2011 NAMM Show: MOTU is introducing a new Firewire/USB audio interface, the MOTU 828mk3 Hybrid.

It’s designed to provide connectivity to any Mac or PC via FireWire or high-speed USB 2, with 10 channels of 24-bit/192kHz analog recording and playback, combined with 16 channels of ADAT digital I/O and stereo S/PDIF.

The system is expandable by connecting additional MOTU audio interfaces or the 8pre mic input expander. The 828mk3 Hybrid’s two 400 Mbit/s FireWire ports can be connected to any available FireWire port on your computer, either Type A or Type B.

The 828mk3 Hybrid provides 28 separate inputs and 30 separate outputs, including dedicated main outs on XLRs and two front panel headphone outs. Users can record, monitor, route and process all of these live inputs using the onboard CueMix FX digital mixer—with no latency and no computer processor strain. Apply hardware DSP-driven compression, EQ and reverb to every input and output, independent of your host computer.

After programming the onboard mixing in the studio, the 828mk3 Hybrid can be disconnected from the computer and taken on the road for operation as a stand-alone mixer with all mixing and effects parameters adjustable from the backlit front panel LCD.

Other features include advanced audio diagnostic tools, including a full-screen real-time FFT display, spectrogram “waterfall” display, full-featured oscilloscope, X-Y plot, and linear/polar phase analysis graphs.

The 828mk3 Hybrid offers cross-platform compatibility with Mac and Windows and standard audio software and host-based effects via WDM/ASIO/Core Audio drivers. Or use the included AudioDesk workstation software for Mac, with 24-bit recording/editing and 32-bit mixing/processing/mastering.

The MOTU 828mk3 Hybrid is expected to ship Q1 and be priced at about $750.