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Apogee Duet
- Thread starter hukuma
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Congratulations on your purchase. Please share your experience when you get a chance. Are you on Tiger or Leopard?
You must have a pretty damn good job if you can skip a couple days of work to play around with things you just spent close to $1000, if not more, on.
You must have a pretty damn good job if you can skip a couple days of work to play around with things you just spent close to $1000, if not more, on.
My problem with this unit is that they don't publish the Specs .... Everything else apogee has the specs listed... and when compared to other products they stand up pretty well... so it makes me wonder just how bad the specs are to make them not want to publish them ...
(not that specs are the end all judge (that should be your ears) ... but it doesn't hurt... )
(not that specs are the end all judge (that should be your ears) ... but it doesn't hurt... )
A quote here from Digital Village:-
"The main features of the Apogee DUET include:
* Two channels of professional-quality 24-bit/96kHz audio input and output
* Two balanced XLR inputs, with selectable 48V phantom power on each input
* Premium, digitally controlled microphone preamps with 75 dB of gain
* Two unbalanced high impedance instrument inputs
* One high-level stereo headphone output
* Two unbalanced -10 dBV line outputs for powered speakers
* Multi-function controller knob for volume and input gain control and assignable MIDI control
* Multi-segment LED meters to display input or output levels
* FireWire 400, compatible with Mac OS X Core Audio
* Control functions built directly into Apples Logic Pro, Soundtrack Pro and GarageBand
* Compatible with any Core Audio-compliant audio application
* Apogees Maestro software for advanced control and low latency mixing
* System Requirements: Computer - Mac G4 1GHz or faster, G5 or Intel CPU. Memory - 1 GB RAM minimum, 2 GB recommended. OS - 10.4.10 or greater. Connection - FireWire 400 port
* Package contents include: Duet, Breakout Cable, FireWire Cable, Apogee Software CD and Users Guide"
Pretty nice for such a small interface. And for the price, I don't think I could say no either. Will be grabbing one when I make my Macbook purchase.
Hope that info helps
hey guys!
Im a complete newbie to all this music production stuff... but I want to start to try and makes beats and produce tracks....
My plan so far... Logic Pro... Macbook and one of these Apogee Duets...
I take it the Apogee Duet is basically the "external soundcard" which will provide input for devices such as guitar and keyboard? and produce great sound (if plugged into speakers) rather than the mediocre Macbook speakers?
What else would you recommend...could you guys recommend a good pair of headphones, a midi keyboard and what else do I need to get started? I am on a tight budget....so anything decent but cheap is what Im looking for...
Thanks for help...
Im a complete newbie to all this music production stuff... but I want to start to try and makes beats and produce tracks....
My plan so far... Logic Pro... Macbook and one of these Apogee Duets...
I take it the Apogee Duet is basically the "external soundcard" which will provide input for devices such as guitar and keyboard? and produce great sound (if plugged into speakers) rather than the mediocre Macbook speakers?
What else would you recommend...could you guys recommend a good pair of headphones, a midi keyboard and what else do I need to get started? I am on a tight budget....so anything decent but cheap is what Im looking for...
Thanks for help...
A quote here from Digital Village:-
"The main features of the Apogee DUET include:
* Two channels of professional-quality 24-bit/96kHz audio input and output
* Two balanced XLR inputs, with selectable 48V phantom power on each input
* Premium, digitally controlled microphone preamps with 75 dB of gain
* Two unbalanced high impedance instrument inputs
* One high-level stereo headphone output
* Two unbalanced -10 dBV line outputs for powered speakers
* Multi-function controller knob for volume and input gain control and assignable MIDI control
* Multi-segment LED meters to display input or output levels
* FireWire 400, compatible with Mac OS X Core Audio
* Control functions built directly into Apples Logic Pro, Soundtrack Pro and GarageBand
* Compatible with any Core Audio-compliant audio application
* Apogees Maestro software for advanced control and low latency mixing
* System Requirements: Computer - Mac G4 1GHz or faster, G5 or Intel CPU. Memory - 1 GB RAM minimum, 2 GB recommended. OS - 10.4.10 or greater. Connection - FireWire 400 port
* Package contents include: Duet, Breakout Cable, FireWire Cable, Apogee Software CD and Users Guide"
Pretty nice for such a small interface. And for the price, I don't think I could say no either. Will be grabbing one when I make my Macbook purchase.
Hope that info helps
yes, but thats not the specs I'm looking for .....
Something like this (off of the rosetta 200):
The big ones I'm looking for are Dynamic range and THD
You're welcome by the way...
Maybe having a re-check of those specs might make you realize that some (THD+N) are not applicable to the Apogee Duet - due to the rosetta being a sample-rate converter and not a firewire audio interface (essentially a digital pre-amp and monitor). So in effect it is a linear audio device and therefore nothing should be added to the harmonics of the audio.
Other specs on the other hand were there.
Sample Rates? It says in the first line what the max sample rate is - 96k
Power? Powered by firewire, therefore irrelevant due to the fact that most users signal-out will be going directly to either a powered amp or into their active studio monitors.
Juxtaposer
Novation make a nice, affordable range of USB Midi Keyboards, I use the Remote 25 SL at home, and I tried the even more affordable model the Remote 25 LE and that was a brilliant Midi controller for the price. Obviously they're only 25 key models, but they do make models with 61 keys (Remote SL61).
Sennheiser make some great headphones and their HD25's are my current choice at home. They do make some more affordable models ideal for flat response monitoring.
Hope that helps, good luck tianuk
You're welcome by the way...
Maybe having a re-check of those specs might make you realize that some (THD+N) are not applicable to the Apogee Duet - due to the rosetta being a sample-rate converter and not a firewire audio interface (essentially a digital pre-amp and monitor). So in effect it is a linear audio device and therefore nothing should be added to the harmonics of the audio.
Other specs on the other hand were there.
Sample Rates? It says in the first line what the max sample rate is - 96k
Power? Powered by firewire, therefore irrelevant due to the fact that most users signal-out will be going directly to either a powered amp or into their active studio monitors.
Juxtaposer
1. I didn't thank you because i had found all of that information when it was first announced ...
2. Yes THD and Dynamic range DO matter, since it is a A/D D/A converter ...
ya, it might throw in a firewire interface and a preamp and stuff in it as well ... but it still converts audio... (see you can turn the rosetta series stuff into a firewire interface too)
3. The rosetta might be able to change the sample rate of digital audio ... but first and foremost it is a A/D D/A converter ....
1. 'I've already seen that thanks' may have been a polite response
2. THD is unimportant in an interface like this, as is the Dynamic Range. My home's Focusrite Saffire does the exact same job, and the Dynamic Range is dependent entirely on my other hardware and software. Whether the audio is converted ADDA or not there is no audible colouring of the sound.
3. Didn't know that thanks
Anyway, for what it costs (£300), it is a great little box and very useful for somebody with a laptop or the like for on-the-road editing/recording.
1. 'I've already seen that thanks' may have been a polite response
2. THD is unimportant in an interface like this, as is the Dynamic Range. My home's Focusrite Saffire does the exact same job, and the Dynamic Range is dependent entirely on my other hardware and software. Whether the audio is converted ADDA or not there is no audible colouring of the sound.
3. Didn't know that thanks
Anyway, for what it costs (£300), it is a great little box and very useful for somebody with a laptop or the like for on-the-road editing/recording.
you don't fully understand what thd and dynamic range mean... Any conversion stage can/does change the the way something sounds
I understand what both terms mean, and I agree that the sound would be affected in some way due to the conversion stage. I don't personally see this as important as I am sure that the colouration of the sound would not be anywhere near significant enough to notice. Still haven't been able to find the actual THD+N spec for the 'Duet' yet, though I don't think it will be a noticable factor.
The Dynamic Range of the 'Duet', however (due to it's 24bit digital audio) should theoretically be close to 144db. It may possibly be less, but I don't see why anything over 100-110db would make any difference as most music contains far less than 100db Dynamic Range. Hope that helps
Anyway, congrats to hukuma for purchasing a great piece of kit. I'm sure you'll have a load of fun with it.
Yeah, well i don't think you can compare the specs of a pocketsize firewire interface with rack mount ad/da-converter.
Portable may be the keyword here folks.
Tha Duet looks great. I just ordered a MacBook and Logic 8 so i'm gonna go to the store and get a demonstration of this little thingy. I guess it's easy to have it connected while editing on the go aswell. Heavy mixing on the train to/from school in the future i hope.
I Have one
Hello to everybody I have a Duet since a week ago, what I can tell you from my short experience is that the sound is the best I ever heard, clear and powerful. but there is two problems I have found, first from it does some clicks you dont expect, to much for me, but I don know where they coming from, I have the latest soft and drivers. second I have power pc G5 it does have to firewire ports in one I have the duet at the other a video/audio capture device, well the Duet Work the video device dont, when I disconnect the duet the video works perfect as always did before connecting the duet I dont know why. But believe me the sound is great, and for people that dont need to much I/Os like me is the best in the market, I hope I can solve those problems, best regards
Hello to everybody I have a Duet since a week ago, what I can tell you from my short experience is that the sound is the best I ever heard, clear and powerful. but there is two problems I have found, first from it does some clicks you dont expect, to much for me, but I don know where they coming from, I have the latest soft and drivers. second I have power pc G5 it does have to firewire ports in one I have the duet at the other a video/audio capture device, well the Duet Work the video device dont, when I disconnect the duet the video works perfect as always did before connecting the duet I dont know why. But believe me the sound is great, and for people that dont need to much I/Os like me is the best in the market, I hope I can solve those problems, best regards
I'm just about to get the Apogee Duet, and I'm thinking of replacing my (don't laugh, please!) Harman Kardon Soundsticks II and getting proper monitors. The ones I've been looking at all say they have balanced 1/4" inputs. Am I right to assume that the monitors will still work with an unbalanced source - would just standard mono patch leads (1/4") work ok? Any recommendations for monitors - one example I've read about is the Yamaha MSP5 STUDIO. I want something that's as flat as possible - and I definitely don't want any tone controls!
Edit:
Just read the following for the Yamaha's: Balanced XLR and unbalanced 1/4-inch phone jack inputs, so I guess that answers my own question.
Still, any recommendations? The MSP5 STUDIO is about my limit cost wise.
Edit:
Just read the following for the Yamaha's: Balanced XLR and unbalanced 1/4-inch phone jack inputs, so I guess that answers my own question.
Still, any recommendations? The MSP5 STUDIO is about my limit cost wise.
I have no need for a midi device and the apogee duet looks great for me. (mostly acoustic guitar and some vocals maybe strings or piano here and there, almost all acoustic instruments)
I think a setup with the duet running a pair of matched stereo cardiod mics to my macbook pro would be a sweet setup.
Can users comment on the portability and quality of sound as well as ease of use of the product? Also, let me know what DAW you're running?
Thanks!
I think a setup with the duet running a pair of matched stereo cardiod mics to my macbook pro would be a sweet setup.
Can users comment on the portability and quality of sound as well as ease of use of the product? Also, let me know what DAW you're running?
Thanks!
Thanks zim... I'll check them out
I dont currently have immediate access to the same room I recorded the last album in (that was in Madison) But there are some nice venues where I live now that Im looking forward to exploring with the new gear
Ok, I want to purchase a Duet soon. You know, after a long year, I think it'll be a great Christmas present for myself. haha... It sounds greedy but I already have presents prepared for the family.
haha... Ok. I'm really just wondering what Duet owners think about this little audio interface. It's been a while since someone posted an actual opinion from hands-on experience. Being that the Duet is fairly new, I can't find any reviews or opinions on the Internet.
Thanks, mT
haha... Ok. I'm really just wondering what Duet owners think about this little audio interface. It's been a while since someone posted an actual opinion from hands-on experience. Being that the Duet is fairly new, I can't find any reviews or opinions on the Internet.
Thanks, mT
I have one
I have one and what I can tell is that sounds great but it has a lot of problems, like clicks, noises etc, it also have a lot of incompatibilities with other systems, for instance other sound or video capture firewire equipment, and the bigger one is that it does not have his proper AC external power adaptor and it sacrifices the firewire bus only to the duet, that is my experience. Now I would not buy it. good lock.
Ok, I want to purchase a Duet soon. You know, after a long year, I think it'll be a great Christmas present for myself. haha... It sounds greedy but I already have presents prepared for the family.
haha... Ok. I'm really just wondering what Duet owners think about this little audio interface. It's been a while since someone posted an actual opinion from hands-on experience. Being that the Duet is fairly new, I can't find any reviews or opinions on the Internet.
Thanks, mT
I have one and what I can tell is that sounds great but it has a lot of problems, like clicks, noises etc, it also have a lot of incompatibilities with other systems, for instance other sound or video capture firewire equipment, and the bigger one is that it does not have his proper AC external power adaptor and it sacrifices the firewire bus only to the duet, that is my experience. Now I would not buy it. good lock.