Burl Audio B80 Mothership 3 BMB2 MADI

The Burl B80 Mothership 3 MADI is a modular, high-channel AD/DA conversion system offering up to 128 input or output channels at 44.1/48 kHz with automatic card configuration, expanded routing intelligence and low-latency MADI connectivity for professional studio and live environments.

Introduction

Burl Audio advances its flagship modular conversion platform with Mothership 3, transforming the B80 into a significantly more scalable, intelligent and streamlined MADI-based system. The B80 Mothership 3 MADI configuration caters to complex multichannel workflows in large-format studios, OB and broadcast rigs and immersive audio environments, delivering uncompromising analogue tone with digital efficiency and ultra-stable MADI transport.

Higher Channel Count and System Scalability

Mothership 3 unlocks unprecedented channel capacity for the B80 chassis, enabling up to sixty-four channels per card slot at 44.1 and 48 kHz. Current BAD16 and BDA16 modules operate at sixteen channels per slot, yet the new Mothership 3 architecture prepares for future high-density MADI cards capable of full sixty-four channel operation. With ten card slots available, engineers may deploy one hundred and twenty-eight channels in or out at base sample rates with the BMB2-MADI motherboard, or design hybrid setups including builds such as 128 x 32, 64 x 96 or any other combination across the ten slots.

Intelligent Slot-Based Routing

Mothership 3 introduces a new internal communication protocol that allows the MADI motherboard to identify each daughter card and assign I/O automatically. Engineers no longer manage jumpers or card grouping. The system numbers channels from the left slot to the right slot, and any combination of BAD and BDA modules can sit in any order. For example, a BAD4M in slot one and a BAD16 in slot ten will map automatically as inputs one to twenty. The same flexible logic applies to DA cards such as B22, BDA8 and BDA16, enabling fully modular layouts without routing headaches.

Professional MADI Implementation

The B80-BMB2 MADI motherboard expands channel handling to one hundred and twenty-eight inputs or outputs at base sample rates, allowing the Mothership to slot directly into large-scale MADI infrastructures. This suits broadcast, immersive music, multitrack live capture and super-sized hybrid mixing rooms seeking the analogue depth of Burl conversion with transparent and reliable digital transport.

Backward and Forward Compatibility

All Burl motherboards and daughter cards ship from October 2024 with Mothership 3 support. Burl Green input and output modules include a D-Jumper to enable backward compatibility with Mothership 2 systems. Existing users may continue running Mothership 2 without sonic penalty and only require factory re-programming if upgrading a complete system to Mothership 3 with all current-revision modules installed. The sonic signature remains unchanged, preserving Burl’s renowned transformer-driven design.

Why Choose the B80 Mothership 3 MADI

• Build immense multichannel conversion systems for MADI production without configuration stress

• Mix any ADC and DAC cards in any slot and let the Mothership assign everything automatically

• Expand to one hundred and twenty-eight channels for broadcast, live and immersive audio capture

• Prepare for next-generation sixty-four-channel MADI cards

• Maintain Burl’s transformer-enhanced analogue character at any scale

• Gain a future-ready modular platform for evolving digital audio formats and studio needs

• Up to 128 channels at 44.1/48 kHz via MADI
• Up to 64 channels per slot with future cards
• Sixteen channels per slot with BAD16/BDA16
• New Mothership 3 auto-card detection protocol
• Automatic signal routing and channel numbering
• Mix ADC and DAC cards in any slot position
• Full large-scale MADI integration
• Compatible with Burl Green cards via D-Jumper
• Future high-density MADI card support
• Ten-slot B80 chassis architecture

This item, like everything we supply, comes with the complete support of our expert team. Our excellent technicians have been specifying, building and supporting studios for over twenty years. If you have any problems with installation, setup or everyday use, they’re never more than a click away, and always happy to help.

You can contact them here.