Published 15/7/08
Studio workhorse gets an update
Mark Of The Unicorn (MOTU) have added a new model, the 896Mk3, to their range of Firewire audio interfaces, which will supersede the 896 and the 896HD.
Like the previous 896 models, the new interface is a 2U rackmountable device that has an impressive array of LED meters on its front panel. As with many of MOTU’s recently released interfaces, the 896 Mk3 features on-board Digital Signal Processing (DSP), which enables users to apply dynamic processing and effects directly to the inputs and outputs, and create mixes without using a computer. In practise, this facility can be used to supply a zero-latency vocal feed, with ‘comfort reverb’, to a vocalist during a tracking session, for example, or to create a custom mix for a drummer in the studio.
Using its two banks of ADAT optical connections (the other 896s only had one bank), the AES/EBU ports and the eight channels of analogue I/O, the 896Mk3 can record up to 28 channels of 16-bit/44.1kHz audio simultaneously (although it can record at rates up to 24-bit/192kHz), and can output to 32 different channels, thanks to dedicated stereo headphone outputs and the ‘main mix’ output which can be set to mirror other outputs, or supply a custom mix.
Each of the analogue inputs, which can take connections on quarter-inch jack or XLR, have two stages of hardware limiting, which MOTU say “helps reduce perceptible distortion”, and feature dedicated 10-segment meters to show the status of each of the input signals. Further ‘programmable’ meters can be set to display any bank of input or output.
For further information, visit MOTU's web site. The MOTU 896 Mk3 costs under £800, and is shipping now.
Music Track +44 (0)1767 313447
www.musictrack.co.uk
www.motu.com
Like the previous 896 models, the new interface is a 2U rackmountable device that has an impressive array of LED meters on its front panel. As with many of MOTU’s recently released interfaces, the 896 Mk3 features on-board Digital Signal Processing (DSP), which enables users to apply dynamic processing and effects directly to the inputs and outputs, and create mixes without using a computer. In practise, this facility can be used to supply a zero-latency vocal feed, with ‘comfort reverb’, to a vocalist during a tracking session, for example, or to create a custom mix for a drummer in the studio.
Using its two banks of ADAT optical connections (the other 896s only had one bank), the AES/EBU ports and the eight channels of analogue I/O, the 896Mk3 can record up to 28 channels of 16-bit/44.1kHz audio simultaneously (although it can record at rates up to 24-bit/192kHz), and can output to 32 different channels, thanks to dedicated stereo headphone outputs and the ‘main mix’ output which can be set to mirror other outputs, or supply a custom mix.
Each of the analogue inputs, which can take connections on quarter-inch jack or XLR, have two stages of hardware limiting, which MOTU say “helps reduce perceptible distortion”, and feature dedicated 10-segment meters to show the status of each of the input signals. Further ‘programmable’ meters can be set to display any bank of input or output.
For further information, visit MOTU's web site. The MOTU 896 Mk3 costs under £800, and is shipping now.
Music Track +44 (0)1767 313447
www.musictrack.co.uk
www.motu.com
