Blackstar Amplification POLAR 2 USB Audio Interface for Guitarists

Introducing Blackstar's POLAR audio interface, designed specifically for anyone who records guitar. Blackstar's market research shows that most people who use an audio interface to record music at home record guitar. Blackstar conducted extensive Human Centred Design (HCD) which identified three main challenges people experience when recording guitar directly through an interface: poor feel / response, difficulty setting input levels without clipping and hard to use. These POLAR interfaces overcome all these challenges making them the ultimate solution for anyone who records guitar.

POLAR provides the ultimate solution for these customers.

Feel and response of a real guitar amp
The only audio interface in the market with a FET input stage and "Enhance" feature that mimics the behaviour, characteristics, and electronics normally found on the input stage of a valve guitar amplifier. Plugging a guitar directly into a normal audio interface produces an anaemic signal with peaky transients, which makes playing through amp plugins sound like...a plugin, not an amp. With the flick of a switch, POLAR's "Enhance" feature makes all software amp plugins sound better by restoring the touch, feel and response of real amps. Works perfectly with pedalboards, no need for D.I. boxes or extra hardware.

Setting levels made foolproof
Blackstar's innovative input stage will never digitally clip, allowing the user to drive the interface like an amp. The input stage has an impressive amount of headroom running on +/- 12V giving 24V headroom, an outstanding comparison to competitor units at 5V. Setting guitar input levels and improving your tone has never been easier. Blackstar put an equal amount of effort into designing the POLAR MIC preamps, which boast a response that matches one of the most famed preamps in studio history: the Neve 1081. In a blind A/B setup, the POLAR sounded identical to the vintage Neve. Additionally, the "Enhance" function on the MIC input acts as a gentle high-frequency lift that adds just the right amount of air and clarity to vocals.

Quick and simple to use
While "Enhance" improves feel, it was also engineered with an input stage that can never digitally clip for foolproof input level setting. Users can set levels quickly without worrying about clipping, allowing them to focus on the most important part: the music.

POLAR's innovative features, alongside an incredibly low noise floor (115db), 48V phantom power and headphone outputs that can drive both high and low impedance models, make POLAR the go-to audio interface for all musicians who record guitar and audio.

Features

• 2-channel versions
• FET high headroom +/-24V inputs, low noise -121dB
• INST "Enhance" switch reacts like the input stage of a valve amplifier
• INST "Enhance" input never clips, foolproof input level setting
• MIC "Enhance" adds air and clarity
• MIC preamp same response as Neve 1081
• Headphones Outputs
• Monitor Outputs
• 48V Phantom Power

Specifications

General
Number of Microphone Preamps: 2
Phantom Power: Yes, 48V
Instrument Inputs: 2
Line Inputs: 2
Line Outputs: 2
Headphone Outputs: 1
Loopback: Yes
Connectivity: USB Type-C
Protocol: USB 2.0
Form Factor: Desktop
Simultaneous I/O: 4 x 4 (including Loopback inputs)
A/D Resolution: 24-bit/192 kHz
Bus Powered: Yes (960mA)
Supported Sample Rates: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz

Microphone Inputs
Frequency Response: 20-20kHz +0.1dB
Dynamic Range: 109dB (A-Weighted)
THD+N: -101dB (-103dB A-Weighted); 0dB Gain, 950mVrms, 20Hz-24kHz BW
Noise EIN: -121dBu (A-Weighted)
Maximum Input Level: 2dBu
Gain Range: 53dB
Impedance: 3.3kΩ

Line Inputs
Frequency Response: 20-20kHz +0.2dB
Dynamic Range: 112dB (A-Weighted)
THD+N: -85dB (-85dB A-Weighted); 8dB Gain, 380mVrms, 20Hz-24kHz BW
Maximum Input Level: 10dBu
Gain Range: 55dB
Impedance: 500kΩ

Instrument Inputs
Frequency Response: 20-20kHz +0.2dB
Dynamic Range: 112dB (A-Weighted)
THD+N: -82dB (-81dB A-Weighted); 3dB Gain, 630mVrms, 20Hz-24kHz BW
Maximum Input Level: 10dBu
Gain Range: 46dB
Impedance: 500kΩ

Line Outputs (Balanced)
Frequency Response: 20-20kHz +0.15dB
Dynamic Range: 93dB
THD+N: -80dB
Maximum Output Level: 12.8dBu
Impedance: 1k

Headphone Outputs
Frequency Response: 20-20kHz +0.15dB @ 33Ω / 300Ω
Dynamic Range: 110dB @ 33Ω, 107dB @ 300Ω
THD+N: -83dB @ 33Ω, -85dB @ 300Ω
Maximum Output Level: 7dBu into 33Ω, 15.2dBu into 300Ω
Maximum Output Power: 85mW into 33Ω, 66mW into 300Ω
Impedance: 10Ω

Analogue to Digital Converter
THD+N: -100dB THD+N
Dynamic Range: 114dB

Digital to Analogue Converter
THD+N: -100dB THD+N
Dynamic Range: 114dB

Power
USB: 960mA
External (Optional): 4.8W
Accessory: USB A to DC cable, USB A to C cable
Bundled Software: TBC

Included Software

- St. James Guitar Software Suite
- Ableton Live Lite
- Relab lx489 Essentials
- Polar Control Software