PreSonus Quantum HD Assessment: A Seamless Recording Device

For the longest time, I struggled with latency when recording audio, or the time it takes for recorded sound to register on the display screen. I’d plug in my audio interface to my laptop, get all my drums all mic’ed up, and have a tough time getting my stuff to sync up with no matter I used to be attempting to report over. The first era of PreSonus’ Quantum audio interfaces solved my issues a few decade in the past. They used speedier-than-USB Thunderbolt connections to present me near-zero delay, thanks partially to the no-bloatware connection it shares with PreSonus’s Studio One software program.

PreSonus’s newest Quantum HD interfaces have raised the ease-of-use issue even additional. You get USB-C connectivity, a good cleaner design, higher display screen, and front-panel instrument inputs designed in collaboration with PreSonus mother or father firm Fender. There may be even now automated achieve leveling on inputs, which implies one particular person can arrange a big studio by themselves.

Should you’re after an reasonably priced audio interface that competes with heavy hitters from Common Audio, Apogee, Focusrite, Audient, or SSL, amongst others, the brand new PreSonus Quantum HD fashions are incredible and sound nice. Should you’re a Studio One person, they’re a no brainer.

Audio Boxers

Each the HD 2 and HD 8 fashions usually are not a lot to take a look at, designed to cover on the desktop of a critical dwelling studio fanatic amongst different toys. They’re each black bins with blue accents and coloration screens, they usually look comparatively nondescript when not in use. (That is good for costly studio gear, which may typically scream “Steal me!”) The bigger mannequin is rack-mountable, the smaller designed for desktop or cell use, although you may simply set the bigger one on a desk like I did if you do not have a rack to mount it.

{Photograph}: Parker Corridor

The development of the unit is strong and metallic, with good large vents on the edges to maintain it cool throughout longer monitoring classes. I like that it simply takes a normal three-prong energy cable, so you do not have to take care of a wall wart, and that it connects shortly to any fashionable USB-C machine.

I’ve been a longtime PreSonus person of all the pieces from its Faderport controllers (USB units that permit you to use faders to manage playback in most DAW software program) and Monitor Station (an outboard field the place you may plug in and swap between a number of audio system with easy button presses). The gear works effectively and prices lower than most rivals.

Professional-tier equivalents from manufacturers like Common Audio and Apogee can value between somewhat and lots of multiples extra, relying on the class, and it simply would not really sound higher in my expertise. The Quantum HD interfaces simply compete with the wildly common 8-input fashions from Common Audio by way of audio and construct high quality. The Common Audio fashions are the gold normal within the class proper now, and price over twice as a lot per unit.

Studio One instantly acknowledges the Quantum HD 8 and performs good, permitting you to do issues like activate 48v phantom energy for condenser mics and set ranges contained in the software program, reasonably than having to make use of some bizarre middleman software program between the interface and the DAW.

{Photograph}: Parker Corridor