MOTU Stage-B16 16-Input Stage Box & Audio Interface
From the most critical and demanding studio environments to the world's biggest stages, the Stage-B16 delivers the same superb analog quality as MOTU's new line of award winning audio interfaces, in a rugged stage box form factor with powerful, flexible AVB networking.
Three products in one:
Stage box - 16-input stage box with AVB Ethernet "digital snake" connectivity.
Rackmount Mixer - DSP-equipped 48-input 12-bus digital mixer with wireless control.
Audio interface - Universally compatible USB audio interface for Mac and Windows.
The Stage-B16 sets a new standard for analog audio performance in a stage box. The 8 XLR analog outputs deliver a stunning 123 dB DR, a level of measured performance normally found only in products costing thousands.
Digitally controlled analog preamp gain provides accurate adjustments in 1 dB increments from web app software running on your laptop, tablet or smartphone, with the ability to save gain settings.
The 16 individual mic preamps deliver 117 dB dynamic range (DR), with -110 dB THD+N (-1 dBFS, unweighted, 1kHz). Each input is equipped with 63 dB of preamp gain, individual 48V phantom power and -20dB pad.
The Stage-B16 sets a new standard for what it means to be a stage box. With AVB networking technology, you can run mic signals over standard Ethernet cabling to a front-of-house mixing console up to 100 meters away, plus any other destinations on the network, such as the monitor mix console or a computer-based recording rig. For small- to mid-sized applications, the Stage-B16 takes care of all live sound mixing duties, controlled wirelessly from your laptop, tablet or smartphone - all with audio quality that's so good, it belongs in a world-class recording studio.
The mixer in the Stage-B16 is identical to the mixer found in MOTU's flagship 1248 and 16A interfaces. If you know your way around a large-format mixing console, you'll feel right at home. If you've ever wished to mix on a large console, the driver's seat is now yours.
British analog mixing consoles are renowned for their musical EQ profiles. The Stage-B16 meticulously models these classic EQs to give you the very same, magical EQ response found on these coveted desks. Each input channel also provides a classic compressor with peak / RMS operation.
Groups and the Main Mix bus are equipped with MOTU's Leveller, an accurate model of the legendary Teletronix LA-2A optical levelling amplifier, known for its highly sought-after Automatic Gain Control (AGC) characteristics.
The software that you use to control the Stage-B16 doesn't reside on your hard drive. It's a web app served from the hardware itself. This means you can control the Studio-B16's on-board DSP, mixing, device settings, and network audio routing from the web app software running in your favourite web browser on a laptop, tablet or smartphone connected by wire or Wi-Fi to your local area network. Use any web client on any platform - Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android - as long as it shares the same network.
Connect an Apple Airport or other Wi-Fi router directly to the Stage-B16 with a standard Ethernet cable and control the Stage-B16's powerful mixing and DSP effects from your smartphone or tablet, without a computer. Great for live sound mixing!
The Stage-B16 provides "digital snake" connectivity using AVB Ethernet, the new industry standard developed by the IEEE for professional audio networking. Run cable lengths up to 100 meters with standard CAT-5e or CAT-6 ethernet cables and ultra-low, sub-millisecond latency. Route audio from an AVB network over an entire performance venue or recording facility.
Connect up to five MOTU interfaces using a MOTU AVB Switch (sold separately).
Build a network with multiple interfaces, computers, and AVB switches using standard network cabling, with ultra-low network latency, even over long cable runs (100 meters point to point). Stream hundreds of audio channels among devices and computers on the network.
The Stage-B16 connects to your computer with audio class compliant hi-speed USB 2.0 (compatible with USB 3.0 and iOS) for across-the-board compatibility now and in the future. Alternately, if you have a Mac running OS X Yosemite (10.10) or later, you can use a standard Ethernet cable for operation as an audio interface. Either way, the UltraLite AVB is compatible with all audio software.
The Stage-B16 is so flexible, it can serve many roles - in the studio, on stage, and throughout an installation. The Quick Setup menu lets you instantly reconfigure the Stage-B16 for many common situations, from operation as a standard audio interface to serving as a network "snake" from one location to another. Once a preset is chosen, you can easily customize the routing grid and mixer settings to further suit your specific needs - and then save your own custom presets.
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Max Bit Rate (bit) | 32 |
Max Sample Rate (KHz) | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz |
Connection | USB |
Inputs | XLR, MIDI, Ethernet, USB |
Outputs | MIDI, Ethernet, USB |
MIDI | Yes |
Power Supply | Mains Adapter |
Voltage (v) | 240 |
System Requirements (PC) | 1 GHz Pentium-based PC compatible or faster. 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended. Windows 10, 8 or 7. Available USB 2.0 or 3.0 port. Available Ethernet port for firmware updates. A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording) |
System Requirements (Mac) | 1 GHz Intel-based Mac or faster. 2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended. Mac OS X version 10.8 or later. Available high-speed USB 2.0 or AVB Ethernet port. A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording). AVB Ethernet audio interface operation requires OS X Yosemite |