Apogee Electronics Ensemble 30 x 34 Thunderbolt Audio Interface

Combining design elements from the company’s other products, the Ensemble Thunderbolt Audio Interface from Apogee builds upon their reputation for high-gain preamplifier design and improves upon their transparent analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue conversion with the addition of an ultra-low latency 1.1 ms (96 kHz / 32 buffer) 32-bit playback Thunderbolt signal path.

For inputs, the 1U rack mountable interface features eight microphone preamps with up to 75 dB of available gain using the company’s Advanced Stepped Gain Circuitry – four rear panel XLR-3F connectors and four rear panel ¼” TRS/XLR-3F combo connectors. The preamps include line level Input channels 1 and 2 also included 1/4″ send and return loops.

The inputs include FET-based Soft-Limiting which can be enabled in the Apogee Control software and prevent digital clipping by instantaneously rounding off transient peaks before hitting the analogue-to-digital convertor. This allows several more decibels of apparent level to be recorded while also subtly proving an analogue-tape-like warmth to the sound. Inputs can be selected using the front panel’s grid of soft LED illuminated buttons. Pressing and holding the input select buttons will adjust parameters such as input type, +48v phantom power, Soft Limit, grouping, polarity invert, and hi-pass filtering.

The front panel features two Guitar I/O channels with class-A JFET inputs in a bootstrapping circuit design to reproduce the feel of vintage tube amplifiers and preserve the tone and high frequency response of connected instruments by providing an ultra-high impedance load. Beneath the front panel guitar inputs are a pair of dual mode re-amp outputs for connecting to external effect processors such as stomp boxes or guitar amplifiers.

The dual mode switching allows you to easily record your direct guitar signal while also listening through an amplifier. You can then play the recorded guitar signal back through the amplifier to adjust tonality and microphone placement.

A built-in microphone capsule within the interface can be used for archiving your session, recording a crushed room sound when tracking drums, or for talkback when tracking musicians. Rear panel Word Clock IN and OUT connectors enable syncing other digital audio gear to the interface’s high quality master clock.

For outputs the interface features 16 rear panel analogue outputs in the form of two balanced 1/4″ TRS monitor outputs and eight balanced line outputs on a D-Sub 25-pin connector. The front panel features two PurePower headphone outputs with separate volume controls for monitoring mixes. Monitoring can be configured between the two 1/4″ outputs, one of three stereo speaker sets, or a 5.1 surround system.

The speaker and headphone levels are controlled with the dedicated knobs on the unit’s front panel OLED display or with your Mac’s volume controls. Four configurable buttons labelled A, B, C, and D can be assigned using a software drop-down menu to functions such as muting outputs, dimming outputs, engaging talkback, engaging a speaker set, or clearing metres.

With the addition of the unit’s rear panel S/PDIF I/O and dual ADAT I/O connectors, the interface is capable of a total 30 inputs and 34 outputs. The interface also features optional direct hardware monitoring through the Apogee Control software, with only 0.6ms of latency (at 96 kHz with a 32-sample buffer).

The extraordinarily round trip latency of the convertor is made possible by a proprietary Thunderbolt driver that was built from the ground up for Mac OS X Mavericks. Even in sessions that require higher buffer settings for DSP requirements, the ultra-low latency of the interface prevents the compromise between power and speed.

The driver uses a 32-bit signal path from the output of the DAW into the unit’s ESS Sabre32 32-bit Hyperstream DAC with Time Domain Jitter eliminator for low distortion audio with significant headroom and dynamic range. The interface also employs a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine to more efficiently read and write data directly to Mac memory independently of the CPU.

Directly reading and writing a 32-bit signal from memory increases the driver’s efficiency, lowers latency, provides a higher resolution signal, and frees up more CPU power for plug-ins. Apogee-designed power regulators are used throughout the interface’s mic pre, A/D, and D/A circuitry for ultra-low noise operation.

The Ensemble Thunderbolt features the Apogee Control software with the Essentials Control Strip window, which offers extensive flexibility to customise your workflow and adapt to your creativity. The software lets you connect two Ensemble Thunderbolt interfaces to your Mac to double your analogue inputs and outputs, and connect any Apogee Element interface to expand your system with Ensemble-quality I/O.

The interface’s dual rear-panel Intel Thunderbolt ports allow you to connect multiple high bandwidth peripherals to your Mac such as hard drive arrays, video capture devices, and Thunderbolt monitors with up to 4k resolution from a single port. The interface is designed in California and assembled in the U.S.A.

Features
Custom Low Latency Driver
Enables 1.1ms round trip latency with a 96 kHz 32 buffer setting

32-Bit Signal Path
Provides improved headroom and dynamic range with reduced noise

Direct Memory Access Engine
Reads and writes data directly to Mac memory independent of the Mac CPU for lower latency, higher signal resolution, and more available CPU power for plug-ins

Dual Thunderbolt Ports
Expands system functionality by allowing multiple high bandwidth peripherals such as hard drive arrays, video capture devices, and Thunderbolt monitors up to 4 kHz in resolution

ESS Sabre32 DAC Technology
Uses 32-bit filter processing for significantly lower noise, distortion and artefacts

Time Domain Jitter Elimination
Removes clock inconsistencies from the incoming data so the converted analogue outputs preserve the clarity and soundstage details of the original source

Dynamically Optimised Mic Preamps
Utilises Apogee’s Advanced Stepped Gain architecture to provide a gain range of 0 to 75 dB with superior bandwidth and minimal distortion

Soft Limit Protection From Digital Overs
Uses a FET-based analogue design to prevent digital clipping by rounding off transient peaks before they hit the analogue-to-digital convertor and provide an analogue-tape-like warmth to the sound

Custom Power Regulation
Uses Apogee-designed power regulators for ultra-low-noise operation

Analogue Inputs
Features four combo (1/4″ and XLR) inputs as well as four XLR inputs for connecting up to eight microphones or a combination of instruments, external mic preamps, and other analogue audio devices

Line Level Bypass Relay
Allows the microphone preamplifier to be bypassed to preserve the purest unity gain signal path for line level sources

Analogue Outputs
Includes two balanced monitor outputs on 1/4″ TRS connectors and eight balanced line outputs on one D-Sub 25-pin connector

Headphone Outputs
Provides two independently controlled front panel headphone outputs for driving even high impedance headphones with ultra-low distortion throughout the level range

Guitar I/O
Enables direct connection of guitars and other instruments through two Class A JFET circuits to produce the feel and tone of vintage tube amps and the tone and high frequency response of connected instruments

Dual Mode Re-Amping
Allows you to record a direct guitar signal while listening through an amplifier, then play the recorded signal back through the amp to refine settings and microphone placement as well as connect external effect stomp boxes

Built-In Microphone
Allows you to capture ideas, archive sessions, record a crushed room sound, and perform talkback functions

Analogue Inserts
Enables integration of external hardware such as compressors or EQs in mono or a stereo pair

Digital I/O
Provides up to 18 channels of digital I/O in ADAT, SMUX, S/PDIF optical, and S/PDIF coaxial formats to expand the system with hardware synthesisers and digital effects

Wordclock
Allows for syncing to other digital audio gear and using the interfaces clock as a master

Dual High Resolution Displays
Shows visual feedback for recording and monitoring including levels, grouping, polarity, muting, phantom power, and soft limit on all inputs and outputs

LED-Illuminated Input Control Selection Buttons
Selects a desired input for recording and monitoring functions such as input type, +48V phantom power, Soft Limit, grouping, polarity invert, and hi-pass filter

Monitor/Output Controls
Allows for choosing between two 1/4″ monitor outputs, one of three stereo speaker sets, or a 5.1 surround sound system

Assignable Buttons A, B, C, and D
Allows assignment from a drop-down menu for functions such as engage talkback, mute outputs, dim outputs, sum to mono, clear metres, or engage speaker set

Speaker Set Selection
Switches between up to 3 pairs of speakers, allowing the interface to function as a monitor controller

Apogee Control Software
Modern, streamlined Apogee Control interface with Essentials Control Strip window – offers extensive flexibility to customise your workflow and adapt to your creativity

Real-time FX Send lets you use your DAW’s reverb and other effects with Apogee Control’s low-latency mixer

Select Ensemble built-in mic, analogue input or Mac’s built-in mic for talkback – activate via software to communicate with musicians over headphones

Configure the Main output for multi-speaker systems up to 9.1 surround

Connect two Ensemble Thunderbolt interfaces to your Mac to double your analogue inputs and outputs

Connect any Apogee Element interface and expand your system with Ensemble-quality I/O

Control unit with free Apogee Control Remote for iOS app (iPad, iPhone or iPod touch) – provides wireless control of the hardware settings included in the Apogee Control Essentials Window

Compatible with Apogee Control hardware remote (available separately)

Specifications
System Requirements Computer: Thunderbolt-equipped Mac (iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Pro)
Memory: 2 GB RAM Minimum, 4 GB recommended
OS: 10.9.3 or later
Connection: Any available Thunderbolt port on a Mac
Analogue Inputs 4x Combination mic/line/instrument inputs
2x 1/4″ balanced analogue inserts
4x XLR mic/line inputs
2x 1/4″ hi-Z guitar/instrument inputs with Class-A JFET input stage
Digital Inputs Optical In: Supports ADAT, SMUX & S/PDIF
ADAT: 16 channels 44.1-48 kHz on 2 TOSLINK connectors
SMUX: 8 channels 88.2-96 kHz on 2 TOSLINK connectors
S/PDIF: 4 channels, up to 96 kHz on 2 TOSLINK connectors
Coax In: 2 channels of S/PDIF, up to 192 kHz on 1 RCA connector
Word clock input on BNC connector
Built-In Microphone Mono, omnidirectional condenser capsule
Mic Preamps 8x Mic Preamps
Gain: Up to 75 dB and advanced stepped gain circuit design
Selectable 48 V phantom power, high-pass filter, Soft Limit and polarity invert
EIN: 129 dB (unweighted) @ 60 dB, 150 Ohms input
Max Input Level: +20 dBu
Input Impedance: 3 kOhms
Hi-Z Input Max Input Level: 14 dBu
Input Impedance: >2 MOhm
Insert Balanced Max Level: 20 dBu
Guitar Input Reamp Out (Impedance Balanced): Max Level: 14 dBu
Analogue Outputs 2x 1/4″ balanced monitor outputs
8x balanced outputs on 1 DSUB 25-pin connector
2x independent 1/4″ stereo headphone outputs
2x 1/4″ dual-mode guitar/instrument outputs
Digital Outputs Optical Out: Supports ADAT, SMUX & S/PDIF
ADAT: 16 channels 44.1-48 kHz on 2 TOSLINK connectors
SMUX: 8 channels 88.2-96 kHz on 2 TOSLINK connectors
S/PDIF: 4 channels, up to 96 kHz on 2 TOSLINK connectors
Coax Out: 2 channels of S/PDIF, up to 192 kHz on 1 RCA connector
Word clock Output on BNC connector
Connections 2x Thunderbolt 2 ports
Digital Audio Resolution 24-bit 192 kHz (max)
A/D Conversion Max Input Level: (+4 dBu ref): +20 dBu
Max Input Level: (-10 dBV ref): +6 dBv
Input Impedance: 5 kOhm
Frequency Response @ 44.1 kHz sample rate 10 to 20 kHz: +/- 0.2 dB
Relative THD + N: -110 dB
Dynamic Range: 119 dB (A-weighted)
D/A Conversion Max Output Level: (+4 dBu ref): +20 dBu
Max Output Level: (-10 dBV ref): +6 dBv
Line Output Impedance: 90 Ohm
Frequency Response @44.1 kHz sample rate 10-20 kHz: +/- 0.05 dB
Relative THD + N: -114 dB
Dynamic Range: 123 dB (A-weighted)

Headphone Max Output Level: 19 dBu
Headphone Relative THD+N into 600 Ohm: -109 dB
Headphone Dynamic Range: 120 dB (A-weighted)
Dimensions (W x D x H) 48.260 x 30.798 x 4.394 cm
Weight 5.058 kg