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5 Nov

Audient ID22 USB Audio Interface

Innovative Music | (03) 9540 0658 | www.innovativemusic.com.au | RRP: contact for pricing

For those of you that keep up with the goings on here at Mixdown, you will know I looked at the Audient ID14 USB audio interface last month. This time around I have been given an upgrade with the Audient ID22 landing on my desk. At this rate I should be getting an entire console by midway through next year, but for the time being I am more than happy with the device sitting on my desk right now. British audio hardware designers Audient do create some useful interfaces and ones that are not only clever on spec, but units that are well thought out for integration into a professional setup.

5 Nov

4 Nov

Focusrite Clarett 8PreX Thunderbolt Audio Interface

Electric Factory | (03) 9474 1000 | www.elfa.com.au | RRP: $2449

In what almost looks like a return to the old from preamp gurus Focusrite, the new range of Clarett Thunderbolt audio interfaces brings us that familiar anodised red facia that most of us know all too well. The Clarett 8PreX in particular has the look of the old Red Series units, given its 2U rack casing with red front. But, these units are a long way from the classic preamps and EQs of old, delivering mighty AD/DA conversion and multi-channel audio recording with the help of the Thunderbolt connection and Focusrite preamps for all eight analogue inputs.

4 Nov

30 Sep

Audient ID14 USB Audio Interface

Innovative Music | (03) 9540 0658 | www.innovativemusic.com.au | RRP: $469

Audient is one company that often flies under the radar in the somewhat overcrowded would of audio interfaces, but it really should have more notice taken of it. For a market that is overcrowded with budget devices that claim to deliver great results, often most devices fall well short of the mark. Audient, however, are a company not inclined to under deliver and still manages to keep the price down so as to offer exceptional value on high quality audio interfaces for any application. This is where the ID14 needs to be recognised as a high end audio interface that doesn’t necessarily bear the price tag of its real competitors. This thing is just too good for its position in the market, and I like that.

30 Sep

30 Sep

Akai MIDImix USB MIDI Controller

Electric Factory | (03) 9474 1000 | www.elfa.com.au | RRP: $149

I have been buying, using and abusing MIDI controllers for twenty years now and I continue to see new variations on an old theme popping up each year. There is always room for innovation and invention, but when something works, there is no need to radically challenge a design, but instead a small adjustment is often the better course of action. That is what Akai have proven to be the case with their new MIDIMIX USB MIDI control surface. What this offers is a number of design concepts in one compact unit that will allow you to work in a variety of ways with your software applications.

30 Sep

6 Aug

ZOOM - UAC-8 USB 3.0 AUDIO INTERFACE

Dynamic Music | (02) 9939 1299 | www.dynamicmusic.com.au | RRP $575

After Zoom gave me something to think about with their new Thunderbolt interface, the Japanese innovators hit me with the UAC-8 USB 3.0 interface. This new single spaced rack mounted audio interface puts Zoom at the very forefront of technological design in their price point with a class compliant design that works with iPad as well as PC and Mac. A sleek design, range of connections and super-fast data transfer makes this a very appealing concept for anyone wanting a new audio converter for their home recording setup.

6 Aug

29 Jun

Apogee Electronics Duet-iOS and Waves Silver Bundle

Sound Distribution | (02) 8007 3327 | www.sounddistribution.com.au RRP: $939

Apogee are certainly no newcomers when talking about quality audio conversion. They have been delivering high quality audio interfaces for some time now and continue to extend their rage of products to meet the ever changing demands of today’s market. That is why I have now landed the new Apogee Duet-iOS on my desk this month. Many of you will be well aware of the Duet as it has set many a benchmark for quality in compact two channel audio interfaces in recent years. Now, Apogee have made this new Duet a more versatile tool allowing it to work with not only Mac computers, but also with iPad and iPhone.

29 Jun

29 Jun

M-AUDIO M-TRACK PLUS MKII

Pro Audio Group Australia | (02) 9521 4844 | www.proaudiogroup.com.au | RRP: $349.99

I have witnessed, as I am sure many of you have too, the development of M-Audio products over the last two decades. Whilst some ideas have come and gone, there have been many that have stayed their ground. The M-Track series of audio interfaces is just one idea that has stood the test of time and continues to be a relevant contender in the ever cut-throat USB audio interface market. What M-Audio have done with the M-Track range is to ensure they continue to offer great value and efficiency, whilst continually updating the range to meet the needs of current users and the computer systems they are teaming the device up with. So, this is why I find yet another redesign of the M-Track Plus on my desk this month.

29 Jun

1 Jun

ZOOM TAC-2R THUNDERBOLT AUDIO CONVERTER

Dynamic Music | (02) 9939 1299 | www.dynamicmusic.com.au | RRP: $685

Whether it is down to licencing issues or perhaps just a slow market uptake to the format, there has certainly been a limited number of Thunderbolt audio interfaces to make a stand in the marketplace in the past 12 months. It seems that the greater share of the marketplace is a little slow off the mark when it comes to Thunderbolt, and only a few manufacturers have really dived into the deep end with the new Mac port. So, it was with great joy that the new Zoom TAC-2R was handed over to me this month. Finally, we have come across a Thunderbolt interface that isn’t eye-wateringly expensive.

1 Jun

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