Audio | Imagination Works

Focusrite Red 4 Pre – Thunderbolt audio interface with 58 inputs, 64 outputs, 2 Ethernet Dante connections and 192 kHz and 24 bits

Thunderbolt audio interface Focusrite Red 4 Pre

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.

Thunderbolt audio interface Focusrite Red 4 Pre ( back panel )

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.

Sven SEB-101 – 10 mm in-ears headphones with 20 Hz – 20 kHz and 98 dB sensitivity for 3.5 USD

One of the novelties of Sven company production is an in-ears headphones SEB-101 with 10 mm membranes, support of 20 Hz – 20 kHz sounds frequencies reproduction and 98 dB sensitivity for 3.5 USD. They have closed architecture, 32 Ohms impedance and 10 g mass, they are supplied only in black color variant. To both cups 1.2 m cable is connected with 1/8″ mini jack connector with nickel-plated contacts for connection to sound source. Package with Sven SEB-101 contains : plastic case, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all headphones do not have some top-level characteristics, but in-ears headphones will not produce high-quality sound due to small membranes size, so these ones is an optimal choice, when compactness is the most important. If it is not needed and high quality of sound is more important, then it is better to buy 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones for 20 – 40 USD.

M-Audio M-Track 8×4 – new USB audio interface with 192 kHz, 24 bits, 8 inputs and 4 outputs

USB audio interface M-Audio M-Track 8x4 — USB audio interface M-Audio M-Track 8×4

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.

USB audio interface M-Audio M-Track 8x4 ( back panel ) — USB audio interface M-Audio M-Track 8×4 ( back panel )

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.

Alesis VI49 – USB MIDI keyboard with 16 drumpads, 36 assignable buttons and 12 knobs

Among middle functionality MIDI keyboards of Alesis company there is a device VI49 with 49 full-size velocity-sensitive keys, 16 velocity-sensitive drumpads with RGB back light, 36 assignable buttons and 12 programmable knobs. Besides this it has : modulation control and pitch-bend wheels, LED screen, transport and octaves control buttons; as well as TRS 1/4″ jack input for sustain pedal, MIDI output, USB port for connection to computer and powering, switch on button and power adapter input on back panel.

MIDI keyboard Alesis VI49 ( back panel )

Alesis VI49 works in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X without additional drivers via Plug and Play technology; and integrates with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others, as well as their VST/AU instruments and effects. After purchase there is ability to download from manufacturer’s site DAW Ableton Live Lite and program AIR Music Tech Xpand!2. Package contains : MIDI keyboard Alesis VI49 itself, USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. Device has very high functionality, wherein Alesis sets its price on affordable level for such functions; so, if there is need in MIDI keyboard with large amount of controls, which will be enough for a long time in creative development, then this one is one of the best devices.

M-Audio Micro DAC 24/192 – new USB audio interface with professional sound in compact metallic body

USB audio interface M-Audio Micro DAC 24/192

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.

Sven SEB-300M – 10 mm in ears headphones with microphone, 20 Hz – 20 kHz and wooden body

Company Sven presented new model of its in-ears headphones SEB-300M – device with 10 mm membranes, microphone, 20 Hz – 20 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range and wooden body for 12 USD. Headphones impedance is 16 Ohms, sensitivity is 93 dB and mass is 13 g; perceivable audio frequencies range of microphone is 30 Hz – 16 kHz and sensitivity is -42 dB, which is a good values for microphones. Cable is attached to both cups, its length is 1.2 m, in its volume control module smartphones control button is built-in, it is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector. Package contains : Sven SEB-300M headphones themselves, stylish aluminum case for storage and carrying, 2 interchangeable earstips, warranty card and user’s guide. These headphones do not have some very high audio characteristics, but they are quite good, provide high-quality music reproduction and do their job; wherein their price is adequate to their functions. However there is need to note, that if there is need in high-quality sound and not compactness of device, then it is better to add 14 – 20 USD and buy good 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones.

Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 – high-quality ADAT audio interface for DA and AD conversions

ADAT audio interface Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000

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.

ADAT audio interface Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 ( back panel )

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.

Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 – 40 mm monitor headphones with 18 Hz – 25 kHz for 80 USD

Among new dynamic monitor headphones there is device Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 with 40 mm membranes, 18 Hz – 25 kHz sounds frequencies reproduction support, open architecture and around 80 USD price. Their impedance is 35 Ohms, sensitivity is 93 dB/mW, maximal input power is 500 mW and mass is 240 g ( without cable accounting ). It is connected to one of the cups, is not detachable, has 3 m length and is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector with gold-plated contacts. Double headband automatically adjusts to different sizes of heads of users, soft earpads provide comfort during long-time music and sounds listening.

Drivers of Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 are created with use of coils with CCAW wire for reduction of mass, more free movements of sound emitter and more precise reproduction of all audio frequencies, especially high ones; in each cup there is only 1 dynamic driver. Headphones are not foldable, in place of entering into cup cable is additionally reinforced with resin tube for increased toughness and wear resistance against bending and tear-off forces. They have no active noise cancellation function, as some other monitor headphones have, but have good noise isolation. Cups and honeycomb fence are made of aluminum for increased rigidity and reduction of chatter during music and sounds playback.

Package contains : Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 headphones themselves, adapter to 1/4″ jack connector, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are great : they have large 40 mm diaphragms, wide sounds frequencies reproduction support, open architecture and comfortable headband and earpads; wherein their price is even not big for professional monitor headphones. However, there is need to note, that for most users such characteristics are not needed and there is ability to buy much cheaper consumer-level 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones. Also, if compactness of device is must have, then there is ability to look on in-ears headphones, which do not reproduce sounds as good, as monitor headphones, especially basses, but have much smaller sizes and mass, which is very important in sportive exercises and trainings, also such kind of headphones often have slider and clip on their cable, to prevent its tangling and clinging to clothes and surrounding objects.

There is also need to note, that Audio-Technica – is a Japanese company, established in Tokyo in 1962 year, as phonographs cartridges producer. Then it started to develop and introduced among its products microphones and headphones, among which now there are wired and wireless models. At current moment it is one of the leading foreign consumer sound electronics and government organizations devices supplier in USA. And in the country of a rising Sun audio devices are usually made with high quality of components and assembling.

Focusrite Clarett 4Pre – new Thunderbolt audio interface with 192 kHz, 24 bits and 119 dB dynamic range

Thunderbolt audio interface Focusrite Clarett 4Pre

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.

Thunderbolt audio interface Focusrite Clarett 4Pre ( back panel )

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.

Novation Launchkey 25 – functional mini MIDI keyboard with 16 drumpads and LED screen

One of the compact MIDI keyboards is a device Novation Launchkey 25 with 16 velocity-sensitive drumpads with RGB backlight and LED screen for showing information about device’s state. It has : 25 velocity-sensitive synthesizer-style keys, 8 knobs, 1 slider, 6 transport control buttons, pitch-bend and modulation control wheels, 2 octaves control buttons, 2 tracks and MIDI channels control buttons, 2 InControl buttons and 2 round buttons with RGB backlight. On its back panel there are : USB port for powering and communication with computer, TRS 1/4″ jack input for sustain pedal, power adapter input and Kensington Lock slot. There are variants of device with 49 and 61 keys, which have additional controls.

MIDI keyboard Novation Launchkey 25 ( back panel )

Novation Launchkey 25 is oriented on tight work with DAW Ableton Live and also allows to control other DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others, and their VST/AU instruments and effects. Device works in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X without additional drivers via Plug and Play technology. MIDI keyboard is powered from USB port or power adapter and draws maximum 250 mA of current; it can be used with iOS devices via Camera Connection Kit or USB cameras connection adapter. Device’s sizes are : 450 ( width ) x 270 ( depth ) x 90 ( height ) mm; with it following software is supplied DAW Ableton Live Lite, Novation Bass Station and V-Station and 1 GB of free Loopmasters samples. Package with Novation Launchkey 25 contains following : USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. MIDI keyboard is good : with large amount of drumpads and other control elements, it also has power adapter input for work with tablet PCs without load on their batteries.

Tag: Audio