Audient Announces Two New Products At MusikMesse
Frankfurt, Germany - This year’s MusikMesse sees renowned British console manufacturer, Audient release two breakthrough new products: iD14 which redefines high performance audio interfaces, and ASP800 an eight-channel mic pre & ADC with revolutionary tone controls. Both are available at incredible prices, and further build on Audient’s successful entry into the home recording market.
The bus-powered interface iD14 offers two channels of Audient’s classic console mic pres delivering 10 in/4 out with Burr-Brown AD converters, all in a compact, stylish desktop package. Key features also include a discrete JFET D.I input, ADAT expandability, console-style monitor control, intuitive software and the revolutionary ScrollControl mode.
“The Class A mic pres used are exactly what you’ll find in our stand-alone units and consoles, and the best you’ll find in any interface,” says Audient’s technical director, Tom Waterman. “These, alongside the class-leading converters make iD14 an absolute audio powerhouse. You won’t find the audio performance of iD14 on any other audio interface in its price range.”
ScrollControl turns iD14’s volume encoder into a virtual scroll wheel, giving complete hands-on control. Waterman explains, “With the touch of a button, you can adjust compatible DAW hosts, plug-in parameters, iD14’s mixer app and even scroll through your iTunes library and web browsers - just like you’re adjusting a piece of hardware.” When not using ScrollControl, the iD button can also be assigned to enable iD14’s console-style monitor control features, such as DIM, CUT, Polarity Reverse, Mono Sum, Talkback and Cue Mix monitoring - just like its critically acclaimed big brother, iD22.
“The audio performance of iD14 is the best of any bus powered interface in its class,” adds Waterman. “We spent a long time optimising the Burr-Brown converter layout, auditioned each building block during extended listening tests and paid very careful attention to the multi-stage regulated power supplies to match the sonics and performance of our acclaimed iD22 on bus power.
“iD14 is one of the few audio interfaces in its price range that offers ADAT expandability,” he continues. “So adding external mic pres, such as the ASP800 can give you up to 10 inputs - perfect if you need to record drums or if you simply need more channels.”
“This is a really exciting time for the project recording market. Delivering the signature ASP console sound, iD14 and ASP800 certainly redefine the ease of music capture, and make what people love about Audient much more accessible to a wider market,” Audient’s Simon Blackwood says.
Aside from the eight console mic pres and two discrete JFET instrument inputs, ASP800 also has two ‘Retro Channels’ featuring revolutionary tone controls HMX and IRON. “Audient tends to be known for our super clean mic pres, but that doesn’t mean we don’t understand the importance of adding colour,” continues Waterman. HMX is a custom harmonic distortion designed to emulate the sweet, thick tones often associated with 1960s tube designs, whilst Audient’s brand new British transformer saturator, IRON instantly adds sparkle, replicating the coveted transformer ‘zing’ of British audio in the 1970s - both giving new dimensions to a recording.
Key features also include pristine 118-dB Burr-Brown A-D converter, ADAT connectivity, a Word Clock input, a -15dB Pad per channel and balanced analogue line outputs - all packed into a convenient, 1RU rackmount.
iD14 will retail at $299 MAP, whilst ASP800 comes in at $799 MAP. Shipping details are to be confirmed.
About Audient:
At Audient, quality begins with our intelligent design, developing into solidly built products focused on sound quality and inspiring features. With a proud heritage of award winning audio excellence stretching back to 1997, Audient continues to develop exciting and innovative products for the audio recording market.
A philosophy of providing world class, affordable and accessible technology with the aim to capture and enhance creativity has seen Audient build a strong community of creative users in professional and home-studios worldwide. Impeccable performance and reliability can be seen throughout our versatile product range, from the flagship ASP8024 studio console through to 2014 TEC Award nominee 8-channel mic pre ASP880, the feature packed console grade USB audio interface iD22 and the compact analogue desk, ASP4816.
Audient operates from its headquarters in Hampshire, England.