Finding the ‘right’ audio, MIDI or audio+MIDI interface for your iOS-based music system can be quite a challenge. There are lots of contenders, each with a different specification and a different price, but finding the combination of both that happens to tick all your own personal boxes is often quite tricky.
If you are happy with an audio-only interface and want something that is both compact and capable of very good audio quality, then
Focusrite’s iTrack Solo audio interface – which I reviewed on the blog some time ago – remains a good bet.
The iTrack One Pro – a very compact audio interface for iOS.
However, for those looking for something (even more!) compact, might be interested in the new offering from Focusrite; the iTrack One Pre. This rather cool looking little cube provides a single audio in channel and, via the combi-style input jack, it is capable of supporting both a guitar signal or working with a microphone. And, if required, it can also draw power from your iOS hardware to drive phantom power for your condenser microphone.
A dedicated cable connects the hardware to your iOS device via the Lightning port. Monitoring of your audio is performed via your standard iOS hardware headphone socket which will, of course, work fine providing you don’t use an iPhone 7 (doh!). Rather neatly, the base of the unit features a suction base so, when used on a flat surface, it should stay put…. no more interface disappearing off the table under the weight of the cables plugged in :-)
The base of the unit includes a suction system for improved stability in use.
The One Pre is launched at a suggested price of €139 (so I assume a similar US$ price and a UK£ price of around UK£120 given current exchange rates?). Anyway, given Focusrite’s well-deserved reputation for audio quality, we can probably expect the audio performance to be pretty good….. and, as soon as I can organise, I’ll get my hands on a review unit and test that for myself. Until then, you can find more information on the
Focusrite website….
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