MOTU’s latest audio interface delivers an impressive range of connectivity in a compact, portable half-rack design. The OctaLite stands out as the only interface in its class reportedly to feature eight onboard microphone preamps, making it a versatile solution for recording setups that demand multiple inputs without taking up too much space.
Offering 16 inputs and 12 outputs, the OctaLite connects via USB 2.0 and can achieve latency as low as 2ms when paired with MOTU’s optimised drivers. It also supports class-compliant operation, allowing it to be used without installing additional drivers. An onboard DSP engine provides built-in reverb, four-band EQ, compression and gating, while 32-bit ESS PRO SABRE converters handle its analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue conversion.
All eight microphone inputs feature individually switchable phantom power, a -20dB pad, polarity inversion and a pre/post-FX routing option. This allows users to send either unprocessed or DSP-processed signals directly to their DAW. The preamps offer up to 74dB of gain and are designed to deliver clean, quiet and neutral performance, with a quoted equivalent input noise (EIN) of -129dB. The first two inputs feature front-panel combo jacks, accommodating both microphone and line-level sources as well as high-impedance instruments.
On the output side, the OctaLite provides a dedicated stereo monitor pair via quarter-inch TRS connections, alongside a conveniently positioned front-panel headphone output. Its analogue connectivity is further expanded by ADAT I/O, providing up to eight additional digital channels in each direction. The ADAT outputs can also carry signals directly from the onboard microphone preamps, allowing the OctaLite to double as an eight-channel preamp expander for an existing recording system.
Motu Octalite is available to order now, priced at $849.95
