Motu ZBox Description

The ZBox from MOTU is a guitar pickup impedance adapter that allows for connecting an electric guitar or bass to a computer audio interface without losing tone. Today's guitar amp modeling plug-ins are amazing in their ability to faithfully model real guitar amplifiers. However, they're missing a crucial element of the signal path that simply cannot be modeled in software - the proper input impedance of a real guitar amplifier.

The ZBox matches the output impedance ("Z") of your guitar to the impedance of a non-amp input, such as the microphone/instrument preamp input on your audio interface. Without proper impedance matching, your guitar won't sound natural or "feel right". The authentic matching circuits emulate the 2-jack switching network found on many classic amplifiers, complete with analog simulation of the input tube grid. To support a wide range of guitars, the ZBox provides authentic "Hi-Z" and "Lo-Z" inputs, just like the ones found on many classic guitar amplifiers.

The unit is not a computer-related device and does not require any software drivers. It does not even require a power source. If you use Digital Performer's Custom 59 amp model plug-in, or a third-party guitar plug-in product like IK Multimedia Amplitube, Waves GTR, Native Instruments Guitar Rig, or similar guitar modeling software, the use of the ZBox will further enhance the authenticity of the tones you play from these products.

Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 Specifications

Microphone Inputs 1-2

• Gain Range: +13dB to +60dB
• THD+N: 0.001% (measured at 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Noise EIN: 124dB analogue to digital (measured at 60dB of gain with 150Ohm termination (20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Input Impedance: 2kOhm

Digital Performance

• A/D Dynamic Range > 110dB (A-weighted), all analogue inputs
• D/A Dynamic Range > 106dB (A-weighted), all analogue outputs
• Clock Sources:
• Internal Clock
• Sync to Word Clock on SPDIF Input (RCA)
• Sync to Word Clock on ADAT Optical Input
• Clock jitter < 500 picoseconds
• Supported Sample Rates: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz
• 18 input channels to computer: Analogue (8), SPDIF (2), ADAT (8)
• 18 6 output channels from computer: DAW (6)
• 18 6 output channels from Scarlett 18i6: Analogue (4), SPDIF (2)
• 18 input by 6 output mixer

Line Inputs (Inputs 1-2)

• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
• Gain Range: -10dB to +36dB
• THD+N: 0.001% (measured with 0dBFS input and 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Noise: -90dBu (22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Input Impedance: >10kOhm

Line Inputs 3-8

• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.2 dB
• Input Level: +10dBu for 0dBFS (balanced inputs)
• THD+N: 0.001% (measured at 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Noise: -100dBu (22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Input Impedance: >10kOhm

Instrument Inputs (Inputs 1 and 2)

• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1dB
• Gain Range: +13dB to +60dB
• THD+N: 0.004% (measured with 0dBu input and 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Noise: -87dBu (20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)

Analogue Audio Outputs (Outputs 1-2)

• 2 Electronically Balanced Outputs
• Maximum Output Level (0dBFS): +16dBu
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.2 dB
• THD+N: 0.001% (0dBFS input, 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)

Crosstalk (Channel Isolation)

• Any input to input: > 100dB
• Any output to output: > 100dB
• Any input to output: > 100dB

Weight and Dimensions

• Dimensions (W x H x D):
  Unboxed: approx. 215mm x 45mm x 220mm (8.5 x 1.8 x 8.7 inches)
  Boxed: approx. 335mm x 275mm x 125mm (13.2 x 10.8 x 4.9 inches)
• Weights:
  Net Weight: 1.5kg / 3.3lbs
  Gross Weight: approx. 2.39kg / 5.3lbs

Analogue Channel Inputs (Inputs 1-8)

• 2 Mic XLR Combo (channels 1-2) on front panel
• 6 Line TRS (channels 3-8) on rear panel
• Automatic switching between Mic / Line (channels 1-2)
• Switching between Line / Instrument Inputs (channels 1-2) via Scarlett Mix Control Application

Digital Channel Inputs (Inputs 9-18) 44.1 - 96kHz

• Stereo S/PDIF input on RCA
• 8 optical ADAT channels (4 channels at 88.2 / 96kHz)

Analogue Audio Outputs (Outputs 1-4)

• 2 TRS Jacks
• Output Level control (analogue)
• Separate Stereo Headphones Mix (outputs 3/4) on TRS with independent analogue volume control

Digital Channel Outputs (Outputs 5-6) 44.1 - 96kHz

• Stereo S/PDIF Output on RCA

Other I/O

• 1 USB Type B Connector
• 2 Standard 5-pin DIN MIDI connectors: In and Out
• DC Power Input Connector (for use with supplied universal input power supply)

Front Panel Indicators

• 8 2-segment input meters, -18 and 0dBFS
• LKD Lock Indicator
• USB Host Connected Indicator
• Instrument input source selection LED for channels 1 and 2
• Phantom Power (48V) switch and LED for inputs 1 and 2

Compatibility

• MAC: OS X 10.6.5 Snow Leopard
• WINDOWS: Windows 7 (All versions), Windows Vista (32bit only), or Windows XP SP3 (32bit only)