MOTU AVB Switch

Product overview

The MOTU AVB Switch is a six-port Gigabit AVB Ethernet switch that builds a plug-and-play network for real-time, low-latency, fully synchronised audio and video.

Audio Video Bridging (AVB) is the IEEE 802.1 extension to Ethernet engineered for streaming audio and video. Connect MOTU AVB interfaces, other AVB devices and even other switches to any of the six 1-Gigabit ports with standard CAT-5e or CAT-6 cables. The switch discovers devices, manages bandwidth and keeps every stream in sync on its own, while standard Ethernet for Wi-Fi, internet and control shares the same network.

Gigabit AVB / Ethernet ports	6
Cable run per connection	100 m
MOTU AVB network latency	0.6 ms
Simultaneous AVB streams	512

Key features

• Industry-standard IEEE 802.1 AVB Ethernet switch
• Six 1-Gigabit ports for AVB devices, other switches and standard Ethernet devices
• Plug-and-play: automatic device discovery and bandwidth management, no IT expertise required
• Guaranteed quality of service: existing audio and video streams are maintained regardless of other traffic
• Network-wide clock and sync accurate to the nanosecond
• Standard cabling: CAT-5e or CAT-6 Ethernet cables up to 100 metres per connection
• Standard Ethernet bridging for Wi-Fi routers, internet access and office or studio networks
• Per-port AVB or non-AVB operation, configurable with the MOTU Discovery app
• Expandable with additional switches in a flexible star topology

Plug-and-play networking

No configuration is needed. Connect the included power supply, plug in your devices and the switch configures itself, handling device discovery, system resource allocation and audio routing negotiation across the network. Audio, synchronisation and control all travel together on one cable.

Gigabit speed, very low latency

1-Gigabit operation makes the most of AVB, with very high audio channel counts and very low network latency. MOTU states a network latency of just 0.6 ms in a MOTU AVB system, even across six switches and hundreds of metres of cable.

Guaranteed quality of service

AVB's Stream Reservation Protocol reserves bandwidth for every stream before it is connected, and AVB streams are prioritised over other network traffic, so audio integrity is maintained while web control, file transfers and internet traffic run on the same network.

Precise network-wide sync

AVB provides a shared time base for better-than-sample-accurate phase lock across all connected devices, with timing accuracy down to the nanosecond. In a MOTU AVB system, network-wide sync is set with one click, and multiple computers run in sync with the network's master clock.

High capacity, flexible topology

MOTU's theoretical capacity is up to 150 MOTU AVB devices using 37 switches, with as many as 512 AVB audio streams at once: 4,096 channels with 8-channel streams or 8,192 channels with 16-channel streams. A studio installation of three to six interfaces needs just one switch.

Software

The free MOTU Discovery app for Mac and Windows finds the switch on your network, checks and installs firmware updates, and opens its settings in MOTU Pro Audio Control, where each port can be set for AVB or standard Ethernet. MOTU AVB interfaces on the network are controlled from the same web app on any laptop, tablet or smartphone.

In the box

• MOTU AVB Switch
• 15V DC power supply

Two-year MOTU hardware warranty. Fully interoperable with IEEE 802.1 AVB-compatible devices.

MOTU AVB Switch: frequently asked questions

Do I need to configure the MOTU AVB Switch?

No. It is plug-and-play: power it on, connect your AVB devices and it manages discovery, bandwidth and sync itself.

When do I need an AVB switch?

A network of three or more MOTU AVB interfaces needs an AVB-compatible switch such as the MOTU AVB Switch.

Can I connect a Wi-Fi router or my office network?

Yes. Every port supports standard Ethernet, so you can bridge to a Wi-Fi router, a LAN or the internet, and control your devices wirelessly.

How do I expand the network?

Add more switches with a single cable between each pair, without creating loops. AVB audio can travel through up to six switches.

How do I update the firmware?

Download the MOTU Discovery app, open the Firmware Updater tab and click the update arrow next to the switch.

Where can I buy the MOTU AVB Switch in India?

The MOTU AVB Switch is available from Shivansh Electronics, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, with delivery across India.

Workflow 1: Personal studio expansion

Add a second interface across the room, for example eight drum mics, with one clean network cable back to the computer.

Connections

Connect	To
MOTU AVB interface at the computer (e.g. 1248)	Any switch port, from its NETWORK port
MOTU AVB interface by the drums (e.g. 8M)	Any switch port, CAT‑5e or CAT‑6 up to 100 m
Computer	Any switch port, from its Ethernet port
Included 15V power supply	DC power input

Setup

1. Connect the power supply; the PWR LED confirms the switch is on.
2. Plug each interface's NETWORK port into the switch and check the 1 Gbit link LED.
3. Map inputs to network streams and connect the streams in MOTU Pro Audio Control.
4. Select one clock source so both interfaces run as a single synchronised system.

Tip: Keep all the mic cabling at the drum kit; only one network cable needs to cross the room.

Workflow 2: Studio installation

Place three to six interfaces in the control room, booth, live room and machine room, all on a single switch.

Connections

Connect	To
Control room interface (e.g. 1248)	Port 1
Iso booth interface	Port 2
Studio room interfaces (e.g. 8M)	Ports 3‑4
Machine room interface (e.g. 16A)	Port 5
Computer	Port 6

Setup

1. Run CAT-5e or CAT-6 cable from each room to the switch.
2. Connect each interface; the switch discovers it and allocates bandwidth automatically.
3. Route any input to any output across rooms in MOTU Pro Audio Control.
4. Save device presets for each type of session.

Tip: For the longest runs, MOTU recommends high-quality shielded cable.

Workflow 3: Large studio facility

Link audio network neighbourhoods across several rooms or floors, with multiple computers and Wi-Fi control.

Connections

Connect	To
Room switches	One cable from each MOTU AVB Switch to the next
MOTU AVB interfaces	Any port on their local switch
Computers	Any port on any switch
Wi‑Fi router	Any port, for control from tablets and phones

Setup

1. Give each room its own MOTU AVB Switch and connect its interfaces.
2. Link the switches with a single connection between each pair, without loops.
3. Keep any point-to-point audio route within six switches.
4. Stream audio between any devices and computers with near-zero latency.

Workflow 4: Concert and touring systems

Unify front of house, monitors and computer backline on one scalable network that adapts to every venue.

Connections

Connect	To
Stage interfaces	Ports 1‑2
Front of house interface	Port 3
Main playback computer	Port 4
Backup playback computer	Port 5
Wi‑Fi router	Port 6, for tablet control

Setup

1. Connect stage and front of house interfaces to the switch with CAT-5e or CAT-6 cable.
2. Connect the main and backup computers to the same network.
3. Route audio in 8-channel streams between stage, front of house and monitor positions.
4. If the main computer stops, bring the backup on line instantly over the same network.

Tip: The star topology means every device connects independently, so devices can be brought on and off line as the venue requires.

Workflow 5: Large-scale installation

Distribute audio from a central location across houses of worship, schools, clubs, arenas and broadcast facilities.

Connections

Connect	To
Central MOTU AVB Switch	Main equipment room
Zone switches	Linked by single cable runs (up to 100 m each)
MOTU AVB interfaces	Zone switch ports, feeding local amplifiers or speakers
Facility network	Any port, as standard Ethernet

Setup

1. Install the central switch and run cable to each zone switch.
2. Connect the interfaces in each zone to their local switch.
3. Send audio streams from the central location to every zone with sub-millisecond latency.
4. Set any port that serves only office equipment to non-AVB in MOTU Discovery.

Workflow 6: Wi-Fi control and internet on the AVB network

Bridge the AVB network to Wi-Fi and the internet for wireless control and firmware updates.

Connections

Connect	To
Wi‑Fi router	Any switch port
MOTU AVB interfaces	Other switch ports
Computer	Any switch port, or over Wi‑Fi
Tablet or smartphone	Over Wi‑Fi

Setup

1. Connect a Wi-Fi router to any port; the switch carries standard Ethernet alongside AVB.
2. Open the MOTU Pro Audio Control web app on a laptop, tablet or phone to control your interfaces.
3. Run MOTU Discovery to check the switch firmware and update it over the internet.
4. Use Identify in the switch settings to flash the PWR LED and confirm which switch you are configuring.

Tip: AVB streams keep priority over Wi-Fi and internet traffic, so control and browsing never disturb the audio.