Audio Interface

MOTU 828 (2024)

The 2024 MOTU 828 carries the most famous name in project-rack interfaces into the current line: 28-in/32-out over USB3 with two mic preamps, eight balanced line ins and outs, dual ADAT expansion, and MOTU's CueMix Pro DSP. For playback rigs it is the do-everything 1U — line outs for stems, ADAT to expand, and rock-solid drivers. Replaces the discontinued 828es.

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Photos

Manufacturer product photography — the drawn faceplate stays true to panel layout; these show the hardware itself.

MOTU 828 (2024) audio interface — Photo: MOTU1 / 3

Documented outputs: 1919 destination connections
Documented inputs: 19Based on documented inputs
Rack space: 1UBuilder checks available rail space
Power draw: 15W60W documented maximum
Catalog estimate: ~$1,095Use 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.

The MOTU 828 name has been around long enough that engineers either already trust it or have heard someone else swear by it. The 2024 version earns that reputation in a single rack unit: 28 inputs and 32 outputs over USB3, two combo mic preamps, eight balanced TRS line inputs, eight balanced TRS line outputs, a dedicated main out pair, and dual ADAT optical ports for expansion. In a playback or IEM rig, this is the box that touches everything — stems go out the line outputs, click and guide tracks can hit the preamps directly, and the ADAT ports let you bolt on a stage box or a preamp expander without adding another USB device to the chain.

Documented outputs: 1919 destination connections
Documented inputs: 19Based on documented inputs
Rack space: 1UBuilder checks available rail space

MOTU 828 (2024) audio interface — rear panel — Photo: MOTU1U · 15W

Function

How it works in the path

At load-in, the depth matters: 178 mm is shallow enough to sit comfortably in most shallow touring racks without fighting the power strip behind it. The 15-watt draw is easy on a conditioner's circuit, and the IEC connector means no wall-wart to lose. The dual ADAT ports are genuinely useful — at 48 kHz each optical run carries eight channels, giving you up to sixteen additional channels of I/O without touching your USB bandwidth. CueMix Pro runs on the unit's own DSP, so you can set monitor mixes and cue sends that survive a laptop hiccup — that matters when the show is running and your playback machine momentarily blinks.

Best fit

Where it earns its place in the rack

This interface is a strong fit for playback engineers running stems-heavy shows, MD rigs that need multiple discrete outputs for IEM mixes, and anyone who wants a single box they can trust across a long run. It is not the right call if you need more than two mic preamps natively — you will be reaching for ADAT expansion immediately, which adds cost and optical cable management. Engineers building a simple two-output click-and-guide rig will likely find it over-specified. And if your workflow is entirely Dante or AVB, look elsewhere; this is a USB interface at its core.

MOTU 828 (2024) audio interface — additional view 2Photo: MOTU

In the rack

Details worth deciding before load-in.

Use the dual ADAT ports asymmetrically if channel counts allow — run ADAT In A from a stage-side preamp expander and reserve ADAT Out B for a dedicated feed to a personal monitor system, keeping your analog line outs clean for FOH stems.
Lock word clock discipline early: if anything else in the rack generates clock, slave the 828 to it via ADAT sync rather than letting two devices fight. CueMix Pro makes clock source selection straightforward, but set it before the show, not during troubleshooting.
The Main Out L/R TRS pair is separate from Line Out 1–8, which gives you a natural split — route your primary mix bus to Main Out and use the eight line outs for discrete stem or IEM sends without any patch conflicts.
At 178 mm depth, the 828 can share a shallow 1U drawer with your cable dressing — but leave the USB-C port side accessible. A stressed USB-C connector mid-show is a real risk; use a right-angle USB-C adapter and secure the cable to the rack rail with a velcro tie.

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

Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.

01 · Source · selected

01 · Source

19 documented inputs

XLR/TRS combo + ¼-inch TRS

Arrives as: 19 documented inputs
Connector: XLR/TRS combo + ¼-inch TRS
Signal: analog audio

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 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, XLR male, toslink. 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.

Panel view

Front panel

Rear panel

All documented ports for MOTU 828 (2024)
Port	Panel	Connector	Direction	Signal	Channels
MIC/LINE/INST 1	front	XLR/TRS combo	input	analog audio	—
MIC/LINE/INST 2	front	XLR/TRS combo	input	analog audio	—
LINE IN 3	rear	¼-inch TRS	input	analog audio	—
LINE IN 4	rear	¼-inch TRS	input	analog audio	—
LINE IN 5	rear	¼-inch TRS	input	analog audio	—
LINE IN 6	rear	¼-inch TRS	input	analog audio	—
LINE IN 7	rear	¼-inch TRS	input	analog audio	—
LINE IN 8	rear	¼-inch TRS	input	analog audio	—
LINE IN 9	rear	¼-inch TRS	input	analog audio	—
LINE IN 10	rear	¼-inch TRS	input	analog audio	—
LINE OUT 3	rear	¼-inch TRS	output	analog audio	—
LINE OUT 4	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 7	rear	¼-inch TRS	output	analog audio	—
LINE OUT 8	rear	¼-inch TRS	output	analog audio	—
LINE OUT 9	rear	¼-inch TRS	output	analog audio	—
LINE OUT 10	rear	¼-inch TRS	output	analog audio	—
MAIN OUT LEFT	rear	XLR male	output	analog audio	—
MAIN OUT RIGHT	rear	XLR male	output	analog audio	—
OPTICAL A IN	rear	toslink	input	digital audio	—
OPTICAL A OUT	rear	toslink	output	digital audio	—
OPTICAL B IN	rear	toslink	input	digital audio	—
OPTICAL B OUT	rear	toslink	output	digital audio	—
USB	rear	usb c	bidirectional	data	—
IEC AC power inlet	rear	IEC C14	input	power	—
FOOT SWITCH	rear	¼-inch TS	input	analog audio	—
MIC 1 RETURN	rear	¼-inch TRS	input	analog audio	—
MIC 1 SEND	rear	¼-inch TRS	output	analog audio	—
MIC 2 RETURN	rear	¼-inch TRS	input	analog audio	—
MIC 2 SEND	rear	¼-inch TRS	output	analog audio	—
MIDI IN	rear	midi din5	input	data	—
MIDI OUT	rear	midi din5	output	data	—
PHONES 1	front	¼-inch TRS	output	analog audio	—
PHONES 2	front	¼-inch TRS	output	analog audio	—
S/PDIF IN	rear	spdif coax	input	digital audio	—
S/PDIF OUT	rear	spdif coax	output	digital audio	—
WORD CLOCK IN	rear	bnc	input	digital audio	—
WORD CLOCK OUT/THRU	rear	bnc	output	digital audio	—

Showing 39 of 39 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	MOTU 828 (2024)This gear	MOTU 828es Audio Interface	MOTU M2 Audio Interface	MOTU M4 Audio Interface
Fit	📐 1U	📐 1U	📐 Outside rack	📐 Outside rack
Power	⚡ 15W	⚡ 25W	⚡ 5W	⚡ 5W
Weight	⚖️ 11.0 lb	⚖️ 5.5 lb	⚖️ 1.2 lb	⚖️ 1.5 lb
I/O	🔌 39	🔌 8	🔌 8	🔌 7
Estimate	💵 ~$1,095	💵 ~$1,099	💵 ~$200	💵 ~$280
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 828 (2024) affect rack fit and case depth?

It occupies 1U. Its documented depth is 311 mm.

How much power does the MOTU 828 (2024) draw?

Typical draw is 15W and documented maximum draw is 60W.

What connections does the MOTU 828 (2024) have?

39 documented physical ports, including MIC/LINE/INST 1, MIC/LINE/INST 2, LINE IN 3, LINE IN 4, LINE IN 5, LINE IN 6.

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 Builder

08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.

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Photos

Product overview

Audio Interface decisions, organized around the whole rig.

How it works in the path

Where it earns its place in the rack

Signal path

19 documented inputs

Compatibility

Best fit · Audio Interface

Plan the companion path

Connector boundary

I/O ports

Every connector, grouped by job.

Alternatives

Planning questions

Builder preview

Universal Audio Apollo x16 Gen 2

RME Fireface UFX III

MOTU M4 Audio Interface

MOTU 16A Audio Interface

MOTU 24Ao Audio Interface

MOTU 24Ai Audio Interface

Related articles

Picking an Audio Interface for a Live IEM Rig

Building a Click + Tracks Playback Rig: From Laptop to Multi-Output Interface

Redundant Playback: Two Laptops, an Auto-Switching Interface, and Why You Need One

SMPTE Timecode for Worship and Touring: Locking Tracks, Lights, and Video