MOTU 112D - Thunderbolt/USB/AVB Hybrid Audio Interface with DSP
The MOTU 112D is much more than an audio interface; it's a central hub for professional digital audio, designed to deliver unprecedented flexibility and performance in a compact 1U rackmount form factor. Conceived as a hybrid solution, the 112D connects to your computer via ultrafast Thunderbolt technology, high-speed USB 2.0 (backward compatible with USB 3.0 ports), or AVB Ethernet audio networking, ensuring universal compatibility with Mac, Windows, and iOS systems.
With an astounding 112 simultaneous digital input and output channels, the MOTU 112D is ready to handle even the most complex sessions. It serves as an audio interface, digital router, format converter, and standalone mixer, all with near-zero latency. Route any input to any output, or to multiple destinations, with complete freedom. It's the perfect solution for integrating equipment with different digital formats such as MADI, AES/EBU, and ADAT into a single, seamless, and powerful ecosystem, whether in a recording studio, a mobile broadcast unit, or a live sound system.
Main Features
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Massive Digital Connectivity: Offers 24 channels of AES/EBU via D-sub connectors, 24 channels of optical ADAT (with SMUX support for higher sampling rates) and 64 channels of MADI (BNC), providing a total of 112 channels of digital I/O that can operate simultaneously.
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Universal Hybrid Connectivity: Equipped with Thunderbolt, USB 2.0 and AVB Ethernet ports, the 112D ensures a high-performance, low-latency connection with any modern computer, adapting to the needs of every work environment.
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Integrated DSP Mixer and Effects: Inside, it houses a powerful 48-channel, 12-bus stereo digital mixer, modeled after large-format consoles. The 32-bit floating-point effects processing includes analog-style EQ, vintage compression, gate, and classic reverb, all without putting a strain on your computer's CPU.
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AVB Audio Networking: Use the Ethernet port to connect the 112D to an AVB network. Expand your system by connecting other MOTU AVB interfaces with a single network cable, allowing you to create configurations of hundreds of channels with minimal latency over long distances.
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Remote Control via Web App: No software installation required. The 112D can be controlled from any device with a web browser (laptop, tablet, or smartphone) connected to the same network. Connect a Wi-Fi router and control the mixer and routing wirelessly—ideal for live sound or for adjustments from the recording studio.
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Exceptional Audio Quality: Supports standard sampling rates from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz, maintaining the integrity and purity of sound that characterizes MOTU products.
Benefits for the Audio Professional
The MOTU 112D is designed to solve the challenges of modern audio workflows. Its ability to route and convert digital formats on the fly eliminates the need for multiple devices, simplifying your setup and reducing potential points of failure. Ultra-low latency, especially via Thunderbolt and AVB, is crucial for real-time recording and monitoring with effects. The system is fully scalable; you can start with one unit and add more interfaces to the network as your needs grow, protecting your investment in the long run.
Use Cases
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Professional Recording Studio: Acts as the digital core of the studio, interconnecting digital consoles, external converters, preamps and effects racks via MADI, AES/EBU and ADAT.
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Broadcast and Post-production: It integrates seamlessly into broadcast environments that rely on MADI to handle a large number of channels, enabling flexible and reliable signal routing and conversion.
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Live Sound: It functions as a high-performance digital snake, a personal monitor mixer, or a format converter between different consoles. Its wireless control allows adjustments to be made from anywhere in the venue.
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Fixed Installations: Ideal for network audio distribution in theaters, auditoriums or educational centers, sending multiple audio channels to different rooms through a standard Ethernet network infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use the MOTU 112D without a computer?
- Yes. The 112D can function as a fully standalone mixer, router, and format converter. You can control it wirelessly from a tablet or smartphone by connecting a Wi-Fi router to the Ethernet port.
- What is AVB network audio?
- AVB (Audio Video Bridging) is an industry standard for transmitting high-quality, low-latency audio over an Ethernet network. It allows multiple devices to be connected using standard network cables up to 100 meters long, creating a distributed and scalable audio system.
- Can the internal DSP effects be recorded in my DAW?
- Yes. You can apply DSP effects for latency-free monitoring and, if desired, route the processed signal back to your recording software (DAW) to record it with the effects already applied.
- Is it compatible with the latest Mac and Windows operating systems?
- Yes, the MOTU 112D uses standard high-speed drivers that are compatible with the latest versions of macOS and Windows.
Project description
A 1U rackmount digital audio interface with hybrid Thunderbolt, USB 2.0, and AVB Ethernet connectivity. It provides 112 simultaneous input and 112 output channels at 44.1/48 kHz. Digital I/O includes 64 MADI (BNC) channels, 24 AES/EBU channels (3 x 25-pin D-sub connectors), and 24 optical ADAT channels (3 x Toslink pairs). It supports sample rates up to 192 kHz. It features Word Clock I/O for external synchronization. An integrated 48-channel DSP mixer with 12 stereo buses and effects (EQ, compression, gate, reverb) is included. It is controlled via a web application accessible from any networked device.
