MOTU 828 User Manual page 12

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1. The 828 is equipped with a universal international power
supply (100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 0.5A max) with an
standard IEC connector.
2. These are standard BNC WORD CLOCK jacks. Use them for
a variety of applications, such as digital I/O with devices
that cannot resolve to the clock supplied by their digital
I/O connection with the 828. See "Syncing word clock
devices" on page 31.
3. These two banks of ADAT optical "lightpipe" connectors
each provide 8 channels of 24-bit ADAT optical digital I/O
at 1x sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz) and 4 channels at 2x
sample rates (88.2 or 96 kHz). They are disabled at
higher sample rates. Bank A can alternately operate as
stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) connectors. See "Optical
I/O" on page 27 and "Syncing optical devices" on
page 30.
Note: you can choose independent formats for Bank A IN
and OUT. For example, you could choose ADAT for the
optical A IN (for eight channels of input from your digital
mixer, for example) and stereo TOSLink for the optical A
OUT (for a set of auxiliary speakers, for example).
828 Rear Panel
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4. These jacks provide stereo, 24-bit RCA (coaxial) S/PDIF
digital input and output at all supported sample rates
(up to 96 kHz). When connecting a source to the input,
be sure to set the clock source correctly, as explained in
"Syncing S/PDIF devices" on page 30.
5. Connect a MIDI device here using standard MIDI cables.
Connect the 828 MIDI OUT port to the MIDI IN port on the
other device. Conversely, connect the 828 MIDI IN port to
the MIDI OUT port on the other device. You can connect
different devices to each port, such as a controller device
to the IN port and a sound module to the OUT port. You
can also daisy-chain MIDI devices, but be sure to manage
their MIDI channels (so that they don't receive or trans-
mit on the same channel). See "Connecting additional
gear with MIDI THRUs" on page 28. The 828's MIDI
output can be alternately configured as a MIDI THRU
port. See "MIDI Thru" on page 28.
6. Connect a standard FOOT SWITCH here for hands-free
punch-in and punch-out during recording. For details
about how to set this up, see item #7 in the Device tab
overview (page 45).
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7. The eight LINE OUT jacks are balanced, DC-coupled
quarter-inch connectors that can also accept a TRS plug
with the ring disconnected for unbalanced operation
(see "TRS quarter-inch line inputs/outputs" on page 25
for more on this). They provide additional analog output
for secondary studio monitors, surround monitoring,
sub-mixes or any other desired destination. The output
trim can be adjusted from the Device Tab in the CueMix 5
app. For surround monitoring, connect your surround
speakers to outputs 1-6 (or 1-8) and see "The Monitor
Group" on page 37.
8. These two XLR MAIN OUT jacks serve as the 828 main
output pair for primary (powered) studio monitors, PA
speakers or any other desired destination. You can
control their volume from the front panel MONITOR knob
(#9 on page 11). They also serve as monitor pair A for the
828 front panel A/B monitor switching feature (#4 on
page 11). See "A/B Mode" on page 38.
To hear audio playback from your host audio software on
the MAIN OUT pair, assign audio tracks (and master
fader) to these main outs. You can also use the CueMix 5
app to route live 828 inputs here as well.
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9. These eight LINE IN jacks are balanced (TRS) quarter-
inch connectors that can also accept an unbalanced TS
plug. Use with line level analog signals up to +21 dBu,
including synthesizers, drum machines, effects proces-
sors, etc. These inputs are also equipped with the 828
Precision Digital Gain™ feature: digitally controlled
analog gain that let you adjust input level in 1 dB incre-
ments from the included CueMix 5 app.
10. These two balanced quarter-inch SEND jacks supply the
pre-amplified input signal from the mic/line/instrument
inputs on the front panel (#1 on page 11). Use them to
insert your favorite compressor, EQ, reverb or other
outboard effect. Use the corresponding return jack
below to return the signal to the Input 1 or 2 signal path.
11. These two balanced quarter-inch RETURN jacks re-insert
the signal back into the corresponding Input 1 or 2 signal
path. If nothing is plugged in to the corresponding input
on the front panel (#1 on page 11), this return acts as an
additional line input that is identical to the other analog
inputs (9). When nothing is connected to these returns,
they are automatically "normaled" to the send to receive
signal directly from the preamp.
12. Connect the 828 to a computer or iOS device here using a
standard USB-C cable. For details, see chapter 4,
"Hardware Installation" (page 23).
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