Apogee Symphony Desktop

Symphony Desktop for Mac, iPad pro and Windows packs the legendary sound quality of Apogee’s rack-mount Symphony I/O Mk II into an elegant and inspiring 10×14 audio interface that sits on your desk and fits in your bag. With Symphony Desktop, musicians and producers are empowered to record, overdub and mix with the music industry’s most respected AD/DA converters and mic preamps.

By combining superior performance, with new features like mic preamp emulation, the Symphony ECS Channel Strip plugin and ultra low latency recording with hardware DSP and Apogee native FX plugins, Symphony Desktop will amplify your creativity in your studio or on the go and give your recordings the Apogee sound quality Advantage.

A/D Conversion - Faithfully Capture Every Nuance
Similar to Symphony I/O MkII, Symphony Desktop’s analog-to-digital convertor stage features ultra-low distortion, high-slew rate, fully differential analog op-amps plus a cutting edge A/D convertor in a performance-enhancing dual-sum configuration. Create with the confidence that every nuance of your analog input is faithfully reproduced in the digital domain.

D/A Conversion - A Widescreen Window Into Your Mix
Symphony Desktop’s digital-to-analog stage employs brand new technology to provide uncompromising Symphony DAC performance in a portable product, including a robust ultra-low distortion, high-current output driver. Regardless of downstream connections, Symphony Desktop provides a transparent, widescreen window into the sonic landscape of your mix. 

Mic Preamps - Superior Performance + Alloy Preamp Emulations
At the core of the input stage, are Symphony Desktop’s mic preamps offering up to 75dB of gain. The preamp design features Apogee’s unique Advanced Stepped Gain Architecture which ensures ultra-low noise and distortion regardless of the source, from pounding kick drum to delicate fingerpicking on an acoustic guitar. With variable impedance settings on both mic and instrument inputs, Symphony Desktop optimizes the input stage to better match your specific devices, for deep lows and clear highs. Selectable Apogee Alloy mic preamp emulations adds character, attitude and maybe a bit of grit to your recordings.

Headphone Outputs
Symphony Desktop has two completely independent ultra low impedance headphone outputs, individually routable, both equipped with dual-sum ESS DACs. Output power range is tailored to  the expected type of headphones: the front panel output can drive virtually any headphones, while the rear panel output is specifically tailored for high-efficiency headphones.

Apogee Alloy Mic Preamp emulation processing gives you the warmth and tone of coveted analog preamps.
The Apogee Alloy Mic Preamp (AMP) emulation offers analog circuitry plus DSP processing to create the richest, most authentic audio modelling available in an audio interface. Critical aspects of the model such as input impedance, transient profile and distortion characteristics are first implemented in the analog domain, followed by precise and accurate refinement in DSP, for a hybrid result that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

British Solid State - Class A Console Sound
Inspired by the Marinar “Round can” input transformer and discrete transistor design of our Class A Neve 1066 mic preamp, this emulation gives you the sonic weight and smooth transient response of the hardware. Push the level for increased width and punch.

American Tube - Lush, 50s Tone
Symphony Desktop’s digital-to-analog stage employs brand new technology to provide uncompromising Symphony DAC performance in a portable product, including a robust ultra-low distortion, high-current output driver. Regardless of downstream connections, Symphony Desktop provides a transparent, widescreen window into the sonic landscape of your mix.

Hardware DSP and Native Plugin FX - Run Apogee’s premium plugins on Symphony Desktop and in your DAW, No Hardware Required.
Obsessively crafted by the same team that designs all Apogee hardware and software products, Apogee FX are premium plugins that run on the hardware DSP in Symphony Desktop or as native plugins on your computer. From visually modern interfaces that allow you to precisely shape and contour your sound to meticulously modeled vintage hardware so accurate it has been endorsed by the hardware manufacturer, Apogee plugins will quickly find their way into your daily recording tool kit.

Symphony ECS Channel Strip Plugin - Tuned by Bob Clearmountain
Included with Symphony Desktop is the Symphony ECS Channel Strip plugin. Tuned by Bob Clearmountain, Symphony ECS includes EQ, Compression and Saturation controls that let you create the optimal blend of channel FX for tracking vocals or acoustic instruments.

Print, Monitor, DualPath Link And Native Workflows
Symphony ECS gives you the full range of Apogee workflow options. For zero latency tracking, you can print through it as you record or set up a DualPath Link for monitoring and print later when you mix. Or simply use Symphony ECS as a native plugin in your DAW, no Apogee hardware required.

Symphony Desktop Goes With Your Flow
When you’re recording and listening to your performance, you want inspiring sound quality, ease-of-use and no delay or latency in your headphones. With Symphony Desktop and Apogee FX, there’s no need to adapt your creative workflow to the restrictions of your audio interface and plugins, you choose the way you want to work.

Print FX Rack - Monitor with Zero Latency and Print with Plugins while you Record.
With Print FX active you can record Apogee FX Plugins directly from the hardware DSP in Symphony Desktop to the corresponding channel in your DAW with zero latency while tracking.

Monitor FX Rack - Monitor with Zero Latency While you Record – Print Plugins Later.
With Monitor FX active, you have ultimate flexibility with Apogee FX plugins. You can monitor with zero latency and dial in an inspiring sound when you are tracking without printing FX.

Monitor FX Rack with DualPath Link - Ultimate Workflow. - Monitor and control input features and plugin settings directly from your DAW.
The most powerful and streamlined Symphony Desktop workflow option is Monitor FX with DualPath Link™. Simply open the Apogee Channel FX plugin on the track you’re recording to and link to the corresponding Symphony Desktop input to control all settings directly from your DAW, no other software required. DualPath Link technology sends your audio through the plugin on the hardware DSP in Symphony Desktop while you are recording and seamlessly switches to run the plugin in the DAW on your computer when you are playing your track back. The result is the most flexible, efficient and inspiring plugin recording workflow available.

Simple, Seamless Control from Device To DAW - Featuring an Intuitive and Immersive Touch Screen Interface.
With Symphony Desktop you have a range of intuitive hardware and software control options. From the touch screen and control knob on the device, to the control app on your computer to the focused input and monitor control plugin for your DAW, you can easily access the settings you need to stay in your creative groove.

Designed to Redefine - Professional Portable Recording.
Like its iconic cousins Duet and Quartet, Symphony Desktop embodies an elegant aesthetic and intuitive user interface designed to compliment your studio and inspire your creativity. The streamlined form factor packs Symphony I/O grade rack-mount performance into a compact recording companion that looks great on your desk and the die cast aluminum chassis and treated glass touch screen are rugged and resilient enough for the road.