Tag: Sound cards

Among the most functional studio audio interfaces of Behringer there is an ADAT-device Ultragain Digital ADA8200 with 8 MIDAS preamplifiers for analogue inputs and 48 kHz and 24 bits work mode with Cirrus Logic converters. On its frontal panel there are : 8 sets of XLR microphone inputs and TRS 1/4″ jack linear inputs ( both types can work in balanced mode ) with signal and clip indicators and gain control knobs; synchronization mode indicators ( is it master and is it locked ); phantom power +48 V switch button with backlight and power on button. On back panel of device there are : power line input, digital optical ADAT input and output; synchronization connector with work mode selector; and 8 linear XLR outputs, able to work in balanced and unbalanced modes.

Parameter THD of Behringer Ultragain Digital ADA8200 equals to 0.008 %, channels isolation is 87 dB; device consumes maximum 15 W of energy. It can work in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X with support of ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio interfaces, via which it works with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. Body of Behringer Ultragain Digital ADA8200 is made from metal with black and red coloring, its sizes are 44.5 ( height ) x 482.6 ( width ) x 217 ( depth ) mm and mass is 2.1 kg.

Package with Behringer Ultragain Digital ADA8200 contains : warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface is oriented on use in large studios and has necessary amount of inputs and outputs and high characteristics for this. Small and middle studios can look on cheaper USB audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other manufacturers production with the same high quality components and technical characteristics.

The most functional audio interface up to date of a Focusrite company is an Thunderbolt device Red 4 Pre with 58 inputs, 64 outputs, 2 Ethernet Dante connectors and 192 kHz and 24 bits. On frontal panel of device there are : 2 TRS 1/4″ jack instrumental Hi-Z inputs; channels selectors; volume control knob of chosen ones; 3 displays, showing device’s states ( volume levels and phantom power +48 V for channels, signal levels of 8 analogue inputs with clip indication, and volume levels of monitor headphones with Thunderbolt connection and time synchronization informers ); 2 TRS 1/4″ jack outputs of monitor headphones, their volume control knob with work parameters changing buttons; and power button. On back panel there are : power line input; 2 Ethernet Dante connections; 4 time synchronization connectors with other devices; 2 pairs of optical digital inputs and outputs; 2 Thunderbolt ports; digital coaxial S/PDIF RCA input and output; TRS 1/4″ jack left and right monitor outputs; 2 Primary Port connectors; 2 combined linear outputs connectors; and 4 XLR microphone inputs.

Dynamic range of microphone inputs of Focusrite Red 4 Pre is 118 dB, THD+N 0.0009 %, noise level -129 dB; linear inputs have the same dynamic range and differ only in THD+N, for inputs 1 – 4 it is equal to 0.0009 %, for inputs 5 – 8 – 0.0007 %; instrumental inputs have 117 dB dynamic range and THD+N 0.0015 %. Monitor outputs have dynamic range 120 dB, THD+N – 0.006 %; linear outputs have the same parameters equal to 121 dB and 0.0009 %, accordingly; monitor headphones outputs have 115 dB and 0.01 %, accordingly. Device can work in Mac OS X 10.9 and newer with support of Core Audio interface, via which it interacts with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others. For now Focusrite does not tell anything about Windows support for device. With it following programs are supplied : Focusrite Control ( mixer ), VST/AU effects set Softube Time and Tone Bundle ( Drawmer S73 Intelligent Master Processor, TSAR-1R Reverb, Tube Delay and Saturation Knob ) and Focusrite Red Plug-in Suite ( modelling real compressor and equalizer ).

Package with Focusrite Red 4 Pre audio interface contains : Thunderbolt cable, power line cable, warranty card and user’s guide. Device has very high functionality, components quality and excellent characteristics; it is oriented to large studios and is a great solution for them. If there is no need in such large amount of connectors, then there is ability to buy much cheaper entry-level and middle-level audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other companies production with the same components quality and technical characteristics.

New device of M-Audio company, released in a first quarter of this year, is a USB audio interface M-Track 8×4 with support of 192 kHz and 24 bits work mode, 8 analogue inputs and 4 analogue outputs. On its frontal panel there are : 2 TRS 1/4″ jack outputs for monitor headphones, their volume controls and 2 TRS 1/4″ jack linear inputs. On top side there are : 4 gain control knobs for inputs 1 – 4 with volume and clip indicators, phantom power +48 V switch buttons for these inputs, mono work mode and Direct Monitor switches, sensor power button, volume levels and clip signalization for inputs 5 – 6, gain control knobs with levels and clip indicators for inputs 7 – 8, mixing control between Direct Monitor and USB signal, stereo/mono work mode of Direct Monitor, main volume control knob and channels selectors of monitor headphones.

On back panel of M-Audio M-Track 8×4 there are : power button, grounding connector, power adapter input, USB port, 4 TRS 1/4″ jack analogue outputs, 2 the same type inputs, 4 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack microphone/linear inputs and Kensington Lock slot. With it following programs are supplied : DAW Steinberg Cubase LE, AU/VST effects package AIR Creative FX Collection, AIR Strike, AIR Xpand!2 and AIR Mini Grand. Device works in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X with support of ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio interfaces accordingly, allowing it to interact with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. Audio interface’s body is made from metal for increased wear resistance and protection from electro-magnetic interference.

Package contains : USB audio interface M-Audio M-Track 8×4 itself, 2 USB cables of different types, disks with drivers and programs, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all device is good : it has large amount of connectors, control elements and work modes customization abilities, as well as support of professional 192 kHz and 24 bits; probably, M-Audio will set high price for this USB audio interface, so there is ability to look on other close devices of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other companies production with similar or even better characteristics.

Company M-Audio promises to release this year new compact USB audio interface Micro DAC 24/192 with professional sound ( as it follows from its name, 192 kHz and 24 bits ) and metallic body. It has 1/8″ mini jack output with gold-plated contacts for headphones and speakers, the same type optical digital output, volume control and sampling rate and power indicators. Device powers from USB port.

Package contains : M-Audio Micro DAC 24/192 interface itself, disk with drivers and programs, warranty card and user’s guide, as well as optical digital cable for connection of other audio devices. Interface can work in Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.8 and newer operating systems. Device has sizes 10 ( thickness ) × 70 ( height ) × 24 ( depth ) mm and mass 30 g, it is released only in black color variant.

From one side, device is good and provides high-quality sound for mobile devices : notebooks and tablet PCs, first of all; from the other side, M-Audio, probably, will set high price for this device ( on the middle of Summer of 2016 year is costs 130 USD – this is considerable more, than many entry-level professional studio audio interfaces ). So, it can be useful only if compactness is must have and it, for sure, will not be used for other tasks, than sounds and music listening and conversions of signal into optical digital; if it will be used for other tasks too, then it is better to buy for the same or even smaller sum entry-level studio USB audio interface of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio, Alesis and other companies production and receive much diverse functionality for professional concert and studio uses or high quality sounds and music reproduction at home.

M-Audio – is a company, founded in USA in 1998 year, it produces audio interfaces, MIDI keyboards, synthesizers, loudspeakers, monitor headphones, DJs equipment, microphones and other sound devices. Company offices are also located in Canada, UK, Germany, France and Japan. Many popular artists use its products, among them there are The Crystal Method, Depeche Mode, Evanescence and others.

One of the most functional audio interfaces of Behringer company is an ADAT device ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000, supporting 48 kHz and 24 bits work mode and oriented on high-quality digital to analogue and analogue to digital conversions fulfillment. On its frontal panel following can be found : 8 sets of microphone balanced XLR inputs, linear balanced TRS 1/4″ jack inputs, signal and clipping indicators and gain control knobs; work and locking indicators; phantom power +48 V switch; and power button. On its back panel there are : line power input; optical digital TOSLINK ADAT input and output; time synchronization connector with external devices with work mode switch; and 8 balanced XLR linear outputs.

Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 handles DAC with dynamic range 100 dB, ADC with 103 dB dynamic range; its THD is 0.01 %, channels isolation is 86 dB. Devices draws maximum 25 W of electric energy; its sizes are 215 ( depth ) x 44.5 ( height ) x 482.6 ( width ) mm and mass is 2.59 kg; it can work with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others, and specialized sound recording and editing software.

In the package with Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 there are : line power cable, warranty card and user’s guide. This audio interface is oriented on high-quality fulfillment of DA and AD conversions with use of large amount of analogue and digital inputs and outputs, it does its job very good and oriented on use in large studios. For in-home and small studios there is ability to buy USB or Firewire audio interface with smaller price and high components quality of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other companies production.

Company Focusrite released new Thunderbolt audio interface Clarett 4Pre with support of 192 kHz and 24 bits work mode and 119 dB dynamic range. On its frontal panel there are : 4 combined XLR/TRS 1/4 jack microphone/instrumental Hi-Z/linear inputs with gain control knobs with backlight and instrumental mode and Air function activity indicators; buttons with backlight for phantom power +48 V switching for 1 – 2 and 3 – 4 inputs; main outputs volume control knob; power, Thunderbolt connection and device blocking indicators; as well as 2 TRS 1/4 jack monitor headphones outputs with volume control knobs. On its back panel there are : power button; power adapter input; RCA coaxial digital S/PDIF input and output; Thunderbolt port for connection to computer; digital optical ADAT input; MIDI input and output; Kensington Lock slot; 4 TRS 1/4 jack linear outputs; and 4 the same type linear inputs.

Dynamic range of microphone inputs of Focusrite Clarett 4Pre equals to 118 dB, THD+N 0.001 % and noise level is -128 dB; linear inputs have the same dynamic range and THD+N; instrumental inputs dynamic range is 116 dB and it has the same THD+N. THD+N of linear and monitor outputs is a 0.0007 % and dynamic range of frist ones is a 119 dB and second ones is a 117 dB; dynamic range of monitor headphones outputs is a 116 dB and THD+N equals to 0.0008 %. Currently interface works only in Mac OS X 10.9 and newer with support of Core Audio interface; manufacturer promises to add Windows support in near time; through this interface device interacts with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. With it following programs are supplied Focusrite Control ( mixer ), VST/AU plugins suite Softube Time and Tone Bundle and AAX, AU and VST plugins Red 2 and Red 3, emulating compressor and equalizer.

Package contains : Thunderbolt audio interface Focusrite Clarett 4Pre itself, disks with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface is great : it has large amount of connectors, high audio characteristics and quality equipment; there is need to note, that interface is mainly designed for large amount of digital connections for mixing of digital signals into completed analogue. If such amount of digital connections is not needed, then there is ability to buy much cheaper USB audio interface of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other companies production.

Company PreSonus released new USB 3.0 audio interfaces Studio 192 Mobile with support of 192 kHz and 24 bits work mode, 110 dB dynamic range and large amount of connectors. On its frontal panel there are : 2 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack microphone/instrumental Hi-Z/linear outputs; small screen with controls, including phantom power +48 V switch button; phantom power of inputs and levels with clipping of inputs and outputs indicators; main outputs volume control knob; TRS 1/4″ jack output for monitor headphones with volume control knob and power button. On back panel there are : power adapter input; USB 3.0 input, compatible with USB 2.0, for connection to computer and powering; optical digital ADAT inputs and outputs; Kensington Lock slot; coaxial digital S/PDIF RCA inputs and outputs; time synchronization input and output; left and right TRS 1/4″ jack main analogue outputs; 4 more of the same type analogue outputs; and 2 TRS 1/4″ jack linear inputs. All analogue inputs and outputs, except headphones connector, are balanced; it can be controlled remotely from smartphones and tablet PCs.

Dynamic range of microphone inputs of PreSonus Studio 192 Mobile is 110 dB, THD+N 0.005 %, impedance is 1600 Ohms and noise level is -128 dB; instrumental Hi-Z inputs have the same THD+N and dynamic range, 1 MOhm impedance and 80 dB channels separation. Linear inputs : dynamic range up to 114 dB, the same THD+N, 10 kOhms impedance and 80 dB channels separation; main linear outputs of device : dynamic range is 112 dB, the same THD+N and channels isolation and 51 Ohms impedance. Monitor headphones output have : 150 mW maximal power, the same THD+N and channels isolation and 103 dB dynamic range. Digital to analogue and analogue to digital conversions are performed with 118 dB dynamic range inside device. It can work in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X with support of ASIO 2.0 and CoreAudio interfaces, accordingly, via which it interacts with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. With device DAW Studio One Artist and program UC Surface for audio interface control are supplied.

Package contains : PreSonus Studio 192 Mobile USB 3.0 audio interface itself, USB cable, power adapter, disks with drivers and programs, warranty card and user’s guide. Interface is good, with large amount of connectors, high characteristics and support of USB 3.0; there is ability to anticipate, that PreSonus will set high price on this device, due to its novelty and support of this interface, so there is ability to look on audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other manufacturers production, among which there are devices with similar or even better characteristics and larger connectors amount for smaller price.

Among new devices of M-Audio there is a USB audio interface M-Track 2X2M with support of 192 kHz and 24 bits work mode, 2 inputs and 2 outputs. On its frontal panel there are 2 instrumental Hi-Z TRS 1/4″ jack inputs, phantom power +48 V switch button for microphone inputs and TRS 1/4″ jack output for monitor headphones. On top there are : 2 gain control knobs with levels and clip indicators; main outputs volume control; headphones volume control, their inputs selector Direct Monitor/signal from computer, switch on button and indicators of power, phantom power and MIDI input and output states. On back panel there are : Kensington Lock slot, USB for connection to computer and powering, MIDI input and output, main left and right TRS 1/4″ jack linear outputs and combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack balanced microphone/linear inputs.

For M-Audio M-Track 2X2M drivers are released for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.8 and newer with support of ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio, through which it works with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others. With audio interface following programs are supplied : AIR Creative FX Collection ( containing 20 AU/VST effects ), AIR Strike, AIR Xpand!2, AIR Mini Grand and DAW Steinberg Cubase LE.

Steinberg Cubase LE – is a simplified version of more professional DAW of this company, it allows to record, play, edit and mix audio and MIDI signals on 16 audio tracks, 24 MIDI tracks, 8 instruments and 8 physicsl inputs with precision up to 192 kHz and 24 bits. In it HALion Sonic SE instrument is included and set of 18 effects, among which there are modulation, delay, equalizer and others. AIR Mini Grand is a virtual piano instrument with 7 models of instrument and built in room simulation, in which it works. AIR Strike – is a drum machine with advanced sound engine, synthesizing drums sounds and rhythms from samples, recorded in WAV and AIFF formats; it allows to simulate surrounding parameters and virtual microphones, which perceive drums sounds. Also it has compressor with equalizer and 2 inserts on each channel and allows to export audio and MIDI signals. AIR Xpand!2 – is an advanced instrument with more than 25000 instruments presets, it can simulate up to 4 stereo instruments at the same time, contains 2 DSPs ( Digital Signal Processores ) and individual arpreggiator for each instrument. It supports many sound synthesis techniques : subtractive synthesis, FM synthesis, tone wheels and samples playback.

In the package with M-Audio M-Track 2X2M there are : USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all interface is good, but M-Audio can set high price on it, when it will appear in shops, due to its novelty, in this case there is ability to look on similar audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio itself and other manufacturers production. On the middle of Summer 2016 its price is set in the range 100 – 110 USD.

M-Audio – is a company, founded in USA in 1998 year, it produces audio interfaces, MIDI keyboards, synthesizers, loudspeakers, monitor headphones, DJs equipment, microphones and other sound devices. Company offices are also located in Canada, UK, Germany, France and Japan. Many popular artists use its products, among them there are The Crystal Method, Depeche Mode, Evanescence and others.

Company Behringer also have Firewire audio interfaces, for example, F-CONTROL AUDIO FCA202 – device with 2 inputs, 2 outputs and support of 96 kHz and 24 bits. On its frontal panel following is installed : TRS 1/4″ jack output for monitor headphones and Firewire connection and power indicators. On back panel : power adapter input, Kensington Lock slot, 2 Firewire ports ( device can be powered from them or from adapter ), 2 TRS 1/4″ jack outputs ( left and right ), which can work in balanced and unbalanced modes, and left and right TRS 1/4″ jack analogue inputs.

Harmonic distortions of Behringer F-CONTROL AUDIO FCA202 equal to 0.01 %, channels isolation is 100 dB, signal to noise ratio is 100 dB, device draws maximum 200 mA of current. For it drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with support of WDM KS, ASIO 2.0 and MME interfaces; in Mac OS X it works without additional drivers with support of Core Audio interface; through which it interacts with modern DAWs : REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar and others. With it DAW Tracktion and other programs are supplied. Audio interface’s sizes are 155 ( width ) x 115 ( depth ) x 28 ( height ) mm and mass is 0.7 kg.

Package with audio interface Behringer F-CONTROL AUDIO FCA202 contains : 2 Firewire cables, power adapter, CD-ROM disk with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface have good characteristics and connectors amount for entry level audio interface for small studio; however, there is need to note that USB interfaces of the same level are excellently do their job and it is much easier to find computer with such ports, than with Firewire connectors.