I’ve been badgering Audient about this for years. I really like their smaller interfaces and use them frequently, however I’ve needed one thing that may let me join a console, exterior preamps and outboard tools on to their converters, with sufficient inputs and outputs for a bigger studio.
With the brand new Horizon vary, that’s precisely the route they’ve taken.
I drove out to Audient’s headquarters within the English countryside to sit down down with the reasonably great Adam Metal and get a primary have a look at three new Thunderbolt interfaces: the Horizon 8P, Horizon 16 and Horizon 32. Between them, they cowl every thing from a studio needing eight microphone preamps to a a lot bigger setup constructed round a console and racks of exterior tools.
Discover the Audient Horizon vary at Sweetwater via our affiliate hyperlinks:
What excites me is how a lot of our dialog got here again to the way in which we truly work. Can I go away my devices linked? Can I take advantage of the preamps I already personal? Can I deliver the stereo combine from my console again into the pc with out sacrificing two of my fundamental inputs? These are the issues that make a distinction each day.
The Horizon 8P might be the place many individuals will begin. It combines eight Audient console microphone preamps, providing 75 dB of acquire, with direct converter inputs on DB25 connections.
That offers it a whole lot of flexibility. You could possibly use the built-in preamps to document drums or maintain a number of devices completely linked in a challenge studio. I’ve labored in loads of rooms the place you may need a guitar DI, bass DI, guitar amp, bass amp and stereo piano able to go. Once you’re writing or producing, having the ability to transfer between these devices with out always repatching is extremely helpful.
As I stated to Adam, “once you’re working loads and also you’re in a artistic house, you need every thing form of able to go.”
The DB25 inputs additionally provide you with a direct route from exterior tools to the converters. Adam defined that deciding on these inputs bypasses the microphone preamp path, permitting you to attach an exterior preamp, outboard tools or a console.
On my previous console in Los Angeles, every thing was on DB25s. With the ability to unplug these connections and transfer them straight throughout to an interface makes good sense to me. It additionally means the 8P can stay helpful as a studio grows and its proprietor begins including exterior preamps or a small console.
There are some considerate recording controls right here, too. Every preamp has individually selectable phantom energy and a variable high-pass filter operating from 25 Hz to 250 Hz. Adam demonstrated how you choose a channel on the entrance panel, modify its acquire and entry its further controls.
Having that vary of high-pass adjustment is beneficial as a result of completely different sources want completely different therapy. You may select how a lot low-frequency data to take away as you document, in response to the instrument and the association.
The 8P additionally contains two JFET instrument inputs on channels one and two, alongside two headphone outputs.
One function I used to be notably fascinated by is Orbit, which offers three microphone preamp impedance settings: excessive, medium and low.
Adam described how altering the enter impedance modifications the interplay between the microphone and the preamp, notably with ribbons and dynamics. In his clarification, the upper setting can deliver out extra brightness and transient response, whereas a decrease setting can transfer the response in direction of the character related to some older designs.
I’ve used impedance switching on older preamps and it may be a stunning choice, particularly with ribbon microphones. Relying on the microphone, you’ll be able to hear slightly extra output, slightly extra sparkle or a slight sharpening of the transients.
The phrase “slight” issues. This isn’t a change you press and out of the blue every thing sounds fully completely different. The end result will depend on the microphone and the supply. Once you’re recording, nonetheless, these smaller modifications will be helpful, and I like having one other selection in the beginning of the sign chain.
Audient has additionally introduced monitoring controls into the 8P. Its assignable perform button can deal with jobs similar to dimming the displays, participating talkback or recalling a reference listening stage. That final choice is especially useful: you’ll be able to change the quantity whereas working, then return to a well-recognized stage on the press of a button.
Adam defined that Horizon Management software program offers unbiased entry to the controls obtainable on the {hardware}. In case your interface lives additional away in a rack, you’ll be able to nonetheless modify it from the pc.
Across the again, the 8P contains eight analogue outputs on DB25 and one other 4 on TRS connections, giving it 12 analogue outputs. There are additionally phrase clock connections, ADAT growth and two Thunderbolt ports.
The Horizon 16 and Horizon 32 take the vary additional into the world of exterior preamps, consoles and analogue outboard.
These fashions deal with direct line-level conversion. They will increase an 8P system, however they’re additionally interfaces in their very own proper. If you have already got the microphone preamps you need, both might turn into the centre of your recording setup.
The Horizon 16 offers 16 analogue inputs and 16 analogue outputs on DB25 connections, plus an extra pair of TRS inputs and outputs. That brings its analogue whole to 18 inputs and 18 outputs.
These additional two inputs instantly caught my consideration. If you happen to’re sending 16 channels out to a console, you continue to want a approach to document the stereo combine coming again. Having a devoted further pair means you’ll be able to deliver that blend into the pc whereas conserving the primary 16 inputs obtainable.
Adam instructed me that folks had particularly requested for that additional pair. I can perceive why. It’s a sensible element that makes the interface way more helpful in a studio working with analogue mixing.
The Horizon 32 follows the identical thought at the next channel depend. It offers 32 inputs and 32 outputs on DB25 connections, with an extra stereo pair of TRS inputs and outputs bringing the analogue whole to 34 in and 34 out.
Right here is how the three fashions match into the vary, primarily based on our walkthrough:
ModelMain analogue connectionsStudio roleHorizon 8PEight microphone preamps, selectable direct DB25 converter inputs and 12 analogue outputsRecording with built-in preamps, with scope so as to add exterior equipmentHorizon 1618 analogue inputs and 18 analogue outputs, together with an additional stereo TRS pairExternal preamps, smaller consoles and outboard setupsHorizon 3234 analogue inputs and 34 analogue outputs, together with an additional stereo TRS pairLarger consoles and studios needing extra line-level connections
Adam quoted expanded totals of 34 inputs and 34 outputs for the Horizon 16 and 50 inputs and 50 outputs for the Horizon 32 when together with ADAT.
The vary additionally helps combining as much as 4 Horizon models via Thunderbolt. You could possibly construct a system round a number of 8Ps for extra microphone preamps or mix an 8P with the line-level fashions as your wants change. Adam described a most configuration of 4 Horizon 32s delivering 200 inputs and 200 outputs, together with their digital growth.
That is a gigantic quantity of connectivity. I joked that I might begin individually miking each instrument in an orchestra, then add the room, the hall and the room subsequent door!
For many of us, the attraction is having room to develop. You can begin with the connections your studio wants and add extra because the work calls for it.
Adam additionally made some daring claims about efficiency. He quoted a dynamic vary determine of 133 dB for the vary and emphasised that Audient measures its {hardware} reasonably than merely repeating the theoretical capabilities of a converter chip.
That distinction was an fascinating a part of our dialogue. As I identified, producers can have entry to among the similar chips, however the structure round them makes an enormous distinction.
Adam described Horizon’s specs as class-leading on the time of filming. That’s Audient’s declare, and our go to was an introduction to the {hardware} and its options. The extra detailed evaluate and testing might be a possibility to discover its efficiency additional.
Latency was one other main speaking level. Adam reported a measured round-trip latency of 0.99 milliseconds at 192 kHz with a 64-sample buffer. These settings are a part of the declare: it’s a particular measurement, reasonably than a promise that each session will run at that determine.
Audient’s goal, he defined, is to deliver very low latency to a extra accessible value level inside this a part of the market. We didn’t undergo actual costs within the dialog, however I used to be happy to see them pursuing this stage of connectivity and efficiency.
I’ve used Audient’s smaller interfaces, together with the iD4 and iD14, for movies, headphone demonstrations and plug-in demonstrations. I like recording via tools that a lot of you’re utilizing yourselves.
For years, although, I’ve felt there was an apparent subsequent step: take that have with microphone preamps and conversion and construct a spread for individuals who want to attach extra of their studio.
The Horizon 8P, Horizon 16 and Horizon 32 give us three alternative ways to do this. I’m trying ahead to spending extra time with them, recording via them and discovering out how they match into actual periods.
Many due to Adam and the Audient workforce for having me over. This can be a vary I’ve needed to see for a very long time.
Discover the Audient Horizon vary at Sweetwater via our affiliate hyperlinks:
