AV #TechTuesday: Neumann MT 48 Audio Interface

Neumann recently announced the launch of their first-ever, in-house audio interface, the MT 48, made in collaboration with Merging Technologies, the Swiss manufacturer of world-class converters and interfaces that was recently acquired by Neumann in 2022.

Neumann, which is known for its high-quality microphones and studio monitors, is well aware of that audio interfaces are a saturated market, but the MT 48 demonstrates that with key features, you can design an innovative product that stands alone amongst a sea of competitors.

Of course, being able to set yourself apart from the competition starts with a great foundation and Neumann’s MT 48 did just that by incorporating Merging Technologies’ excellent AD/DA converters from the Anubis and turns it up to 11 by offering a dynamic range of 136 dB(A), four times as much as the average audio interface on the market, according to Neumann.

For Neumann fans and studios already using their monitors, microphones, or headphones, the Neumann claims that the MT 48 will be the first audio interface capable of capturing the full dynamic range of its mics and has been optimized to the KH-line of studio monitors and headphones. Just as impressive is the ability of the MT 48 to deliver 78 dB of gain from microphones, including low output ribbon mics, and 0.035 ohms output to headphones.

Equipped with a powerful DSP, the MT 48 is a full-featured digital mixing console and offers independent 4-band EQ and 3-way dynamics processing (gate/compressor/limiter) on every channel as well as reverb for monitor mixes. With the MT 48, Neumann also introduced “Dual Output Technology” that offers Pre-FX and Post-FX recording simultaneously. Musician/engineers will also appreciate the four analog inputs and eight analog output channels that can be expanded via ADAT/S/PDIF and AES67/RAVENNA for larger setups. A MIDI interface is also integrated into the MT 48.

Neumann’s excellent build quality and attention to detail extend to its user interface and ergonomics. The MT 48’s built-in, high-res touch screen gives users access to all settings, from pan pots to the channel faders without ever having to switch between hardware and software.

The question people will inevitably ask is “do we really need another audio interface?” Maybe, maybe not, but as their first entry in the category, Neumann appears to have created a very compelling package for established Neumann studios and musician/engineers. By incorporating AD/DA technology from Merging’s excellent Anubis and focusing on heavily on quality throughout the signal chain from input to output, the MT 48 provides a compelling argument to the question and perhaps we should be asking “Shouldn’t we want BETTER audio interfaces?”

Check out the full specifications below:

Can’t wait to get you hands on Neumann’s MT 48? Send us a message below. Deliveries have already begun, but supplies are extremely limited.