EVO 16-24 in/24 out USB audio interface with Smartgain

Product Information

The Smart Gain button is handily noted in green, not that you’d miss it of course, and this is one of the most unique aspects of the Evo series and one that really sets it apart from other interfaces. As with the smaller EVO products, EVO 16 comes with the Smartgain feature, which automatically sets the gain with the touch of a button. “The added bonus with EVO 16, is that it can automatically set the gain for all 8 channels at once, ideal for drummers who have multiple mic inputs and synth players needing lots of line inputs,” explains Andy. “Smartgain has been designed to take the guesswork out of setting gain. Not only does it save time for the user, but it eliminates the hassle for those working on their own, which means users can spend less time figuring out the tech and more time recording.”

The compact and portable design make the EVO perfect for musicians on the move. Whether you’re recording vocals for your latest song or podcasting with friends on the go, the EVO is the perfect choice. The EVO interface comes complete with a professional software bundle including premium-grade plugins to get you started straight out of the box. It even features Cubase LE - a streamlined version of the award-winning digital audio workstation providing everything you need to make and record music. Features This is handy if you’re recording alone as it means you don’t have to play or sing, adjust your level, and repeat. Multichannel interfaces are not only a considerable investment, but they also involve connecting with a wide range of equipment. This makes it important to select something future-proof, no matter what end of the market you’re shopping in. I felt all four of these were neat little features that could easily be bypassed but could serve a valid purpose in a full recording studio or home studio setup. If I had to choose the ideal location for using the Evo 16, I felt it would be more suited to a full recording studio.In practice, you will usually either expressly agree in advance to our use of your personal information for marketing purposes, or we will provide you with an opportunity to opt out of the use of your personal information for marketing purposes. Well, on paper, it’s a USB 2 audio interface with a USB-C port, 8 analogue ins with 8 mic preamps, 8 analogue outs, 2 JFET instrument D.I.s, 2 optical inputs, and 2 optical outputs, a cool looking hi-res LCD screen, programmable functions and pristine sound quality.

The channel strips themselves function much in the same way as they would within your DAW meaning it really doesn’t take long to get used to the on-screen options. EVO 16’s audio performance is entirely respectable and will stand up to scrutiny in most situations. If you’re trying to record birdsong 10 metres away with an SM7B then you might be disappointed, but for everything else, EVO 16’s inputs are clean and detailed, and its headphone outputs are loud are clear with moderate loads. With 58dB of gain in hand, the inputs boast a noise figure of less than -127.5dBu (making the unit one of the quietest things in your input signal chain in most scenarios), and can tolerate a whopping +16dBu from line sources. Specs And Pricing The market for budget, entry‑level interfaces is mostly made up of newcomers to recording. These customers, on the one hand, benefit from designs that present the easiest possible learning curve; but on the other, they’re also unburdened by preconceptions as to how an audio interface should work. Consequently, Audient have put a lot of work into the usability and ergonomics of the EVO series, and they’ve not been afraid to depart from established convention. The EVO 4 and EVO 8 look nothing like any other audio interface I’ve ever seen, and present a refreshingly minimal and friendly user interface. Whether you’re working with a mixing desk, a patch bay, or simply running multiple mics and instruments directly into the interface, having multiple channels gives you plenty of creative flexibility for different workflows and configurations. Choosing the best multichannel audio interfacesWe may disclose your personal information to any member of our group of companies (this means our subsidiaries, our ultimate holding company and all its subsidiaries) as reasonably necessary for the purposes set out in this policy.

The Studio 1824c interface from PreSonus offers a huge amount of connectivity and up to 24-bit 192 kHz recording at a reasonable price. It offers eight preamps and ten DC-coupled line outputs that allow you to send CV/Gate signals from your DAW. Let’s take a look at the Smartgain feature. After pressing the green button on the interface, you can select the desired channels using the input buttons. Press the green button one more time, and the interface proceeds to adjust the preamp gain for these channels automatically by “listening” to the signals at the selected inputs. The whole process takes about 20 seconds. One of the things that differentiates the EVO range from Audient’s more costly ID and ASP products is the use of generic audio circuitry rather than bespoke designs. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can expect inferior performance, and the audio specifications for the EVO 16 are actually rather good. (They’re also commendably clear and comprehensive, especially in regard to things like headphone output level, which is often overlooked.) If you’re thinking of interfacing the EVO 16 with other studio gear, though, be aware that like many other affordable interfaces, it doesn’t quite operate at ‘professional’ levels. The outputs generate a maximum level of +12dBu, while the hottest that can be accommodated at the inputs is +16dBu. Whilst Audient have carried over features such as Smart Gain, they’ve evidently tried to create something unique but user-friendly. Audient EVO 16: The Review

The LED screen is small but more than adequate to serve its purpose and a nice addition that could easily have been overlooked. The software that accompanies the Evo is designed to bring an extra level of customization to your workflow using the unit.