I love my AXR4 - Steinberg AXR - Steinberg Forums To sum up, Discreet 8s versatile monitoring and effects during mixing will surpass your expectations. Class-A hybrid mic preamps feature the legendary Rupert Neve Designs sound, via switchable SILK emulation, while cutting-edge 32-bit converters and advanced SSPLL jitter reduction technology guarantee the best results when recording. If not, lets check out the pro-level ones. If youve been longing to upgrade to an audio interface that can handle any project without a single hitch, Universal Audio Apollo X8 will exceed your expectations. Now get this: its a 64-bit, 4th generation technology applied in world-class products like Orion, Zen, and Goliath. It overshadows most high-end audio interfaces in terms of power and pristine sound. The two headphone jacks on the front panel are completely independent. After all, its sleek and modern-looking design with the characteristic red colour is hard to forget! 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. Its important to note that, currently only Mac drivers are available for the AXR4 but the Windows driver should arrive shortly. Other than that, a good reliable product with many features that gives more than expected for its price range. The Steinberg is no where in the same league. With our cookies we would like to offer you the best shopping experience possible with everything that goes with it. Share Reply Quote 11th April 2022 | Show parent # 5 Faceless2022 Here for the gear Quote: Originally Posted by thegrimbo 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. Well essentially, there are two formats.Desktop and Rackmount. Regarding its performance, this audio interface shines in providing you with a variety of inputs to choose from. Learn how to master the fundamentals of electronic music production with the best roadmap for new producers, With 10 years of music production experience and some marketing chops, I head up the content here at EDMProd. 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. These are joined by a wide array of digital inputs, of which up to 16 are available for recording at any one time: two optical ports provide either stereo S/PDIF or up to 16 channels of ADAT-format I/O depending on sample rate, and there is also a DB25 connector, which delivers eight AES3 inputs and outputs. However, a newer version of the driver for your USB audio interface might be available on this page. The form factor is amazing, and the functionality is great for the price point. VAT)Contact Steinberg. If you want a more traditional audio interface, maybe give the One a miss. Now, lets check out the best (low-budget) audio interfaces out there! It is renowned, The Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip consists of a sidechain-enabled compressor and a three-band. Luckily, technology has advanced enough to offer both connectivity options and high-quality preamps at a low price. 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. Focus on musical FX, leads, pads and cinematics, Manipulate new horn, guitar and synth samples. Once computing power increased sufficiently, many DAWs including certain flavours of Pro Tools were able to bring these processing functions into the host computer, removing the need for expensive dedicated DSP. 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. The HD I/O interface integrates with Pro Tools | HD for unmatched performance. The remaining eight analogue inputs are mounted on the rear panel, along with the eight analogue outputs, MIDI I/O, Word Clock I/O with SSPLL virtual jitter-reduction technology, and digital I/O via optical S/PDIF, ADAT and multi-channel AES/EBU. The heat situation is also no doubt improved by the use of an external power supply, which attaches using a locking four-pin XLR. HEXA Core Processor means more recording horsepower whether tracking or mixing. However it doesnt stop there: not only it offers a great amount of inputs, but it comes with four outputs, as well as two independent headphone outputs that allow you to monitor everything along with a friend or colleague. In terms of sound quality, the Antelope Audio Zen Tour delivers crystal clear and transparent sound that will satisfy even the most demanding sound engineers. With the LSlot technology, you can connect your Aurora(n) to Mac or Windows PC or use it as a standalone AD/DA converter via Dante, DigiLink, among other connections. The driver component can be updated separately in this case. 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 In practice this makes little difference, as the standard is fully backwards-compatible and many users still have older Macs with TB2 ports, but it's an odd decision to build a state-of-the-art interface with a deprecated connector type. Not only does it sound great, but its simple and affordable. To top their desktop line of interfaces off, the Quartet is a sight to behold. 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. Be warned though, this device only works on macOS/OSX. It spots dual headphone outputs and a preamp gain knob for easy adjusting and filtering. AXR4T Vs AXR4U - Steinberg AXR - Steinberg Forums Which audio interface is the best choice for music production right now? Some manufacturers try to make their control-panel programs fun to use by copping the look and feel of an expensive analogue console. Redesigned with top-of-the-line audio production in mind, Avid eliminated the need for clipping while you track hotter with the soft clip feature. In addition, 32-bit converters with up to 384 kHz sample rate and AXR hybrid mic preamps equipped with RND SILK processing are the ideal recording basis for any professional studio. Price is comparable so its probably worth it to grab this one instead of the older model, unless you have a particular tie to the older one. Overall, if you want a good-quality audio interface to start recording, the Steinberg UR22C might be your best bet! Admittedly, Apogee Electronics has decided to give us a taste of the future with the re-designed Symphony MK II. The extras are also pretty great with this one. By integrating the Curv, you can smooth out inconsistent sound levels from incoming sources. Any difference in performance bettween these two versions? Lynx Aurora(n) is a next-generation upgrade. For onboard effects processing, the AXR4T uses Yamahas DSPX chip, which includes the companys VCM (Virtual Circuit Modelling) technology. Its comprehensive connectivity allows the connection of high-end outboard mastering equipment like equalizers, compressors and processors in the audio chain, as well as several pairs of monitor speakers. Steinberg's UR range is a proven studio stalwart. But part of me is like, why not just go UAD and get extra control, for less $$$? I have never understood why audio interface manufacturers are so reluctant to allow complex interfaces to occupy more than one unit of rack space. Product of the Week: Steinberg AXR4 Audio Interface - Mixonline The only physical buttons you can expect are the power button and a large rotary encoder placed at the center. The only issue we had with this device is that the built-in compressors and effects are not enough for a decent result. With its compact, sleek, and modern design, it will be a great addition to the overall appearance of your home studio! Steinberg: AXR4 Thunderbolt 2 Interface - Tape Op It's a crowded market with plenty of very strong competition: is the AXR4 good enough to take a piece of it? Dom Sigalas is a London-based music producer, composer and musicologist. If you think Im exaggerating, let's take a closer look at the details. Native Instruments are renowned for making quality software and hardware, like Massive, Traktor and Maschine.Normally youd be paying a bit of a premium to get something from NI, but this affordable interface seems to be the exception, for both the Audio 1 and 2. In terms of sound performance, the digital signal processing of this unit makes it one of the best of its kind. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. 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. 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. Apogee are renowned for their simple, elegant and beautiful interfaces. The Ensemble Thunderbolt tremendous preamps ensure top-level sounds for audiophile enthusiasts. The audio quality is top-notch, as it comes with 32-bit integer audio conversion and sample rates up to 384kHz. Elle rpond toutes mes attentes. Now if youve been wondering whether its possible to have good looks and functionality all in one the answer is yes.The Apollo Twin Solo and Duo from Universal Audio looks amazing on the desk, and also comes with an array of features for the pragmatic producer. Installation Guide for macOS 11 or later (PDF) Release Notes Firmware V2.00 (PDF) The TOOLS for AXR4U come with a Yamaha Steinberg USB driver component included. Do you sometimes wish for a professional audio interface that you could easily transport from one studio to another? The advanced SSPLL jitter reduction technology guarantees perfect sync of all connected devices. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The only problem is that all these features come at a price that is pretty high compared to the previous audio interfaces we checked out. The only disadvantage of this audio interface is the compact size. Additionally, there are Play and Record buttons which control a built-in SD card slot. What's more, the unit comes with a built-in power supply and a single chassis capable of hosting up to 6 modules. Qualified Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter not included. My biggest niggle with the AXR4T is the omission of a Thunderbolt cable and converter, but once over that little hump its all good. Surely they would at least include a thunderbolt option? AXR4Ts extreme 384kHz/32-bit AD/DA conversion certainly grabs the attention and may be desirable in some very specific circumstances, but it disables useful features for little discernible benefit, so I doubt many users will crank things up beyond the more conventional 192kHz/24-bit digital format. IK Multimedia is a very underrated audio company. Its longevity of 20 years makes it known. I can think of one or two other manufacturers who might contest that statement, but the UR interfaces are undoubtedly . If you require more than the 28 inputs and 24 outputs available at base sample rates on a single AXR4, you'll need to stack multiple units: a single computer can host up to three of the devices, for a potential 84 ins and 72 outs. The dspMixFx AXR full matrix mixer allows for easy setup, routing and latency-free monitoring with effects with any DAW, with Cubase users able to control these features through a custom panel. Its mic preamps are also not your common-or-garden designs: they use a topology called AXR that is employed in Yamaha's premium digital consoles, and offer a licensed recreation of the Rupert Neve Designs Silk circuitry for situations where intentional colouring of the sound is required. You might be familiar with Steinberg because of Cubase: this audio software has been very popular with musicians. The good news is, these interfaces are super affordable and still get you studio-quality sound: As the newer kid on the block, the Volt 2 is Universal Audios entry into the lower-priced market. You get MIDI and World Clock ports, and two Thunderbolt connectors. It seems to be getting quite a bit of hype. Very similar to the legacy Apollo series with some new bells and whistles (like HEXA core processing for DSP and surround mixing). The newer version of the Apollo series brings a lot to the table for a high-end interface. that you agree to the use of cookies for preferences, statistics and marketing (. While the old series only included 8, 8p and 16 options, the newer x6 model allows producers to choose something a little less pricey while still getting the amazing features that this hardware provides. Steinbergs interface offers some parallels to the way rivals go about their business too. This shows I/O level metering, and provides access to every parameter and setting of the interface, thereby allowing it to function as a standalone mixer of sorts; most users will of course plan to connect it to a computer, though, where the dspMixFx AXR mixer and control-panel software also provides GUI-driven access to these settings. 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. The battle for the smartest and most competitively priced audio interface is far from over. The vintage design infused with 26 outputs and 32 outputs is sure to hit a cord in any musicians heart. To sum up, the Steinberg AXR4 is a must for professional sound engineers. Operation can be configured directly from the front panel, via a combination of button presses and the rotary wheel (which doubles as a button to confirm data entry). Steinberg Media Technologies | LinkedIn. If that is true for you, the Apogee Symphony Desktop will certainly not disappoint you! This audio interface also includes MIDI inputs and outputs, along with bundles of plugins and audio software that allow you to easily connect your MIDI instruments and start playing. If youre just starting out, youre probably on a budget. There are four mic/line preamps at the front, designed in partnership with Rupert Neve, whose involvement warrants his signature being embossed front and centre. This time by Audient, which appears on the battlefield with the compact budget-friendly EVO 4. This unit is pretty cool, but also pretty pricey. Price 2,227/2,599/$2,799 (exc. With the AXR4, Steinberg sets a new standard in audio interfaces for studios, producers and professional musicians. In summary, quality oozes from every pore here. The Steinberg UR22C is very easy to control, making it really suitable for beginners in audio recording. To top it all off, it does it all while still looking pretty darn good. What does format mean? The Universal Audio Apollo X8 now comes with more power thanks to the HEXA Core Processor. Its role is to configure the AXR's internal digital mixer, which is a powerful beast. The AXR4's unglamorous but eminently useful dspMixFx software. You get what youd expect from an interface at this price point 2 inputs and 2 outputs, but there are a lot of premium features too, such as the Vintage Mic Preamp and MIDI in/out. The only definite advantage for the AXR4 comes if you use Cubase, which I presume you do. If you have a recent version of Cubase, this should replicate all of the dspMixFx AXR functionality within the DAW, thus eliminating the need to constantly Cmd+Tab between applications. There are plenty of controls on the AXR4's front panel, but the only ones that operate in the analogue domain are the potentiometers governing the headphone output levels. ReviewFinder is reader-supported - if you click on a link on ReviewFinder and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. In addition to that, the SSL 2+ has a sleek and modern-looking appearance that makes it also pleasing to the eyes. The red looks pretty dope though. Thats what you get with the Antelope Discrete 8. In addition, by feeding the audio signal to the front inputs, it can also be processed with the onboard SILK emulation, bringing the legendary sound of Rupert Neve Designs to every audio master. Apart from using the front panel to configure specific settings, it comes with a Controller application to control the unit over software. He is responsible for the sound design for several major manufacturers including hardware synthesizers. These are all things we look for, which is why we created the free EDM Starter Kit. With the AXR4T, Steinberg introduces a high-end professional audio interface, featuring switchable Rupert Neve Designs SILK emulation, 32-bit resolution and a sample rate of up to 384 kHz. available since January 2020. With a bigger form-factor, more input options and even nicer extras, this might be what you need. The best part about the Quartet is finally all the I/Os are actually on the device itself, not as part of a dongle. Audio-over-IP is making steady inroads into this sector of the market, with an increasing number of products able to act both as 'native' interfaces and as Dante or AVB hubs. Thunderbolt 2 cable not included. Two are mic/line/Hi-Z inputs, two are mic/lines, and the remainder are standard line-level inputs (all lines are balanced). If this is okay for you, simply click on "Alrighty!" Electrochimp October 23, 2020, 4:18pm #1. The 18 Best Audio Interfaces of 2020 include: RME Fireface UFX II audio interface offers good monitoring of sound. The first thing I thought when I saw this was, Man that display is tiny! That being said, it does show a lot. 2023Steinberg Media Technologies GmbHAll rights reserved. And thats a list of the best interfaces available (or coming soon) in 2023! 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. This is very cheap for a rackmount interface with this many I/O options. It features two rotary controllers for input and output levels with bright LEDs on each. Overall, the design is both sleek and ergonomic. The data presented is for information purposes only.