MOTU 24Ai Audio Interface
48x24 I/O with 24 analog in, 48-ch mixing, DSP & AVB-TSN networking.
Introducing the MOTU 24Ai and MOTU 24Ao. The new audio interfaces with 24 analog channels in one rack space, superb audio quality, AVB audio networking, and large console style mixing with 48 channels and 12 stereo busses. The 24Ai and 24Ao are two new members of MOTU's high-end audio interface lineup that includes the 1248, 8M and 16A. You can mix and match their complementary I/O configurations and unify operation with their shared AVB audio networking platform. 72 audio channels. 24 channels of analog, plus three 8-channel banks of digital I/O. The 24Ai offers twenty-four balanced analog inputs in a single rack space. The 24Ao offers twenty-four analog outputs. Both units include three 8-channel ADAT optical banks, for a total of 72 channels each (24 analog plus 48 optical). Use the 24Ai and 24Ao to add analog I/O to your computer, or as a flexible optical expander and mixer. Or both! All analog I/O is supplied on multi-channel DB-25 D-sub connectors and Phoenix connectors for convenient, flexible wiring into studio and industrial installations alike. If you need individual quarter-inch connectors, check out the 16A interface. Superb audio quality. The 24Ai and 24Ao employ the same industry-recognized analog design as MOTU's groundbreaking 1248, 8M, and 16A audio interfaces.
Audio class compliant USB 2.0. Broad compatibility with future-proof connectivity. Hi-speed USB 2.0 provides across-the-board compatibility with pretty much all laptops and desktops. The 24Ai and 24Ao are USB audio class compliant, which means you enjoy OS-level USB compatibility and support, including iPad support (with a camera connection kit). Since USB 2.0 devices are compatible with USB 3.0-equipped hosts, your 24Ai / 24Ao interface is a future-proof investment in your studio.
48-channel digital mixing. Control up to 12 separate stereo mixes. The 24Ai and 24Ao are equipped with a 48-channel digital mixer designed just like a large format mixing console. The 48 inputs can take signal from anywhere: the physical inputs on the 24Ai / 24Ao interface itself, audio channels from host software on your computer, audio network streams, or even mixer outputs. The mixer provides 7 stereo aux busses, 3 groups, a reverb bus that can alternately serve as a 4th group, a Main Mix bus and a separate Monitor bus that can serve as a solo bus. In essence: comprehensive and transparent mixing.
Modeled analog EQ and compression. Vintage processing with 32-bit floating point precision. British analog mixing consoles are renowned for their musical EQ profiles. The 24Ai and 24Ao meticulously model these classic EQs to give you the very same, magical EQ response found on these coveted desks. Each input channel also provides a classic compressor module with optional peak/RMS operation. Groups and the Main Mix bus are equipped with MOTU's Leveler™, an accurate model of the legendary Teletronix LA-2A optical leveling amplifier, known for its unique and highly sought-after Automatic Gain Control (AGC) characteristics.
Matrix routing and splitting. Put the ultimate patch-bay at your fingertips. With one click on the routing grid, you can route any source signal to any destination. Sources can be 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 AVB network. You can even split any single input (or stereo pair) to unlimited multiple output destinations.
System expansion and audio networking. Expand your system with more I/O and Wi-Fi control. Connect up to five MOTU interfaces using a MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately). The network port on the 24Ai and 24Ao introduces AVB Ethernet, the new industry standard developed by the IEEE for professional audio networking. Add a second MOTU AVB interface (24Ai, 24Ao, 1248, 8M, or 16A) with a simple Cat-5e or CAT-6 ethernet cable. Build a network with multiple interfaces and computers using standard AVB switches and network cabling, with ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (hundreds of meters). Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network.
Web app control. Control everything from your laptop, tablet, and smart phone. The software that you use to control the 24Ai and 24Ao doesn't reside on your hard drive. It's a web app served from the hardware itself. This means you can control the on-board DSP, mixing, device settings, and network audio routing from the web app software running in your favorite web browser on a laptop, tablet or smart phone connected by wire or Wi-Fi to your local area network. Use any web client on any platform — Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android — as long as it shares the same network.
Stand-alone mixing with wireless control. Control everything from your iPad or iPhone Connect an Apple Airport™ or other Wi-Fi router directly to the 24Ai or 24Ao with a standard Ethernet cable and control powerful mixing and DSP effects from your smart phone or tablet, without a computer. Great for live sound mixing! Comprehensive metering. View all I/O activity at a glance. The large backlit 324 x 24 LCD lets you view all signal activity at a glance with detailed metering for all analog and digital I/O. Access hardware settings from a simple and convenient menu.
Quick Setup presets. Completely transform your MOTU interface with one click. The 24Ai and 24Ao are so flexible, they can serve many roles — in the studio, on stage, and throughout an installation. The Quick Setup menu lets you instantly reconfigure the 24Ai and 24Ao for many common situations, from operation as a standard audio interface to serving as a network "snake" from one location to another. Once a preset is chosen, you can easily customize the routing grid and mixer settings to further suit your specific needs — and then save your own custom presets.
Technical Specifications
| Sample rates | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz |
| 24Ai analog inputs | 24 channels (balanced/unbalanced) |
| 24Ao analog outputs | 24 channels (balanced, DC coupled) |
| Digital I/O | 3 banks (24 ch) of ADAT optical at 1x sample rates |
| Total I/O | 24 analog + 48 digital (72 total) at 1x rates |
| Computer I/O | 1 x USB 2.0 audio class compliant |
| Computer I/O channels | USB 2.0 (44.1 to 48 kHz): 64 in/out |
| Sync I/O | 1 x word clock in 1 x word clock out |
| Front panel | 5 x switches • menu navigation |
| Power | International 100-240V autoswitching supply 50-60 Hz • 0.5A max |
Mac System Requirements
- 1 GHz Intel-based Mac or faster
- 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended
- Mac OS X version 10.8 or later
- Available high-speed USB 2.0 or AVB Ethernet port*
- A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
- *AVB Ethernet audio interface operation requires OS X Yosemite
Windows System Requirements
- 1 GHz Pentium-based PC compatible or faster
- 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended
- Windows 7, 8 or 10
- Available USB 2.0 or 3.0 port
- Available Ethernet port for firmware updates
- A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)
Web App Support
- Any web client platform: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Any web browser: Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Explorer, etc.
- Web client must be connected to the same network as the MOTU AVB interface by wire or Wi-Fi.
Included Software
- MOTU Discovery App for Mac & PC (finds connected MOTU interfaces)
- MOTU Discovery App for iOS (available from Apple App Store)
- MOTU Pro Audio Control web app (served from the hardware itself)
- MOTU Audio Tools (FFT, oscilloscope, X-Y plot, phase analyzer)
- AudioDesk 4.0 for Mac & PC (separate download)
Operating Systems
- For computer audio I/O: Mac OS X 10.8 or later; Windows 7 or later
- For web app control: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Compatible Mac Software
The 24Ai and 24Ao ship with standard Core Audio drivers for Mac OS X for compatibility with virtually all Core Audio-compatible apps, including:
- MOTU Digital Performer
- Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
- Apple Logic Pro
- Apple Logic Express
- Apple Garage Band
- Apple SoundTrack Pro
- Ableton Live
- Propellerhead Record & Reason
- Steinberg Cubase
- Cockos Reaper
- Native Instruments Kontakt
- Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
Compatible Windows Software
The 24Ai and 24Ao ship with standard ASIO and Wave drivers for Windows 7, 8 and 10 for compatibility with virtually all ASIO- and Wave-compatible audio apps, including:
- MOTU Digital Performer
- Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
- Ableton Live
- Cakewalk Sonar
- Steinberg Cubase
- Propellerhead Record & Reason
- Image Line FL Studio
- Sony Vegas Pro
- Sony Sound Forge
- Sony Acid
- Cockos Reaper
- Native Instruments Kontakt
- Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
24Ai and 24Ao Feature Summary
72 simultaneous audio channels - 24 high-quality, balanced analog inputs (24Ai) or outputs (24Ao) on three banks of multi-channel connectors (D-sub and Phoenix), plus three banks of 8-channel ADAT optical for 24 analog channels and 48 digital channels.
Universal connectivity - Connects to a computer with standard AVB Ethernet or audio class compliant high-speed USB 2.0 (compatible with USB 3.0 and iOS). Discovery app and web app software works alongside any host audio software.
On-board DSP with mixing and effects - 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.
32-bit floating point processing - DSP-driven mixing and effects engine delivers virtually unlimited headroom and the utmost in sound quality.
Modeled vintage effects processing - Classic reverb. Compression modeled after the legendary LA-2A compressor. EQ modeled after British analog console EQs.
System expansion - Add a 2nd MOTU AVB interface (24Ai, 24Ao, 1248, 8M or 16A) with a simple Cat-5e ethernet cable. Connect up to five MOTU interfaces using a MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately).
AVB audio networking - Build a network with multiple interfaces and computers using standard AVB switches and network cabling, with ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (100 meters point to point). Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network.
Matrix routing and splitting - Send any input to any output, or multiple outputs. Includes routing to and from the computer, plus any devices on the AVB network.
Web app control - Control on-board DSP, mixing, device settings, and network audio routing from web app software running in your favorite browser on a laptop, tablet or smart phone connected by wire or Wi-Fi to your local area network.
Stand-alone mixing with wireless control - Connect an Apple Airport™ or other Wi-Fi router directly to the 24Ai or 24Ao with a standard Ethernet cable and control powerful mixing and DSP effects from your smart phone or tablet, without a computer. Great for live sound mixing.
ADAT digital I/O - Use the 24Ai or 24Ao as a 24-channel optical expander for other gear. 24 channels at 44.1/48 kHz or 12 channels at 88.2/96 kHz.
Comprehensive metering - The large backlit 324 x 24 LCD lets you view all signal activity at a glance with detailed metering for all analog and digital I/O. Access hardware settings from a simple and convenient menu.
AudioDesk - Includes AudioDesk workstation software for Mac and Windows with 24-bit recording, sample-accurate editing and 32-bit mixing and mastering.