MOTU 4pre Hybrid Firewire/USB Audio Interface

Main Features

• Four inputs, all with mic preamps and individual phantom power
• Mic pre's are configurable as two stereo pairs
• Inputs 3 and 4 are also HI Impedance inputs for direct connection of guitars or basses
• Features a high speed USB2.0 and Firewire 400 (Type B) connection
• Two headphone outputs with flexible routing
• Four balanced line analogue outputs and SP/DIF I/O on RCA
• Built-in mixing capabilities

The MOTU 4pre is a Hybrid Firewire and USB interface featuring 4 mic inputs and mixing capabilities in a compact, half rack package. As with all MOTU interfaces, the 4Pre offers fully professional quality converters and an easy to use interface.


Universal connectivity
Thanks to MOTU's Hybrid interface technology, the 4pre connects to any Mac or PC via FireWire or high-speed USB 2.0. Connect your mic, guitar, keyboard, and digital input, and you are ready to make pro-quality recordings.

Studio grade sound
The 4pre has been engineered with MOTU's renowned, award-winning audio interface technology, which delivers the pristine audio quality and rock-solid performance that MOTU interfaces are known for worldwide. You can always record and mix with confidence, knowing that decades of engineering experience are behind you, every step of the way.

The 4pre combo mic/guitar inputs are equipped with pristine, transparent preamps and offer individually adjustable 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 your computer. Mic inputs can be operated individually or in stereo pairs, as needed.

The 4pre preamps deliver clean sound, 60 dB of gain, and adjustments in approximately 1 dB increments using the front-panel trims or the on-screen CueMix software. The gain adjustment itself is smooth because it is analogue, but the digital control gives you both precision and the ability to save and recall trim settings. So you get the best of both worlds: analogue trim with digital precision and control. Trim is adjusted at the input, before the mixer, so it applies to all mixes. Mix levels are controlled separately from trim, so you never sacrifice sound quality for a balanced mix. The S/PDIF digital inputs can be trimmed, too.

The four inputs are not just for mics: they are combo jacks that also accept a quarter-inch plug. Inputs 1-2 take line-level signals, such as the output from a synth or keyboard. Inputs 3-4 are 'hi-Z' DI inputs with proper impedance for plugging in your electric guitar directly, without an amp or cabinet, to process your guitar sound through amp and cab simulation plug-ins in your host software.

Without proper impedance levels, direct 'DI' guitar input won't sound right when you run it through your guitar amp plug-ins and virtual stomp boxes. The 4pre's two guitar jacks provide high-impedance load characteristics suitable for passive and active pickups alike, to deliver proper guitar tone to your host software.

The 4pre analogue inputs are designed to be flexible, so that you can address a wide range of recording situations. The line inputs provide proper level matching for keyboards, analogue mixers, effects processors, or other gear with either -10 dB or +4 dB reference level input.

Connect a pair of powered studio monitors to the main outs. The separate line outs can be used for a variety of purposes, either mirroring the main outs (perhaps for a 2nd set of studio monitors) or acting as a completely independent output pair (for a separate mix going to a mixing board or stage wedges, for example).

A second phone jack can be life-saver when you need to finish the mix with your colleague in close proximity to family or neighbours you don't want to disturb. The left-hand phone jack always mirrors the main outs, and the 'Main' volume knob controls both. The right-hand phone jack has added flexibility: it can mirror the main outs, with independent volume control, or it can mirror any other 4pre output pair.

Digital transfers are an essential fact of daily studio life. The 4pre's standard S/PDIF input and output make stereo digital transfers a snap, with optional external clocking and support for sample rates up to 96 kHz.

The 4pre can be used as a mixer on stage for live performance, in your personal studio without a computer, or together with your host software as a monitor mixer.

What makes the 4pre unique? Immediate, hands-on control of your mix using the front-panel knobs and status LEDs. To adjust the volume of an input, just turn its knob. The 4pre lets you control mix volume independently from the input's trim level, so you never have to sacrifice sound quality for a balanced mix.

4pre - it's a mixer as well
The 4pre mixer takes signals from its six inputs and mixes them to an output pair, such as the main outs. You control the volume of each input. Better yet, you can adjust input volumes differently for each output pair. In other words, each output pair can have its own unique mix. For example, you might create a balanced mix going to your PA via the main outs, but bring up the guitar for the mix going to your stage monitors via the line outs, so you can easily monitor your guitar sound. You get a separate mix for main outs, line outs, S/PDIF digital out, and phones.

As a live mixer - bring the 4pre to your next gig
Immediate volume adjustments are always within reach, so the 4pre serves as the perfect compact, portable live mixer, with or without a computer. Even without a computer, the 4pre gives you complete control over all four mix busses with direct access to volume, mute and solo for each input.

As a studio mixer - use the 4pre as the mixing hub in your personal studio
Back in your personal studio, you can of course use the 4pre to connect your mics, guitars, and other inputs to your computer. Sometimes, however, you just want to play your instruments, without the computer. The 4pre continues to serve as your studio mixer, even when your PC or Mac is turned off.

As a monitor mixer - eliminate host latency while tracking in the studio
When recording into your computer, host audio software can sometimes introduce a slight delay (latency) in what you hear as you track. You can use the 4pre mixer, instead of monitoring through the software, to completely eliminate this delay. The 4pre even provides talkback and listenback for working with talent in your studio's isolation booth.

CueMix Software
CueMix gives you comprehensive graphic control over your mix and other settings in the 4pre. CueMix can be operated side by side with any host audio software for Mac or Windows, and it can be controlled from the Mackie Control Universal Pro automated worksurface, or any HUI-compatible controller.

CueMix provides Talkback and Listenback features. Talkback allows an engineer in the control room to temporarily dim all audio and talk to musicians in the live room. Conversely, Listenback allows musicians to talk to the control room. For Talkback, you can set up a dedicated mic in your control room and connect it to a mic input on your interface. For Listenback, you can use one of the recording mics in the live room or you can set up a dedicated listenback mic for the musicians and connect it to a spare mic input.

Mac System Requirements

• PowerPC G4 CPU 1 GHz or faster (including any Mac with a PowerPC G5 or any Intel processor)
• 1 GB RAM, 2 GB or more recommended
• Mac OS X version 10.5, 10.6 or 10.7. v10.5.8 or later required
• Available FireWire or high-speed USB 2.0 port
• A large hard drive (preferably at least 250 GB)

Windows System Requirements

• 1 GHz Pentium-based PC compatible or faster equipped with at least one USB2 or FireWire port
• 1 GB RAM, 2 GB or more recommended
• Windows 7 or Vista, 32- or 64-bit. Vista SP 2 or later required
• Available FireWire or high-speed USB 2.0 port
• A large hard drive (preferably at least 250 GB)

Included software
• CueMix FX
• MOTU SMPTE Console
• AudioDesk (Mac only)