01 · Source
16 documented inputs
XLR/TRS combo + ¼-inch TRS
- Arrives as
- 16 documented inputs
- Connector
- XLR/TRS combo + ¼-inch TRS
- Signal
- analog audio
Audio Interface
MOTU 10pre
MOTU 10pre Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Audio Interface. Plan its source-defined physical connections and placement in your rig.
- Documented outputs
- 1515 destination connections
- Documented inputs
- 16Based on documented inputs
- Rack space
- 1UBuilder checks available rail space
- Power draw
- UnverifiedPower requirement is not verified in the catalog
- Catalog estimate
- ~$1,595Use retailer rows for current price and stock
01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.
Product overview
Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.
The payoff
Audio Interface decisions, organized around the whole rig.
MOTU 10pre Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Audio Interface. Plan its source-defined physical connections and placement in your rig.
- Documented outputs
- 1515 destination connections
- Documented inputs
- 16Based on documented inputs
- Rack space
- 1UBuilder checks available rail space
02 · Know the whole path before you buy.
Signal path
Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.
Interactive block diagramAuto-looping · hover, focus, or tap to hold a stage
Port-type signalProduct functionSystem boundary
Follow one signal from source to destination
01 · Source · selectedEach block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.
03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.
Compatibility
Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.
Best fit · Audio Interface
Use it when 1U and 311.15 mm of depth fit the case.
Plan the companion path
Complete the path with upstream and downstream gear that matches connector, direction, signal type, protocol, and wiring standard.
Connector boundary
Documented connectors: XLR/TRS combo, ¼-inch TRS, toslink, RJ45. Match connector, direction, and signal type—not shape alone.
04 · Every connector, grouped by job.
I/O ports
Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.
Every connector, grouped by job.
Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.
| Port | Panel | Connector | Direction | Signal | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 9 | front | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 10 | front | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| PHONES 1 · STEREO TRS | front | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| PHONES 2 · STEREO TRS | front | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 8 | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 7 | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 6 | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 5 | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 4 | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 3 | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 2 | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 1 | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUT 7 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUT 8 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUT 5 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUT 6 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUT 3 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUT 4 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUT 1 · L | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUT 2 · R | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 2 INSERT SEND · BALANCED TRS | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 2 INSERT RETURN · BALANCED TRS | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 1 INSERT SEND · BALANCED TRS | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 1 INSERT RETURN · BALANCED TRS | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| OPTICAL B OUT · ADAT | rear | toslink | output | data | — |
| OPTICAL B IN · ADAT | rear | toslink | input | data | — |
| OPTICAL A OUT · ADAT / S/PDIF | rear | toslink | output | data | — |
| OPTICAL A IN · ADAT / S/PDIF | rear | toslink | input | data | — |
| AVB NETWORK · UPPER | rear | RJ45 | bidirectional | data | — |
| AVB NETWORK · LOWER | rear | RJ45 | bidirectional | data | — |
| HOST · THUNDERBOLT / USB4 AUDIO / DATA | rear | usb c | bidirectional | data | — |
| DEVICE · PERIPHERAL DATA / 15W BUS POWER | rear | usb c | bidirectional | data | — |
| WORD CLOCK IN | rear | bnc | input | data | — |
| WORD CLOCK OUT-THRU | rear | bnc | output | data | — |
| AC POWER INPUT · IEC | rear | IEC C14 | input | power | — |
Showing 35 of 35 documented physical ports. Scroll to review the remaining rows.
05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.
Alternatives
The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.
| Compare |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit | 📐 1U | 📐 1U · half-rack | 📐 1U | 📐 1U |
| Power | ⚡ Unverified | ⚡ 25W | ⚡ 25W | ⚡ 25W |
| Weight | ⚖️ 11.0 lb | ⚖️ 5.5 lb | ⚖️ 5.5 lb | ⚖️ 5.5 lb |
| I/O | 🔌 35 | 🔌 23 | 🔌 15 | 🔌 15 |
| Estimate | 💵 ~$1,595 | 💵 ~$1,495 | 💵 ~$1,295 | 💵 ~$1,495 |
| Deep dive | Current selection | Full comparison → | Full comparison → | Full comparison → |
06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.
Planning questions
Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.
How will the MOTU 10pre affect rack fit and case depth?
It occupies 1U. Its documented depth is 311.15 mm.
How much power does the MOTU 10pre draw?
Its power requirement is not yet verified in the catalog.
What connections does the MOTU 10pre have?
35 documented physical ports, including MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 9, MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 10, PHONES 1 · STEREO TRS, PHONES 2 · STEREO TRS, MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 8, MIC / LINE / INSTRUMENT INPUT 7.
07 · See this unit inside a real rack plan.
Builder preview
Placement is only the start. Builder checks space · depth · weight, power headroom, dependencies, and compatible signal paths around this exact catalog item.Open in Builder08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.
Complete the system
Audio Interface
Universal Audio Apollo x16 Gen 2
1U · 13 ports · ~$3,799
Audio Interface
RME Fireface UFX III
1U · 39 ports · ~$3,199
Audio Interface
MOTU M4
Outside rack · 16 ports · ~$280
Audio Interface
MOTU 16A Audio Interface
1U · 11 ports · ~$2,495
Audio Interface
MOTU 24Ao Audio Interface
1U · 9 ports · ~$1,995
Audio Interface
MOTU 24Ai Audio Interface
1U · 9 ports · ~$1,995Planning guides for audio interface systems.
Related articles
Workflow · 7 min
Picking an Audio Interface for a Live IEM Rig
How to choose between a digital mixer, a Thunderbolt interface, and a Dante converter as the brain of your IEM rack — with concrete picks at each tier.
Workflow · 14 min
Building a Click + Tracks Playback Rig: From Laptop to Multi-Output Interface
How to build a live-performance playback rig that runs click + backing tracks reliably — interface sizing, routing rules, software comparison, and what to do when the laptop crashes.
Workflow · 12 min
Redundant Playback: Two Laptops, an Auto-Switching Interface, and Why You Need One
How to build a fail-safe live playback rig with primary + backup laptops, an auto-switching audio interface, and a failover workflow you can actually trust on a Sunday morning.
Workflow · 11 min
SMPTE Timecode for Worship and Touring: Locking Tracks, Lights, and Video
LTC vs MTC vs MIDI Clock, how to generate timecode from Ableton or Playback, how lighting and video receive it, and the frame-rate mistake that drifts every show.