The PreSonus AudioBox USB® 96 is a 2 in and 2 out audio/MIDI recording interface for recording at up to 24-bit and at up to 96kHz sample rates. This is a small, portable bus-powered interface with two front-panel Combo XLR mic/instrument inputs that’s perfect for itinerant singer/songwriters, podcasters, and musicians—anyone wanting an “on the go” recording system.
You get switchable +48-volt phantom power for condenser microphones and individual input level controls for guitar, bass or microphones. I also liked the front panel’s Mixer control knob to adjust the balance between the live input signal (your guitar or vocal microphone) and your computer’s DAW track playback—no delay or latency.
And to hear everything exactly the way you want, on the rear panel are a pair of balanced line-level L/R output jacks for connection to powered monitors plus and a stereo headphone output jack also controlled by a separate volume control. The rear panel finishes with a USB jack and MIDI I/O jacks for connecting your synth or controller, so you can connect your favorite synth or MIDI controller.
The PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 sells for $99.95 MAP and works with any recording software and includes PreSonus Studio One Artist to get you going.
presonus.com/products/AudioBox-USB-96
Barry Rudolph is a recording engineer/mixer who has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs and more. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contributing editor for Mix Magazine. barryrudolph.com
