➡SPECS & COMPARISON CHART: edthorne.com/exclusive-content ⬅ 💽 Get Your Tracks Mixed by ED: edthorne.com/mixing 🎬 Can A DI Box REALLY Make A Difference? ua-cam.com/video/HeE57eYXjF8/v-deo.html 🎬 NEVE 88M vs UAD APollo TWIN: ua-cam.com/video/U2PSmxWqJns/v-deo.html
That 100 roundtrip test is insane! It multiplies the subtle differences and shows what’s actually is going on. Hope to see more of those on your channel
I don't know about mic preamps, but I can confidently say that Audient id's instrument input is on par with some way more expensive audio interfaces. I've personally tested it against an 1500$ Apogee interface, and it's just as musical, and good sounding. It's crazy, but true.
Looking for an audio interface. The main task is to record an electric guitar. I'm looking at the id4 mk ii, but a friend recommends rme Baby Face pro. In your opinion, does it make sense to overpay for rme? will I hear the difference? Thank you
@@angrybalkon1471Hi! I’ve only had experience with older audient interfaces (mk1), but my conclusion was I didn’t care much for the ‘jfet ’ instrument input. It was warmer, but the accuracy with the Apollo and Babyface made it easier to track bass especially. The newer audients may have fixed this. To my ears the Apollo twin x and Babyface Pro fS were very close sonically. My preference was with accuracy of the latter two over the warmth of the audient. Is it worth the extra $600? Probably, most likely, not. All very close
Thorough, no-nonsense review. Only recently found this channel. Really liked the idea of putting the audio through 100x to highlight any converter degradation which wouldn't have been noticeable on one pass. You put a shed-load of work into this. 👍
@@ZanBailey94 To my ears clarity of Audient is a standout and stereo width is bigger. Apollo still great though. At the end of the day it's all about the music. : )
I'm currently in the market for a new interface, mainly for mixing clients' music, and the audio quality difference between the Apollo and Audient is almost imperceptible. I think I'll get the Audient and use the extra money to further improve the acoustic treatment in my room and tuning my monitoring system.
I owned a studio in 90's and would make a good profit take out enough to pay bills and put the rest back into studio to keep competitive. So when plugins came about I got off the hardware train as soon as possible. And you nailed it with the comment about how skill set matters more than anything. Just master what plugins you have. With the amount you save on buying 1 piece of hardware you can buy most all the best vst plugins you will ever need. ( if you buy them on sale)
@@EdThorneAfter a year of purchasing an apollo solo usb I can say that it's a great interface even if it doesn't have enough dsp on the console or in the mix, but since with native I can say that it's better. I am satisfied with both it and the plugins, but I wanted it to work on mac as well. In the future I have to get at least a quad satellite. I think that for more versatility and a workflow without limitations, I have to buy an id14 mkii...
What a review!! this is gold! Im going to get the ID14 mk2. Thanks for your perfect speak english, im a Latin american person and your pronunciation make it very easy.
¡Saludos cordiales! Disculpe la pregunta pero ¿de qué país es usted? Justo tengo una iD14 MKII a la venta y esta completamente nueva por si se encuentra interesado
When putting my latest studio together I could have afforded either of these. I chose Audient iD44. Similar sound quality, I was a bit shocked when I heard the dullness of both on the 100 times recording test, this should not put anyone off these devices. I actually preferred the sound of the Audient and it's a joy to use, doesn't try to lock me into a closed system plugin business model and is clearly head and shoulders above everything else in its price range and several hundred dollars more. The next step up from the Audient is not an Apollo or an RME, a step up from this interface is many thousands more, I believe the iD44 and the iD4 Mkii (which has very similar specs) are in the same bracket of quality of the Apollo and RME's but cost drastically less money. I paired mine with an ASP 800 and will eventually buy an ASP 880 to go with it. How good is this brand? I spend zero time worrying about upgrading my interfaces and won't unless I have several thousands (maybe tens of thousands) dollars spare. UAD seem to attract the same sort of fanboy loyalty that Apple computers do and I understand that, but the onboard DSP ain't a thing any more now the Mac M1 eats heavy plugins cross hundreds of tracks for breakfast. The Audients are not a step down in quality, check out Julian Kraus' bench testing. I can't wait for him to get the new UAD interfaces on his desk,I think we're in for a surprise, not in a good way. Pay close attention to the dynamic range in and out of the Volt. I love your work Ed and I hope you don't mind a fellow northerner putting his 2 penneth in.
Thanks, Trevor. Yeh the Audient stuff is great. I’m using two 880s for drum pres. the Apollo system isn’t necessarily a closed Universe but it is an expensive system I agree. Personally, I think it’s unrivalled in terms of functionality. Julian Krause’s review of the Volts will be interesting for sure. I believe I have a review unit arriving soon. PS, always good to hear from a fellow northerner. 🥳
I have an M1 Ultra, and when I use input monitoring in Logic, I experience significant delay, even without any effects. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, but onboard DSP still seems really good, even with M1 Macs.
@Mopsie You’re not meant to use input monitoring when using an Apollo. Monitor through the Console app and turn software/input monitoring OFF in Logic!!!!!
The preamp quality is almost the same on all audio interface currently. But the apollo is not only an audio interface it is mainly a power full DSP which handle in real time many power full plug ins. If you are not interest by UAD plugin for sure you better keep your money. But check the quality of the Bass amp or Guitar or reverb uad plug in, it can change your mind.
I don’t use plugins . I use external for everything . I just believe the real deal sounds better than plug ins for my opinion. So I rather go for the Audient
I could perceive the depth of the Apollo on the bass guitar test- more depth than the Audient, maybe not a deal breaker but if you listen close enough, you might hear- or rather, feel it.
Yeah, and the bus processed drums had much much clearer high end with the Apollo. You could really hear the hi hat come alive, as the audient sounded a bit more dead and sterile in the hi Department. Imo.
That’s David D’Andrade on guitar (check out his Insta). You can hear the full track here: open.spotify.com/album/3WZWJfHlOkTDy9faRObW8j?si=02FUnYzVR8atC0PBXpB6SQ&dl_branch=1
It takes a trained ear but, there's definitely more detail and clarity with the apollo. The ID14 seems to have a slightly washed out midrange compared to the Apollo which is even across the board.
I think that’s the point, Apollo Twin only cost more because of DSP and Functionalities + it’s an Apple device lol, so you know how that go but sound quality is about the same
Honestly the only way I could see myself going up from my Audient ID14MKII would be to go to an Appolo system - but that's not something I can justify until music is my day job and not my night job
Thank you! Amazing stuff. I had so much problems on the Apollo Twin X. I just returned it yesterday. It just was not good for my new Mac M1. Im going to get this one!
Ah, I’m sorry to hear that. It’s a convoluted install method on M1s. I had to do it twice it get it to work. The Audient is much easier to navigate and still great 🙂
Interresting how the apollo smoothes out the harsh signature of the music in the loopback test...the audient sounds very kitchen radio like, but the apollo adds a nice pillow effect. I actually prefer the apollo loopback to the mastered file, as it has way more soul and makes it sound much more interresting. Maybe 30-50 passes would make a good compromise of fidelity and vibe?
Had an apollo but purchased an id44 later. I prefer the warmness that the mic pres add. That is confirmed in the 100x loop test here which would never represent real world situations. As well, I wouldn't ever describe it as signal degradation as the Audient pres are well known to add warm color which is something some people look for on a recording. I found the uad sterile without adding a unison pre. Uad is a money sink when adding proprietary plugs so i jumped ship. All in all, they are both great though. The comparison here is a little misleading. You can't really compare pricing as outlined as you will be spending much more on the uad for plugins to fill out its capabilities. The audient is a basic soundcard without the added expense. Great video. I did bounce back and forth between 15:50 and 16:30 and there really isn't that much a difference in sound between the 100 pass tests. To me at least. The audient really is a lot of bang for the buck.
I would love to buy the Apollo X4. Unfortunately, I only have a blazing fast PC with Thunderbolt 4. Although UAD claims their products are PC compatible, they refuse to address the ASIO/WDM mess that renders their product totally unusable for PC owners. And, only Mac users get LUNA - and it's absolutely free for them. I understand Mac is where it's at for music creators, but they're throwing away more than half their potential business by not addressing the elephant in the room. It's been there for years. Every other audio interface company has solved the ASIO/WDM PC problem. Why can't UAD? Heck, they should just ask Apogee. That's who UAD is trying to be (if they're smart), and they figured it out some time ago. I really wanted the Apollo, but I now have to settle for the Symphony. Change my mind, UAD.
I personally use the Id44 and I love it!! The plug-ins that come with it are so clean. Personally my favorite part is the talk back. That alone has cut my session times by 25 or 30%. Sounds amazing but it was $700! But I got mine used and the only reason it was returned because it didn’t come with side mounts to put them on a rack! Audient is the way to go!
Apollo family is great, but very expensive way to go for somebody not making money from music. New computers like MacBook Pro Pro/Max will manage plug-in with ease and don't need external DSP anymore. It would be great if somebody would design a system where some of MBP Max 32 GPU cores could be assigned to process plug-ins. Don't know if it would be viable option to design.
The specs on the chart are wrong Mic input dyn range: - Apollo = 118 db - audient =113 db Mic input Noise - Apollo = - 127 db - audient = - 129 db With Apollo you basically pay the software and the DSP capabilities.. But there is not much difference in the Hardware compartment.. Thanks for the video, well done
I noticed the same thing. Something wrong about those specs. Audient ID14 MK2: Mic input dynamic range is 113,1 dBu (J. Krause...), no 101 dBu as Ed said. But otherwise good info.
Awesome review with great production values. The only thing missing is a test of the Apollo headphone output. Rumor has it that it’s too weak to drive 250 ohm headphones and above. I know the Audient can deliver in that department (both via USB3 or the old generation w/ external power supply), but the Apollo Solo/Twin headphone output seems almost like a taboo topic with very few online discussions and no real consensus. I’d hate unboxing a premium interface only to find it barely audible in my BD DT-880 250 ohms, especially knowing the Audient can handle it.
My comparison of the headphone outputs is at 8:26 in the video. There's very little difference and both can handle high impedance headphones well, although you will need most, if not all of the output. The Apollo headphone is not affected by thunderbolt power transfer because it is mains power supplied, so there's no need to do that test.
I’d say the Audient preamps produce more harmonics which can make it appear to sound fuller. For me the quality difference is highlighted in the drum recordings.
I just bought a used Solo from GC for $249 o compliment my Apollo Quad. What I like about Apollos is the Console app whereby I can control signal flow for my computer in addition to using my UAD plugins on another unit. For those whiners, UAD Apollos are great investments and those high plugin prices will continue to fall..
Thanks, I just bought the Audient iD14 for home use. I have 3 UAD's at work among them one Apollo X8p so I know what to expect from UAD. I am about to record an artist that hopefully will end up on the radio (as well as all the streaming platforms). I plan to record the vocals using the iD14 and a Shure SM58 (we usually go for UAD + Neumann). I will keep it simple and clean and see if the result will be sufficient or if we need to bring out the UAD and the Neumann. Thanks for a great comparison video!
Why did you decide to record with the iD14 and a Shure SM58 if you have the UAD and the Neumann at your disposable? And how is the recording process going?
@@undercovermc I ended up recording two songs with the iD14 and Neumann on that session. I have now recorded songs (we plan to do 12-15 in total) on UAD, iD14 and a Focusrite Scarlett. Some people might propably disagree, but I would say that the mic used is just as important as the audio interface. But what happens in post production is by far the most important thing. You can not tell the recordings apart in a blind test now. They are all good. One thing that I did not like about the iD14 is that I had a few clicks/pops on the recording that I did not have with the Scarlett and the UAD. So a major disapointment there. But two headphones out and all the other feats are very good on the iD14.
@@EirikHasselberg Thank you for this comment. Can you also tell what do you feel about their AD / DA converts, the output monitoring? What difference do they make.
Motu M2/M4? I had a M2, however I had to return it because the unit that was sent to me started to fail one month later, but since there was not on stock for a replacement I got my money back and I decided to invest a little more and get an iD14 MK2 and I am really happy, not regrets! In my opinion, Audient iD14 it's on a higher level compared to those Motu.
@@EdThorne Yeah, the Midi In/Out is a plus for the Motu and a nice monitoring levels screen (without scale though) but in my case I don't have MIDI devices and the capability of having more inputs in the future with ADAT is appreciated, but the deal breaker to me: Motu M2 can't feed by itself a Shure SM7B to proper recording levels (-18dBs), whereas iD14 can do it without issues and almost without noise at max gain. Also, in my opinion Audient provide better software (I really like the mixer panel) for these Mk2 generation.
The Audient is very simple to use, and the monitor routing is great. The Apollo is A LOT more complicated because it is so much more advanced, which puts a lot of people off. Both two of my favourite interfaces - hence the video :-)
@@EdThorne I got the Apollo Twin X and the Audient iD4 MKII. The iD4 MKII is heck cheaper, but somehow I lean towards it when playing back music? Could that because of the AKM chips? Or just some weird placebo? The Twin X has better specs on paper... On the flipside, the Twin X's input converters seem to smoke the ID4 MKII.
On the Twin X there is an option to bypass the pres in Console. On previous versions the best way to minimise preamp “influence’ is to go line-in at minimum gain, yes (10dB).
At least Sweetwater is giving a free thunderbolt 3 ($50) for now …. It’s unacceptable for the price of $1600 you. Won’t get a thunderbolt 3 … overall it’s a great interface … great video 👍
I had the USB (Windows) version of the Apollo Twin, which did not have any converter updates since its release (unlike the MAC version, with the Apollo Twin MKii), and I can tell you that my Audient ID22 sounds much much better than that PC version of the Apollo Twin. I never had the MKii Apollo, though, so I can not comment about how much better it is
Hi Juan, I did not know that about the window version, interesting if that’s true. Strange how they’d neglect it though compared to the parallel Mac line.
I've been trying to decide what interface I want and well, I just can't find any reason not to pull the trigger on the id14. It's perfect for what I need and the price is right. Maybe someday if I win the lottery or something I'll switch to a UA environment. Lol
Hi Kevin, the iD14 is my fave under $300 (alongside the Volt). The iD monitor app, assignable iD button, and ADAT expandability make it a highly functional interface!
Thank you very much for the video, I will buy the Audient iD14. I will only work with mixing and mastering and recording vocals and guitar. I'm starting now and I think it will suit me very well according to your video. I really liked your image quality, which camera are you using?
The point is to amplify the effects of the signal degradation caused by the components. It’s an non-real life test but highlights the subtle difference in conversion and preamp influence.
You cannot say interface too many times. Looking at the Audient iD14mkii product page in both THomman and Sweetwater there is no mention of an actual DSP inside the audio interface. This means that the Audient iD14mkii has a PFGA like most audio interfaces in that price range, meaning that it wont be as efficient in assisting the CPU when processing audio hence crackles and pops will occur sooner when compared with the Apollo if using high sample rates. Good thing new CPUs such as the M1/M2 and Adler and Raptor Lake from Intel (if running Windows 11) delegate background OS tasks to the E cores while leaving the P cores do the grunt of the processing. THE benchmark (at least in Ableton) to try this out is to have the demo song copy/pasted populating extra tracks and checking when the crackles and pops start to happen. On beefy server grade specs using Threadripper or Xeon along 64/128GB of ram you can have hundreds of tracks with no audio degradation but ofc, of lower specs then things change for the worse.
Great video, thanks! Can you please tell me how important it is to bypass the built-in preamplifiers? I'm going to buy some good expensive preamp, but my card has combined microphone and line inputs. As I understand from the reviews, there is no way to bypass the built-in ones. Should I buy a preamp or will the built-in one reduce the quality of the external one? I have an Audient ID14 MK2
I have both, and I can say for a certainty that Apollo Twin X is way better. Also, I used to have an Audient ID 44, but I was very disappointed with the mic gain. Seriously, it was ridiculously low even when cranked up. I ended up getting a refund as I was constantly getting audio dropouts. I’m satisfied with my Apollo Twin X. Really, the only other audio interface that’s on the same level as Apollo Twin X is the Babyface FS. That too is very expensive, but worth the money if you want something high-end. I used to have a Babyface FS, but that stopped working within like a couple of weeks, so I got another refund. Personally, I stopped using Luna and UA Connect as since I linked my UAD account to my iLok, they just stopped launching. Someone from UAD support suggested doing a clean install, but that’s too much of a hassle for me and unnecessary. I have everything that I need. Luna does have some cool console effects that you don’t get in Logic Pro such as Oxide and Neve Summing, albeit it’s very limited overall compared to Logic. Some people think it’s going to outshine Pro Tools in a few years, but I’m cynical about that personally. Anyway, even if you don’t have Pro Tools or much DSP power, you can still make professional sounding music as long as you know what you’re doing.
Audient is great but the problem with all of these non-UAD interfaces I’d they all have unusable latency (unless you have outboard preamps, compressors, amps, etc…
Or the built in direct monitoring. This works really well on the Audient. Great for vocals at least, but not if you want to run a guitar through amp sims though.
Amazing review Ed, thanks A LOT! Was just thinking of selling my apollo twin for an ID14... But after this I think I'll keep my apollo. Thanks for the guitar and bass recordings to compare !
I think the ZenGo is a fantastic interface, and serious competition for both of these devices. The preamps are probably cleaner, and the converters are very clean and detailed. You can use more plugins on each channel strip with the Antelope over the Apollo because their plugins are less DSP intensive when used as inserts. The Apollo has Unison technology which physically re-configures the impedance and gain staging of the preamps to replicate the analog hardware they're emulating - and it does this very well! The Apollo is still more advanced in terms of monitoring (although the Antelope is probably the second most advanced system I've seen), but the ZenGo allows you to record a wet and dry copy of each input channel which is awesome! I may do a full comparison video on all this.
Thanks for the great video. I interested about not id14 , id44 Audient and the original cables interfaces is 2.0 ...its better to buy other cable USB C-A 3.2 for a great quality ? Headphones Monitoring ? ( I used Beyeardynamic 700 pro X).. Its Amazing why originaly cable not a 3.2
Audient can overheat and break your gear. Had rhat happen to me recently the Audient overheat and de solder something inside my speakers blew. It was on for 4 days straight and I know that is a long time but I have had my apoolos on for weeks at a time and not even a hiccup
Hey great review. I have a doubt. You say to choose an interface with usb 3 to improve headphone monitoring. But the Audient one is only usb2.0. When you do the test you compare different cables, not protocols. So in conclusion, it's better to use the usb C cable instead of the usb A? Is that what makes the difference? Thanks!
@@EdThorne But a usb 3.1 cable into a USB 2.0 interface you mean? Is this cable included or you bought it separately? I assume they include two usb2.0 cables (one type A and one type C) thanks!
➡SPECS & COMPARISON CHART: edthorne.com/exclusive-content ⬅
💽 Get Your Tracks Mixed by ED: edthorne.com/mixing
🎬 Can A DI Box REALLY Make A Difference? ua-cam.com/video/HeE57eYXjF8/v-deo.html
🎬 NEVE 88M vs UAD APollo TWIN: ua-cam.com/video/U2PSmxWqJns/v-deo.html
That 100 roundtrip test is insane! It multiplies the subtle differences and shows what’s actually is going on. Hope to see more of those on your channel
I don't know about mic preamps, but I can confidently say that Audient id's instrument input is on par with some way more expensive audio interfaces. I've personally tested it against an 1500$ Apogee interface, and it's just as musical, and good sounding. It's crazy, but true.
Looking for an audio interface. The main task is to record an electric guitar. I'm looking at the id4 mk ii, but a friend recommends rme Baby Face pro. In your opinion, does it make sense to overpay for rme? will I hear the difference? Thank you
@@angrybalkon1471Hi! I’ve only had experience with older audient interfaces (mk1), but my conclusion was I didn’t care much for the ‘jfet ’ instrument input. It was warmer, but the accuracy with the Apollo and Babyface made it easier to track bass especially. The newer audients may have fixed this. To my ears the Apollo twin x and Babyface Pro fS were very close sonically. My preference was with accuracy of the latter two over the warmth of the audient. Is it worth the extra $600? Probably, most likely, not. All very close
Thorough, no-nonsense review. Only recently found this channel. Really liked the idea of putting the audio through 100x to highlight any converter degradation which wouldn't have been noticeable on one pass. You put a shed-load of work into this. 👍
Thanks, David. It was a lot of work but if people find it useful then it’s worthwhile 🙂
The question is in which situation would you record your audio this way?! 😂
@@jaovao That’s not the point og the test.
The recorded audio x100 test is a real testament to you effort as a reviewer. I absolutely subbed. Bravo sir. 👍🏻
Thanks, Michael 😊🙏
yeah what a real life scenario...
Very well done comparison. And thank you for taking all the time to do the 100 round-trip conversion/preamp test.
You’re very welcome. Thanks for watching 🙂
This dude on the UA-cam machine said I needed an Apollo to win a Grammy 🤣 so I'm gonna order the Audient.
Which dude told you that? 😉
I have also seen that video. 5 things you need for home studio to win a grammy.
😂😂😂
@@EdThorne ua-cam.com/video/10JpbHTWt8U/v-deo.html
@@EdThorne and response : ua-cam.com/video/aN1kfdik3cw/v-deo.html
I just upgraded to the id44 mkii from the orginal Apollo Twin. My god! the difference is massive! Great video! Thank You ! : )
im going do the same i have a question converter wise is it a big sound difference ?? between the to
@@ZanBailey94 To my ears clarity of Audient is a standout and stereo width is bigger. Apollo still great though. At the end of the day it's all about the music. : )
@@theguitarclubonline appreciate the reply bro
I'm currently in the market for a new interface, mainly for mixing clients' music, and the audio quality difference between the Apollo and Audient is almost imperceptible. I think I'll get the Audient and use the extra money to further improve the acoustic treatment in my room and tuning my monitoring system.
Smart move
That's wise.
The amount of work and editing you is huge. This is the video I was looking for. Thanks alot brother 😊.
Thanks for appreciating 😊🙏
I owned a studio in 90's and would make a good profit take out enough to pay bills and put the rest back into studio to keep competitive. So when plugins came about I got off the hardware train as soon as possible. And you nailed it with the comment about how skill set matters more than anything. Just master what plugins you have. With the amount you save on buying 1 piece of hardware you can buy most all the best vst plugins you will ever need. ( if you buy them on sale)
You and Julian do the best things,tricks and tips for the studio gears! Respect for both!
Thanks, Kenzor. 🙏
@@EdThorne This is the reality! You're very welcome like always! 🙏
@@EdThorneAfter a year of purchasing an apollo solo usb I can say that it's a great interface even if it doesn't have enough dsp on the console or in the mix, but since with native I can say that it's better. I am satisfied with both it and the plugins, but I wanted it to work on mac as well. In the future I have to get at least a quad satellite. I think that for more versatility and a workflow without limitations, I have to buy an id14 mkii...
What a review!! this is gold! Im going to get the ID14 mk2. Thanks for your perfect speak english, im a Latin american person and your pronunciation make it very easy.
¡Saludos cordiales!
Disculpe la pregunta pero ¿de qué país es usted?
Justo tengo una iD14 MKII a la venta y esta completamente nueva por si se encuentra interesado
Thank you, Isaac. I’m glad it’s helpful 🙂
@@jonathanlp64 Chile!
@@isaacpezo7206 Oh comprendo... Soy de Guatemala
True very clear and understandable English.
When putting my latest studio together I could have afforded either of these. I chose Audient iD44. Similar sound quality, I was a bit shocked when I heard the dullness of both on the 100 times recording test, this should not put anyone off these devices. I actually preferred the sound of the Audient and it's a joy to use, doesn't try to lock me into a closed system plugin business model and is clearly head and shoulders above everything else in its price range and several hundred dollars more. The next step up from the Audient is not an Apollo or an RME, a step up from this interface is many thousands more, I believe the iD44 and the iD4 Mkii (which has very similar specs) are in the same bracket of quality of the Apollo and RME's but cost drastically less money.
I paired mine with an ASP 800 and will eventually buy an ASP 880 to go with it. How good is this brand? I spend zero time worrying about upgrading my interfaces and won't unless I have several thousands (maybe tens of thousands) dollars spare.
UAD seem to attract the same sort of fanboy loyalty that Apple computers do and I understand that, but the onboard DSP ain't a thing any more now the Mac M1 eats heavy plugins cross hundreds of tracks for breakfast. The Audients are not a step down in quality, check out Julian Kraus' bench testing. I can't wait for him to get the new UAD interfaces on his desk,I think we're in for a surprise, not in a good way. Pay close attention to the dynamic range in and out of the Volt.
I love your work Ed and I hope you don't mind a fellow northerner putting his 2 penneth in.
Thanks, Trevor. Yeh the Audient stuff is great. I’m using two 880s for drum pres. the Apollo system isn’t necessarily a closed Universe but it is an expensive system I agree. Personally, I think it’s unrivalled in terms of functionality.
Julian Krause’s review of the Volts will be interesting for sure. I believe I have a review unit arriving soon.
PS, always good to hear from a fellow northerner. 🥳
Audient interfaces are Industry recommended interfaces. So what's more.
@@HarvinderSingh-yy8th Well so is the competition lol
I have an M1 Ultra, and when I use input monitoring in Logic, I experience significant delay, even without any effects. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, but onboard DSP still seems really good, even with M1 Macs.
@Mopsie You’re not meant to use input monitoring when using an Apollo. Monitor through the Console app and turn software/input monitoring OFF in Logic!!!!!
After one year used Audient iD14mkii. I am very satisfied with this product but I want to try Apollo Twin too!
Which is good now ?
Almost a $600 difference for a Similar sound ! I’ll go with the Audient !!!
The preamp quality is almost the same on all audio interface currently. But the apollo is not only an audio interface it is mainly a power full DSP which handle in real time many power full plug ins. If you are not interest by UAD plugin for sure you better keep your money. But check the quality of the Bass amp or Guitar or reverb uad plug in, it can change your mind.
I'd say save up $1000 more and go for the apollo. It's more of an eco system than just an audio interface.
ahh but if you're a vocalist you'd be missing out on the most amazing feedback of your life. real time autotuning and mixing is heavenly
The Apollo is much better. Don't be fooled
I don’t use plugins . I use external for everything . I just believe the real deal sounds better than plug ins for my opinion. So I rather go for the Audient
absolutely crazy review, so much work put in. now I wanna get both products 😝🥂
It was a LOT of work. But worth it for people I hope 🙂🤘
I could perceive the depth of the Apollo on the bass guitar test- more depth than the Audient, maybe not a deal breaker but if you listen close enough, you might hear- or rather, feel it.
Yeah, and the bus processed drums had much much clearer high end with the Apollo. You could really hear the hi hat come alive, as the audient sounded a bit more dead and sterile in the hi Department. Imo.
Test aside, the guitar on the converter comparison sounds amazing wow
That’s David D’Andrade on guitar (check out his Insta). You can hear the full track here: open.spotify.com/album/3WZWJfHlOkTDy9faRObW8j?si=02FUnYzVR8atC0PBXpB6SQ&dl_branch=1
Very thorough comparison! Thanks for a great video! I really appreciate how you went through every feature on both!
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching 🙂
Thanks for checking what I asked. Now, I can see it clearly, I should buy an apollo and an audient. Greetings!
Thanks for the good question. I hope I pronounced your name correctly, forgive me if I didn’t 🙂
@@EdThorne Perfect. Thank you!
Absolutely great review!
Thank you 🙂🙏
I'm glad you mentioned the phase shift on the x100 Audient. It made me wince.
It takes a trained ear but, there's definitely more detail and clarity with the apollo. The ID14 seems to have a slightly washed out midrange compared to the Apollo which is even across the board.
I didn't perceive a huge sound quality difference between these two contenders. Either one will do the job.
I think that’s the point, Apollo Twin only cost more because of DSP and Functionalities + it’s an Apple device lol, so you know how that go but sound quality is about the same
Audient ID + Waves Plug-ins = More Affordable Great Sound!
Facts
I hear they break down or have problems with windows compared to a SSl2+.
@@sikwitit773 The audient? I’ve never had any problems. Had it since 2019!
Just ordered the MKii yesterday (:
Nice. You won’t be disappointed.
Super awesome video bro! You are the best! 😀👍🔥🔥🔥
Thanks Alexey. This one took a whike
Great video comparison. This channel will grow.
Thanks, Jay! Appreciated!
Thank you! iD4 or 14 is the best one for price!
Go by how many inputs/outputs you need over price.
@@EdThorne sure thing 😊
This is such a great review! Loving the Audient !
Thanks maaaate! The audient is awesome. So good for the money.
Honestly the only way I could see myself going up from my Audient ID14MKII would be to go to an Appolo system - but that's not something I can justify until music is my day job and not my night job
Thank you! Amazing stuff. I had so much problems on the Apollo Twin X. I just returned it yesterday. It just was not good for my new Mac M1. Im going to get this one!
Ah, I’m sorry to hear that. It’s a convoluted install method on M1s. I had to do it twice it get it to work. The Audient is much easier to navigate and still great 🙂
@@EdThorne yessir I look forward to it! Thanks for msg
Interresting how the apollo smoothes out the harsh signature of the music in the loopback test...the audient sounds very kitchen radio like, but the apollo adds a nice pillow effect. I actually prefer the apollo loopback to the mastered file, as it has way more soul and makes it sound much more interresting. Maybe 30-50 passes would make a good compromise of fidelity and vibe?
This was 50 (or 100 passes, I can’t remember).
Also nice the Austrian Audio OC818 pair ... Thank you for your review.
Beautiful mics! Thanks for watching 🙂
In short... if you have the cash the Apollo is the obvious choice. But you can’t go wrong with the Audient.
wait, can or can't? cuz They're both on par in my experience and Audient makes bigger boards such as what Warren Huart has in one of his studios.
@@FelixMolano
Typo bro.... “You can’t go wrong with the Audient” is what I meant.
@@RodneyD lol i know. I make typos all the time.
Great summary 🙂🤘
Or you could get an Audient asp880 which is their highend 8 pre version for even cheaper than the Apollo.
Excellent, Ed!
Glad you liked it!
Had an apollo but purchased an id44 later. I prefer the warmness that the mic pres add. That is confirmed in the 100x loop test here which would never represent real world situations. As well, I wouldn't ever describe it as signal degradation as the Audient pres are well known to add warm color which is something some people look for on a recording. I found the uad sterile without adding a unison pre. Uad is a money sink when adding proprietary plugs so i jumped ship. All in all, they are both great though. The comparison here is a little misleading. You can't really compare pricing as outlined as you will be spending much more on the uad for plugins to fill out its capabilities. The audient is a basic soundcard without the added expense. Great video. I did bounce back and forth between 15:50 and 16:30 and there really isn't that much a difference in sound between the 100 pass tests. To me at least. The audient really is a lot of bang for the buck.
Absolutely ! would certainly prefer id 14 mk2..a bang for the buck..
I would love to buy the Apollo X4. Unfortunately, I only have a blazing fast PC with Thunderbolt 4. Although UAD claims their products are PC compatible, they refuse to address the ASIO/WDM mess that renders their product totally unusable for PC owners. And, only Mac users get LUNA - and it's absolutely free for them. I understand Mac is where it's at for music creators, but they're throwing away more than half their potential business by not addressing the elephant in the room. It's been there for years. Every other audio interface company has solved the ASIO/WDM PC problem. Why can't UAD? Heck, they should just ask Apogee. That's who UAD is trying to be (if they're smart), and they figured it out some time ago. I really wanted the Apollo, but I now have to settle for the Symphony. Change my mind, UAD.
A fair complaint. I have no answers.
Just get the twin and add third party mic pres to it if more channels are needed
I personally use the Id44 and I love it!! The plug-ins that come with it are so clean. Personally my favorite part is the talk back. That alone has cut my session times by 25 or 30%. Sounds amazing but it was $700! But I got mine used and the only reason it was returned because it didn’t come with side mounts to put them on a rack! Audient is the way to go!
I think I need this, thanks
Great information here, thank you!
You’re welcome. I’m glad it was helpful 🙂
its great, man!
Wow the loop playback was very surprising.
Great vid! Thanks a lot man!
You are very welcome, thanks for watching :-)
What a review !! GREAT :-)
Glad you liked it 🙂
I can hear the difference. The lows are more musical in UAD. The high mids sre clear.
Apollo family is great, but very expensive way to go for somebody not making money from music. New computers like MacBook Pro Pro/Max will manage plug-in with ease and don't need external DSP anymore. It would be great if somebody would design a system where some of MBP Max 32 GPU cores could be assigned to process plug-ins. Don't know if it would be viable option to design.
Guess this comment is more relevant than ever now
The specs on the chart are wrong
Mic input dyn range:
- Apollo = 118 db
- audient =113 db
Mic input Noise
- Apollo = - 127 db
- audient = - 129 db
With Apollo you basically pay the software and the DSP capabilities.. But there is not much difference in the Hardware compartment..
Thanks for the video, well done
Double check the labelling on the chart👌 (Also check which models you/I am referring to)
I noticed the same thing. Something wrong about those specs. Audient ID14 MK2: Mic input dynamic range is 113,1 dBu (J. Krause...), no 101 dBu as Ed said. But otherwise good info.
Awesome review with great production values. The only thing missing is a test of the Apollo headphone output. Rumor has it that it’s too weak to drive 250 ohm headphones and above. I know the Audient can deliver in that department (both via USB3 or the old generation w/ external power supply), but the Apollo Solo/Twin headphone output seems almost like a taboo topic with very few online discussions and no real consensus. I’d hate unboxing a premium interface only to find it barely audible in my BD DT-880 250 ohms, especially knowing the Audient can handle it.
My comparison of the headphone outputs is at 8:26 in the video. There's very little difference and both can handle high impedance headphones well, although you will need most, if not all of the output. The Apollo headphone is not affected by thunderbolt power transfer because it is mains power supplied, so there's no need to do that test.
I can drive my 300 ohm HD650's
I love this song of the background, I heard it on Hot Wheels Unleashed game
Don't know but the audient sounds fuller richer much like a real console more glued mix Apollo sounds much like the focusrite Scarlett ranges to me
I’d say the Audient preamps produce more harmonics which can make it appear to sound fuller. For me the quality difference is highlighted in the drum recordings.
Audient ID14 is industrial level interface. It has pleasing dimensions.
Apollo for the win!!!
Why haven't I hot the bell yet? Hitting the bell now. Ding Dong. Tinnitus here. lol
You were predestined to be different(Romans 8:29), he who has an ear to hear, let him hear(Mark 4:9).
HALLELUYAH!(PRAISE YE YAH!)
I just bought a used Solo from GC for $249 o compliment my Apollo Quad. What I like about Apollos is the Console app whereby I can control signal flow for my computer in addition to using my UAD plugins on another unit. For those whiners, UAD Apollos are great investments and those high plugin prices will continue to fall..
And no, DSP isn't necessary (unless you have a HUGE multitrack project loaded).
I have ID14 mk ll and it's amazing. Looked through the whole UA-cam to choose the best interface and didn't missed.
Good choice 🙂👌
Thanks ....
You’re welcome 🙂🤘
Thanks, I just bought the Audient iD14 for home use. I have 3 UAD's at work among them one Apollo X8p so I know what to expect from UAD. I am about to record an artist that hopefully will end up on the radio (as well as all the streaming platforms). I plan to record the vocals using the iD14 and a Shure SM58 (we usually go for UAD + Neumann). I will keep it simple and clean and see if the result will be sufficient or if we need to bring out the UAD and the Neumann. Thanks for a great comparison video!
That’s sounds great, Eirik. Good luck with the recording. I’m using my Audient for home use and Apollo’s in the studio. Great devices!!
Why did you decide to record with the iD14 and a Shure SM58 if you have the UAD and the Neumann at your disposable? And how is the recording process going?
@@undercovermc I ended up recording two songs with the iD14 and Neumann on that session. I have now recorded songs (we plan to do 12-15 in total) on UAD, iD14 and a Focusrite Scarlett. Some people might propably disagree, but I would say that the mic used is just as important as the audio interface. But what happens in post production is by far the most important thing. You can not tell the recordings apart in a blind test now. They are all good. One thing that I did not like about the iD14 is that I had a few clicks/pops on the recording that I did not have with the Scarlett and the UAD. So a major disapointment there. But two headphones out and all the other feats are very good on the iD14.
@@EirikHasselberg Thank you for this comment. Can you also tell what do you feel about their AD / DA converts, the output monitoring? What difference do they make.
It wasnt a rumor on the usb-c cable, it was not only confirmed by audient but you can test it with actual measuring equipment...
What a relief😉
Seems like 2 Hi-Z inputs of Interfaces like the Focusrite 2i2 is quite the killer feature for some. I don't want to go back to only having 1...
I’d like to see a comparison between the Audient and a Motu
I STILL can’t get hold of one in the UK 😕
Motu M2/M4? I had a M2, however I had to return it because the unit that was sent to me started to fail one month later, but since there was not on stock for a replacement I got my money back and I decided to invest a little more and get an iD14 MK2 and I am really happy, not regrets! In my opinion, Audient iD14 it's on a higher level compared to those Motu.
@@francisv1021 Simply for the ADAT in vs MIDI in I prefer the Audient. You made an excellent choice, sir 🙂
@@EdThorne Yeah, the Midi In/Out is a plus for the Motu and a nice monitoring levels screen (without scale though) but in my case I don't have MIDI devices and the capability of having more inputs in the future with ADAT is appreciated, but the deal breaker to me: Motu M2 can't feed by itself a Shure SM7B to proper recording levels (-18dBs), whereas iD14 can do it without issues and almost without noise at max gain. Also, in my opinion Audient provide better software (I really like the mixer panel) for these Mk2 generation.
I went drone id14 to Apollo twin and WoW it’s way different! Not in sound quality but in use ability! Id14 is so much easier!
The Audient is very simple to use, and the monitor routing is great. The Apollo is A LOT more complicated because it is so much more advanced, which puts a lot of people off. Both two of my favourite interfaces - hence the video :-)
@@EdThorne I got the Apollo Twin X and the Audient iD4 MKII.
The iD4 MKII is heck cheaper, but somehow I lean towards it when playing back music? Could that because of the AKM chips?
Or just some weird placebo? The Twin X has better specs on paper...
On the flipside, the Twin X's input converters seem to smoke the ID4 MKII.
Secret to bypassing the preamp is xlr to trs cable and choose line in rather than mic on channel
really?stil it will pass on to the pre circuit is what they say..
YOU CAN BY PASS THE PRES ON THE TWIN YOU HAVE TO GO IN TRS/LINE NOT XLR AND TURN PHANTOM POWER OFF ON THE APOLLO
On the Twin X there is an option to bypass the pres in Console. On previous versions the best way to minimise preamp “influence’ is to go line-in at minimum gain, yes (10dB).
Thank you very much...
You’re welcome. I hope it was helpful.
Great job!!! I have my audient in home. Maybe I check the new generation of Apollos
Thanks, Marcos. I hope I pronounced your name correctly, please forgive me if I didn’t 🙂
@@EdThorne perfect pronunciation. Don't worry. Greetings from Spain
this video is great
Thanks. I hope it’s helpful.
At least Sweetwater is giving a free thunderbolt 3 ($50) for now …. It’s unacceptable for the price of $1600 you. Won’t get a thunderbolt 3 … overall it’s a great interface … great video 👍
Yeh, it’s not ideal. Sweetwater to the rescue. And thanks 😊🙏
I had the USB (Windows) version of the Apollo Twin, which did not have any converter updates since its release (unlike the MAC version, with the Apollo Twin MKii), and I can tell you that my Audient ID22 sounds much much better than that PC version of the Apollo Twin. I never had the MKii Apollo, though, so I can not comment about how much better it is
Hi Juan, I did not know that about the window version, interesting if that’s true. Strange how they’d neglect it though compared to the parallel Mac line.
bullshit
Same here id44 mkii sound a lot better than my apollo twin silver usb.. also my speakers sounds better
I've been trying to decide what interface I want and well, I just can't find any reason not to pull the trigger on the id14. It's perfect for what I need and the price is right. Maybe someday if I win the lottery or something I'll switch to a UA environment. Lol
Hi Kevin, the iD14 is my fave under $300 (alongside the Volt). The iD monitor app, assignable iD button, and ADAT expandability make it a highly functional interface!
Please does UAD Apollo twin work with a windows laptop? like a normal hp core i7 11th gen
There is a designated Windows model of Apollo.
Excellent
Excelente...más vídeos ilustrativos en español.... Gracias
very very good video！thank you～
Thanks, Steven!
Hi
i can't afford apollo solo or twin
What Would You Recommend
SSL2 or The Audient 24
i use it for recording music mixing also mastering
iD24 all day!
Thank you
very interesting video, can you please compare the apollo twin x with the apogee desktop and the RME babyface pro fs, thanks
I’ll see what I can do 👌
@@EdThorne Thank you
Thank you very much for the video, I will buy the Audient iD14. I will only work with mixing and mastering and recording vocals and guitar. I'm starting now and I think it will suit me very well according to your video.
I really liked your image quality, which camera are you using?
The converter comparison test has me a little confused. Is it like holding a mirror up to a mirror to see the reflectivity quality? 🤔
The point is to amplify the effects of the signal degradation caused by the components. It’s an non-real life test but highlights the subtle difference in conversion and preamp influence.
@@EdThorne Makes sense. Thanks for taking the time to reply. Your efforts are appreciated! 😀👍
You cannot say interface too many times. Looking at the Audient iD14mkii product page in both THomman and Sweetwater there is no mention of an actual DSP inside the audio interface. This means that the Audient iD14mkii has a PFGA like most audio interfaces in that price range, meaning that it wont be as efficient in assisting the CPU when processing audio hence crackles and pops will occur sooner when compared with the Apollo if using high sample rates. Good thing new CPUs such as the M1/M2 and Adler and Raptor Lake from Intel (if running Windows 11) delegate background OS tasks to the E cores while leaving the P cores do the grunt of the processing. THE benchmark (at least in Ableton) to try this out is to have the demo song copy/pasted populating extra tracks and checking when the crackles and pops start to happen. On beefy server grade specs using Threadripper or Xeon along 64/128GB of ram you can have hundreds of tracks with no audio degradation but ofc, of lower specs then things change for the worse.
15:47 apollo
16:19 Audient
Dsp makes the difference in a recording performance
Great video, thanks! Can you please tell me how important it is to bypass the built-in preamplifiers? I'm going to buy some good expensive preamp, but my card has combined microphone and line inputs. As I understand from the reviews, there is no way to bypass the built-in ones. Should I buy a preamp or will the built-in one reduce the quality of the external one? I have an Audient ID14 MK2
Damn...still impossible to choose!
I guess it comes down to budget but trust me you will never regret buying an Apollo if you learn how Console works!
I have both, and I can say for a certainty that Apollo Twin X is way better. Also, I used to have an Audient ID 44, but I was very disappointed with the mic gain. Seriously, it was ridiculously low even when cranked up. I ended up getting a refund as I was constantly getting audio dropouts. I’m satisfied with my Apollo Twin X. Really, the only other audio interface that’s on the same level as Apollo Twin X is the Babyface FS. That too is very expensive, but worth the money if you want something high-end. I used to have a Babyface FS, but that stopped working within like a couple of weeks, so I got another refund. Personally, I stopped using Luna and UA Connect as since I linked my UAD account to my iLok, they just stopped launching. Someone from UAD support suggested doing a clean install, but that’s too much of a hassle for me and unnecessary. I have everything that I need. Luna does have some cool console effects that you don’t get in Logic Pro such as Oxide and Neve Summing, albeit it’s very limited overall compared to Logic. Some people think it’s going to outshine Pro Tools in a few years, but I’m cynical about that personally. Anyway, even if you don’t have Pro Tools or much DSP power, you can still make professional sounding music as long as you know what you’re doing.
AUDIENT I'd series is the only one who can stand against universal Apollo
Audient is great but the problem with all of these non-UAD interfaces I’d they all have unusable latency (unless you have outboard preamps, compressors, amps, etc…
Or the built in direct monitoring. This works really well on the Audient. Great for vocals at least, but not if you want to run a guitar through amp sims though.
Amazing review Ed, thanks A LOT!
Was just thinking of selling my apollo twin for an ID14... But after this I think I'll keep my apollo.
Thanks for the guitar and bass recordings to compare !
You’re welcome, thanks for watching. The Audient is very reasonably priced so you could get one and have the best to both worlds 🙂
By the way, I think your specs are wrong Ed. The preamp dynamic range of the Audient isn't 101dB, that's SNR signal to noise ratio.
@@charlesbassiste I’d say I’d double check and amend it... but I can’t 🤣 I’ll check and out a footnote in the description though. Thanks.
@@EdThorne yeah I understand the pain of editing a video...
However, these technical specs are always tricky to decode !
For guitar buy cheap and best TASCAM celesonic 20*20HF. Watch ED'S review.
'and we all know what they say about opinions' .. ))
since ssl2 is similarly priced to audient id14 which is better for di ?
ID14 mkii is industry recommended. So what to think.
Audient iD14mkii vs sll 2+ wich one I should buy?
Personally I’d go for the Audient because the monitoring is better. But arguably the SSL comes with nicer plugins…
ID14MKII is Industry recommended.
You couldn’t tell a difference in sound using your sennheiser 650? Would there be a difference if used an affordable dedicated Dac and amp?
What about the Volt 2 and 2 76?
Also great. Several vids on my channel about these.
💯🔥🔥🔥
Hi Ed do you recommend using a DI box with the Audient. Or is it fine without.
You shouldn't need a DI box with an interface - that's what the interface is for.
What do you think about Antelope. They also have onboard plugins i believe. Thanks for the excellent video.
I think the ZenGo is a fantastic interface, and serious competition for both of these devices. The preamps are probably cleaner, and the converters are very clean and detailed. You can use more plugins on each channel strip with the Antelope over the Apollo because their plugins are less DSP intensive when used as inserts. The Apollo has Unison technology which physically re-configures the impedance and gain staging of the preamps to replicate the analog hardware they're emulating - and it does this very well! The Apollo is still more advanced in terms of monitoring (although the Antelope is probably the second most advanced system I've seen), but the ZenGo allows you to record a wet and dry copy of each input channel which is awesome! I may do a full comparison video on all this.
@BillyFreethought See here 🙂 ua-cam.com/video/MV9Gz8m7hUc/v-deo.html
Hi there would the audient be great interface for the Genelec 8010 monitors?
Yes. It’s got decent converters.
Thanks for the great video. I interested about not id14 , id44 Audient and the original cables interfaces is 2.0 ...its better to buy other cable USB C-A 3.2 for a great quality ? Headphones Monitoring ? ( I used Beyeardynamic 700 pro X).. Its Amazing why originaly cable not a 3.2
Audient can overheat and break your gear. Had rhat happen to me recently the Audient overheat and de solder something inside my speakers blew. It was on for 4 days straight and I know that is a long time but I have had my apoolos on for weeks at a time and not even a hiccup
Hey great review. I have a doubt. You say to choose an interface with usb 3 to improve headphone monitoring. But the Audient one is only usb2.0. When you do the test you compare different cables, not protocols. So in conclusion, it's better to use the usb C cable instead of the usb A? Is that what makes the difference? Thanks!
Yeh I tried a USB-2.0 and 3.1 cable and there is a power supply difference which affects the amps (only slightly but it was audible).
@@EdThorne But a usb 3.1 cable into a USB 2.0 interface you mean? Is this cable included or you bought it separately? I assume they include two usb2.0 cables (one type A and one type C) thanks!
@@marcpeiron_studio I had one lying around. Not provided I don’t think.