MOTU Stage-B16 16 Channel Stage Box Mixer 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.

Key Features

• Three products in one: 1) DSP-equipped stage box with AVB Ethernet "digital snake" connectivity, 2) 12-bus digital mixer with wireless control and 3) universally compatible audio interface for Mac and Windows.
• Studio-quality analog performance up to 192 kHz: For example, the XLR analog outputs produce 123 dB dynamic range.
• 16 studio-grade mic inputs: Each equipped with individual preamps, 48V phantom power and -20dB pad. Also includes eight analog outs on XLRs, 4 channels of AES/EBU output and phones.
• Precision Digital Trim: 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.
• On-board DSP with mixing and effects: Flexible 48-input digital mixer modeled after large format mixing consoles, with 12 stereo busses and DSP effects, including reverb, 4-band EQ, gate, and compression.
• Web app control from any device: Control on-board DSP, mixing, device settings, and network audio routing from innovative web app software running in your favorite browser on a laptop, tablet or smartphone connected by wire or Wi-Fi to your local area network.
• Stand-alone operation with wireless control: Connect an Apple Airport or other Wi-Fi router with a standard Ethernet cable for wireless control of device settings, powerful 48-channel mixing and DSP effects from your smartphone or tablet, without a computer.

Technical Specifications

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
Mac System Requirements
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
Windows System Requirements
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)
Web App Support
Any web client platform: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Any web browser: Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Explorer, etc.
Web client must be connected to the same network as the MOTU AVB interface by wire or Wi-Fi.
Included Software
MOTU AVB Discovery App for Mac and Windows (finds connected MOTU interfaces)
MOTU AVB Discovery App for iOS (available from Apple App Store)
MOTU AVB Control web app (served from the hardware itself)
AudioDesk 4.0 for Mac & Windows (separate download)
Operating Systems
For computer audio I/O: Mac OS X 10.8 or later; Windows 7 or later
For web app control: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android