Apogee Duet 3 USB-C 2x4 Audio Interface with DSP

Product Information

This is a massive feat, as you can incorporate legendary sounds in your mix with authenticity. This allows you to work with tools that are not only iconic and very useful, but also quite expensive in their original hardware form factor. That’s where the similarities end, however. The Apogee Duet 3 is sleek and travel-ready (case included) thanks to its breakout cable and streamlined design. The UAD Apollo Twin offers expanded I/O at the expense of a larger footprint, and it also requires an external power supply. One gotcha is that the Duet 2's outputs thump when my Mac wakes or sleeps, scaring the beJesus out of me. I'm too lazy to turn off my monitors first, so I simply set my active crossover to mute instead first. Using the AC adapter won't stop the Duet 2 from sleeping with your Mac. I'm using the outputs as unbalanced; using balanced monitors instead may help. These, and all other control functions, are accessed via the Maestro 2 software. On the Input tab, you can select line-level (at +4 or -10dB), microphone or instrument inputs individually for each channel, the channel legends and input impedances changing to match your selection. This tab also gives you access to microphone gain, phantom power and phase, plus Soft Limit and the Group switching. Soft Limit is a proprietary process designed to transparently tame transients in the analogue domain, thereby enabling you to maximise level before A-D conversion for best audio performance. The Group function gangs the two mic gains together whilst maintaining any gain offset between them.

Duet provides a single USB MIDI connection for your CoreMIDI compatible keyboard, synth, or DJ controller. This eliminates the need for an external MIDI interface and promotes an all-in-one music creation solution where Duet and Maestro manage all audio and MIDI. On iPad, Duet’s MIDI connection allows both Duet and a keyboard or DJ controller to be connected at the same time to the iPad’s single connector (Lightning or 30-pin).This is an excellent THD measurement, made more extraordinary when you realize it's not measured at 7 Volts where most pro gear measures well, but at 7 millivolts into the mic preamp. These are superbly quiet and low-distortion mic preamps! Choosing your audio interface is critical, as this is the tool that will connect the instruments and voice with your software DAW. Includes a premium plug-in bundle with Scuffham S-Gear, Brainworx bx_opto, and Brainworx bx_masterdesk, plus trial versions of Modartt Pianoteq 6, GG Audio Blue 3 Organ, and Gig Performer As is common with many interfaces of this size, the Apogee Duet 3 features a breakout cable. However, the RME Babyface does not.

The Duet 3 is a 2-in/4-out bus-powered USB-C audio interface that is capable of recording at up to 24-bit/192kHz, and offers built-in compression EQ and saturation processors thanks to onboard DSP. There are two mic preamps offering up 65dB of gain, and the device will also happily accept line-level and instrument sources. A pair of line-level monitor outputs are provided, along with a stereo headphone output.From what I see, I wouldn't use the Soft Limiter for classical recording, but I haven't spent much time playing with it either. Input and output connections via breakout cable: 2x ¼” Instrument inputs, 2x Mic/line inputs, 2x ¼” Balanced outputs Further output options for the Babyface include a +19/+4dBu switch which reduces the interface’s output level, improving its signal-to-noise ratio for sensitive active monitors. This can help avoid overloads and distortion. Get the most out of your Duet 3 with the all-new Apogee Control 2 software. You’ll get total control of all Duet functions and features, including in the Symphony ECS channel strip running on the hardware DSP. Control 2 also ensures that Apogee support and engineering reacts to any future update of your MacOS and Windows system. BeautifulInsideandOut

So? You can't hear anything up there, and if you have full-scale inputs around 96 kHz, you have big problems, and your tweeters will long since have been fried so you won't hear anything else anyway. In this world of seemingly endless options, it is imperative to get an interface that fits your needs. The meters read the level of modulation of the digital signal, not the analog output level as set by the output level controls.

That said, the Duet has been one of the most popular and best interfaces for songwriters for years. This is partly because songwriters typically do not require more than a 2-in/4 out interface. As we mentioned above, it all depends on what your needs are. Sample Rate, Connectivity, and Sound In 2007, the original Apogee Duet shattered the expectations of what a home studio interface could be. Professional, personal and portable, Duet revolutionised independent recording and empowered musicians, producers and engineers with legendary Apogee sound quality, elegant design and effortless ease of use. Now, the all-new Duet 3 brings next-generation Apogee performance and features to a beautiful ultra-low profile scratch resistant glass and aluminium case. Duet’s AD/DA converters are designed to deliver the purest recordings and best listening experience possible. Duet’s efficient circuitry and state-of-the-art components provide a simplified signal path resulting in incredibly transparent recordings. Smooth, detailed world-class

These measurements were made plugging the Duet 2 into a six-year-old Belkin 7-way powered USB hub with a 10-year-old 6-foot USB cord. This hub is connected to my 2010 hexcore 3.33 GHz MacPro by its own cord, and that's how I tested it. I'm not going to waste my time trying to find fancy or short USB cables; this is whatever was at the top of my junk box, so it ought to show how well the Duet 2 works in the real world. Don’t let your performance be spoiled by latency. The onboard hardware DSP interacts with the Symphony ESC Channel Strip (sold separately) to process effects in real time and give an instant tone and shape to your sound, avoiding any unwanted delay. Apogee Control 2 software ensures your interface reacts efficiently to any future MacOS and Windows updateApogee Duet sets the industry standard for portable professional audio recording on Mac and iPad. Made for the musician, producer and engineer that wants the ultimate sound quality and elegant simplicity, Duet features legendary Apogee AD/DA conversion, 2 world-class microphone preamps, USB MIDI I/O and ESS Sabre32 DAC technology. Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. is a subsidiary of Meta Platforms, Inc. based in the USA. It cannot be ruled out that your data collected by Facebook will also be transmitted to the USA.