Product Profile: Neumann MT 48 Audio Interface

Neumann’s MT 48 is a premium high quality four-input, eight-output audio interface and is Neumann’s first-ever Audio Interface. MT stands for Merging Technologies, an progressive firm from Switzerland that has now change into a part of The Sennheiser Group. The MT 48 appears to be like and feels extraordinarily strong, the general construct high quality is straight away obvious as quickly as you decide it up.

The MT 48 has 4 analog inputs and eight analog output channels. The first two inputs are on the again within the type of Neutrik combo jacks. The XLR half is for microphone alerts, the TRS half is for line sources. Strictly talking, the MT 48 doesn’t auto-switch, however that is how you must use the combo jack to keep away from making use of Phantom Power on line stage enter sources. Next to which might be two XLR balanced outputs, that are the principle outputs that you simply usually connect with your studio loudspeakers. If you’ve got a second pair of audio system, you possibly can join them to outputs three and 4, in addition to you should utilize the TRS for re-amping or for sending a monitor combine to a headphone amplifier in a vocal sales space.

On the far left and proper entrance of the MT 48 are two headphone outputs. The built-in headphone amplifiers on the MT 48 are, as you’ll anticipate from Neumann, are high-end and successfully preclude the necessity for an exterior headphone amplifier. Also, on the entrance of the MT 48 are two extra balanced quarter-inch line inputs which can be utilized for line stage sign sources equivalent to exterior preamps or going direct together with your guitar or bass.

The mic preamps, the AD and DA converters, the 2 headphone amps in addition to the DSP specs on the MT 48 and the Merging Technologies Anubis audio interface are similar. Both interfaces assist a sampling frequency of as much as 384 kilohertz with 32-bit sampling. The Premium model of the Anubis moreover helps DXD with sampling charges of as much as 384 kHz in addition to DSD bitstream codecs. The mic preamps, the A to D and D to A converters, the 2 headphone amps in addition to the DSP specs on each interfaces are similar. The main distinction is that the Merging Technologies Anubis is a pure community interface that communicates with a pc through an ethernet community port utilizing the AES67 Ravenna protocol whereas the MT 48 has USB-C functionality. In quick, the superior sound high quality of the 2 audio interfaces is similar however the Neumann MT 48 and the Anubis differ in some particulars, the basic distinction being that the MT 48 has been optimized for musicians, music manufacturing and content material creation.

The energy provide of the 2 audio interfaces can also be totally different. Instead of the 12 volts energy provide of the Anubis the MT 48 makes use of a USB-C energy provide. This implies that the MT 48 can be used on the go together with a USB-C energy financial institution with an influence supply of no less than 25 watts. Because the MT 48 is totally class compliant you do not want to make use of software program on the pc to entry all of the options and audio path. Instead of the second community port discovered on the Anubis the MT 48 options optical IO for ADAT and SPDIF converters. The MT 48 has two USB Type-C ports. One is for communication together with your Mac or PC, and the opposite is for the ability provide.

The MT 48 has out there USB drivers for Mac and Windows, and additionally it is totally class compliant with Apple units, at the moment it isn’t class compliant with Linux or Windows. It can also be straightforward to connect with an iPad for instance and permits you to management every part through the MT 48’s contact display. Now with the newest firmware replace, the MT 48 may talk together with your pc through the Ethernet community port, that means that if required, considerably increased channel counts may be realized than would in any other case be attainable with USB.

The MT 48 has out there built-in DSP-based dynamics, EQ, and reverb on all enter channels. The Reverb is there for monitor functions solely; EQ and dynamics may be printed. You may even document the uncooked and the processed sign on the identical time utilizing separate driver channels. This is kind of distinctive. Except for the Merging Anubis, I’m not conscious of every other audio interface that’s in a position to do that. Multiple Mixes are attainable and complete accessibility of all of the options of the MT 48 can be found from the full-color contact display in addition to from the out there iOS/Windows and web-based remote-control Apps. The MT 48 has one set of ADAT inputs and outputs so as to add as much as eight channels utilizing an exterior converter. Alternatively, these optical inputs and outputs can be utilized in SPDIF mode.

To sum up, every part in regards to the construct high quality, and general specs of the MT 48 is top quality. With two mc-line inputs, two line/instrument inputs, foremost outs, secondary outputs, two headphone outputs, and one set of ADAT ports. Yes, the MT48 has all the essential inputs and outputs you would want for a house or undertaking studio.

Other the opposite hand, the truth that the MT 48 has just one set of ADAT ports means it has a lowered variety of inputs at increased pattern charges. The MT 48 is general solely able to streaming as much as 32 channels into your DAW through USB. Initially, the MT 48 was restricted to stereo, however with the Monitor Mission, introduced at NAMM 2024, which transforms the gadget right into a freely configurable monitor controller and audio interface, the MT 48 additionally helps encompass sound and immersive audio codecs equivalent to Dolby Atmos 7.1. The MT 48 driver helps as much as 32 enter and 16 output channels at sampling charges as much as 48 kHz. At increased sampling charges as much as 96 kHz, the channel rely reduces to 16 enter and 16 output channels At highest charges as much as 192 kHz, the MT 48 driver can deal with as much as eight enter and 16 output channels. This is over USB. AES67 community helps as much as 256 I/O channels.

What you’re actually paying for with the MT 48 is the standard of the A/D converters and preamps, community functionality, full class compliance on Apple units in addition to Mac and PC drivers and instruments, and naturally, the Neumann title. What the MT 48 does provide past the plain high-end construct high quality is the power to manage just about all of the MT 48’s options from the onboard touchscreen with out the necessity for an exterior software program app. This permits the MT 48 to excel as a high-end moveable audio interface for skilled grade location, classical recordings, and voice overs, which is the place it is possible for you to to reap the benefits of the MT 48’s stellar preamps and best-in-class headroom and dynamic vary. It’s price mentioning that the dynamic vary will not be just a bit higher than on competing units which provide 123 dB-A. At 136 dB-A, the MT 48 has greater than 4 occasions the decision! Amplitude doubles with each 6 dB.

Given the MT 48’s high-end worth level and comparatively restricted channel rely, to not point out the plethora of accessible interfaces available on the market for a lot much less cash that provide just about the identical fundamental characteristic set because the MT 48, it’s probably not going to be a primary selection for many house or undertaking studios. On the opposite hand, in case you are an expert mixing engineer and you’ve got an general high-end sign path, microphones, and/or no less than one pair of Neuman’s network-capable nearfield displays, then the MT 48 could also be best for you.

The Neumann MT 48 is obtainable now for MAP $1,850.

More at neumann.com/en-en/merchandise/ audiointerfaces/mt-48

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March 29, 2024 at 05:14PM