One by Apogee
There are so many sound cards and boxes on the market, and most of them are great - but choosing the best sound card is a different matter. Apogee has been one of the leading brands for years and has built, therefore, a reputation for making the best sounding digital convertors on the planet. With this pristine track record their latest small interface Apogee One could definitely be a contender for your money.
Apogee One connects to your Mac via USB and is compatible with all the standard Apple applications such as GarageBand and Logic. It also plays nicely with Ableton Live, Cubase & Digital Performer. And works happily with any app that uses Core Audio on a Mac. What's insteresting, however, is that Apogee have chosen not to support Windows with this unit. It has one stereo output which can drive headphones or a set of powered monitors, and an input socket designed for the supplied 'breakout' cable. This can run microphones (including condensers needing phantom power) and instrument level inputs. There's also a large silver knob that controls various settings - it looms large on the front of this tiny interface - but the most interesting design feature is the inclusion of an internal condenser microphone. This transforms Apogee One into a USB microphone, and is ideal for producers who are looking to get high quality recordings out on the road.
The mic sounds very good for its size, could easily capture great quality sound in a rehearsal room or gig, and with Apogee's excellent digital convertors you're getting some of the best results you can expect in the sub £1000 market.
With an asking price of 249USD/187GBP, this a great little interface for anyone seeking high quality results with no fuss.
Written by: Steve Hillier
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