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An iCON Pro Audio has introduced the availability of Duo22 Live and Duo44 Live USB Audio Interfaces with support for macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android OS. It is a professional portable recording mobile audio interface incorporating audio inputs and outputs with analogue and digital connectivity to any smart mobile device for live streaming applications.
The Duo22 Live is a two-input/two-output USB sound interface, with front panel-positioned Mic-in (three-pin balanced XLR input for condenser microphone with +48V phantom power or dynamic microphone/quarter-inch balanced TS input for dynamic microphone) and rear panel-positioned Guitar in (Hi-Z input for guitar/bass) together with rear panel-positioned unbalanced L (left) and R (right) analogue line outputs (on quarter-inch TS connectors at +6dBU line level)/Stereo out (unbalanced analogue output on a standard 3.5mm stereo connector). It is ideal for musicians, performers, and producers who want to incorporate a smart mobile device into their setup for full-duplex recording and playback.
Users can stream audio from their connected computer directly to their connected smart mobile device while accessing the topside Smartphone Input Level control (to adjust the audio input level to the smart mobile device) and Master level control (which will adjust the output level of both the Duo22 Live’s line outputs and the 3.5mm stereo output). On top of that, the front panel-positioned Mon button switches between monitoring the connected smart mobile device with the connected computer’s audio signal or only the connected computer’s audio signal, while the front panel-positioned LLB (Live Loopback Button) loops back to the connected smart mobile device’s audio output to its input for live session purposes.
It is as easy as hooking up a condenser or dynamic microphone and a guitar or bass and — using the front panel-positioned potentiometers to control the Mic in and Guitar In connections. Pressing the top panel-positioned Monitor button allows for direct monitoring of the input — microphone or instrument — signal through headphones without computer processing and with zero-latency while recording. Indeed, iCON Pro Audio’s rugged aluminum-constructed, compact Duo22 Live’s dual connectivity is designed to enhance mobile live streams, podcasts, or videos.
The Duo44 Live, on the other hand, a bigger brother effectively expanding on the concept in both its higher ‘numerical naming’ and increased connectivity count as a four-input/four-output USB recording interface also aimed at musicians, performers, and producers who want to incorporate a mobile device into their set up — this time for full-duplex simultaneous recording and playback.
There are dual mic/instrument preamps accessed via front panel-positioned hybrid connectors (that accept a standard three-pin XLR plug or a quarter-inch balanced TS connector) alongside potentiometers to control the input level of each of the associated analogue microphone/instrument inputs, while the rear panel also includes MIDI I/O on standard five-pin DIN connectors to allow adventurous Duo44 Live users to also work with, say, keyboard controllers.
The Master level potentiometer (to control the master output level of the analogue outputs) is also sited on the front panel, while the topside- sited singular Monitor knob allows for direct monitoring (eliminating the latency or delay inherent in even the best internal circuitry while listening to the input and existing tracks) when turned clockwise and ‘computer’ monitoring (complete with effects while recording by using extremely low-latency ASIO monitoring) when turned anti-clockwise.
Further flexibility abounds as Duo22 Live and Duo44 Live are both equipped with a +5V DC power supply connector, enabling external power to be supplied when working with a USB-connected iPad, for example, so no need, necessarily, to work with a computer-hosted DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
Price and availability
The iCON Pro Audio Duo22 Live has been priced at $119.99 and Duo44 Live costs $169.99; and both are now available to buy on Bhphotovideo.com and Amazon.com websites.
Last week, Focusrite and Avid also introduced new products including Focusrite RedNet A16R MkII and RedNet D16R MkII with clean conversion and high-quality audio, but have been equipped with level controls for each input and output channel. And Avid Pro Tools Carbon is based on seamless integration with Pro Tools and internal DSP technology.
