[2022 Latest Edition] Overview of Some New Audio Interfaces!

New audio interfaces are being released one after another since the beginning of 2021! With a wide range of prices and styles, this time I'm going to introduce the lineup of new products and their features!

APOGEE / Duet 3

The Duet 3 is the latest model of the APOGEE Duet series, which is popular for its sophisticated and compact body and high-quality sound has finally been released！
terms of sound, the preamp with “Apogee quality” AD/DA converter and gain up to 65dB captures audio sources cleanly and accurately
The Duet 3 includes the newly added hardware DSP. You can use the Apogee Channel FX plugin without worrying about lagging! It also gives you a recording with the Symphony ECS Channel Strip tuned by legendary engineer Bob Clearmountain.
The Duet series was originally made for on-the-go music production and recording due to the included breakout cable, but with the Duet 3, you can use the separately-sold Duet Dock to create the best studio environment! The rear panel of the Duet Dock is arranged at an ideal angle to easily connect inputs and outputs.
It is also included with a nice travel case♪ The Duet 3 is so cool that you can’t help but brag about it!

RME / Fireface UCX II

The long-awaited successor to the RME Fireface UCX, the established high-quality audio interface the RME UCX II is now available!
The renewed UCX for the first time in nine years has been completed as the perfect item that is likely to become the standard for the new era of audio interfaces!
Both sound and function have been upgraded, and the DURec function that allows recording directly to USB memory devices has now been added. It is expected to be used in standalone field recording, live performances and rehearsals, as well as to back up the recording.
In addition, the SteadyClock FS circuit realizes a clear and deep sound image without deterioration of sound quality.
All features are controllable in standalone mode which gives them more flexibility in usability.
It also supports class compliant mode enabling pro-recording quality even with iPad or iPhone. The number of simultaneous input/output channels has increased to 20 channels, and AES/EBU has also been added to various digital inputs and outputs.
This year RME’s 25th anniversary and to celebrate they have released their passion project the Fireface UCX II!!

MOTU / UltraLite mk5

The latest version of the popular series by MOTU, the UltraLite mk5 Audio Interface is now available with a new design!
The ESS SABER DAC realizes a wide dynamic range of 125dB! The round-trip latency is ultra low at 2.4ms.
Like the previous UltraLite series, it is equipped with a full set of functions in a compact half-rack size.
Equipped with analog 8ch inputs/10ch outputs, it makes a total of 40ch inputs/outputs when combined with S/PDIF and ADAT digital inputs/outputs. It has a MIDI terminal, a standalone mode, loopback mode, and is USB audio class compliant, so it works on iPhone/iPad. The control software “Cue Mix 5” is available for iOS in addition to Windows and Mac, so you can flexibly control it with any device. The Ultralite also has a DSP mixer and effects, so you can even record with added sound effects!
Whether recording or live streaming, you can get a high quality audio environment just with the UltraLite mk5 Audio Interface.

ANTELOPE AUDIO / Zen Go Synergy Core

ANTELOPE AUDIO, a company that is known for manufacturing high-end products mainly for professionals, has released a portable USB bus-powered model!
Amazing high specs are packed into this compact housing. An AD/DA converter with a dynamic range of up to 127dB, console-grade discrete mic preamp, and a 64-bit AFC clock; it's amazing how USB bus power has made all of these functions possible!
Input/output are analog 2in/2out, SPDIF, and 2 headphone outputs.
Also, it comes with carefully selected analog modeling effects from the Synergy Core platform powered by both FPGA and DSP. A total of 37 effects are included: 2 preamps, 4 equalizers, 5 compressors and limiters, 22 guitar amps and cabs, reverb, expander, noise gate, and a tuner! *The AFX2DAW, a software that allows FPGA FX to be used via plug-in seamlessly, is not compatible with the Zen Go Synergy Core.
The settings can be saved for each recording scenario, and the loopback function that can also be used for streaming is pre-installed. The Synergy Core is one that can be packaged at a high level from the entrance to the exit of the sound!

TASCAM / US-HR Series

The popular TASCAM interface, the US series, has been redesigned!
192kHz support, and sound quality and driver stability have been improved. What's unique about this interface is that it officially supports OBS streaming software.
The TASCAM interface is also compatible with iOS devices, and is equipped with a mono/stereo switchable loopback function. You won't hesitate to enjoy high-quality sound with a good reputation from the previous US series for live streaming and podcasting!
In addition, the audio buffer size can be selected from 4 samples for the best performance according to the environment (Windows only). The wide lineup of the bundled software includes DAW software Steinberg Cubase LE and Cubasis LE 3, as well as IK Multimedia SampleTank 4 SE and Antares AUTO-TUNE UNLIMITED, which are free for 3 months. The US-HR series consists of 3 models, US-1x2HR/US-2x2HR/US-4x4HR, with different numbers of inputs/outputs.

US-1x2HR

US-2x2HR

US-4x4HR

AUDIENT / iD4mkII, iD14mkII

A new model for 2021 has been released by AUDIENT, which is highly reputed for its sound quality! It brings the same discrete Class A circuit as the classic studio console for professionals, the ASP8024 Heritage Edition, with further refined high sound quality of the mic preamp.
In addition to the mic preamp, the D.I input for guitars and other instruments is also equipped with a Class A / discrete design using JFETs, showing that it has been carefully crafted to handle any input source with high quality.
And the converter has dramatically improved to a dynamic range of the ADC 120dB and the DAC 125.5dB! This gives you more accurate mixing.
While having all these features, the iD14mkII has a loopback function, which enables flexible utilization! Another unusual feature is the talkback function, which allows you to assign the built-in microphone or USB microphone as a talkback microphone. so you don't have to sacrifice your valuable mic preamp for talkback! (Please note that loopback and talkback functions are not available on the iD4mkII)
The bundled software package called ARC CREATIVE HUB also has some attractive contents that are listed below.

Bundled Software

M-AUDIO / M-Track Solo, M-Track Duo

First, the most shocking part is the price!
In addition to its extremely portable housing, it's affordable yet is equipped with the essential basics required for computer music.
Equipped with USB bus power, direct monitoring, and phantom power, the inputs are available for microphone/Line/instrument! Microphone, guitar, synth, rhythm machine, mixer... it's ready for any input source.
The direct monitoring function of M-Track Duo can be switched between stereo and monaural, so it can be flexibly supported regardless of the source. When not using this function, you can still adjust to lower the latency with the dedicated software.
Also, it's compatible with iOS devices, so it can be used as an audio interface for streaming as well.
In addition, the bundled software is well-equipped as shown below, and you can start your work immediately!

Bundled Software

IK MULTIMEDIA / iRig Pre 2

A pocket-sized audio interface for mobile devices that supports the popular audio-based social media app, Clubhouse. It supports many apps such as the official iOS camera, Instagram Live, and LINE LIVE.
Connect to Android devices or DSLR cameras, as well as iOS devices where you can easily record and stream.
Since it is equipped with an XLR microphone input terminal that supports phantom power, it can also connect to a high-quality condenser microphone, making it easy to stream in full-scale quality in various situations. In addition, the iRig Pre 2 is now equipped with a new practical direct monitoring function that adapts to you!
It presents one complete form as an audio interface with a 4-pole TRRS cable.