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.
Studio-quality analog performance up to 192 kHz
Performance suitable for the most demanding situations
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.
Precision Digital Trim™
Precision remote control of preamp gain
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.
Preamp controls in the Stage-B16 web app
16 studio-grade mic inputs
Ultra-clean preamps for studio and stage 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 ultimate stage box
Run 16 mic signals to front of house — or anywhere in the network
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.
DSP-powered mixing
Console-style mixing with 48 channels and 12 busses
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.
Modeled analog EQ and compression
Vintage processing with 32-bit float precision
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 Leveler™, an accurate model of the legendary Teletronix™ LA-2A™ optical leveling amplifier, known for its highly sought-after Automatic Gain Control (AGC) characteristics.
Web app control
Control everything from your laptop, tablet and smartphone
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 favorite 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.
| Sample rates | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz |
| Mic inputs |
16 x XLR mic inputs
Preamp gain: 0 to +63 dB (digitally controlled) |
| Analog outputs |
8 x XLR line out
Max level: +20 dBu (digitally adjustable -4 to +20) 1 x 1/4" TRS stereo headphone |
| Digital output | 2 x XLR female AES/EBU out (4 ch) up to 96 kHz |
| Total I/O |
16 in and 12 out (28 total) at 1x sample rates
16 in and 12 out (28 total) at 2x sample rates 16 in and 8 out (24 total) at 4x sample rates |
| Computer I/O |
1 x USB 2.0 audio class compliant
USB 3.0 and iOS compatible 1 x AVB Ethernet (requires OS X Yosemite) |
| Computer I/O channels |
USB 2.0 (44.1 to 48 kHz): 64 in/out
USB 2.0 (88.2 to 96 kHz): 32 in/out USB 2.0 (176.4 to 192 kHz): 24 in/out AVB Ethernet: 16 to 128 in/out, depending on host computer speed |
| MIDI I/O |
1 x MIDI IN
1 x MIDI OUT 16 MIDI channels to/from computer host |
| Headphone | 1 x 1/4" TRS stereo phone (assignable) |
| Phantom power | 16 x individual +48V |
| Front panel |
1 x 1/4" TRS headphone output
1 x digital rotary encoder • phone volume 2 x switches • (1) Mute All and (1) Show 48V 16 x activity LEDs • (16) input, (8) output, (2) AES 1 x female Ethernet 'EtherCon' port 2 x male XLR AES/EBU outputs (4 channels) 8 x male XLR analog outputs 16 x female XLR mic inputs with indiv. 48V/pad Rack-mount brackets and handles (optional) |
| Power |
International 100-240V autoswitching supply
50-60 Hz • 0.5A max |
