Apogee Electronics

Notes: The Apogee Element 88 is a 16x16 Thunderbolt audio interface using the best technology found in the Symphony I/O, Ensemble and Groove.

The Apogee Element 88 includes eight mic preamps with Apogees' Advanced Stepped Gain Architecture that dynamically optimises the gain up to 75dB to provide superior bandwidth and low distortion.

Using high-quality AD/DA conversion, the Apogee Elements delivers unmatched clarity and definition making recording and mixing decisions far easier and improving the quality of your music. The included Word Clock also provides Apogee's superior clocking technology ensuring your digital audio system performs at is best.

In addition to excellent sound quality, the Element 88 provides incredible low-latency performance thanks to the use of Thunderbolt drivers which provides a latency of 1.41 round-trip and rock-solid stability. Furthermore, Apogee's Direct Memory Access technology allows you to run far more plug-ins and monitoring through your DAW even at low buffer settings delivering power and speed.

The Element 88 comes with a powerful control software ecosystem including apps for your Mac and iOS device for input type, input and output levels and five different low-latency mixers. An optional USB Apogee Control Hardware remote is also available separately and can configure a broad range of settings.

Notes: The all new Apogee Ensemble is the first Thunderbolt 2 audio interface to offer superior sound quality, the lowest latency performance and the most comprehensive studio functionality all in one box. Ensemble includes 8 Advanced Stepped Gain mic preamps, monitor controller functionality including talkback, front panel Guitar I/O, two headphone outputs and digital connectivity for a total of 30 x 34 I/O. Blending acclaimed innovations, groundbreaking new features and an effortless user interface, Ensemble empowers you to capture inspiration
when creative lightning strikes.

Launched in 2007, the first Ensemble re-defined the possibilities of the personal studio interface, setting new standards of quality, simplicity and value. Winning that year's TEC Award for Digital Audio Technology, Ensemble went on to become the preferred interface for thousands of hit-making producers, engineers and artists. Now, with 30 years of digital audio expertise and the latest technological innovations, Apogee has re-built Ensemble to introduce the next generation of music creation technology.

Blending the best of Apogee's acclaimed innovations with groundbreaking new features and the power of Thunderbolt technology, the completely redesigned Ensemble sets a new standard for personal studio interfaces.

Ensemble delivers the full potential of Thunderbolt 2 performance with the lowest latency, unmatched CPU efficiency, 2 ports for expanding your system and a revolutionary 32-bit playback signal path.

Ensemble's proprietary Thunderbolt driver has been written from the ground up for Mac OS X Mavericks, resulting in unmatched performance and efficiency. Latency has been reduced to an astounding 1.1ms round-trip, allowing you to monitor through your DAW, plug-ins included, simplifying your workflow and leveraging the power of your Mac. Even when your session's DSP demands require a higher buffer setting, Ensemble's ultra-low latency means no longer having to choose between power and speed.

To accommodate different workflow preferences, Ensemble features optional direct hardware monitoring through Apogee's Maestro App with 0.6ms of latency.

Ensemble's custom driver includes two innovative features to maximize the performance of the software-hardware interface: a full 32-bit signal path from the output of your DAW straight to the high-performance ESS DAC, and a revolutionary Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine to more efficiently read and write data directly to Mac memory independent of the Mac CPU.

The DMA engine, running on Ensemble's hardware logic chip, reads digital audio data directly from your Mac's memory in a 32-bit format, increasing the driver's efficiency and providing the highest resolution signal possible to the DAC stage. This implementation allows the driver to crunch an enormous amount of data at an amazing speed, while making a very light demand on your Mac CPU. You benefit with lower latency, more plug-in power, and a transparent and encompassing
listening experience.

Intel's Thunderbolt technology was made for connecting multiple high bandwidth peripherals to your Mac. Ensemble includes two Thunderbolt 2 ports for conveniently connecting hard drive arrays, video capture devices and Thunderbolt monitors with up to 4k resolution from a single port.

Apogee is an award-winning industry leader in digital recording technology with over 25 years of experience. Preferred by recording pros around the world, Apogee products like Duet, Quartet, the original Ensemble and Symphony I/O have been instrumental in creating countless GRAMMY and OSCAR winning recordings and have set the industry standard in professional recording for over two decades. Ensemble is built solidly on this reputation.

From the mic preamps to the AD/DA converters and the clocking, Ensemble is best-in-class and cutting-edge Apogee technology. With components carefully selected in critical listening tests and a highly efficient circuit design, Ensemble was built by Apogee engineers to make a difference you can hear.

Ensemble's analog-to-digital conversion stage has been upgraded from previous generations of Apogee products such as Duet and Quartet to provide greater dynamic range, lower distortion and an almost non-existent noise level.

Ensemble's 8 uniquely designed mic preamps feature Apogee's Advanced Stepped Gain Architecture, in which the circuit is dynamically optimized to provide superior bandwidth, ultra low noise and nonexistent distortion across the unprecedented gain range of 0-75 dB. Whether recording powerful drums, dynamic vocals or delicate strings, your recordings retain the full impact, intricate detail and lifelike dimension of the original performance.

ESS Sabre32 32-bit Hyperstream DAC with Time Domain Jitter Eliminator offers unequalled dynamic range, ultra low distortion, and unmatched audio clarity free from input jitter.

Notes: The Apogee Quartet is a professional USB audio interface designed to deliver the ultimate desktop recording experience to the iPad and Mac based studio.

Featuring 4 inputs and 8 outputs of Apogee's industry leading AD/DA conversion technology as well as 4 world class mic preamps, the Quartet bridges the gap between the 2 channel Apogee Duet and Apogee's flagship interface, the Symphony I/O.

The Quartet for iPad and Mac features special circuitry designed to deliver professional performance for iPad use along with low latency USB 2.0 performance for Mac. The Quartet's MIDI input and output connector lets you connect and power a Core MIDI compatible keyboard or controller while using Duet with your iPad or iOS device.

Notes: This desktop version of Apogee's high-end Symphony interface offers the same pristine sound quality found in the flagship Symphony I/O Mk II, but in a more compact form factor.

Supplier's Notes:
Symphony Desktop for Mac and Windows packs the legendary sound quality of Apogee's rack-mount Symphony I/O Mk II into an elegant and inspiring 10x14 audio interface that sits on your desk and fits in your bag. With Symphony Desktop, musicians and producers are empowered to record, overdub and mix with the music industry's most respected AD/DA converters and mic preamps.

By combining superior performance, with new features like mic preamp emulation, the Apogee Channel FX plugin and ultra low latency recording with hardware DSP and Apogee native FX plugins, Symphony Desktop will amplify your creativity in your studio or on the go and give your recordings the Apogee sound quality Advantage.

Symphony Desktop not only delivers the music industry's most sought after and respected sound quality with its Symphony I/O Mk II pedigree, it offers the inspiring and elegant usability of the iconic Apogee Duet and Quartet.

Apogee FX Plugins included with Symphony Desktop:

Symphony EQ - Native and hardware versions
Symphony Compressor - Native and hardware versions
Symphony Reverb - Native version

Mic Preamp Emulations included with Symphony Desktop:

British Solid State - Class A console sound - Inspired by the Marinar "Round can" input transformer and discrete transistor design of the Class A Neve 1066 mic preamp.
American Tube - Lush, 50s Tone - This emulation offers the lush, larger-than-life sounds of the 50s era Ampex 601 preamp, carefully restored and modded for lower noise and greater dynamic range.

In the Box:

Symphony Desktop
12V DC power supply
USB Type C to A cable
USB Type C to C cable
Quick start guide