Apogee introduces new Ensemble Thunderbolt

[nst7]

Read all about it here:

http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/ensemble

Looks like a great product with great features.

Note that there is no mention of an Avid branded one of these, like the recent Quartet and Duet. So it won't be compatible with Windows. But Mac users, check it out!

[propower]

Very interesting box!
Some very bold latency through DAW claims (same as HD Native!).
For more project oriented studios a very nice feature set....

[Darryl Ramm]

8 mic inputs, sweet.

[YYR123]

$2700 retail (that's my guess)

[nst7]

Actually $2495. It's on the Apogee website.

[JCBigler]

Interesting.

This looks like a decent unit. This is what the Omni I/O should have been...So I'm guessing there won't BE an Avid branded one.

[Marcel Risberg]

Thank you for informing nst7.

First, I APPLAUD Apogee for including TWO Thunderbolt ports on this device making it possible to daisy chain TB-devices on a single port. This would be the only sensible solution to me - some other vendors seem to disagree. *clap clap*!

I'm scanning through the product tour.. This device, although aimed at a musicians project studio, comes impressively close to what I am in need of for my post studio.

From my point of view:

Pros:

• Digital volume control and level indicator; wanted for my post work - missing on my 003.
• Built in talk back; great idea, really usable - missing on my 003.
• Mic inputs; soft controlled phantom and polarity - missing on my 003.
• Two independent headphone jacks; would have loved for my 003 to have this, not just independent volume controls.
• 16ch ADAT in and outs; not used everyday, but when I do I can't have to many of them. The 003 comes with 8ch.
• "Groundbreaking low latency performance"; if true (1.1ms), this is really great for a non avid/hd/digilink interface. Although the 003 is a firewire interface, since version 11 the drivers hog the CPU and are not that responsive as they used to be.
• 4+ mic inputs; more than enough.
• Electrical output levels of +4dBu and -10dBV; great feature. I really miss the ability to switch down from +4dBu on my 003.
• Word Clock; just word. I have this on my 003 already.

Cons:

• No HDMI out. HDMI 1.x is capable of carrying 8 channels, HDMI 2.x is capable of 32. I'd love to have this possibility of connectivity on a new interface. I could use my receiver as DA for evaluation and various mixing purposes.
• "8 balanced outputs on 1 DSUB 25-pin connector"; DSUB is not as good as XLR. They could have made this device into a 2U to offer XLR.

There!
Again, these are my points of view. I'll consider getting this device.

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by Marcel Risberg

"8 balanced outputs on 1 DSUB 25-pin connector"; DSUB is not as good as XLR. They could have made this device into a 2U to offer XLR.

You can buy a nice DB-25 to XLR (or TRS or combo connector) patch panel for a few hundred dollars and you are all set. Keeping the design to 1U was a very good decision.

[Marcel Risberg]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

You can buy a nice DB-25 to XLR (or TRS or combo connector) patch panel for a few hundred dollars and you are all set. Keeping the design to 1U was a very good decision.

Yeah I know. It's just that I like the sound and robustness of XLRs (at the source) better than from DSUBs. In this case though it's not a game changer.
I don't mind 2U audio interfaces, at least if its my primary.

[Darryl Ramm]

This is a really nice looking box, I'd love to hear reports once folks get their hands on it. Besides 8 Mic Pres I like the compliment of digital connectors, I'd need several S/PDIF going both ways in my case and could live with coax to Toslink adapters.