PreSonus Quantum 2626, 26x26, Thunderbolt 3, Low Latency audio interface with software bundle including Studio One Artist, Ableton Live Lite DAW and more for recording, streaming and podcasting

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steinber wrote3-In addition to using the interface to record and mix, I will also be using the interface to listen to music, while working and typing at the same desk for long stretches of time. The Quantum series wouldn't be as fast as they are if we didn't get rid of hardware mixing. That adds to the latency and is a big reason why products like UAD Apollo's are not as fast latency wise.

Ideally, a report on the experience of working with an audio interface should be pretty short. What you’d hope to read is that it was plugged in, recording software recognised it without fuss, and that audio came into and went out of the appropriate holes without noticeable latency, sounding great. In the real world, alas, it seldom works out like that, because a built-in mixer that’s supposed to make things easier ends up making everything far more complicated than it needs to be. I have been troubleshooting this during the day and just wound up with an answer. I hope this helps. For starters I am using a dell XPS 15 9570 so hopefully this helps for macas well. Here was my process (for every restart I did I selected the "shut down" option and then switched on the computer): The preamps are PreSonus’ XMAX variety, which the company touts for their clean sound, low-noise and 115 dB of dynamic range. Phantom power is switchable in two groups: 1-4 and 5-8. Next, you will find the main knob that helps you to control the level of the main output. This comes in handy when reducing the output levels on speakers when recording and monitor in the same room. The front panel is then completed with dual headphone outputs that both carry the same mix as the main outs. The downside to this is since they do not have independent DACs, independent headphone mixes would need the incorporation of pre-fade sends from the Daw you are using while external headphone amps are plugged into subsequent pairs of line outputs.Not only does the Quantum 2626 come with a copy of Studio One Artist, but also an exceptionally generous third-party software bundle called the Studio Magic Suite. Find this article interesting? You will want to read about Difference Between Preamp + Audio Interface too. The first two inputs are designed for mic or instrument, while the remaining Inputs (3-8) interchange between mic and line. This depends on the kind of connector that is used. Next to these are preamp gain controls and simple multicolored LED metering to signify the activity and clipping on each channel. My computer is a 2018 Mac Mini that uses Thunderbolt 3, with a USB-C form factor connector. That means that with the newer Quantum 2626 I could just plug in a normal thunderbolt 3 "C to C" cable, but with the original Quantum, I would need to use a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter.

Removal of some features that drop the price is common and standard practice for products. Thunderbolt tech is not cheap to develop and it is hard to meet these price points. I've already outlined the differences in the products so I'm not going over it again.

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As on the Studio 192, the level of the main outputs is governed by a large front-panel knob. This applies attenuation in the analogue domain rather than digitally, which helps preserve sound quality at low levels, and means it should still be operational in the event of some digital calamity spewing noise into your speakers. Within UC, it’s also possible to bring any or all of the other output pairs under the control of this attenuator; so if, for instance, you want to use four of the line outputs to connect the subsidiary speakers in a surround system, you can have global volume control over all six 5.1 channels. Mute, dim and mono fold-down are also accessible from UC as well as from the front panel, but there is no provision for alternate speaker switching (which, personally, I’d find more useful than the dim control). This is a nice little Interface with alot of I/O expandability. I was able to hook up my old Interface (pro 40 flashed to standalone mode) as an 8 channel adat preamp bank for 16 channels. USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 GEN 1 or similar = 5 Gb/s - Giga-bits per second - This is 10 times more bandwidth than USB 2 ! - So take the 24 channels on USB 2 X 10 = 240 - This is a huge amount of simultaneous channels that would need the mother of all interfaces and even 4 X Quantum 4848 only comes to 192 - I say only in a joking manner - I have some questions about specific differences between the units, that go beyond the obvious feature differences. In terms of features, both models have the things I actually need, thus making it a tougher decision.

With Unison preamps and full access to the UAD catalogue, the Apollo Twin MkII does more than just amazing interfacing. Connect and turn on quantum and allow device to always connect (I think mac has a similar process as well). Switch off and unplug quantum and restart computer. (I did not open Universal Control after it finished installing).Too often, in my opinion, manufacturers have trumpeted the features of these built-in digital mixers in the hope of obscuring the reason for their existence, which is that said manufacturers haven’t been able to code efficient drivers. The last PreSonus interface I reviewed in Sound On Sound was a case in point: the Studio 192 offered good sound quality and a comprehensive feature set, but if you didn’t want to use its much-hyped internal mixer and clunky UC Surface control software, it was a struggle to get the round-trip latency low enough for real-time input monitoring. Uninstall universal control and remove the quantum as an allowed device in your thunderbolt settings.

PROS: Fast performance makes latency a non-issue; all inputs on front; gain controls on front; hardware Inserts; expandable via ADAT and S/PDIF; generous software bundle; cue monitoring integration with Studio One; excellent value steinber wrote1-Is the Quantum 2626 the exact same audio quality and specs in terms of mic pres, A/D conversion, D/A conversion, S/N ratio dynamic range, etc. Is there any additional sound quality benefit of getting the original Quantum, in any way? This unit was established after the celebrated Quantum 2632 audio interface. This interface was known to have a progressive approach to how it worked. Released a few years after this interface, the Quantum 2626 is a more innovative development in the Quantum series of audio interfaces by PreSonus. PAE Seth wroteQuantum Series DOES NOT have hardware leveling mixing. At no time have we ever advertised otherwise. People are lying if they say otherwise. This year’s Quantum 2626 is a streamlined version of the earlier flagship model, offering similar headline features but at reduced cost. Gone is the detailed LED metering, the digitally controlled preamps and the monitor-controller functions of the first Quantum. What remains is the focus on the lowest possible latencies, plus a wide range of ins and outs, including the lauded XMAX mic preamps. The dark sideDoes the Quantum also have power plan issues? I've already experienced the issue in this thread: No audio 2626 WIN10 after watching/listening to 1st song on youtube, spotify etc