Packing no less than 40 years of design and innovation under the belt, Apogee Electronics are an immovable force within the digital audio sector.
The US-based producers were critical in advancing digital audio recording technology in the 1980s and were one of the first companies to bring home recording to the masses by tailoring audio interface products to iOS in the 2010s. With this history in mind, it should come as no surprise that the reputation Apogee has as a trailblazer of digital audio recording is only further advanced by its latest run of Symphony Studio audio interfaces. These newly released interfaces provide punters the chance to get their mitts on Apogee’s legendary audio conversion and build quality at an incredibly accessible price point, while also giving prospective users the chance to dip their toes into mixing for immersive audio.
Symphony Studio
Available in three different configurations, 8×16, 8×8 and 2×12, the Apogee Symphony Studio range offers something for every type of audio professional. The series utilises the same AD/DA convertors found in Apogee’s acclaimed Symphony MkII interface, guaranteeing incredible dynamic range and accurate sonics in any recording or mixing environment.
Read all the latest features, lists and columns here.
Each interface in the range can deliver up to 24-bit/192 kHz recording with an immense 75dB of microphone preamp gain, while Apogee’s PureDIGITAL conversion facilitates that transparent quality that the brand has become famous for. Whether you’re recording DI bass or guitars, or you’re plugging in a vintage tube condenser to record vocals or overheads on a drum, this means your recordings will sound crystal clear and faithful to their original source.
Dolby Atmos
Geared towards being used by audio engineers and music producers operating in a pro studio, the Symphony Studio 8×16 is a comprehensive option that provides eight mic/line inputs and 16 analogue outputs via D-SUB. Two independent headphone outputs – one ¼”, one 3.5mm – allow for greater flexibility for those who like to work with cans, while also delivering powerful immersive audio and capable of handling a 9.1.6 surround sound Atmos system.
The Symphony Studio 8×8, on the other hand, is best suited for studio producers and artists looking to take their mixes to the next level. It packs eight mic/line inputs with switchable phantom power, plus eight outputs via D-SUB and class compliant USB-C connectivity to streamline plug-and-play compatibility for Mac and Windows users. 8 outputs allows for a system up to 7.1.
Rounding out the Symphony Studio range, the 2×12 mainly caters for mix and mastering engineers, with less mic/line inputs and much more emphasis on the outputs. This one is geared for users who might wish to work in a 7.1.4 surround sound Atmos setup, as well as conventional stereo speaker setups for mixing, monitoring or even casual listening.
All models feature Apogee’s Symphony Studio Channel Strip, an input DSP plug-in that allows producers or engineers to experiment with real-time EQs, compression and drive effects with nearly no latency. Looking to juice up that DI bass tone? Simply engage the Studio Channel Strip, and you’ll be honking away in no time. It’s a truly useful feature that will really appeal to producers who like to work on the fly.
Apogee have also included digital signal processing (DSP) in the output stage, which is particularly helpful for those operating complex speaker setups that require tuning, delay and further adjustment. By letting you tweak overall room EQ, speaker delay and bass management functionality, users can tune their rooms for clearer and more accurate monitoring, delivering cleaner mixes overall.
The Symphony Studio range is obviously geared towards those working in high grade audio production and engineering, and this is made further apparent by Apogee’s emphasis on streamlining studio workflows. Monitor Workflows form a massive part of this promise, allowing users to switch between stereo, surround and immersive speaker setups at the press of a button. Users can create and save different workflows for different projects, and instantly recall them to suit what they’re working on.
There’s also the option of an Apogee Control to go with your Symphony Studio interface, which functions as a multi-purpose interface and monitor controller. Whether you’re just looking to crank the volume, set up a talkback mic or even recall presets you were working on, eight assignable buttons let you tweak things to suit your own preference, while its sleek, compact package will look a treat on your desk.
For those who are looking to dabble with Dolby Atmos or immersive audio mixing, the Apogee Symphony Studio range provides a perfect starting point to leap off into the deep end, while also future proofing yourself for advances of the technology—or your career! The 8×16 is ideally geared up for larger spaces – ideally commercial Atmos studios with an array of speakers – while the 2×16 is better suited for smaller rooms that can only facilitate a 7.1.4 setup.
In a nutshell, there’s certainly no shortage of value in the Symphony Studio range. Apogee has pulled all the stops with this audio interface series, packing incredible audio conversion into a trio of sleek, relatively affordable interfaces to suit all types of engineer or artist. Whether you’re producing music for local indie rock acts or you’re getting deep into the immersive mixing process for a commercial project, you’ll be well set up to deliver your best work with an Apogee Symphony Studio interface at the heart of it all.
For local Apogee Digital enquiries, keep reading at Link Audio.
