There comes a point where you realise you don’t need all the bells and whistles to complete a certain task. Often, you just need a simple rig that works. For those of you looking for a smaller, more portable audio interface as a backup or secondary device to your bigger rig, and for anyone looking for a first interface that will go the distance, this is certainly worth a look. It’s a fairly compact box, but is still housed in a solid metal chassis with very little protruding from the box, making it ideal for travel.
The front panel offers two combination XLR/TRS connectors for the inputs, while on the rear, the main outputs are supplied on TRS connectors, along with a single TRS headphone output. PreSonus had the forethought to include MIDI ins and outs on this compact interface, so it can still be integrated with a larger setup involving other hardware. That’s something you don’t see on some of the more popular interfaces in this section of the market, and something to be applauded for, I believe.
As a USB 2.0 device, there is little issue with getting this interface up and running on any machine. It’s bus powered and the driver installation process isn’t too painful, meaning you’re ready to record in very little time. The front panel offers LED monitoring of both the input channels and the main output for a visual reference when needed. Separate volume controls for the main and headphone outputs, along with a mix control and input gains for both preamps, are all that need to appear on the front. It’s a shame that the new, softer blue colour that PreSonus are implementing in this unit leaves the markers on the volume pots a little tough to see in certain light, but that is only a minor gripe. You can still hear how each pot is set.
The Studio 24 comes bundled with PreSonus’ Studio One Artist Version software, so you are ready to record right out of the box. This is a great software package that has grown over the years to offer quality recording tools that are simple to use for the beginner, and you don’t need to get a university degree to operate it.
