Published 23/6/09
Rock-steady & road-ready
The ULN8 is the latest addition to Metric Halo’s range of audio interfaces. Building on the success of the ULN2 and Mobile I/O — considered some of the most stable and highly specified audio interfaces for use in the studio and on the road — the new model looks like it should live up to the high expectations.
It's got 16 inputs and 16 outputs in total (eight analogue and eight digital in each direction) and all 16 channels can be sent to and from the host computer at sample rates up to 192kHz. Mic- and line-level signals can both be connected to the analogue inputs, and separate multi-channel D-Sub connections enable both kinds of signal to be simultaneously wired to the unit. Inputs 1+2 also have DI inputs on the front panel, for hooking up instruments quickly and easily.
Generous 15-step meters give high-resolution visual feedback for the eight analogue inputs and outputs, with ‘channel present’ LEDs for the four pairs of digital ins and outs. What’s more, “meter on knob” LEDs show signal levels in a ring around the trim pots.
The device can be run in stand-alone mode, acting as an A-D/D-A converter, where on-board DSP takes care of routing and monitoring, and the unit can be controlled remotely, using the MIDI bus to send control data (apparently, you can even plug a MIDI-enabled Mackie Control straight into it!).
Other features include “archival-grade” converters, “boutique-quality” mic preamps, and a variable Character setting on each channel that Metric Halo say gives the user the choice to alter the sound of the preamp “from ultra clean to nice and gooey”.
Power for the ULN8 can be provided by one of two sources: a mains adaptor terminating in a special four-pin XLR, or from a 12V supply such as a car battery or similar, for location work. Connection to computer is via Firewire, and there are two six-pin Firewire 400 sockets for daisy-chaining additional ULN8s, or linking a hard drive to the same Firewire bus as the interface.
The UL8 can be synchronised to a master clock by jack sockets that send and receive SMPTE time code, or by conventional BNC word clock connectors. For more information (there’s too much to mention in the news pages), head to Metric Halo’s web site. In the UK, the Metric Halo ULN8 costs £4598 including VAT.
SCV London +44 (0)208 418 1470
www.scvlondon.co.uk
www.mhlabs.com
It's got 16 inputs and 16 outputs in total (eight analogue and eight digital in each direction) and all 16 channels can be sent to and from the host computer at sample rates up to 192kHz. Mic- and line-level signals can both be connected to the analogue inputs, and separate multi-channel D-Sub connections enable both kinds of signal to be simultaneously wired to the unit. Inputs 1+2 also have DI inputs on the front panel, for hooking up instruments quickly and easily.
Generous 15-step meters give high-resolution visual feedback for the eight analogue inputs and outputs, with ‘channel present’ LEDs for the four pairs of digital ins and outs. What’s more, “meter on knob” LEDs show signal levels in a ring around the trim pots.
The device can be run in stand-alone mode, acting as an A-D/D-A converter, where on-board DSP takes care of routing and monitoring, and the unit can be controlled remotely, using the MIDI bus to send control data (apparently, you can even plug a MIDI-enabled Mackie Control straight into it!).
Other features include “archival-grade” converters, “boutique-quality” mic preamps, and a variable Character setting on each channel that Metric Halo say gives the user the choice to alter the sound of the preamp “from ultra clean to nice and gooey”.
Power for the ULN8 can be provided by one of two sources: a mains adaptor terminating in a special four-pin XLR, or from a 12V supply such as a car battery or similar, for location work. Connection to computer is via Firewire, and there are two six-pin Firewire 400 sockets for daisy-chaining additional ULN8s, or linking a hard drive to the same Firewire bus as the interface.
The UL8 can be synchronised to a master clock by jack sockets that send and receive SMPTE time code, or by conventional BNC word clock connectors. For more information (there’s too much to mention in the news pages), head to Metric Halo’s web site. In the UK, the Metric Halo ULN8 costs £4598 including VAT.
SCV London +44 (0)208 418 1470
www.scvlondon.co.uk
www.mhlabs.com
