20 Best Thunderbolt Audio Interface (2022 Updated)

Great product no doubt about it. Excellent sound quality. Installation on Apple Silicon Monterey MacOS was not super-easy but after following tutorial it installed and just works. I use it with Max/MSP to generate sound for live performances as I am not typical user who does some “recordings”.

Comes in as part of Core Audio devices and sounds great. It should be stated I did not need to install Luna or UA Connect which came with the downloaded DMG software package as for now I don’t need them in my workflow.

I just needed the driver. So I think Universal Audio could make it clearer in the DMG that when you just want to generate sound only driver is needed. I also don’t use the UA plugins for now as I use it for raw sound which I process myself in Max/MSP so I cannot say much about them, will try when I need them.

My live-performances will be also running at 192Khz sampling rate, as it is not a problem while using Apollo and Apple Silicon computers. Also remember that the device box does not contain Thunderbolt 3 cable.

I did not know that and had to take a trip to Apple store for the cable which was around 40GBP. I am glad I could get it from Apple on the same day and start using Apollo. Overall highly recommend the Apollo sound card to anybody who just wants top quality sound from their work, yes it makes a difference both for the artist and for the viewers.

If you fiddle within production, music entertainment, even music performance, this Apollo is definitely the one for you. It makes both your job and then output source’s job way easier. Its efficiency is amazing.

Not to mention the space grey feel of it. It completely made my productions on past interfaces seem very unprofessional because it enhances the quality of the sound exponentially. Once thunderbolt cable is plugged in, it makes it easy to set up way better than any other interface I have had.

The setting on it makes it very easy to control much less an interface with several knobs. it also helped me understand functionality of frequencies and pre amps. The software is amazing. UAD takes in capabilities that you were struggling in the DAW you are using.

Allows for virtual mixing and mastering tools/plugins.

Overall: Ok, so I bought this for my 2013 dell (alienware) laptop with windows 7 still on it. The Apollo Twin USB installed on it and would work fine, but after turning off the pc and/or Apollo, I would get the “no device found” in the UAD-2 console.

I would see a yellow exclamation point next to the “Universal Audio Twin USB” under “Audio DSP Accelerator” In the “Device Manager”. I reinstalled multiple times and it would always work, but not work after restarting/turning on the laptop.

So I decided to upgrade finally to windows 10 professional (free upgrade still works) and now after installation, it works absolutely perfect. Plug and play, no issues at all now. Remember to also read up on preparations for installation from the UA website.

Things like “turn off root hub USB power save” and a few other minor adjustments to help your installation go smoothly. Below are the specs for my setup that is working like plug and play with zero issues.

Hope this helps anyone that may be scared from what people are saying about this device as long as you have a basic factory 3. 0, 3. 1 Intel USB port built in to your motherboard and windows 10 you should be good to go.

By the way, I have the TLM 102 and 103 they it sounds amazing with this device and the UAD plugins!My setup:Apollo Twin USB(2013) Dell Alienware 14 notebookBIOS Alienware A01, legacyWindows 10 professional, version 10.

0. 19042, X64, 500gb HDIntel Core, i7-4700MQ, 2. 40GHz, 8 CoreINTEL USB 3. 0/3. 1 eXtensible Host Controller – 1. 0 (Microsoft).

I recently got the Antelope Audio Orion Studio Synergy Core as the centrepiece and hub of a new home studio I’m setting up, upgrading from an Avid Eleven Rack for audio interface duties (still good but limited).

I looked at lots of options for the audio interface but in the end the do-it-all-in-a-1U-rack design that is the Orion Studio SC won out. I wanted a rack format rather than a desktop interface, plus more-than-enough (for my needs) I/O to future-proof my investment.

And it is a large investment, but a sound one I believe, given the stellar quality of the A/D and D/A conversion, clocking accuracy and mic pres on the interface. Plus the on-board DSP/FPGAs and quality FX plugins give lots of options for in-the-box/DAW and/or external/DSP processing while tracking and mixing.

I did look at the Antelope Audio Discrete 8 as well (which is a great interface) but in the end the higher DSP and FPGA count of the Orion won, especially as Anderton’s were bundling the Orion with an Edge DUO mic rather than the Solo which gives more mic emulations and micing options, and sounds fantastic.

It’s still early days with the Orion interface but so far I’m extremely impressed with the hardware build quality as well as the audio quality achievable. Is it all good?. no. I’ve found the Antelope hardware activation process to be more troublesome than it should be, e.

g. I registered and activated (I thought) the device on their website, expecting the additional plugin bundle to become available to assign to the interface, but nothing happened, and a support ticket was required to sort this out (and I’m still waiting for the special bundled Edge Duo mic models to be activated via their Support team, despite apparently having activated the mic on the website).

The Control Panel application (required to route audio into and out of the interface to your DAW or external processors and control the interface beyond the physical controls ) looks a bit complicated and daunting to begin with, but after watching some videos it soon becomes clear and you realise just how powerful the audio routing matrix is, and what you can achieve with it.

Finally, and this isn’t entirely down to Antelope, but it does feel as though PC is still somewhat of a second-class citizen compared to Mac. Although the Orion supports a USB connection as well as Thunderbolt (I have a powerful Windows 10 laptop that offers both) it only supports USB 2.

0, resulting a lower (24) I/O count vs Thunderbolt (the full 32), plus as others have said, the afx2daw plugin doesn’t work at all via USB, so be aware of that if you’re running a Windows rig and don’t have a Thunderbolt 3 port.

I’d like to see this rectified if at all possible, plus the Orion should really come with USB3. 0 now as USB 2. 0 is pretty old. Overall though. for my setup, it’s a great high-quality interface and worth the admittedly high price for the quality and future-proofing it provides.

Good job Antelope.

I purchase the x16 in high hopes to be able to get professional mixes and while the x16 is decent it’s not as great as I expected. First off there is to much latency imo when recording into pro tools and at a low buffer of 128 the drivers are unstable.

You need a super computer to get lower latency. Input monitoring doesn’t seem to work because while monitoring the input while Listening to the output creates discrepancy’s in timing during playback.

I inquired about this with uad and they told me to lower the buffer which creates pops and clicks. I’m using a Mac mini 2018 with an i7 and 32 gigs. I have my sessions running on a thunderbolt 3 ssd and my plug ins in another separate tb3 ssd hoping this would fix the latency problem , no dice.

After getting back with uad they told me if I don’t like it , then I should return it. Useless support imo. I even purchase loads of plug ins in the few months I was learning how to get the most of this set up , but to no prevail.

Don’t waste your money on this product , I regret ever buying into the zero latency hype !.

Let me start off by saying this device will not connect via TB3 > TB2 adaptor connected to a TB2 > Firewire 800 on a 2009 Mac Pro 5,1. just an FYI. Connected using a GC Titan-Ridge PCIE Card. Had to do some programming/flashing but was easy.

This is a studio must-have. Once my MP 5,1 2009 finally connected to the X8 it connected to the internet and took me through the registration process seamlessly. The functionality is awesome and I’m still getting used to all of the features it has under the hood.

The latency is. well there is none. Ohh, oh yeah. the plugins that come with this are very well calibrated and adds even more value to the X8. And not to mention my computer can now process things even better in my sessions with the Apollo X8.

The way I record is going to change using UAD processing and its applications. The sound quality is high-grade. There aren’t any complaints to throw out at the moment but I’m very happy about this purchase.

Awesome gear y’all; please get one if you can. You won’t be disappointed.

You get what you pay for and this is well worth it. If you EVER plan on adding analog outboard gear to your chain this is the way to go. You can get cheaper ones, but the quality and build of Apollos are great.

It’s tempting to get the Apollo Twin for the obvious savings, but you lose the function of bypassing the preamps when using outboard gear. Skip the Twin if you think you’ll want an external preamp and whatnot.

You can just plug a balanced TRS from your preamp into one of the Analog inputs on the Apollo x6 and then go into the UA Consol > Settings > Hardware and then set the Analog channel to “Bypass”. Nothing but clean uncolored conversion with the Apollo x6! Great buy!.

Overall: I’ve been using this interface for around 3 years now and have never experienced what the only other review (at the time of writing) is talking about with “audio dropping out” and having to unplug it and plug it back in, so not sure who “everyone” is that’s complaining about this.

Sounds like user-error to me, which seems to be a huge problem with user reviews at large – but I digress. For the price point, it’s a decent interface. Anecdotally, the XMAX preamps do impart a somewhat sterile quality in comparison to my much cheaper and smaller SSL 2+.

I have not used the scientific method to back this claim up quite yet, but thought it would be worth mentioning that to my ears there is something about the preamp’s character that I don’t love. Some complaints I have are that you cant manually switch the inputs to LINE mode, you have to insert a TRS cable to do so.

Also, I cannot personally figure out if there is a way to make outputs 1 and 2 separate from the main outs. As far as I can tell, there is no way to do this, so you’re essentially down 2 outs for a total of 6 when you look at it like that (there’s 2 headphone mix outs on the front already).

I spent far too much time spelunking the internet for this information to no avail. This leads me to my final and perhaps most pertinent complaint – the customer support from PreSonus. That is to say, it appears to be non-existent, or at least it did when I tried to contact them via phone for weeks in hopes of finding out whether or not it’s possible to route signals that are NOT identical to the main outs to outputs 1 and 2.

To be fair, this was over a year ago, so hopefully something has changed since then. Their support forums also appeared to be largely abandoned by anyone but confused customers. What dey got goin’ on over dere in baton rouge, them?.

I have been researching this unit since last year, and it works great on a late 2012 iMac (Thunderbolt 1, i7, 16GB RAM, Fusion Drive), Catalina (10. 15. 7) and Logic Pro (10. 6. 1). You need an Apple Branded Thunderbolt Adapter for older Macs.

The unit has no Thunderbolt or USB cables included. Mac with Thunderbolt 1 or 2 you need an Apple Branded Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 (and 1) Adapter. The Apple adapters are bi-directional, and necessary for the Quantum to function.

You will also need a Thunderbolt 2 cable. I would recommend you get an Apple Branded Thunderbolt Cable as well. This is what I did. I followed the directions from the Presonus website and set up was easy.

The Quantum 2626 basically worked as a drop in replacement for my MOTU 828 mkII. It sounds just as good as the 828 with nearly zero latency (none that I can detect anyway). One of the greatest things about this unit is that it does not have any DSP.

What you hear in Logic as you record is what you get, no need to adjust the playback volume. This is something that I always struggle with on the 828 and the MOTU drivers. I hope this unit lasts, because it is off to a great start and that’s important because this is a bridge (to a newer Mac) unit for me.

The fact that this can run on the last version of a Mac that just barely supports Catalina, means that it has potential way into the future. I am not sure about the Quantum’s M1 support, but my guess is that it is already available or will be soon.

I hope I get someone’s attention. I have no idea if the unit functions, how well it functions, anything. Every computer peripheral device I ever purchased- audio interface, monitor, external hard drive, even the most inexpensive items ALWAYS includes the necessary connecting cable.

I never even considered or imagined the Thunderbolt 3 cable was not in the box! My first shocked reaction was to send it back in frustration. Musicians Friend: I’m willing to give you a pass here, as perhaps Presonus did not inform you of this, and you don’t even test the products you sell.

Well, after reading this, please put a disclaimer in LARGE BOLD LETTERS: “DOES NOT INCLUDE NECESSARY THUNDERBOLT 3 CABLE, NEED TO PURCHASE SEPERATELY!” Put this at the very top, so customers can know before they consider buying this product.

It turns out Thunderbolt 3 cables are fairly unique, expensive cables. Presonus: That’s another story! Ok, if your business model for this item to make a profit makes it prohibitive to include the 40 gps Thunderbolt 3 cable, well that’s up to you.

YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO YOUR CUSTOMER BASE before they buy. Nowhere on the Presonus product page for the 2626 is the need to buy your own cable mentioned. On the product box, there should be a note, sticker, something In large bold letters, again nothing.

Inside the box, there is the unit, rubber feet, power supply, and 2 insanely vague product cards in multiple languages, again no mention of a not included and ridiculously necessary cable. Bad Job. I waited almost 2 months while the Quantum 2626 was on backorder with Musicians Friend, I waited a week after that for it to arrive.

All that time I could have been acquiring a cable had I known or even imagined! I just finished my pc build, opened the box, where’s the cable? Did I get shorted? There’s no mention. Very shocked and surprised.

All I can tell you is it turns on, now way to test anything. Very dissapointing and frustrating.

Of all of Presonus’s Thunderbolt interfaces, this is the most user-friendly. I say this because almost all controls on the unit can be accessed through software rather than having to turn physical knobs on the unit itself.

The preamps are digital, so this includes the preamps. From the standpoint of gain-staging, this is invaluable because settings can be pinpoint accurate and saved for future use. No more confusion about settings when moving through projects.

This unit could easily be the centerpiece of a small, or even relatively large project studio. There’s plenty of I/O on the unit itself, but it also has multiple methods of pulling in outside data including SPDIF and two optical ADAT ports.

The one caveat is that Thunderbolt, when it comes to PCs, is still a messy, messy beast. Even on newer Windows machines, getting Thunderbolt audio devices up and running is not a simple task as motherboard vendors are terrible about putting up any information related to how their devices actually handle Thunderbolt traffic.

Be aware that, while this interface is awesome, Thunderbolt is not a plug and go protocol for Windows machines like USB based devices. There will likely be some setup headaches.

Rock solid performance using the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. I had this connected to an OWC Dock and frequently switched the dock between a work laptop, a home laptop, and a Windows 10 desktop with an Alpine Ridge interface.

It’s had zero problems in about 2 years. Everything has been perfect. It has the interesting feature of allowing you to set levels and enable/disable phantom power via MIDI CC. The only catch is that the manual mixes up 0 and 127 for the phantom power toggle, but it’s easy to figure out.

Also, phantom power for each of the four inputs is controllable separately. It’s super useful to have a few presets for levels for different instruments.

Overall: Hands down, the Presonus Quantum has exceeded every expectation and hope I had. From the build quality to routing, ease of use and functionality – Quantum has it all. To preface, I work as a studio engineer.

My system revolves around Logic Pro X. I’m far more into ease of use over esoteric and expensive gear. So I skip the studio’s Neve preamps and Avid converters for a streamlined approach. After years of using a MOTU 8pre as my main interface, I needed to upgrade to something with far more versatility.

I bought a Focusrite Clarett interface. But I found the mix software to be less than intuitive. So I sold the interface and sprung for the Quantum. And boy am I thrilled I did. I’ve been using the Quantum for the last 6 months.

Here are some of the features I adore about this thing: + Latency is Non-Existent The Quantum’s major billing is how fast it is. The latency is non-existent thanks to its Thunderbolt connection. But on top of that, the Quantum has no obtrusive Mix Software.

You know how interfaces always have their own mix software? Well as far as I’ve gathered that Mix Software exists to circumvent any issues around Software Monitoring and Latency. But the mix software itself, it turns out, adds its own latency.

So Quantum skips the middle man and ditched the Mix Software. This is perfect, because I much prefer monitoring through Logic. Quantum does come with software to manage preamp levels, phantom power and outputs of the hardware unit.

But there’s no middle man here. Software Monitoring within the DAW is all you need. + Talkback Mic The integrated Talkback system is worth the price tag alone! Instead of having to pick up a separate talkback to patch in, Presonus included one with Quantum.

Fire up a track, set it’s input to Input 27, and you’re off to the races. The Talk and Dim switches are easy to engage. I say download SoundRadix’s free Muteomatic plugin and you won’t have to wear the buttons out.

That’s what I use, so I’m able to leave the talkback running for the whole session. + Recall-able Digital Preamps Digital preamps are the way to go! I love being able to set these preamps to a specific value.

And when I turn off the unit and return later, Quantum remembers the values. Digital Audio rules for its instant recall-ability. Now there’s an interface that capitalizes on the brilliance of digital technology.

Each channel is accessible through two buttons under an infinite rotary knob. Press the left or right buttons to flip through the channels. Use the rotary knob to adjust the channel’s volume. I was a little nervous because none of the channels have any sort of dB pad.

But it turns out I never need one. These preamps seem to have a tremendous amount of throw. Plus they sound great too! + All the Routing You Could Possibly Need There’s plenty of inputs and outputs to cover any need you might have.

If you ever need to expand, there’s SPDIF and ADAT (I connect my Eleven Rack via SPDIF). But the cherry-on-top is the dual Thunderbolt inputs. This makes it super easy to daisy-chain devices. In my case, I get to use my external monitor through my Quantum.

+++ If you can’t tell, I love this thing! Using Presonus’ Quantum is effortless. I don’t expect to be looking at interfaces anytime soon.

The audio and internal effects are top notch but there are some drawbacks with this interface. 1) This device does not support Windows audio. For example, you cannot use this device to play YouTube videos.

It is designed to play back from a DAW app only. 2) Antelope Solo modelling mic plugin does not work with Cubase Pro 12. Cubase locks up trying to load the plugin. All other aspects of the Zen Q work great with Cubase Pro 12.

3) Launcher app is coded to a specific screen resolution and cannot be resized. On a 4K monitor, the Launcher window is too small to read. You have the lower the resolution of the display to 2K (or lower) to work with the app.

4) Applications use non-standard Windows controls. Meaning, to minimize and maximize the Control Panel is a bit challenging. 5) Power though Thunderbolt means that the interface unit is always on. I cannot disable power of my thunderbolt port on my laptop so I have to unplug the interface from my laptop each time I turn off my laptop.

Option: You can put the interface to sleep through the Control Panel app but may not get it to wake up again without unplugging the cable. Considering the money invested, I will stick with this unit; but if I had it to do again, I would probably go with the Focusrite Clarett+ 4Pre, and save myself $300.

I am a local producer. I have gone through many audio interfaces from the low end that Behringer produces to the lower end MOTU M4. In the midrange, I have used UAD and others. I wanted something with lower latency (I use a LOT of Vst’s) and great audio quality.

I tried the Apollo Symphony Desktop, but had a great deal of issues with it. The sound was great when it worked, but those times were few. I came across the Antelope Audio line. I initially purchased the Antelope Audio Zen Go and loved it.

I wanted more inputs and even lower latency so I purchased the Antelope Audio Zen Q, a Thunderbolt, bus powered unit. This was exactly what I was looking for. The sound was pristine, it has onboard effect and the latency was incredible.

As an added bonus, I have had to reach out to support a couple of times and they were fast and knowledgeable. One of my issues actually had nothing to do with the Zen Q itself, but a piece of software I was using that twas causing issues.

The technician got back to me with information on how to modify the software I was using. In the end, the Zen Q was working flawlessly and so was the software. This was terrific! The bundle I purchased came with a Solo modeling mic (which sounds great) and also the BitWig studio full version.

I am a Steinberg Cubase user, but there are some very nice features in the Bitwig that I use. All in all, I am very happy with my purchase and would both recommend the uint as well as purchase it again if needed.

Overall: I recently purchased the Antelope Audio Zen tour Synergy Pro from zZounds and am extremely pleased with the sonic quality after using it for 3 days so far. The included plugins in addition to the promotional bundle provide me with all the tools I need to track and mix with a signal quality on par with top studios.

Adding the Zen Pro Synergy Core has resolved my audio io (quality) issues for the majority of my setups in my home studio – used for songwriting, production, sound design and video/cinematic editorial.

I have only done mic (dynamic and condenser) and instrument tests with electric guitar so far but am inspired. I’ve been using NI, Arturia, Izotope plug ins for years and feel a difference already just using Antelope’s Darkface Amplifier, Green 2×12 Cab simulator with only the cali 121 mic and some rear mic, BAE1073MP mic pre, VEQ-4K Orange eq, – it really is the studio/console workflow and I tend to visualize it like being in the studio with the gear.

I don’t get that same mental image routing in my DAW. The difference I’m feeling is that I have much more processing headroom, I don’t have to back off when my computer processors cannot handle anymore computational load (The NI, Arturia, and Izotope plug ins are fantastic – I’ll just be using them in tandem after the antelope chain – and probably less of their eq, comps etc.

) But that also opens the computer up for the software synths etc. The Antelope signal chain adds up sonically like the real world hardware. So you do have to take care and use common sense managing the signal.

The sonic grit is tangible if you want it to be. You can feel the personality of each effect and for most of the eq’s, mic pres and compressors, understand their parameters – gamut/ranges quickly and intuitively.

I feel like I’m going to like working with this toolset and will also be able to experiment a lot. The Zen Tour Synergy Core is packed with 2 fpga and 4 dsp chips and they in turn generate much heat.

The unit is well designed mechanically and vents well but you’ll want to provide room for air to flow so give it space. It is a small box, but using 1/4 inch TRS, xlr and db25 connectors will require additional clear space in front and behind the unit as well.

So draw some maps before you determine where you’ll be placing it. Also, the unit does not ship with a Thunderbolt 3 cable – A usb 3 cable is provided. Be aware that thunderbolt 3 cable length has the potential to reduce the effective bandwidth of the thunderbolt connection, but the reduction is from TB 3 – (40 Gbps) to TB 2 – (20 Gbps).

i’m using a 1 meter cable and all is well. I haven’t found any Antelope documentation on this factor yet, so it would be a good thing to ask on the forums. The Zen Tour Synergy Core is a portable unit, but I’ll not be dropping it into my backpack without proper padding.

I’m considering a pelican case for it if it is to go on the road. It would be cool if there were a Porta Brace case for it. In short, I’m inspired. Inspired to track, which makes me inspired to write, which makes me inspired to mix, but not on the same day.

Sound: The Antelope sound is undeniable. Big, open. Having been digital since getting into audio 20 years ago, I’ve gone through several different interfaces. Antelopes has impressed me to look no further.

Detailed, dynamic, no harshness. Vocals come out true! I’ve also recorded some guitar. The vocalist and player’s all comment on the authenticity of the sound. Features: The conversion is the best I’ve experienced.

And I’m sure I’d have to shell out a lot more to probably hear only a marginal difference if any. The built in pres are more than adequate. And with the built-in FX, more than enough flavors. Ease of Use: The sound you put in is truly the sound you get out.

You have control of varying tones with the built-in FX. Quality: Everything seems well put together. I can see this as a mobile device. Well packaged for transport, should serve well on the go. Value: For the price I believe Antelope is giving an incredible product topping in its class.

Manufacturer Support: Support was awesome. Simeon stayed on the chat with me for almost 3 hours working through afx2daw and connectivity with my original ZenTour. Kudos on his knowledge and patience in getting to a solution.

The Wow Factor: The ability to do just about everything in this format, from start to finish, is the greatest appeal to me. Talent, and skills is all you have to bring;) Overall: Wanted to expand on my original ZenTour and get into the synergy core FX.

I have to say, I was again impressed with the Antelope sound. After hearing the Discrete pre amps I must admit I kind of like what they reveal of the mics I use. Especially the Edge solo. There a little more forward then the ones in my original ZenTour.

Look forward to using AFX2Daw in mixing. Been a fan of the Antelope plugins since the beginning. HIGHLY RECOMMEND ANTELOPE.

Sound: The sound is best quantified as ‘transparent’ which is such an overused word. It’s just decent A/D, and D/A conversion with a bunch of inputs. It doesn’t have a sparkle or sheen that it adds on its own, it’s just reliable and honest about the sources you put into it.

Features: Most Useful – The number of inputs, the DSP utility is situational, but when you need compression, gating or HP filtering on a source, it’s invaluable. I prefer to EQ in the box so I don’t really use that part.

Thunderbolt latency is FANTASTIC. If you use virtual instruments, this interface is awesome. Least Useful – I can’t think of a least useful feature, for me it’s probably talkback mic, but I’m sure it’ useful to others.

Ease of Use: There is definitely a learning curve with the routing / mixing software. Once you get it down, it all makes sense. It is very powerful and you can create a lot of aux mixes and mix groups which makes it great for monitoring.

Honestly I rarely use those parts. It’s configured as part of my home studio with dedicated inputs for a lot of my gear. Quality: The product seems well made, the buttons all feel pretty good. The one part that I worry about are the LCD displays and how they will hold up over time.

My last interface (also a MOTU) lasted for fourteen years. and is still going strong. But frankly, I monitor via the web console anyways, so if I needed to check levels, I’d do so there. Value: I think it’s well worth the price.

It does everything I need in an interface and I expect to be using it for a very log time. Manufacturer Support: I have not dealt with MOTU directly about any issues, and I think that says a LOT. I have been using their interfaces for 14 years.

I have had a few issues here and there, but I’ve been able to keep my firmware and drivers up to date without incident and without asking them for support. The Wow Factor: Interfaces are becoming a commodity these days.

Lots of people have them and have them for far cheaper than the cost on this unit. What you are paying for here are. the quality of the converters and preamps, the quality of the software drivers overall (MOTU definitely does their own).

I can turn everything on and be up and productive in short order. There are more expensive interfaces out there with higher quality converters, but honestly at this point, the converters are fantastic at this price point.

I’d be more worried about the room treatment and monitors than getting a ‘better’ quality interface. The biggest thing is I haven’t had to fight the interface to be productive and make music. I use a ton of in the box virtual instruments, virtual amps and effects.

This interface and it’s latency have never felt like a bottleneck or ‘the problem’ at any time and that says a lot to me. Overall: I had a much older MOTU interface that I replaced this one with. The latency, especially over Thunderbolt is awesome.

The sound quality is amazing. I have a fair amount of outboard gear so having all the inputs was really very helpful. The onboard preamps are much improved over my old model. The web interface for using advanced features is a bit funky at first, but once you lean into it a bit and watch some Youtube tutorials, it begins to make sense.

It doesn’t have the onboard processing for effects the way that Universal Audio or Antelope does, but it does have some very usable utility DSP, namely High Pass Filter, Noise Gate, EQ and Compression built in.

All in all I find this to be a very usable mid level interface. I looked at the competition pretty hard, but I couldn’t find a better mix of functionality and quality in the price range for an interface with Thunderbolt support.

This interface was particularly useful to me as a singer songwriter because it gives me the inputs for my external synths, sound modules and preamps, gives me the opportunity to record a fair number of tracks at the same time without having to resort to submit / audio bouncing for each track, it integrates well with my Mac and Logic Pro X, and the sound quality is very good.

I didn’t need the 8pre because I don’t track live drums or a full band, but I did need the extra inputs to utilize my collection of synth dinosaurs without resorting to a mix down or track at a time bouncing to audio.

I do occasionally experience glitches with it, but not if I restart the machine and interface and go directly into Logic. Mainly, watching video on Youtube while Logic is open can cause unpredictable audio playback.

This is fixable by either reseting audio in Logic, or restarting the machine and interface. Of note – since the latest drivers update, I have yet to experience a glitch.

This unit can be set up not just as an audio interface but as a full featured mixer at the same time. I got this to replace an aging 828mk3 unit, which has been the center of my home studio for years.

This makes for a vastly superior replacement. It works well as a workhorse in a small studio or for mixing and recording on the road. Ordinarily I would give this thing 5 stars. However, I have received two of these units from B&H.

The first one had a piece rattling around inside so I didn’t dare switch it on and I returned it immediately. The second one, which B&H assured me came from the manufacturer as new stock, was in a resealed open box (no shrink wrap like the first one I got).

The inside of the box reeked of cigarette smoke. The power cable is an old one (the metal has a patina from years of use) and the 828es itself has scuffs on its top and bottom. I’ve been super happy with MOTU’s equipment in the past, but in this case I’m unimpressed that they would sell a clearly-quite-used unit as new without any form of reconditioning or refurbishing.

The second one works well enough, but I’ll probably return it and hope that I’m luckier on the third try.

This item is exceptional. Previously I had 2 x MOTU 24IO, but modern 64bit architecture made it obsolete (fair, as its 21 year old technology). The 828es is a breeze to set up. The routing is exceptional and is performed via a web browser – neat.

Having front panel choices such as mute, talkback, 2 x mic in, 2 x headphones, 2 x monitor switch and output control is extremely well thought out. If you are not aware, this item scores very highly on loopback test which examine information loss against a source file.

Its up there with devices that cost more than 3 times as much. Over thunderbolt 3 on iMac running Logic X I have an output latency of 1. 1ms (2. 2ms round trip). Interface is Thunderbolt 2 , so you will need an adapter if you’re running Thunderbolt 3 (buy a TB2 cable and interface with a TB 3 to TB 2 adapter).

It is my intention to purchase more of these items to eventually replace the 48IO I have with the two MOTU 24IO on my other system.

In regards to the interface, I admit I don’t know enough to be the expert voice here. What I know: Mine is functional. I’ve changed all my settings for optimal performance as they show. My computer is a newer and well loaded Alienware, which should be enough to keep up.

I am not running any other programs, not even the DAW, and no other peripherals are plugged in. It is connected with the appropriate and not so easy to find cable, which the don’t give you. It still makes popping sounds like a vinyl record.

Not much, but it’s good I’m not trying to record for any professional purpose. Again, keep in mind I am learning as I go, but for now the verdict is: meh. I felt the same way about guitar center before my most recent adventures with them, for which there actually has been personal resolution, but not in a way that didn’t make things feel even worse.

No I’m decidedly anti. I won’t buy another guitar pick from them. Not worth the trouble. I’ve shopped there an embarrassing amount. I know all too well. Have a better day, go somewhere else. Not too sure about the interface; probably not again.

Positive about Guitar Center; moving on.

I swapped out the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 in my home studio for this and the difference is unreal. It’s not on the level of the Antelope Orion 32 in my band’s studio but for the price I paid the upgrade is significant.

I think the biggest differences are in the Unison pre-amp, which is an unbelievable technology from UA, and their added dynamic range. The single SHARC processor in this bad boy runs the included UAD plug-ins, which are right up there with my Softubes stuff, in real-time during tracking.

Awesome. I maybe should have went with the duo version, which has two SHARCs in it and can run more plug-ins at a time, but so far I’ve managed. The controls are intuitive. I figured everything out without touching the manual.

It does make little clicking sounds at times which, after looking into it, are normal. It’s only USB 3. 0, with a maximum bitrate of 5Mb/s which is well under Thunderbolt, let alone TB3, but it’s not going to matter with audio tracking.

If you plan on mixing a lot of tracks at once consider a duo/quad and thunderbolt 3 (if you can. ).

Used for personal recording of guitar, bass, keys, vocals, and wind instruments as well as live zoom lessons. This product does exactly what it advertised; no gimmicks. As simple as plug n play after registering the product.

The plugins included are enough to get any serious musician started in their recording endeavors. The big deal for me was having an interface that could have effects real-time over zoom lessons without eating up precious computer RAM.

As with most plugins, setting up with Logic X Pro is very simple too. Universal Audio has the highest standards in the industry for their plugins, so make sure you budget for buying additional plugins.

In the proces of updating my studio Mac Pro to a last generation iMac I also had to update my ageing firewire audio interface to a thunderbolt one. I chose the Apollo X6. The sound quality is fantastic, with smooth trebles and really solid basses.

The Console software is great for quickly and efficiently preparing a cue mix for a singer or musician in the studio, without any noticeable latency. The included plugins are a good starting point to get to know the Universal Audio software emulations and are sounding warm and analog making me wanting more.

And the power to run more is certainly there, with the hexa core processing on board. So far I recorded cello, bass and vocals through my Summit Audio mic preamp/compressor, but I am looking forward to record directly through the Apollo Unison preamps with the U 610-B plugin and compare the results.

Most importantly, the interface is giving me consistent results without any glitch or problem. Great choice!.

I purchased an Apollo X6, along with a UAD accelerator and about $1000 worth of plugins. I was hoping it would be a great way to upgrade my recording setup and offload processing to the Apollo, freeing up the computer’s CPU- NOPE.

Since I purchased this and have been using the plugins in Luna and Pro Tools it’s been nothing but CONSTANT troubleshooting. I’ve been nearly in tears on several occasions because of the frustration after spending so much money and having a setup that simply doesn’t work.

I’ve expressed this to Brandon at customer service and have been met with indifferent technical responses asking for more system information, which I’d then provide, and would then be met with more technical questions.

I don’t feel heard as a customer or that they acknowledged how incredibly disheartening and frustrating this has been as someone new to their company. I got the feeling my responses were being glanced at, and was asked questions like “did you uninstall it?” and asked to repeat information I’d already provided.

Oh, and don’t expect to reach them on their phone support line and talk to a human – it’s closed. The lackluster, robotic customer service was disheartening and I didn’t get the impression they really cared.

After spending thousands of dollars on their ecosystem that really hurts. I would recommend this unit ONLY if you have a newer computer – my MacBook Pro (quad-core 2. 6ghz, 16gb ram) is older but exceeds the system requirements by a longshot.

I even installed a brand new system drive with a fresh install of OSX, UA and Luna and then encountered other issues, so I purchased a new computer just to be able to use the software and hardware I already purchased.

The whole point was to avoid having to purchase a new computer. This is a shame because UA products are high quality and plugins sound great, but if you’re looking to get a few more years out of your computer by having the Apollo do your plugin processing, don’t count on it.

I was previously using the Scarlett 2i4 for most of my recordings, and felt that it was finally time to upgrade my interface. I wanted to go all in, but was fighting between the apollo twin mkii and the apollo x6.

due to the price differential and the specs I would need for my recording workflow. The Apollo x6 did not let me down. Hexacore (6 DSP chips) processing, thunderbolt connectivity (which was a big upgrade for me, if you have a newer macbook, iMac or PC with thunderbolt 2-3 you can get even faster transfer speeds) 2 Hi-z inputs, 2 unison microphone preamps, and 6 line inputs.

The sound quality from the start was notably better, and the unison preamp technology was incredible. The way the UAD plugins emulate vintage preamps by mimicking the impedance of the original hardware and taking over the apollos physical preamp is pretty amazing.

The UAD monitor/controller digital console is very intuitive, and although I had some issues setting it up, once it connected I have had zero issues. Now for some cons. Well, there are not many cons besides some that are pretty obvious.

If you buy it brand new it is very expensive, but I would also say that the quality of sound provided from this interface is worth pretty dang close to every penny I spent. The thunderbolt connectivity was a bit annoying to set up, simply because you cannot plug it in right out of the box if you do not already have a thunderbolt 3 to 2 transfer cable, which is roughly $45, but that is a very small inconvenience.

If you have a newer model PC or Apple computer (mine is a late 2013 iMac) then the conversion cable should not be an issue anyway. The knobs on the interface are a bit cheap feeling, but the rest of the unit is built like a strong sturdy piece of gear.

All in all I am very pleased with my purchase and have zero regrets about buying this interface. The rest of the recording is up to you and your capabilities. If you put the money down for this gear you will not be disappointed.

As a 50yr old songwriter, I often think back to when I was a teenager, recording my 1st demo on a tascam portastudio. Any piece of gear back then was just sOoOo expensive. Fast forward. I am now using a UA Apollo Twin X Duo along with Apple’s Logic Pro and have music on Apple and Spotify that sound just as well recorded as the big named artists in million dollar studios.

It’s a GLORIOUS time to be alive and be a musician. Universal Audio has you covered from your 1st song to your biggest album. It’s literally plug in (pun intended) and play!.

I originally ordered the UA Apollo Twin X bundled with the AT headphones for my PC-based studio. After reading several postings about bad experiences with this particular model on a Windows-based PC, I cancelled the order.

ProAudioStar was very obliging about the cancellation and refunded my money immediately, but then they went one better and offered me the Apollo Twin USB model bundled with the same headphones at the same Black Friday price.

Regarding the product itself, I can only repeat what other have said before me. The UA products are a lot more expensive than many popular budget interfaces that basically do the same thing. There’s a reason.

Try one and you’ll figure it out.

I bought an Audient ID22 which packed up just outside the warranty. IT has amazing sound but dreadfully built with many issues that Audient wanted to have nothing to do with. I will never buy their products again.

Tim Way at Absolute Music advised me to look at the UA Twin X even though it was outside my budget. I bought it on his advice and I am blown away by this device. It surpasses every notion I had and has exceeded every expectation of mine! The audio, build quality, software is all sooooo good.

I recommend this device without reservation.

The Motu 828es is a must have interface. It considerably way cheaper than other brands and yet has the same quality and connections. It has every possible connection you would need from ADAT, 8 TRS inputs, 28-in/30-out, Wifi, Connect and control it with an iPhone, android, iPad, etc.

and has onboard DSP effects. The list goes on. It has all the technology youd pay thousands but dont have to with this interface. I highly recommend this interface and works flawless with a Mac or PC.

The sound quality of this unit is outstanding, but I must say that is the only thing I like about the unit. The UI is VERY unstable and confusing. Sometimes it works and channels drop out without warning.

The routing matrix is very flexible, but it is a major headache. I’m using this unit as the master along with my 16A and the AVB setup has been a nightmare. I’m selling these units and going back with UA Apollo.

Pros: – ADC, DAC, and headphone amp is clear and detailed with precise bass, stereo imaging, and instrument separation–no perceptible noise. The conversion does not add any harshness to the sound at all which is very impressive.

The DAC seems to add a slight analog character to the presentation, but overall neutral tonality without being sterile. I have not gotten any listening fatigue listening many hours through both monitors and headphones.

-Even rough mixes recorded with this box are translating well to other systems, very very good separation of instruments/effects/elements in the mix when played back on different systems, cheap headphones, and even on built-in iMAC internal DAC and speakers.

-I/O, lots of headroom, no audible noise, no ground hum, latency not an issue. -Stand-Alone recording–so handy -TotalMix is extremely practical, flexible, and scaleable up or down (down for me). Cons: -Not Plug in Play: There is a learning curve with this unit and Total Mix, but worth it.

-Heat Buildup: The unit can run very warm, in my case I had to mount it in the bottom of my rack with one empty rack space below and above (the manual does warn of this). I had some trouble for a while before I put extra space in my rack–the unit would just stop playing audio.

It wouldn’t shut off, pop, or make any noise–thankfully–but just stop feeding audio signals through it. Addressing the heat issue solved this, I tested it for 24 hours–no issues now. MIDI Ports: I can’t seem to get these to work properly with Logic X.

The MIDI and Audio keeps getting out of sync. I went through the recommended fixes/settings in Logic which helped, but still not 100 percent. So I plugged my magic mt4 USB MIDI box back in, re-installed latest firmware and drivers for UFX+, restarted all devices, and everything works now recording or playing back MIDI and Audio for hours on end.

I will just use the MIDI port for a future controller. Overall: Worth it.

RME isnt trying to flex on anyone, but this thing is a monster. Its kinda ugly, but gives you just what you need, nothing less. It gets hot too but Im not sure if that is a huge problem or just an observation and it seems universal to all UFX units.

Ive yet to experience any issues stemming from the temperature. I cant stress enough how freeing it is to be able to route anything anywhere. Lemme repeat, route ANYTHING, to ANYWHERE. Total Mix FX does take a bit of studying but whats a couple hours to be able to do whatever you want within any fathomable home studio.

you cannot go wrong with this. premium quality components, and no frills. There are no exagerrations of RMEs part when describing this unit, so you can take take that at face value. Get a UFX II or this UFX+.

if nothing else, its definitely enough for you, and is most likely overkill.

It’s well made and designed. I initially had trouble connecting to my USB 3 PCI e card. I was not able to see meters – this was the USB cards fault. The RME came with a USB cable but it is too short.

After buying a cable extension and a USBC adapter, the unit was working fine.

Just purchased the Motu 624 after scouring the internet for days looking for information on a Thunderbolt audio interface that would work with Windows 7. Information on this topic is very sparse since nearly all Thunderbolt interfaces are being used on Apple Macintosh PCs.

Motu lists Windows 10 as the minimum requirement for using this unit on a Windows PC equipped with Thunderbolt. I am using this interface on an HP Z-238 workstation running Windows 7 64 bit with the HP Thunderbolt 2 PCIe card installed (HP part #F3F43AT).

The interface is working just fine with no evident issues and very low latency. I am using the latest Motu Pro Audio installer package (v4. 0. 82000) and the drivers it installs work fine on Windows 7 64 bit, running Pro Tools 12 as my DAW and using Apple’s (MD861LL/A) Thunderbolt 2 cable.

After doing some initial latency tests using Oblique Audio’s RTL utility I can report that the Thunderbolt connection shaves about 1ms off the latency times versus using USB 3. Not a huge amount but significant if you are comparing 4ms vs 5ms (25% less).

For users of Windows 7 make sure that your PCs motherboard supports Thunderbolt and also be sure the PC manufacturer offers a Thunderbolt card for that system. Thunderbolt on Windows 7 and early versions of Windows 10 works in BIOS Assist mode as opposed to the newer Native mode.

This requires that your BIOS and motherboard chipset support Thunderbolt. Also, Thunderbolt PCIe cards, at least on my PC, require an addtional connection between the card and the motherboard via a jumper cable supplied with the card which plugs into a multi-pin header on the motherboard.

The printing next to the header on my motherboard specifically states Thunderbolt. As far as I can tell, the whole Thunderbolt situation on Windows PCs is a bit murky and not very well documented with little technical information available.

I hope this review helps those of you considering a Thunderbolt interface on a Windows 7 platform. As for my initial impressions on the 624 interface itself, I am impressed. The unit is very well constructed and has a myriad of routing options via its internal mixer.

My initial test recordings (Pro Tools 12) using a Rode NT1-1 are very clean so Motu appears to have done a great job on the pre-amps and converters. Their web browser based control software works wonderfully and their drivers appear to be solid and optimized.

All in all a great upgrade from my previous interfaces and well worth the investment.

Kudos to MOTU for the web interface. I was surprised at how well it works across multiple devices. Monitoring through the interface has no perceptible latency. The supplied mixer and effects are great.

Extremely sturdy build quality. Outstanding sound.

The MOTU 8A does all it advertises and then some. This is a great little (half rack) device that functions beautifully over MOTUs web interface. The ability to connect to this device and control it over a WIFI network is perfect for personal monitor mixing or checking a system on the move.

MOTUs included DAW Audio Desk functions well enough and has plenty of flexibility, if Audio Desk isn’t for you the 8A plays nicely with 3rd party DAWs as well. If you’re looking for a small form factor device with a lot of horse power the 8A fits the bill well.

I bought this unit after much consideration. Problem is. I bought it because of the capability of the speed and throughput of thunderbolt. Unfortunately, though it is stabile. Due to the buffering process motu uses, it limits the use of the full potential.

Anyone looking for thunderbolt interfaces are trying to lessen their latency. And unfortunately. after testing and testing. I called motu tech support. Only to be told that the performance of the thunderbolt connection was no different than the firewire connection of the previous series.

And that there would be almost no noticeable difference between usb and thunderbolt connections. They verified. 7-9 ms at best. that’s what I got. over and over. I never write reviews but you all need to know.

this is not true thunderbolt performance. Though stabile. reliable. great tech support and guaranteed to last and be supported forever”. motu is great for that. But those drivers. and whatever they are doing with the double buffer situation, it’s disappointing, when we all have studied the benefits of thunderbolt.

This thing has everything except the only reason to choose this model over the mark3, which is much cheaper. Very disappointing. Ok. beware if you think you’re gonna get that real time throughput with your power PC or Mac.

this thing is no faster than usb2 or firewire 400 More bandwidth. so definitely more tracks at the lowest latency. But the lowest just isn’t what it should be with thunderbolt cable sticking out. If this isn’t enough to convince you.

call motu customer service. They literally will give you the same numbers for latency throughput. You’ve been warned. Thank goodness for the great return policy here But please just avoid the whole thing if using vst fx in realtime is part of your goal.

I’m out.

If you’re a synth freak, and have been pining for a solution which would enable you to have a 1u rack mounted mixer and audio interface, one that is capable enough to operate coherently without the presence necessarily of a running host computer or DAW, this product may well blow your mind.

For the past five years, it’s been a never ending buying and trying and selling routine going through quite a few stand-alone solutions ala Mackie Onyx and Presonus StudioLive, hybridizing via a traditional and robust mixer Yamaha MGP16X paired up with any one of the many audio interfaces out there.

Chasing after a configuration that “works” has consumed countless hours and more than enough $$. For geeks like us, MOTU “gets it”. Their products deliver. Far better than any solution I’ve ever attempted.

A very flexible connection set was the deciding factor for purchasing the 828X. Nothing to complain about there. Input/Outputs all solid. SPDIF synced to word clock ties in my legacy Yamaha AW4416 nicely.

TOSLink for DAT at the same time is great. MIDI for the Old School stuff. The preamps aren’t bad. CueMix could be more straightforward, but OK once you get the hang of it. The LCD is my only real beef.

The implementation is fine, but the display itself seems to get somewhat flaky after the unit has been on for awhile. Some of the back lighting fades in and out. Doesn’t effect the functionality, but raises the question of future problems there.

A better LCD would make this a 5 star review.

The concept of making the Element super bare bones on the physical side of things may seem like it would be limiting, but as others have mentioned, the integration with Logic Pro is so amazing that I never even need to touch the Apogee Control panel, I simply do everything in Logic.

The converters are excellent but the built-in mic pres on this are a secret weapon, big and musical sounding with 75dB of gain, no problem driving that SM7! I do recommend getting the Apogee Control hardware remote to control your monitors and headphones and give yourself some added functionality.

Great interface, especially if you’re using Logic.

I owned a FireWire Apogee Duet before I upgraded to the Element 88. Great sounding, easy to operate with the hardware remote, and set up was quick and easy. iIt just works. It’s made specifically for Apple computers and integrates into Logic better than any other audio interface.

If you use Logic Pro or GarageBand and need an audio interface that will set and work flawlessly then the Element series of interfaces are your best bet. P. S. it will integrate with the Apogee Ensemble thereby expanding you analog mic inputs to 16!!!!!!!!.

The Apogee Element 46 is the best audio interface when using Logic Pro X, it seamlessly integrates with the software. I love the iOS app that enables you to control the input levels, output volumes from your phone which is so handy.

The Element is very well designed with only the essential input and output ports, no volume or level knobs, no buttons no clutter! Well done Apogee on a very well thought out product that delivers professional quality audio that will assist in the creation of many music projects! Thank you Apogee.

I use this Thunderbolt interface for live recordings at live Jazz houses and small to medium size concert halls for classical music. I used to use Apollo 16 for this purpose, but it needs expensive MADI preamps to have channels more than 16.

Motu 16A has two ADAT connections, which take 8 channel SMAX. I then have 24 channels at double sampling rates. I can also have 32 channels at 48 or 44. 1 kHz. My 6 units case has Motu 16A + two 8CH analog preamps + two 8CH ADAT preamps having SMAX connections + power conditioner.

By using 16A with Protools loaded MacBook Pro through Thunderbolt connection, I made many recordings for about a year now. I have experienced no trouble with Protools. This is very satisfying, because reliability is the most important factor for live recording uses.

Dynamic range is large enough for my purpose and I do not find any noticeable distortions. Since I currently have only one 16A, I have not utilized AVB capability. I am thinking to purchase another 16A for my recording studio uses to replace Digidesign 192 HD.

For half the price of Apollo 16, I do not see much negatives.

This interface has exceeded my expectations. I own an Apollo Twin Duo and an Apogee Quartet and the audio quality of the Motu 16A exceeds the former (although the devices share a common chip). Installation was a breeze and the mixer is much easier to use than with the Apollo Twin Duo.

The interface is easily controlled with my iPad and the DSP effects are superb. I am using this interface for a 16 channel audio setup with Hauptwerk, a virtual pipe organ program. I must say that this interface is superb at any price and will give more expensive (and less well equipped) interfaces a real run for their money.

I can add an additional 16A for 16 more analog outputs or add another Motu companion device to add mic preamps. Buy with confidence. In fact, buy one now.

This unit does a lot with its 16 ch I/O but the biggest plus is that it works with all of Motus other products over AVB Ethernet audio. Easily connect multiple rooms or stations for full audio control whether its recording, performing or sound design.

Bought the 828x to act as an audio interface in a speech processing setup, with real-time signal processing, pitch shifting, etc. Physically nice to look at and fairly easy to navigate. Works like a charm on the Mac (Yosemite), except for as yet unresolved authorization issues for installing Autodesk.

Consistent problems on Windows 8. 1 however. Initially incapable of sending or receiving audio via the USB, communicating with Cuemix FX. Somehow, after moving the device to the Mac, getting everything running, then hooking it back up to the PC, everything started working! Then the audio console GUI stopped appearing.

A driver reinstall has worked, but after a few uses, it disappears again. Any further testing of the MOTU is going to have to be with Mac, which is a pain given I have platform dependent software.

Lots of various ins and outs, good converters, better value than the competition, very reliable. For many years I’ve also used (and still do) a MOTU 828 MkII and a MOTU Traveler in my studio and portable rig without any problems at all.

Despite a few comments from others that say the converters on units costing 2 – 3 times as much are better, take no notice, these are just fine. I have completed many commercial releases without complaints.

Highly recommended.