Motu M6 USB-C Audio Interface

General

With the M6, MOTU offer the next M-Series iteration, so you can expect the very best conversion, the clearest monitoring via a full colour display and the full gambit of inputs and outputs. Made for professionals as well as serious recording artists and at-home producers, the M6 supplies a set of six combo XLR and jack inputs that can take microphones, instruments or Hi-Z line-sources as well as an extra two dedicated line-inputs for hooking up synthesizers and other line-level instruments. Even if you're lucky enough to own a vintage synth, it can be directly plugged in thanks to the fitted MIDI input and output.

ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC & the Lowest Latency Going

M-Series Motu audio interfaces already boast the immaculate conversion made possible by the onboard ESS Sabre32 Ultra chip. Basically, this is the same converter you'll find in the guts of interfaces that would set you back a few thousand more than the compact and attainable M6. As well as impeccable analogue-to-digital translation, it's this converter that's responsible for sending audio to the headphone output, so you're getting plenty of headroom, even when working with higher impedance headphones. Since recording in real-time can't really happen when you're fighting with high latency levels, the M6 takes the latency down to an unnoticeable 2.5 milliseconds so you can work uninterrupted - especially thanks to the 96kHz resolution and 32-bit sample buffer. And, besides this powerful chunk of hardware, Motu pile on the perks with a fat bundle of recording software and loop and sound libraries.

Accurate Monitor & Loop-Back Functionality

As well as near-zero latency and high-grade recording quality, the M6 comes equipped with a full-colour screen that displays clear and accurate recording levels so you can keep track of everything during the process - a feature that, again, is ultra-rare in this price bracket. Another practical addition is the loop-back function, which makes this interface a pretty interesting pick for podcasting and live-streaming as well as music production. Using this neat function, you can directly monitor and record your computer audio and any plugged in microphones or instruments. You can even set up the M6 to serve as a standalone unit, without being tied to your computer. Simply plug in the included power supply and this interface becomes a sort of high-end mixer.