MOTU 16A Audio Interface

The MOTU 16A audio interface is a high-end solution built for professional studio and live sound applications where large input and output counts and uncompromising audio quality are essential. It provides sixteen balanced analogue inputs and sixteen balanced analogue outputs on TRS connectors, plus two sets of ADAT optical digital connections, delivering a total of thirty-two channels in and thirty-two channels out. This combination makes the MOTU 16A Gen 2 well suited to integrating a wide range of analogue sources into a digital setup or acting as a central hub for routing and summing tasks.

At the heart of the MOTU 16A is the latest ESS Sabre32 Ultra digital-to-analogue conversion technology, offering a dynamic range of up to 123 dB on the main outputs. Latency performance is among the best in its class, with round-trip times down to 1.4 milliseconds over Thunderbolt at 96 kHz with a 32-sample buffer. Thunderbolt provides high-bandwidth, ultra-low latency operation, while USB ensures compatibility with Mac, Windows, and iOS systems.

The MOTU 16A also features a built-in 48-channel digital mixer with classic British-style analogue EQ models, compression, reverb, and extensive routing capabilities. Up to twelve stereo busses—including main, aux, and groups—can be configured and controlled via a web-based app accessible on any device with a browser. The internal routing matrix allows flexible signal paths, with the ability to patch any input to any output or multiple outputs simultaneously.

With integrated AVB networking, the MOTU 16A can connect to other compatible devices using standard Ethernet, enabling expandable systems with hundreds of audio channels. It can function as a stand-alone unit without a computer and supports wireless control when connected to a Wi-Fi router, making it ideal for mobile or remote mixing. A full-colour front panel display provides clear metering for all I/O and access to hardware settings, rounding out a feature-rich and highly capable interface.

Features

• High channel count: 16 analogue inputs and 16 analogue outputs, plus 16 channels of ADAT digital I/O
• ESS Sabre32 Ultra converters: Delivers up to 123 dB dynamic range for exceptional audio fidelity
• Ultra-low latency: As low as 1.4 ms round-trip over Thunderbolt at 96 kHz with 32-sample buffer
• Flexible connectivity: Thunderbolt, USB 2.0, and AVB Ethernet for wide compatibility and expansion
• 48-channel digital mixer: Includes 12 stereo busses, EQ, compression, reverb, and classic British EQ models
• Matrix routing and splitting: Route any input to any output, or multiple outputs simultaneously
• Web-based control: Access all settings and mixer features from any device with a browser
• Stand-alone operation: Full functionality without a computer, with wireless control via Wi-Fi router
• Full-colour display: Backlit LCD for metering and quick access to hardware settings
• AVB networking: Connect multiple MOTU interfaces and computers for large-scale systems
• iOS compatibility: USB class-compliant operation with iPads and other iOS devices
• Compact design: 1U rack-mountable chassis suitable for studio or live environments