Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moulin
➡️
Hello. I am about to buy a new interface and be investigating since months. Looking into something like the Audient iD44, in that prize range I can get a used 1. generation Apollo Twin Thunderbolt or a 2017 RME Babyface Pro. But how do those older high end interfaces actually compete with the newest budget technology regarding pre amps and converters? Would it still make more sense to buy an old high end device or are the new budget ones on the same level now?
I've been thinking about some of the usual cheapo but good suspects such as SSL2, iD14 or M4, but each one of those lacks something different significant, so I am looking into a higher prize range to have all my needs covered. But then again, while the Apollos have improved with Twin X as well, my question would be: are the old generation Apollos (I think they are from 2014) outdated compared to the new budget technology and would I be a fool to chose them over, say, an Audient iD14 MKII ?
Any help will be highly appreciated!
The first thing I'd point out is that most interfaces with built in preamps are perfectly adequate for clean recordings, but they aren't usually the desirable character preamps that people seek out, in say a Neve 1074 or API 412. The UAD unison preamp software can do a respectable job making up for that, but it's totally a personal preference if you like that.
You are really weighing out all the features of an interface, including channel count, converters, digital I/O options, etc.
Also, the preamps from today's Apollo are the same as on the original silver face Firewire units. They haven't felt a need to change the circuit in any significant way. And this is pretty much the story with other brands as well, from gen to gen.
I own two Apollo rack units and like using them. But if you are buying on the preamp sound alone, brands like Apogee, Lynx, Metric Halo, are nicer sounding IMO. Their whole package just costs much more. Audient uses the exact same preamp in every product from small two-channel devices to the consoles. They sound good and have a bit more personality.
The preamps in a brand like Focusrite are going to be different based on series. M4 will not have the same exact preamp as a Scarlett. That said, if all you need is a small interface to record a couple channels and mix, there's no reason not to consider the M4, which has excellent DA conversion. The M4 just lacks expandability options, which might be an issue as you grow what you want to do.
An Apollo Twin MKII won't really sound *that* much different from a Twin X, so if you want to try used, it's a good option.
The Babyface Pro will have most expandability options and will offer the lowest latency, especially if you are tracking a lot of software instruments. The latest Babyface Pro FS will have improved DA conversion and really might be worth going for.
I don't think there's much out there that is off the table once you are looking above the lowest level, high latency interfaces. You can search this forum for a thread that updates a list with those rankings.
UAD is big bang for the buck. Although it is expensive, you usually get more options. Just depends on if you really like those options.
