Recording Special

I'll say this about the fellows, but Hi Fi Guys are not that cheap. They'll buy things like the Lynx Hilo for their DA recording converter.

Then, take the Apogee Duet ($595.00 USD). Recording musician guys will get it for their desk to show they are not cheap to their fellows, and to make their recordings.


Guys, like us, would think of it to upgrade their damaged FiiO Olympus vi ($80.00 USD). Although it will not have that devices great features (and fantastic bass boost, in particular...), you can still use ProTools (and Waves...) plug-ins to get the same effect. Not only that, but you can use it to make recordings.

But at the end, what is it? Isn't it just a cheap box of consumer electronics?

Let's look at the specifications.

Of the AD, the THD of -106 dB isn't much, but it is better than 16-bit.

Of the DA, well -113 dB is ok. Ok.

123 dB (Dynamic Range) is at least something.

What impresses us is the EIN (or Equivalent Input Noise) of the Mic Pre: 128 dB (un-weighted).

That something for a mic-pre (more noisy), and better than a Mackie.

There's a recommendation from a Mackie user:

"WOW, just WOW"

“I had been using the Focusrite Saffire and was beginning to think my Mackie 824s were dying. Well, with the Apogee Duet they have resurrected. Clarity and deep base. The recording of my guitar sounded better than in the studio. Midi connected with ease. This product is very intuitive and makes sense. Nothing complicated, just pristine input and output.

I am very impressed in a good way with this product. Yes, expensive, but my oh my, very perceivable upgrade from the Saffire.” <From Guitar Center>

People who can not pay for recording hours will often be stuck with project studios running Protools  using racks of Apogee Products like Symphony I/O.

I thought all good studios used products like Merging Technologies Horus?

For most, Apogee Digital is top of the top.

Looking at the specifications, while Apogee boasts "Best AD/DA conversion of any Thunderbolt audio interface", a Dynamic Range (of the AD section) of 122 dB (with a weighting) is not Hegel (-140 dB) territory, nor is it 24-bit.

It is good quality enough for a FM radio broadcast section.

Or good enough recording quality for FM Radio broadcasting playback.

Let's "Go Pro".

JP 2017/01/28
www.hifiart.ca