Watch Christian demonstrate how to combine three MU16 interfaces into one 48×48 Core Audio device using Aggregate Devices on macOS.
One JOYNED MU16 gives you 16×16 channels of driver-free USB audio between your Mac and a Milan network at 48 or 96 kHz.
macOS makes it easy to combine multiple MU16s into one larger Core Audio interface using Aggregate Devices. Your DAW or live audio software simply sees one audio interface, while each MU16 continues to handle its own 16×16 Milan audio channels.
Using multiple MU16s opens up a range of applications:
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High-channel-count live recording and playback
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Virtual Sound Check directly on a Milan network
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Immersive sound playback on large-scale Milan systems
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Large outboard DSP and plugin systems based on LiveProfessor or similar DAWs
Another major advantage with the MU16 is flexibility for PA rental companies, AV integrators and system technicians. One day your MU16s may be deployed as individual 16-channel interfaces on separate jobs. The next day, those same units can be connected to one Mac and combined into a much larger interface.
In our demo we combine three MU16s into one 48×48 channels Core Audio interface.
Quick Setup
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Connect all MU16s to your Mac, potentially via a USB hub.
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Open Audio MIDI Setup.
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Create an Aggregate Device.
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Add each MU16.
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Select one MU16 as the Clock Source.
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Leave Drift Correction disabled for all MU16 due to sync from Milan.
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Arrange the MU16s in the desired channel order.
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Select the Aggregate Device in your DAW like LiveProfessor.
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Set the required buffer size.
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Route the Milan streams in your Milan controller like JOYNED DASH.
Note: Each MU16 consumes around 500mA, 2.5W so depending on the amount of MU16s in the setup, you may need a powered USB hub.
Demo System
The demonstration system consists of:
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MacBook Pro (Apple Silicon M1) running macOS Tahoe 26.5.1
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3 × JOYNED MU16
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Sandberg USB hub powered from the Mac
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JOYNED Switch
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Presonus StudioLive Series III console
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JOYNED DASH Milan Controller
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LiveProfessor
In this setup, 48 channels are routed through the Milan network, processed in LiveProfessor and returned to the network with very low latency.
Creating the macOS Aggregate Device
Open Applications → Utilities → Audio MIDI Setup.
Click + and choose Create Aggregate Device.
Tick the three MU16 interfaces.
macOS immediately combines them into one larger Core Audio device.
Clock Source, Sample Rate and Drift
One MU16 should be selected as the Clock Source and the required Sample Rate should be set.
Normally, when combining several USB audio interfaces, macOS recommends enabling Drift Correction on the remaining devices because each interface runs from its own clock.
With MU16 this is different.
Since every MU16 is already synchronised to the Milan network via gPTP, they all share the same clock and this clock is used on the USB side too. This means Drift Correction should be left disabled, allowing the audio to remain bit-transparent without macOS inserting software sample-rate conversion.
This is one of the key advantages of combining multiple MU16s on a Milan network.
Arrange the Channel Order
One useful feature of Aggregate Devices is that the interfaces can simply be dragged into the desired order.
This determines how the channels appear inside your DAW or LiveProfessor.
If you prefer a different order, simply drag the MU16s within the Aggregate Device.
Route the Milan Streams
The Aggregate Device only combines the USB audio.
Milan routing is still handled in your Milan controller application like JOYNED DASH.
Each MU16 can subscribe to whichever Milan streams are required, allowing the Mac to receive them as one large Core Audio interface.
LiveProfessor Example
In our demo, LiveProfessor is configured with the Aggregate Device and simply patches:
48 inputs → 48 outputs
The system is running at: 48 kHz, 16-samples audio buffer
demonstrating that even large Aggregate Device configurations can achieve extremely low latency.
Resource Hub
For more information, firmware, ASIO driver etc, please check out the https://joyned.io/pages/resource-hub-mu16
