The firmware update is expected to be available within a few weeks of the NAMM show, and users will be automatically notified by their MOTU interface web app software, where they can download and install the update with just a few clicks.

"The 1248 and other MOTU interfaces are known for their industry-leading audio quality, ultra-low latency, rock-solid performance and added value," said Jim Cooper, MOTU Director of Marketing. "MOTU is pleased to deliver additional features to our customers, after purchase, through frequent, easy-to-install firmware updates that introduce significant new functionality in their MOTU gear."

Remote control of preamp settings

The 1248, 8M, 16A and other latest-generation MOTU audio interfaces are all equipped with powerful DSP-driven 48-channel mixing, which can be controlled from the interface's web app software running in any web browser on a laptop, tablet or smartphone. If multiple interfaces are present on the network, users can assign inputs from remote interfaces to mixer input channels. With the new firmware update, users can now control the preamp gain, pad and phantom power settings of remote preamps on the network. The same is true for any settings specific to a particular input or output (such as input trim on a balanced analog input).

SMPTE time code support

With the new firmware update, the 1248, 8M, 16A and other latest-generation MOTU audio interfaces can now resolve to Longitudinal Time Code (LTC) from any available input channel (analog, digital, network, USB or Thunderbolt). When the Clock Source setting is set to LTC, the phase lock loop in the hardware's audio engine resolves directly to incoming LTC from a multi-track tape deck or broadcast video deck for drift-free sync and transport cuing. The interface can also convert the LTC to MIDI Time Code (MTC), even when the Clock Source is set to Internal (or anything other than LTC). MTC can then be routed to a host DAW through USB or Thunderbolt to continuously resolve the host software to time code.

Using MOTU's new SMPTE-Z time code generator plug-in (for Digital Performer), time code can be distributed throughout a network of MOTU interfaces over industry-standard AVB Ethernet, with ultra-low 0.625 ms network latency, to resolve multiple computers and other destinations, such as lighting, video, robotics and pyrotechnics systems, for accurate and reliable sync throughout.