Although these are pretty common features for a decent budget-friendly audio interface, Steinberg also included MIDI ports and a mono switch to top it off! Though its kind of like dongle city (to hide the clutter on your desk) with this interface, it certainly works well. Others try to offer as many different types of input and output as possible, for those who never know what might cross their path from one day to the next. Steinbergs interface offers some parallels to the way rivals go about their business too. If youre looking for a middle-to-high end interface that is reliable, quality and has a few extra bells and whistles, these interfaces are probably for you: So were back to the pretty-looking ones, are we? Are you worried about its life expectancy if you plan to bring it with you everywhere? Additionally, another thing that is important for this equipment is preamps: audio interfaces that come with high-quality preamps can really improve the quality of your recordings, especially with vocals and acoustic instruments. Focusrite now has a new kid on the block, and its one of the best entry-level interfaces youll be able to find on the market.Is it the cheapest? If you havent seen this one before, its a beast. Featuring 2 combo XLR/line inputs, it makes stereo recordings easy! Multi-channel audio interfaces typically take one of two design philosophies. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents. Although in my opinion, the Scarlett range is worth the extra money. With the dspMixFx AXR application and DSP-powered latency-free monitoring, individual mixes can easily be created for musicians and singers. To be honest, when you get to this level, devices compete less on trivialities like looks and more on features. This recreates the warming compression and saturation of classic Neve preamps; Red mode adds sparkle and definition in the mid-to-high frequency band, whereas Blue mode adds solidity and body to the lower frequencies. Some provide lots of one type of I/O, such as analogue line-level ins and outs, to cater for users who just want to connect an analogue console, or lots of outboard mic preamps. 18 inputs and 20 outputs for $500? I think the form factor is much better due to the I/O section being on the back. It spots dual headphone outputs and a preamp gain knob for easy adjusting and filtering. The AXR4 undoubtedly falls into the latter category. Common points from expert reviews summarized. license activation, installer download, account sign up and product registration. All rights reserved. If that doesnt convince you to replace your current interface, the following details surely will. If that isnt self-explanatory, desktop interfaces can sit on your desk, while rackmount requires a rack to screw the interface into. Yep, you bet.Apart from being super sexy, the duet is a very intuitive and fully-featured interface for those of you on macOS. They sound clear and you can add some analog mojo with the SILK modes. The solid chassis houses the greatest AD/DA technology out there. The Ensemble Thunderbolt tremendous preamps ensure top-level sounds for audiophile enthusiasts. The SSL 2+ comes with two mic/line/instrument inputs, as well as four line outputs (both jack and RCA) and two headphone outputs. Customers, 0 Audio interfaces are ultimately judged on their sound quality and the AXR4 boasts some eye-catching numbers; up to 384kHz recording rates via 32-bit integer resolution. I will come and visit you! The unit ships with four plug-ins: Vintage Classics EQ601, Vintage Classics Compressor 276, Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip (a combination of parametric EQ and compressor), and REV-X reverb. What makes a 3rd party EQ better than my DAWs "in-the-box" EQ. With two individual headphone outputs and latency-free monitoring with DSP-powered effects, two musicians or singers can receive their own, individual monitor mix. All in all, the touch console is what really makes controlling this audio interface fun and enjoyable. Share Reply Quote 11th April 2022 | Show parent # 5 Faceless2022 Here for the gear Quote: Originally Posted by thegrimbo Sometimes, a manufacturer will make an interface specifically for a certain environment. However, a newer version of the driver for your USB audio interface might be availableon this page. The only issue we had with this device is that the built-in compressors and effects are not enough for a decent result. Review: Steinberg AXR4T. Buy Apollo Apollo $29.99 Add to cart System requirements Installation Steinberg Download Assistant Watch the Video How to Install VST Sounds For support on the installation visit the Steinberg Helpcenter Get inspired with VST Instruments Neo Soul Songwriting Producing a synthwave track Neo Disco Production Preset Walkthrough of Neon Drifts Very similar to the legacy Apollo series with some new bells and whistles (like HEXA core processing for DSP and surround mixing). This product has been ordered and is expected to arrives in the next few days. If not, lets check out the pro-level ones. The new release, 828s, lets you take full control with a large console-type mixing with 48 channels. Not only does it sound great, but its simple and affordable. RMEs flagship interface. The Steinberg AXR4T interface is an impressively featured, great-sounding and competitively priced high-resolution audio interface that integrates closely with Cubase. The SSL 2+ is a newer entry into the audio interface market from one of the flagship audio companies Solid Stage Logic. Any difference in performance bettween these two versions? While the connector and inputs/outputs determine the bulk of the purchase decision, the extras definitely need to be factored in too.Extras include: Now, lets dive into these audio interfaces. Enter your email below and get the guide (read by over 50,000 producers) along with two bonus resources. With our cookies we would like to offer you the best shopping experience possible with everything that goes with it. Please install TOOLS FOR AXR V1.2.0 before updating the firmware. But for electronic music producers, thats probably not going to be the case. Plus, the multifunctional large rotary control makes control even more intuitive. The USB96 is quite a nice little interface great for portability and serving the needs of a bedroom producer. An audio interface with a rich sound filling your studio, integrated with remote control options and real-time effects. Can it hold its own against the competition? The first thing that you notice is the fact that the AXR4 comes at a size that you can easily fit into a rack. In addition to that, you get complete flexibility to expand the interface by installing the, HD I/O AD Option card that adds 8 high fidelity analog inputs, HD I/O DA Option for 8 more high fidelity analog outputs, and. If you have a little more cash to spend, it might be worth it to level up to these interfaces, especially if you want a couple more inputs/outputs or want a bit of a faster connector: Youve probably noticed that the Scarlett range of interfaces shows up a lot here, and for a very good reason. It features 12 analogue inputs in total, of which the first four have mic preamps; the first two also provide optional high-impedance modes for DI'ing electric guitars. The only physical buttons you can expect are the power button and a large rotary encoder placed at the center. The preamps use differential op-amps to control noise and distortion. There are many different types of audio interfaces in all price ranges and each made for a specific application. Great for a first audio interface because of the amazing form factor, high-quality preamps and versatility for a bedroom producer. Its extensive connectivity gives flexibility in recordings. Now Steinberg has joined the fray with the AXR4T, a handsome-looking, 1U rack-mounting audio interface, developed in partnership with Yamaha. The extras are also pretty great with this one. This includes Pultec EQP-1A EQ on guitars, the Fairchild 670 Compressor on drums, and Precision Reflection Equipment among others. After all, its sleek and modern-looking design with the characteristic red colour is hard to forget! Each preset transports the listener to another sound universe and works in a wide variety of music production scenarios. However, Steinberg is also really good at making audio hardware, such as the Steinberg UR22C. steinberg took more than a year to support axr4 on apple silicon and they very pretty unresponsive to customer queries regarding it, gives me the feeling that the product line is not a priority for yamaha. Un rgal. Certainly, the AXR4T captures and renders sound with exquisite accuracy, but the rest of your studio mics, cabling, monitors and so on needs to be of a similarly ultra-high specification if you are to have any chance of noticing any audible benefits from such extreme digital specs. Audio interfaces are the beating heart of most producers studios.They help you capture that perfect vocal or catchy synth line, and allow you to hear it all back through those monitors you just blew your budget on.Chances are, you probably are looking at buying one, but dont know where to start there are so many options.Here, weve done all the research for you and compiled the best audio interfaces money can buy in 2023. Another interesting fact is the flexibility and convenience of the web app. With a bigger form-factor, more input options and even nicer extras, this might be what you need. Session drummer Jim Keltner recalls John Lennon and George Harrison telling him not to bad-mouth Paul McCartney, Watch Joe Satriani turn Ice 9 into an epic jam and trade solos with keys player Rai Thistlethwayte after guitar cable breaks mid-song, Queens Roger Taylor: I cant take Taylor Hawkins out of my phone, The soundtrack composer's guide to music software. He is responsible for the sound design for several major manufacturers including hardware synthesizers. 3 3-Year Thomann Warranty. This is very much a flagship product, occupying a premium price bracket and targeted at users who are willing to invest in pristine sound quality, flexibility and expandability. In addition to that, there are 8 inputs, 8 outputs, two XLR connections as the mains out, and quarter inch dedicated timecode jacks. 1 quarter-inch (only) input 2 quarter-inch output +48V Phantom Power Headphones Output Easy-access gain and output knobs on the top surface Signal indicator Desktop use Compact USB Powered Compatible with most major DAWs Recording software included Our Take Resources. If you want the best-of-the-best, full speed ahead interface, then this is the right place. What makes this interface more interesting is the focus Atlas has put into the research of audio quality conversion. Or you could decide to have 10 mono channels and 6 stereo channels. If that is true for you, the Apogee Symphony Desktop will certainly not disappoint you! Luckily, technology has advanced enough to offer both connectivity options and high-quality preamps at a low price. Unsurprisingly, the AXR4 is a pretty deep and heavy unit, and appears to be constructed to a very high standard indeed. And its insanely good value. Achieve connectivity through three interface platforms namely Pro Tools or Waves SoundGrid or built-in Thunderbolt. So, what does the Apollo X8 has to offer? The eight XLR inputs with mic preamps are an improvement of the Firewire Ensemble which used independent sockets. When running in the AXR4T mixer in this way, the inserted effects provide latency-free processing to the direct monitoring signal, and the processed signal can be passed to your DAW for recording, too. This gives you ultra-fast connectivity with near-zero latency. Additionally, it features a number of digital connections such as ADAT, S/PDIF, AES/EBU, Word Clock and MIDI. The battle for the smartest and most competitively priced audio interface is far from over. The choice of processors on offer is limited, but they are very good at their respective jobs and Steinberg is investigating whether to make more available in the future. The newer version of the Apollo series brings a lot to the table for a high-end interface. Includes Cubase AI with full 32-bit support. Do you wish for an audio interface that doesnt only sound good, but it looks good as well? It features Hi-Z inputs for direct connection of guitars and basses, which also allow for recording clean signals and re-amping. The Apogee Symphony Desktop features 2 Mic/Line inputs, a DI Instrument input, 2 monitor outputs, 2 assignable stereo headphone outputs (3.5 mm & 6.3 mm) as well as optical input/output (ADAT & S/PDIF). These feature a clean, natural-sounding analogue stage and incorporate Rupert Neve Designs SILK modelling in the digital domain. The PreSonus Studio 24c and 26c are a clear competitor to the Scarlett range but at a slightly cheaper price point. It's here. 4 mixers to create individual headphone mixes, Has a remote control feature for easy navigation, Comes with three world clock outputs that sync all your digital gear, Discrete design with 8 console transistor preamps, Comes with Thunderbolt and USB audio interface for use both on Mac and PC, Operates in standalone mode over Wi-Fi control, AVB/TSN audio networking to expand to your studio needs, A foot switch for hands-free punch-in during a recording session, Universal connectivity including USB2, Thunderbolt, iOS connectivity using camera adapter, and AVB/TSN Ethernet, Comes with AudioDesk workstation software for both Mac and Windows, The setup can be complicated for a novice. While it might not have the flexibility and features of other audio interfaces (Scarlett has better preamps and input options), at $39.99 it certainly seems to be outdoing itself. that you agree to the use of cookies for preferences, statistics and marketing (. Inputs 1 and 2 can accept Hi-Z signals, so electric guitars and basses, MIDI equipment and any kind of studio equipment or playback device can all be used. Universal AudioApollo x8 2,950 (typical retail price)/$2,699. Two sets of headphones can also be connected, fed by individual sources. The interface supports a maximum of 16 digital I/O channels, but the actual number available depends upon the units sample rate and the connection format being used. Theres a new contender in town in the pro audio interfacing arena. Nor is it the only novel feature on offer. It has an expensive feel and the chrome knobs just draw you in. This ensures you dont miss any recording session! Fr mich ist das AXR4U mein absolut bisher bestes Audiointerface im Bezug auf Qualitt, Funktionalitt/Bedienbarkeit, Verbindungsstabilitt! All Trademarks and Copyrights belong to their respective owners. In terms of sound performance, the digital signal processing of this unit makes it one of the best of its kind. The extra headphones socket is great for collaborations, and the extra ins/outs might be exactly what youre looking for. VCM was developed by an engineering group led by Toshifumi Kunimoto (aka Dr. K), who was also responsible for the first physical modeling synthesizers, VL1 and VP1. Probably going to need more outputs. I am so stoked writing about these beautiful beasts. Thats why here we will take a look at the AXR4 which comes from the same company: Steinberg. Believe it or not, the Avid | HD I/O is a major facelift of the 192 I/O. The inclusion of the MDIO cards enables a variety of expansion options such as connection to an alternative host. ApogeeEnsemble Thunderbolt $2,495 (MRP)/1,800 (typical UK retail price). Although most electronic music producers dont record a whole lot, for those that do and/or want the flexibility to when needed, this the ultimate no-brainer. With so much functionality on board, both the front and back panels of the AXR4 are inevitably crowded. 2023 MusicTech is part of NME Networks. To help you make a good choice, I have selected a number of audio interfaces that I can recommend with confidence. MusicRadar's got your back On balance, however, I think Steinberg's engineers have done a pretty good job of working within their self-imposed limitations. Take it for a spin and experience pure sound with the DSP effects. Learn how to master the fundamentals of electronic music production with the best roadmap for new producers . Thanks to the FPGA technology, latency levels are almost NIL. Being the bigger brother of both the 24c and 26c, the 1810c packs a lot of power into a seemingly cheap interface. Youre currently missing out on our lovely designed product gallery and its useful features (zoom into the very last pixel of each picture, 360 view, videos and more). However, if you want a stock standard interface that does its job, at this price point it probably doesnt make much sense. This next-level design of Apollo X8 provides a wide dynamic range of 129dB and -119 dB THD+N for world-class sound quality and perfect tone. High-rated Audio Interfaces in a similar price range. The only issue is that all these features come at a pretty high price. BA1 1UA. In fact, your computer actually has one built-in.If youre just using headphones, chances are the built-in sound card that comes with your computer is all you need (unless its a high-impedance model, in which case an interface is necessary).The issue is, the built-in sound card in most laptops and desktops isnt ideal for recording instruments and vocals, or for playing sound through studio monitors. I also make music under, 2 digitally-controlled outputs for monitoring, Headphones Output with dedicated output knob, Easy-access gain and output knobs on the top surface, Comes with a suite of FX plugins included, Inputs/Playback mixer to hear original signal, Includes Studio One DAW, 6GB+ of resources and extra plugins, Built-in omnidirectional condenser microphone, 1 quarter-inch input (line or instrument), Gain knobs with intuitive ring singal indicators, Great audio conversion (up to 192kHz sample rate), Included plugins (Addictive Keys, Focusrite, Softube), 1 quarter-inch outputs/RCA outputs + 1 dedicated RCA output, Legacy 4K mode preamp switches inspired by SSL consoles (sounds great on certain instruments), 2 XLR/quarter-inch inputs with Phantom Power, 2 mic/line inputs with phantom power and Class A preamps, Direct iOS compatability through USB MIDI port, 2 XLR/quarter-inch input channels with phantom power and preamps, 4 XLR/quarter-inch input channels with phantom power and preamps, USB connectivity (with Ethernet for virtual mixing console), Direct iOS compatibility through USB MIDI port. Unfortunately there was an error. Personally, this will be my next purchase. It allows those musicians early in their careers to create high quality recordings. Alternatively, if you select 16 stereo channels, you cannot pan. But in recent years, things have been going the other way again, with a growing number of DAW-agnostic DSP-infused audio interfaces in the mid-to-upper end of the market. The HD I/O 16x16 digital gives an all-digital interface. Life is easier if you choose to organise the AXR4 via software, though, within which a more traditional mixer arrangement provides intuitive assignment of levels, monitor effects, routing options and more via a dedicated control panel. Apogee has taken its famous Symphony series (also featured below) and made it available in a compact desktop unit. The interface connects to the host computer via Thunderbolt 2 and has an additional Thunderbolt port, so that you can daisy-chain other Thunderbolt devices, including up to two more AXR4Ts. As stated before, this interface looks good and works good. I can think of one or two other manufacturers who might contest that statement, but the UR interfaces are undoubtedly . That being said, if the USB-C matters to you, then choose this one for sure. The extensive range of analog and digital connectivity makes it possible to connect all of the equipment needed for creative musical workflow in any genre, including a master keyboard, pad controller, guitars and much more, with the facility to easily expand the setup when required. The TOOLS for AXR4U come with a Yamaha Steinberg USB driver component included. Front panel configuration is a touch fiddly. It ensures reliability during high-resolution recording that is normally not easy to achieve with a computer's OS. You might know him from his personal or the many Steinberg YouTube channels where he often shares his music production and sound design tips. If you are recording something as dynamic as a symphony orchestra using the best mics and monitoring that money can buy and if you have incredibly sensitive hearing, then you may justbe able to discern a difference between 192kHz/24-bit and 384kHz/32-bit converters, but I have to confess that I cant hear any difference at all. On the feature list, this might look pretty standard. If you think Im exaggerating, let's take a closer look at the details.
steinberg axr4 vs apollo