Gear Hunter

Apogee Duet for iPad and Mac

Description

Apogee Duet sets the industry standard for portable professional audio recording. Made for the musician, producer and engineer that wants the ultimate sound quality and elegant simplicity, Duet features legendary Apogee AD/DA conversion, 2 world-class microphone preamps, USB MIDI I/O and ESS Sabre32 DAC technology.

With Duet's 2 Combo inputs you can connect microphones, guitars, keyboards or line level devices such as external mic preamps or a mixing board. Duet also includes 4 analog outputs - 2 1/4" balanced outputs for connection to speakers or outboard equipment and a separate, independently controlled 1/4" stereo headphone output.

Highlights:

• AD/DA conversion for recording up to 192kHz / 24-bit.


• 2 analog inputs with world-class mic preamps and selectable 48v phantom power for connecting microphones, instruments or line-level devices.


• 4 analog outputs - 2 balanced 1/4" outs for speakers or outboard gear, 1/4" stereo headphone output.


• USB 2.0 High Speed connection to Mac or Windows PC.


• Direct digital connection to iPad and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Lightning and 30-pin cable sold separately).


• Software control of hardware parameters including input selection and low latency monitoring.

Legendary Sound Quality - The Apogee Advantage.
Why Apogee Duet is the best choice for your studio.
Apogee is an award-winning industry leader in digital recording technology with over 25 years of experience. Preferred by recording pros around the world, Apogee products like Duet, Ensemble and Symphony I/O have been instrumental in creating countless GRAMMY and OSCAR winning recordings and have set the industry standard in professional recording for over two decades. Duet is built solidly on this reputation.

A difference you will hear.
From the mic preamps to the AD/DA converters and the clocking, Duet is best-in-class and cutting-edge Apogee technology. With components carefully selected in critical listening tests and a highly efficient circuit design, Duet was built by Apogee engineers to make a difference you can hear.

Pristine, next generation AD/DA converters.
Duet's AD/DA converters are designed to deliver the purest recordings and best listening experience possible. Duet's efficient circuitry and state-of-the-art components provide a simplified signal path resulting in incredibly transparent recordings.

Smooth, detailed world-class mic preamps.
Much like the AD/DA converters, Duet's mic preamps feature the latest components and offer seamless click-free transitions as the gain increases and decreases throughout the incredible range of 0-75dB. This unprecedented feature allows you to dial in the perfect level, either with the controller knob or from within software, while delivering ultra-low noise and smooth, crisp detail. Duet's mic pres are suitable for all dynamic, condenser or ribbon microphones, allowing you to capture any sound without compromise.

Soft Limit - Protection from digital overs
An Apogee technology first introduced in 1992 on Apogee's AD-500 converter, Soft Limit can be heard on countless platinum selling records around the world. Once a technology exclusively reserved for Apogee's most advanced audio converters, Soft Limit is included in Duet and can be enabled in Apogee Maestro software. This superior analog design prevents the digital clipping that causes distortion by instantaneously rounding off transient peaks before they hit the analog-to-digital converter. Soft Limit allows several more decibels of apparent level to be recorded while subtly providing an analog-like warmth to the sound.

ESS Sabre32 DAC Technology.
While ESS Sabre32 DAC has been widely recognized and employed in the audiophile community as the next step in converter technology, Apogee is one of the first pro audio manufacturers to employ this DAC in an interface designed for audio and video professionals. ESS Sabre32 DAC technology, as employed in Duet 2, Duet for iPad & Mac, Quartet and Symphony I/O, is one ingredient in the Apogee Engineering Difference. The benefits of the ESS Sabre32 DAC include:
* 32-bit DAC Architecture Compared to older 24-bit technology, the Sabre32 DAC's 32-bit filter processing results in significantly lower noise and distortion, for a pure listening experience free from artifacts. 32-bit digital attenuation ensures that sonic purity is maintained at any listening level.
* Time Domain Jitter Elimination removes clock inconsistencies from the incoming digital data, so the converted analog output preserves the clarity and soundstage detail of the original recording.


Inputs & Outputs

Breakout Cable.
Duet's breakout cable includes 2 combination mic/instrument connectors (XLR and 1/4" built into a single connector) and 2 balanced 1/4" connectors for speakers. The elegant single cable-to-junction design allows for easy cable management and the locking connection to Duet is robust and stylish.

2 Analog Inputs.
Duet's 2 combination input connectors (XLR and 1/4") allow you to connect microphones, guitars and keyboards or your favorite external mic preamps, compressors and EQs.

4 Analog Outputs.
Duet includes 4 analog outputs. 2 1/4" balanced outputs for connection to speakers or outboard equipment and a separate, independently controlled 1/4" stereo headphone output. With these 4 outputs it's possible for a DJ to monitor a separate mix in headphones while sending a house mix to the club, a live performer to send a click track to in-ear monitors while sending a backing track to front-of-house, and a recording engineer to send a headphone mix to the performer while dedicating the main outputs to studio monitors.

MIDI.
Duet provides a single USB MIDI connection for your CoreMIDI compatible keyboard, synth, or DJ controller. This eliminates the need for an external MIDI interface and promotes an all-in-one music creation solution where Duet and Maestro manage all audio and MIDI. On iPad, Duet's MIDI connection allows both Duet and a keyboard or DJ controller to be connected at the same time to the iPad's single connector (Lightning or 30-pin).

Control

Full Colour OLED Display.
The high resolution OLED screen built into Duet's top is the main control center for Duet, delivering visual feedback for multiple functions including metering, numeric value for input and output levels, input grouping, and phase, muting, phantom power and Soft Limit indication. With this display you know the status of any input and output at any given moment without having to refer to Maestro or your recording software.

Configurable Touchpads.
Duet also introduces configurable touchpads. The 2 touchpads, located on either side of the encoder knob, allow you to quickly access output functions such as "Mute Outputs", "Dim Outputs", "Sum to Mono" or "Toggle Headphone Source". Each are assignable using a drop-down menu within Apogee's new Maestro 2. This unique feature allows you to select the function you want and access it directly from Duet without having to look at software.

Multi-function Controller Knob.
Along with its sleek aluminum chassis, the multi-function controller knob is one of the most recognizable features of Duet's design. This central control feature allows you to quickly and easily toggle through Duet's inputs and outputs and set levels while looking at Duet's dynamic OLED display.

USB 2.0 - High Speed, High Performance
Faster than FireWire.
Duet features USB 2.0 High-speed connectivity to Mac. Advances in the Mac's Core Audio driver have made USB faster than FireWire 400 with incredible latency performance. And there's a USB port on every Mac.

and as fast as USB 3.0.
While USB 3.0 offers approximately 10x the bandwidth of USB 2.0, USB 2.0 far exceeds the bandwidth Duet requires for its 2 inputs and 4 outputs, delivering exceptional audio performance without compromise.

Features:

* USB 2.0 audio interface for Mac, PC or iOS
* 2 analog inputs:
- Combination Line (balanced +20dBu max)
- Mic/Instrument (+20dBu/+14dBu max)
- 2 Microphone preamps with up to 75dB of gain
- Selectable 48v phantom power, Soft Limit and phase invert
* 4 analog outputs:
- 2 Balanced line outputs, +20 dBu maximum output level
- 1 Independent 1/4 stereo headphone output
* MIDI connection (Core MIDI compatible; USB-A type connector)
* A/D and D/A conversion at 24-bit/192kHz
* Controller knob selects function, sets input and output level
* Top panel high resolution OLED display
* Two assignable top panel touch pads to control:
- Mute speakers, headphones or all outputs
- Dim speakers, headphones or all outputs
- Sum to mono speakers, headphones or all outputs
- Assign headphones to outputs 1-2, 3-4 or low latency mixer
- Clear Meters
* Apogee's Maestro app (included in Mac and PC installer) for advanced control
- Available for free from the App store, if connecting to iOS (cable sold separately)
* Legendary Apogee sound quality
* Designed in California Made in the U.S.A.

Specifications:

Mic Pre:
* EIN: 128dB (un-weighted) @ 60dB, 150Ohm input
* Max input level: +20dBu
* Input impedance: 3KOhm
Hi-Z:
* Max input level 14 dBu
* Input impedance: >2MOhm
A/D conversion:
* Max input level (+4dBu ref): +20dBu
* Max input level (-10dBV ref): +6dBV
* Input impedance: 5KOhm
* Freq resp 20 Hz -20Khz: > +/-0.2dB (@44.1Khz)
* Rel. THD + N: -106dB (@ 96Khz)
* Dyn. Range: 114dB (A-weighted)
D/A conversion:
* Max output level (+4dBu ref): +20dBu
* Max output level (-10dBV ref): +6dBV
* Line output impedance: 90 Ohm
* Max output level headphones: 19dBu
* HPH output impedance 30 Ohm.
* Freq resp 20Hz -20 Khz: > +/- 0.05dB (@44.1Khz)
* Rel. THD+N : -113dB (@96Khz)
* Dyn Range: 123dB (A-weighted)

System Requirements:

*In 2017 Apogee announced Windows 10 Compatibility for ONE, Duet and Quartet Audio Interfaces. The new Windows software installers include a firmware update for the hardware, custom Apogee ASIO audio driver and PC compatible version of Apogee's Maestro application for controlling audio interface settings and low latency monitoring. All the same functionality available to Mac and iOS users is now available to Windows 10 users and the same interface can be used on either Mac, PC or iOS.

Mac OS:
* Computer: Intel Mac 1.5GHz or faster
* Memory: 2 GB RAM minimum, 4 GB recommended
* OS: 10.6.8, 10.7.5 or greater
* Connection and power: Any available USB port on a Mac (USB bus powered; DC power optional)

Windows:
OS: Windows 10 Enterprise, Pro or Home Editions (64-bit) Anniversary Update or greater
Driver: Apogee Maestro & Apogee USB ASIO driver
Computer: Windows PC with Intel Core i3 processor or greater
Memory: 4 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB Recommended
Connection: USB port on computer
Power: External power supply (included)

iOS:
* iOS version: 6 or greater
* Connection: 30-pin or Lightning connector (sold separately)
* DC power required (DC power supply included)
iOS device compatibility:
* iPod touch (5th generation), iPod touch (4th generation)
* iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5
* iPhone 4s, iPhone 4
* iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad (4th generation), iPad (3rd generation), iPad 2
* iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2, iPad mini

In the box:
* Duet
* Breakout Cable with:
* 2 Combination Line/Mic/Instrument Inputs
* 2 Balanced Line Outputs
* USB Cable (Lightning and 30-pin cables sold separately)
* Universal Power Adapter for US, UK and EU
* Quick Start Guide