is not proprietary and will allow for open interoperability across different devices and brands.

The system can be further expanded through connection to a MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately), for five total devices and the capacity to stream over 512 channels on the network. Sixteen 8-channel network streams may be broadcast while simultaneously listening to sixteen 8-channel network streams. The AVB network provides its own network-wide time base for phase locking all connected devices and also allows one of the connected devices to be assigned as the master clock. An added benefit of the AVB network standard is the automatic device discovery for self-configuration, 100 meter cable runs, as well as the system's Stream Reservation Protocol which provides guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS) and an uninterrupted point-to-point network connection.

The audio interface's on-board DSP, mixing, device settings, and network audio routing can all be controlled through a web application running on a web browser from a laptop, tablet, or smartphone connected by wire or Wi-Fi to your local area network. This allows the interface to be controlled using Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android devices provided they share the same network. By connecting an Apple Airport or other Wi-Fi router directly to the interface with a standard Ethernet cable, the mixing and DSP controls of the interface can be managed using a smartphone or tablet, without the need for a computer. This is useful for situations such as mixing live sound. A total of up to 12 independent stereo mixes can all be independently controlled by different engineers or musicians via Wi-Fi connected iPhones or iPads.

The device includes a collection of quick setup presets designed for different applications in the studio, on stage, or for installed sound such as a recording interface or network snake. Presets can be customized using the digital routing matrix as well as saved for future recall.

112 Channels of Digital Audio I/O    24 Channels of AES/EBU I/O    24 Channels of ADAT Optical I/O    64 Channels of MADI I/O    AVB Up to 256 Thunderbolt Channels    48 Channel Software Mixer with DSP    USB 2.0 & 3.0 Audio Compatibility    DSP Modeled EQ and Compression    Digital Routing Through CAT-5e or CAT-6    Standalone Mixer Operation

24 channels of AES/EBU, plus 24 channels of ADAT optical, plus 64 channels of MADI, for 112 total channels digital audio I/O. All input and output channels can be active simultaneously

Serves as a 64-channel MADI interface, router and converter with near-zero latency and flexible routing and splitting to/from the AVB network, computer, AES/EBU and optical. Supports 56-channel mode, 32-channel mode and 1x/2x/4x clock modes

Three 8-channel (D-sub) banks of AES/EBU at sample rates up to 96 kHz. Three 8-channel banks of ADAT optical at rates up to 48 kHz; six banks of ADAT at 2x sample rates (24 channels)

Send any input to any output, or multiple outputs. Includes routing to and from the computer, plus any devices on the AVB network. Convert any format to any other

Connects to computer with Thunderbolt or high-speed USB 2.0 (compatible with USB 3.0) with class-compliant firmware and industry standard drivers to work with any audio software

Provides flexible 48-input digital mixer modeled after large format mixing consoles with 12 stereo busses and DSP effects including reverb, 4-band EQ, gate, and compression

Provides ample headroom for mixing and effects DSP

Provides classic reverb, compression modeled after historic LA-2A compressor, and EQ modeled after analog console EQs

Allows you to add a 2nd MOTU AVB interface (1248, 8M, or 16A) with a Cat-5e or Cat-6 Ethernet cable and up to five devices using a MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately). Multiple interfaces can be networked together with over 100 meter cable runs to stream audio between devices and computers on the network

Provides flexible digital matrix routing and splitting for any analog or digital input, computer channel or network stream to any computer, output, or network devices. A single input can be split to multiple output destinations

Allows monitoring and recording of up to 128 network audio channels in and 128 network channels out through a Thunderbolt connection to a host computer

Controls on-board DSP, mixing, device settings, and network audio routing from web app software running in a web browser on a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone connected by a wire or Wi-Fi to your local area network

Allows you to connect an Apple Airport or other Wi-Fi router directly to the audio interface with a standard Ethernet cable and control the device's mixing and DSP effects from a smartphone or tablet, without a computer such as in live sound mixing applications

Features large backlit 324 x 24 LCD that allows you to view all signal activity at a glance with detailed metering of analog and digital I/O, as well as access to hardware settings from font panel GUI

Includes AudioDesk workstation software for Mac and Windows with 24-bit recording, sample-accurate editing and 32-bit mixing and mastering

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Is MOTU 112D USB class compliant?

A: Using Thunderbolt connectivity, the audio interface can stream 128 audio channels in and 128 channels out to the interface's physical outputs, the DSP-powered 48-channel mixer, or AVB audio network streams. The interface can also use high speed USB 2.0 (3.0 compatible) using class compliant drivers to work with most digital audio workstations.

Q: 2. Can you use this to record Skype calls into your DAW i.e., Garageband?

A: The best way to do that would be to have the Skype coming in from a mobile device like your smartphone or tablet and connect it to one of the line inputs on the M2 using a cable like this one. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/157944-REG/Comprehensive_XLRP_MPS_6ST_XLRP_MPS_6ST_EXF_Stereo_Mini.html You would be able to adjust the level between the Skype call and the microphone that you would have connected to the Motu M2 interface.

Q: 3. I'm curious if the M2 can properly power a pair of 250 ohm headphones...?

A: We would recommend using an external headphone for 250 ohm headphones. Here's an option BH #FIK5PRO.

Q: 4. How many audio channels over USB are supported in class compliant mode? Can one route eg 32 channels from USB to Madi and then another 32 from adat to madi?

A: USB 2.0 (44.1 to 48 kHz): 64 in/out USB 2.0 (88.2 to 96 kHz): 32 in/out USB 2.0 (176.4 to 192 kHz): 24 in/out

Q: 5. Will this Interface work with Akai Force firmware 3.1 as USB audio interface? How many channels?

A: If this Motu interface is compatible with your computer and your Akai Force is compatible with your computer then they will both work together without any issues. USB 2.0 (44.1 to 48 kHz): 64 in/out USB 2.0 (88.2 to 96 kHz): 32 in/out USB 2.0 (176.4 to 192 kHz): 24 in/out

Q: 6. How does this interface work for monitoring other taks like watch movies, make video editions, navigate the web, etc? What about the delay? I will use it for video editing, record some music and also for my personal computer use.

A: This will work well for all of the above. Round trip latency is just 2.5 ms, which is undetectable.

Q: 7. Is this the newer revision for 2021? It's supposed to be better build and has an upgraded DAC

A: The MOTU M2 Desktop 2x2 USB Type-C Audio-MIDI Interface we have is the most recent version offered by the manufacturer for March 2023.

Q: 8. Will this work with Adobe Audition on a Mac?

A: Yes, you can use the MOTU M2 USB Audio-MIDI Interface with Adobe Audition on a Mac computer.

Q: 9. does this interface work with Beyerdynamic DT 990 pro 250 ohms?

A: Yes the Motu M2 headphone output can drive 250 ohm headphones.

Q: 10. Can we output audio from both Input 1 and Input 2 simultaneously to the usb so that we hear both inputs at the same time (mono-mix or stereo mix)?

A: Yes. This will allow two simultaneous inputs.