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2-year warranty & 30-day money-back guarantee included
If you decide your order isn't suitable for any reason you can return it - just let us know within 30 days of receiving it. Please keep hold of all the original packaging until you're sure you want to keep the order.
Eligibility for Money Back Guarantee
Important: For hygiene and software licensing reasons, some items are only eligible for our Money Back Guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging with all software still "unregistered." Details of exclusions are shown within the product descriptions. Products include:
- Monitors and Headphones
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Reeds and mouthpieces for woodwind and brass instruments
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We can collect your return for a small fee, or you can send it back to us yourself. The collection fee can be found in the returns information on each product's page on Gear4music.
In the unlikely event that any item in this order is faulty, damaged or incorrect on receipt, notify us within 14 days and we'll arrange a free collection.
When returning an order please ensure products are appropriately packaged and protected, to prevent them from getting damaged.
This table provides an overview of your statutory consumer rights, compared with our standard returns policy and optional extended money back guarantee and warranty.
| UK & Europe | EU Standard | Gear4music Standard | Gear4music Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return Period | 14 days | 30 days | up to 180 days |
| Standard delivery charges refunded? | Yes | Yes | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Upgraded delivery charges refunded? | Standard costs only | Standard costs only | Standard costs only |
| Free collection on cancellation | No | No | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Free collection if defective, delivered damaged or incorrect item | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 30 days |
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package and some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging. For full information on our returns policy, please refer to our returns and refunds information guide.
Key Features
The MOTU 848 Thunderbolt/USB Audio Interface is ideal for professional producers, engineers, and creators working across multi-input recording, surround monitoring, and AVB-based studio networks. It provides 60 simultaneous audio channels, powered by high-end ESS Sabre32 DACs for detailed audio playback and ultra-low distortion.
Product Ref: 351483
The MOTU 848 offers universal connectivity through Thunderbolt 4 and USB4, delivering up to 256 channels of I/O with your Mac, PC or iOS device. Using the included 40 Gbps USB-C cable, the interface automatically selects the highest supported bandwidth your system can handle, while remaining backward-compatible with older USB and Thunderbolt standards.
Thunderbolt connectivity supports up to 128 channels in and out at 96 kHz, letting you work with large-format multitrack sessions or surround monitoring systems without bottlenecks. This makes the 848 an excellent hub for high-end studios, live rigs or post-production environments.
Sound quality is driven by ESS Sabre32 DAC technology, delivering 125 dB dynamic range with very low harmonic distortion. Each input and output path is designed to preserve every detail of your audio, supported by balanced analog connections that resist interference and signal degradation.
The drivers offer exceptionally low round trip latency of around 1.8 ms at 96 kHz, even when using USB, making the 848 suitable for real-time monitoring and live processing. For musicians, producers and engineers, this means reliable, clear audio without delay or compromise during tracking and mixing sessions.
The built-in 64-channel mixer gives you access to a wide range of mixing and signal-shaping tools, with 32-bit floating-point precision. Each input, aux and output bus features double-precision parametric EQ and compression, with high-pass filters and gates also available on input channels.
The internal routing system allows you to take input from hardware, host software, or network streams, then process it all inside the unit before sending it anywhere you like. This eliminates the need for external mixers or plugins during sessions, helping streamline your workflow and reduce computer processing load.
Control is easy from your computer or mobile device, using CueMix Pro. This app provides complete control over routing, DSP mixing and system configuration. You can even control the 848 wirelessly through your Wi-Fi network using multiple iOS devices at the same time.
The 848 is designed to scale with your studio through built-in AVB networking. Connect multiple 848 units or compatible MOTU interfaces over standard Ethernet using the dual Gigabit AVB ports. You can stream 128 channels in and out of the network with consistent 2 ms latency over long distances, up to 100 metres using CAT-5e or CAT-6 cabling. The interface supports daisy-chaining and full network clock sync, allowing for large and complex studio configurations without requiring extra interfaces or converters.
The Routing Grid provides a clear overview of all connections, letting you manage hundreds of routes with drag-and-drop ease. It’s an ideal solution for post-production facilities, live setups, or any studio environment that needs flexibility without sacrificing audio quality or stability.
Alongside its digital features, the 848 offers four high-performance mic preamps with 48V phantom power, remote gain control and hi-Z support for guitars. Two of these mic inputs include insert loops for integrating outboard gear directly into your signal path. You also get two headphone outputs with independent control, 16 channels of optical I/O and DC-coupled analog outputs for CV control of modular synths.
Flexible monitoring is built into the front panel, including a talkback mic, monitor level control and A/B/C speaker switching. A 12-channel Monitor Group lets you manage surround setups like 5.1 or 7.1.4 with a single fader, making the 848 well-suited for immersive audio environments. Loopback routing is available for streaming and podcasting, letting you mix computer output with live inputs effortlessly.
The MOTU 848 comes bundled with Performer Lite, a full-featured DAW for recording, editing and mixing music. It includes over 100 virtual instruments and dozens of built-in effects, covering everything from orchestral to electronic sounds. You also get 6 GB of royalty-free loops and one-shots from Loopmasters, Lucidsamples and Big Fish Audio to get your ideas flowing right away. Just plug in your mic, keyboard or guitar and start producing.
Any electrical items in your order may have been designed to work with a 240V circuit, using a United Kingdom G type plug connection or a 220V circuit, using an EU plug connection. An adapter or transformer may be required for these items to work properly and safely in your country. Some items work with a range of voltages, or have a switchable voltage control built in. Please refer to the specific product details for further information.
