Apogee Symphony I/O Thunderbolt Audio Interface // Home Studio Upgrade #3

[@lukedavismusic]

This is fantastic!! This is the exact Apogee setup i'm looking to get when our house is finished being built!

[@criptocolorlightstech5292]

stop the cap '''

[@AndrewMasters]

Thanks dude!

[@vewilli]

What a musician, Logic specialist, and and and …, this Joshua Carney! 👍🏻💪🏻👏🏻

[@rome8180]

This is all so far over my head and budget. It gives me a headache just to think about. I'm not sure why I'm watching this video, but I still enjoyed it.

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it! There are definitely many great interface options, with 8 channels, at 1/4 this budget.

[@djmmjd3]

Love your work & updates, Josh! Also love Apogee, their products, and integration with Logic & Apple. But that is one expensive option for what you're using as an 8x8 line/mic ADAT device. You're a pro though and I'm here for the journey, you do you brother!

[@paulsmith1807]

great review. I've been using Apogee converters for about 25 years - I like them ;-)

[@beyondmywildestdreams6942]

Amazing...amazing video!

[@JesusArmasOficial]

Such an amazing video! Well thought out and put together. If I may ask, what configuration would you recommend to someone that’s looking forward to invest in a console and this Symphony I/O is on the list for the conversion side of things? I’m planning on an Audient ASP4816-HE. This is an in-line console and it has 48 inputs and 16 mic pre. Looking forward to hearing/reading your suggestions.

[@ThomasPenninger]

That’s sick!

[@mitchellchurch3385]

Love the intro music.

[@dspoet1]

When you daisy chain the two, does it show up in the software?

[@ModernArtProductions]

Great Interface! Does it deliver tube coloring or autotune as a monitoring effect like UAD interfaces do?

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

The Symphony IO. No. The Symphony desktop. Yes. You can choose different mic preamp models on the desktop unit. No auto tune though. Although auto tune does have a low latency mode now where you can monitor with the effect.

[@goldensleeves]

Nice review!

[@italrecordsportal]

Great vid. I have both a desktop and IO and is thinking of connecting them via ADAT. Question, why wouldn’t you use the IO clock given its better than the clock in the desktop? Trying to get a better grasp of adat as I don’t want to degrade the quality of my IO MK2. Cheers!!!

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

Great question. You are correct that the clock is better in the Symphony I/O. I considered that approach as well, but that would put all of my default monitoring paths on the symphony I/O instead of the desktop unit, and I would have to keep the Symphony I/O on at all times, in order to do anything. Because the I/O would be the main unit, and the Desktop would be the satellite unit. My approach now is I keep just the desktop unit on almost all the time, and use inputs 1-2 and outputs 1-2 for most things (recording my voice for KZbin videos, in the box mixing, editing, tracking DI guitar parts, single track recording, etc.). The controls on the desktop are right in front of me at all times, so it's easy to dial in settings while I'm sitting at my desk. The symphony desktop outputs to to my monitoring system as well, but originally I was also using it as a monitor controller, so that was another reason why. So I can basically just turn off the Symphony I/O, except when I need it, which is for multi-track recording, and using my mixing hardware. At some point in the near future though, I'm going to just buy another Symphony I/O card to get 8-16 more channels, get the external Symphony I/O controller Apogee has, and then get rid of the desktop unit completely.

[@italrecordsportal]

@@MusicTechHelpGuy thanks for the detailed reply. I also have the controller and was wondering If I really need the desktop. My thought process of getting the desktop was to connect it to the computer while the IO is connected via ADAT - would I not be able to use the IO converters as master even though its not connected to the computer? Just don’t want a setup that is going to degrade the quality of what’s coming in/out of the IO. I’m an idiot when it comes to ADAT. I tested the headphone amp on the IO and it was miles ahead of the desktop. I would like to connect both device but use the desktop for its preamps and FX which I think I can route to the adat channels on the IO. The IO would then be used for monitoring with FX and headphone while tracking from an external Blue Robbie preamp, and also for playback - is this possible?

[@SH-jv5uf]

Hi Great Review. Question: Since Symphony IO has thunderbolt 2 and the Mac Sudio is Thunderbolt 4, does using an adapter to connect the two devices cause potential issues with latency?

[@alphasupreme7167]

Hi I'm new to the analog gear world but can you help out if I would record vocals with my Neve newton channel on the apogee symphony mk2 should I use line level?

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

If you are using an external mic preamp like the Neve Newton, you will not need to use MIC level. You can just use Line Level for your input on the symphony I/O. The mic preamp takes mic level signal the steps it up to line level on output.

[@ChiaraLuzzana]

Very great video. Just a stupid question: it works with Cubase or Studio One or got some limitation?

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

It can work with any DAW if you get one of the thunderbolt card options. If you get the Pro Tools HD or Soundgrid options, they will only work with those platforms.

[@ChiaraLuzzana]

@@MusicTechHelpGuy Thank you so much

[@ChiaraLuzzana]

@@MusicTechHelpGuy I forgot to ask you if the Symphony works well with M1 Mac

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

@@ChiaraLuzzana Yes, there is an additional driver for M1 you'll have to download on the Apogee website though.

[@ChiaraLuzzana]

@@MusicTechHelpGuy You are great! Thank you

[@brianweik8001]

Great Review. Been following your channel for years. Really appreciate the content. Just curious, how does the conversion quality compare between the Symphony I/O and the Desktop? Are the in the same league? Is there a difference? I own the symphony desktop and it sounds fantastic. I also own an older Symphony I/O (Mk 1). It still sounds great and works flawlessly (credit to apogee) after years of use.

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

In my opinion the conversion is very similar. However, according to the Apogee folks, the Symphony I/O's conversion (and stock preamps) are slightly better just due to the less compact design. I think the chips are the same, but the analog input and output is slightly different. Despite that, I don't hear a noticeable difference between the Desktop and IO versions. Thanks!

[@hcjoemusic]

Hey! Really nice video with useful information! I have some questions if I may. I am currently using Symphony Desktop and I want to upgrade it to MK 2 2X6 Module. Obviously I need to connect my Symphony as you did with MK2. But my OS is Windows. So is the best purchase for me the Thunderbolt option even when I am using Windows? Also with this configuration I am going to be using Symphony as a mic pre and MK2 as the AD/DA conversion right?

[@cwpa8]

As always a great review. Please make an episode on power conditioners. I can see, there's a Furman you are using. How to decide which is the one for your studio ?

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

Power conditioners are pretty much a dime a dozen for me. I'm not really too partial on them. I typically go wit Furman and Middle Atlantic because they are fairly cheap and affordable. I used to swear by Monster Power conditioners, but after I had 2 of them go bad, I stopped buying them. I although, they were nice because they showed the incoming voltage on the front. When used to live in an old house with weird power fluctuations it was really help to know how far off from 120V I was. Furman M-8x is a great, affordable unit though.

[@cwpa8]

Thanks a lot for the quick reply. I will surely look into Furman M8x.

[@JuanNungaray]

Apogee is great but wait till you hear the Burl B80 Mothership 🤩🔥🤩

[@realtalkroscoeg]

everyone says this

[@chadfayrobinson7537]

Does the HD work with windows ??

[@Pheekofc]

damn it sounds good

[@Kranque01]

Hi, Love your YTs!! Q: Have you found a way to control mic levels directly from within Logic's Mixer or Control Surface (I have the Avid Artist Mix [Euphonix] on ethernet) when recording tracks? ... I have two maxed-out MKIIs (Daisy-Thunderbolt, [a total of 32 mic pres).. Note: I can ONLY adjust recording levels from either the Apogee Control Software (in Mac) or the MKII's Touch display, or the Apogee Hardware control (via USB)...

[@babylittlebaby]

do you use oversampled converter like RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE or just symphony mark 2? thanks

[@jonathondeiley]

have you heard anything about the modules being included on Apogee's EOL (end of life) statement? apparently the cards are no longer being made?

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

I'm not 100% sure about that. According to Apogee's website these are still their flagship converter in production. They are still available new on Sweetwater as well?

[@missepicmandy]

This thing is very good actually. The expensive the better 😂. You really get what you pay for.. this one makes mix very professional sounding

[@willmcelroy6376]

How close does symphony desktop sound , compared to the symphony mkii io? Do they sound the exact same?

[@bowen748]

Is there any latency management worth discussing?

[@VallyTheHitman]

Hey bro, are you using aggregate device for the Symphony desktop + Symphony Mkll?

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

Nope, just ADAT in and out between the units. My Mac and DAW recognize the symphony desktop with 8 additional inputs and outputs.

[@itawiho9031]

How to use symphony desktop as a monitor controller to control the second monitor set？ I think the optical out cannot change volume.

[@GiacomoArdesi]

Like a boss.

[@confessionsofahandyman]

@musictechhelpguy do you notice a big difference in a/d & d/a between the symphony desktop and symphony I/o? Apogee says the conversion is “similar”, what’s your experience. Keep up the great work!

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

No, not really. They sound identical to me in a practical setting. The SD-MP preamp model within the Desktop is supposed to be a faithful recreation of the Symphony IO preamp. I think the chips are the same, but the analog front end and back end is slightly different, because of the form factor. But if there is a difference I can't really tell.

[@criptocolorlightstech5292]

l.m.a.o they where jamming i felt like a rock star for a minute lol'''

[@andrewrodriguez1467]

What’s that weird software that you used for it and does this work with fl studio?

[@minutem1914]

I'm trying to figure out the same thing...does it?

[@MrLSkidmore]

Considering how few words I understood I should probably stick with using a 4-track.

[@Sicolirics]

excellent review Can someone tell me how I connect this module to the input of my Windows11? Is there any way to do it? I want to compose and record with the Symphony IO MkII

[@shevyjohn9308]

bro i’m trading in my lynx hilo and antelope discrete 8 sc for this i can’t wait i will be using it with my never orbit summing board maag eq and dangerous compressor

[@JimboJones99]

How did you go. Did you change over the Symphony MKII SE ? Or did you get the non-SE version

[@shevyjohn9308]

@@JimboJones99 i got the mk2 non SE and its still better than sounding i wil get thr SE later just way better and floser to the source

[@JimboJones99]

@@shevyjohn9308 so just confirming … you’re saying the non-se version sounds better than your Lynx hilo?

[@allkindsofthings673]

Overpriced Mac only with thunderbolt 2. What a joke

[@philipbard2333]

Could you explain to me what advantage would be gained with Thunderbolt 3 in an audio interface?

[@allkindsofthings673]

@@philipbard2333 you don't need thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 adapter. Thunderbolt 4, which is the new standard, don't work with thunderbolt 2 in many occasions.

[@LeeBlaske]

@@philipbard2333 Having to use an adapter is an extra cost, an extra thing to forget, and an additional possible failure point.