MOTU is now shipping the 4pre, a compact, half-rack 6×8 hybrid audio interface and mixer. The 4pre connects via FireWire or hi-speed USB2 to a Mac or PC computer and delivers professional audio quality, straightforward front-panel mixing, and plenty of I/O, including four mic inputs with preamps, alternative guitar/line inputs, four channels of analog output, stereo S/PDIF and two stereo headphone outputs. Advanced features include digitally controlled analog trim, DDS (Direct Digital Synthesis) audio clocking for exceptionally low jitter performance, and an instrument tuner.
“The 4pre is the ideal compact audio interface for live recording and mixing situations that require four microphones, or a mix of mics, guitars, and other analog sources,” said Jim Cooper, Director of Marketing at MOTU. “No other interface offers four studio-grade mic preamps, with hybrid FireWire/USB connectivity and mixing, in such a compact size.”
Four mic inputs with preamps
With MOTU’s unique hybrid interface technology, the 4pre connects to any current Mac or PC via high-speed USB 2.0 or FireWire and provides six simultaneous inputs and eight outputs. Four XLR/TRS “combo” jacks equipped with clean, transparent preamps provide input for up to four microphones, with individual 48V phantom power and -20 dB pad. All settings can be adjusted directly on the front panel, or from the 4pre’s CueMix software running on the computer.
Alternately, the four quarter-inch (TRS) analog inputs provide two hi-Z guitar inputs and two balanced line level inputs, allowing users to connect guitars, a keyboard, drum machine, or other line-level instrument. Four quarter-inch (TRS) analog outputs can be connected to powered monitors, stage wedges, or other output destinations.
All quarter-inch analog connectors are balanced to ensure the best-possible protection against RF interference, AC hum, and other noise-producing environmental factors.
The 4pre’s two guitar jacks provide high-impedance load characteristics suitable for passive and active pickups alike, to deliver proper guitar tone to host software.
The rear panel includes S/PDIF digital I/O at sample rates up to 96 kHz.
Easy hands-on mixing for studio and stage
The 4pre front panel provides easy, hands-on mixing of all four analog inputs. Users can plug in a mic, guitar, keyboard, and immediately control the mix going to the main outs via four front-panel knobs. Users can also adjust input trim levels directly from the front panel. Since trim level is handled independently from mix volume, users never have to sacrifice audio quality (initial gain levels) when adjusting mix levels to achieve the optimum balanced mix.
In the studio, 4pre front-panel mixing can be used for monitor-mixing while tracking into host software on a computer (to eliminate software latency during recording), or for playing connected instruments even when the computer is turned off. On stage, the 4pre can be used for live mixing, either stand-alone or with a computer.
The 4pre delivers MOTU’s award-winning audio interface technology, pristine audio quality, advanced engineering, and the rock-solid performance that MOTU interfaces are known for worldwide.
Availability
The 4pre is now shipping. Price is $495 USD.