I originally purchased this unit to use for a remote recording session but I liked it so much, I ended up using it to replace my main interface in my studio. I was initially skeptical that having a unit with so called "high end" converters would effect the sound as much as it does but after A/B it with my studio interface, there's no doubt the ID44 sounds more detailed. So much to the degree where I felt like I needed to remix my current project using the ID44. Also, it's worth noting that the other interface I replaced was not cheap and is considered a high end professional audio interface.
I'm on Windows 10 so drivers and latency are always a concern but the ID44's drivers seem very stable and efficient. I'm a professional composer and write music for a living so I had to extensively test the unti's latency and driver stability within my writing template before relying on it for projects. I did some "apples to apples" testing comparing the ID44s round-trip latency (which my DAW reports) against my high end PCIe Interface and another high end USB interface. The ID44 performed much better than the other USB interface (similar CPU load but reported 3ms better latency figures). And even when comparing it to the PCIe based interface --which PCIe has a much higher bandwidth than USB, it performed on par in both CPU load and reported latency at sample buffers of 128 and below. To me, this means these drivers were well written. I am running an I9 9900K and am connecting the ID44 using the USBC port on my PC. It's not a slow computer but definitely not the fastest money can buy.
As for features, you can listen to samples and watch reviews online, but I will add that the pre-amps are transparent, detailed, and very quiet even at high gain. I tested the pres with ribbon mics and there is definitely enough clean gain for most sources. Acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and vocals all sounded great. I still might reach for my AEA Ribbon Pre on pin drop recordings but using passive mics on most sources should be fine. Also worth mentioning, the ID44 has a balanced input jack that bypasses the preamp circuit so you can use external preamps and take the signal straight to the converters without adding in any color from the on board pres. Not all interfaces totally bypass the preamp circuit so this is a nice feature and I think it's worth mentioning.
One drawback for me about the interface is that there are only 4 outputs so if you need to do surround mixing, you'd need to use the ADAT IO. But, the fact that they give you two separate ADAT I/O banks really makes the unit expandable and more future proof.
The monitor section of the interface is very flexible and anyone who's doing a lot of recording will appreciate it's flexibility (and ease of customizing). I need to mention that there is no on board talk-back mic. While the software has a nice feature that allows you to assign your built in computer mic or any mic as a talk-back, I definitely feel it would have been much nicer to have a built in mic on the unit. But it's a small complaint. All and all, I am very happy I purchased this interface.
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019
I'm on Windows 10 so drivers and latency are always a concern but the ID44's drivers seem very stable and efficient. I'm a professional composer and write music for a living so I had to extensively test the unti's latency and driver stability within my writing template before relying on it for projects. I did some "apples to apples" testing comparing the ID44s round-trip latency (which my DAW reports) against my high end PCIe Interface and another high end USB interface. The ID44 performed much better than the other USB interface (similar CPU load but reported 3ms better latency figures). And even when comparing it to the PCIe based interface --which PCIe has a much higher bandwidth than USB, it performed on par in both CPU load and reported latency at sample buffers of 128 and below. To me, this means these drivers were well written. I am running an I9 9900K and am connecting the ID44 using the USBC port on my PC. It's not a slow computer but definitely not the fastest money can buy.
As for features, you can listen to samples and watch reviews online, but I will add that the pre-amps are transparent, detailed, and very quiet even at high gain. I tested the pres with ribbon mics and there is definitely enough clean gain for most sources. Acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and vocals all sounded great. I still might reach for my AEA Ribbon Pre on pin drop recordings but using passive mics on most sources should be fine. Also worth mentioning, the ID44 has a balanced input jack that bypasses the preamp circuit so you can use external preamps and take the signal straight to the converters without adding in any color from the on board pres. Not all interfaces totally bypass the preamp circuit so this is a nice feature and I think it's worth mentioning.
One drawback for me about the interface is that there are only 4 outputs so if you need to do surround mixing, you'd need to use the ADAT IO. But, the fact that they give you two separate ADAT I/O banks really makes the unit expandable and more future proof.
The monitor section of the interface is very flexible and anyone who's doing a lot of recording will appreciate it's flexibility (and ease of customizing). I need to mention that there is no on board talk-back mic. While the software has a nice feature that allows you to assign your built in computer mic or any mic as a talk-back, I definitely feel it would have been much nicer to have a built in mic on the unit. But it's a small complaint. All and all, I am very happy I purchased this interface.
Verified Purchase
This is a Studio Level Interface in Every Way!
By Mike R on July 6, 2019
I originally purchased this unit to use for a remote recording session but I liked it so much, I ended up using it to replace my main interface in my studio. I was initially skeptical that having a unit with so called "high end" converters would effect the sound as much as it does but after A/B it with my studio interface, there's no doubt the ID44 sounds more detailed. So much to the degree where I felt like I needed to remix my current project using the ID44. Also, it's worth noting that the other interface I replaced was not cheap and is considered a high end professional audio interface.By Mike R on July 6, 2019
I'm on Windows 10 so drivers and latency are always a concern but the ID44's drivers seem very stable and efficient. I'm a professional composer and write music for a living so I had to extensively test the unti's latency and driver stability within my writing template before relying on it for projects. I did some "apples to apples" testing comparing the ID44s round-trip latency (which my DAW reports) against my high end PCIe Interface and another high end USB interface. The ID44 performed much better than the other USB interface (similar CPU load but reported 3ms better latency figures). And even when comparing it to the PCIe based interface --which PCIe has a much higher bandwidth than USB, it performed on par in both CPU load and reported latency at sample buffers of 128 and below. To me, this means these drivers were well written. I am running an I9 9900K and am connecting the ID44 using the USBC port on my PC. It's not a slow computer but definitely not the fastest money can buy.
As for features, you can listen to samples and watch reviews online, but I will add that the pre-amps are transparent, detailed, and very quiet even at high gain. I tested the pres with ribbon mics and there is definitely enough clean gain for most sources. Acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and vocals all sounded great. I still might reach for my AEA Ribbon Pre on pin drop recordings but using passive mics on most sources should be fine. Also worth mentioning, the ID44 has a balanced input jack that bypasses the preamp circuit so you can use external preamps and take the signal straight to the converters without adding in any color from the on board pres. Not all interfaces totally bypass the preamp circuit so this is a nice feature and I think it's worth mentioning.
One drawback for me about the interface is that there are only 4 outputs so if you need to do surround mixing, you'd need to use the ADAT IO. But, the fact that they give you two separate ADAT I/O banks really makes the unit expandable and more future proof.
The monitor section of the interface is very flexible and anyone who's doing a lot of recording will appreciate it's flexibility (and ease of customizing). I need to mention that there is no on board talk-back mic. While the software has a nice feature that allows you to assign your built in computer mic or any mic as a talk-back, I definitely feel it would have been much nicer to have a built in mic on the unit. But it's a small complaint. All and all, I am very happy I purchased this interface.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2020
Pros: Build quality is the first thing I noticed. The only plastic on this unit I can find are Neutrik inputs. Everything else—and I mean everything that I can see and feel, including the knobs—is metal. Looks and feels like Apple-influenced brushed aluminum. It’s heavy so don’t worry about plugging and unplugging cables that will cause the unit to move. (I once owned an old Focusrite Saffire interface—the original silverish, plasticky, non-red one—that weighed about 1 oz and would move all over the place if you plugged and unplugged cables. Man, did that thing suck, and it even died once and had to be sent back for repair, which totally turned me off to Focusrite ever again.)
The sound quality of the Audient is very good, but I couldn’t really tell that the output DAC is any better than my Line 6 Helix. I can tell you that my Helix had discernibly better DAC than my old Impact Twin, so that’s a good thing, because the Impact Twin didn’t sound bad at all. The headphone outputs are excellent—very loud at halfway with cheaper headphones. The headphone output is better than my Helix and definitely better than the old Impact Twin. Preamp sound quality is also excellent—much better than my previous Impact Twin and better than the Helix (preamp phantom power on my Helix died after about one week of usage, but I didn’t get too upset since it’s primarily a guitar processor); however, there is an issue with the preamps—see Cons for more.
Cons: I was surprised at how underpowered the preamps appear to be after all I read about them. They’re supposed to have 60 dB of gain, and maybe that’s true, but I had to hike the gain knob to 3-4 o’clock to begin to hear the output of my Rode NT1 in the headphones set at 12 o’clock. (And yes, phantom power is on before you ask.) Perhaps a compressor will help raise the input level, but I was kind of surprised after all the hype. Don’t see how these preamps could power a ribbon mic or SM7B without some external help. Also, I turned the gain all the way up and could hear audible noise at about 5 o’clock, so that gives you an idea of how hard I was having to push it. The input meter level appeared fine for recording, however, and maybe I’ll just need to learn to tweak everything better to level it out.
Another con is that the controls are parallel with my desk surface, which makes seeing what I’m doing tough; it would’ve been great if the top control panel was angled toward the user. The software is also a little wonky. It took me time to realize that clicking the ID icon didn’t open the app on my Mac. It opens a tiny control icon in the top menu bar that you must then use to open the app. Apart from that, the software is easy to use—easier and better looking than my old Impact Twin control software. The Audient doesn’t seem to cooperate fully when creating Aggregate Audio Devices on the Mac; it won’t route audio from my Helix via USB to play through the monitors the way my Impact Twin would. So I had to run separate cables from the Helix to Inputs 3-4 to monitor what I’m recording through Helix USB (don’t want to go through multiple DA/AD conversions).
Conclusion: I’m not unhappy with my purchase. Great sounding, high-quality interface for the price paid. Seemingly weak preamp output which surprised me. Ultimately, I think this is a great interface, and it certainly is backed by a lot of pro users. I will update here as I get more familiar with it and work out some of the kinks in my own workflow.
Verified Purchase
Really Awesome Sound, Preamps Seem a Tad Underpowered
By Sonic Deviant on June 6, 2020
There’s not much to dislike about the Audient ID44. I bought this to replace my 12-year old TC Electronic Impact Twin, which was a phenomenal interface for its time. (Sadly, TC Electronic no longer makes audio interfaces and stopped supporting the Impact Twin a few years ago.) The Audient ID44 is currently hard to find, which may be due to the COVID-19 phenomenon affecting production and shipping from China. I bought mine from Alto Music through Amazon; I usually buy most of my bigger music gear purchases through Sweetwater, but they weren’t getting any for about 2 more months! No complaints about Alto Music—shipped it right away and it arrived fine and in good condition.By Sonic Deviant on June 6, 2020
Pros: Build quality is the first thing I noticed. The only plastic on this unit I can find are Neutrik inputs. Everything else—and I mean everything that I can see and feel, including the knobs—is metal. Looks and feels like Apple-influenced brushed aluminum. It’s heavy so don’t worry about plugging and unplugging cables that will cause the unit to move. (I once owned an old Focusrite Saffire interface—the original silverish, plasticky, non-red one—that weighed about 1 oz and would move all over the place if you plugged and unplugged cables. Man, did that thing suck, and it even died once and had to be sent back for repair, which totally turned me off to Focusrite ever again.)
The sound quality of the Audient is very good, but I couldn’t really tell that the output DAC is any better than my Line 6 Helix. I can tell you that my Helix had discernibly better DAC than my old Impact Twin, so that’s a good thing, because the Impact Twin didn’t sound bad at all. The headphone outputs are excellent—very loud at halfway with cheaper headphones. The headphone output is better than my Helix and definitely better than the old Impact Twin. Preamp sound quality is also excellent—much better than my previous Impact Twin and better than the Helix (preamp phantom power on my Helix died after about one week of usage, but I didn’t get too upset since it’s primarily a guitar processor); however, there is an issue with the preamps—see Cons for more.
Cons: I was surprised at how underpowered the preamps appear to be after all I read about them. They’re supposed to have 60 dB of gain, and maybe that’s true, but I had to hike the gain knob to 3-4 o’clock to begin to hear the output of my Rode NT1 in the headphones set at 12 o’clock. (And yes, phantom power is on before you ask.) Perhaps a compressor will help raise the input level, but I was kind of surprised after all the hype. Don’t see how these preamps could power a ribbon mic or SM7B without some external help. Also, I turned the gain all the way up and could hear audible noise at about 5 o’clock, so that gives you an idea of how hard I was having to push it. The input meter level appeared fine for recording, however, and maybe I’ll just need to learn to tweak everything better to level it out.
Another con is that the controls are parallel with my desk surface, which makes seeing what I’m doing tough; it would’ve been great if the top control panel was angled toward the user. The software is also a little wonky. It took me time to realize that clicking the ID icon didn’t open the app on my Mac. It opens a tiny control icon in the top menu bar that you must then use to open the app. Apart from that, the software is easy to use—easier and better looking than my old Impact Twin control software. The Audient doesn’t seem to cooperate fully when creating Aggregate Audio Devices on the Mac; it won’t route audio from my Helix via USB to play through the monitors the way my Impact Twin would. So I had to run separate cables from the Helix to Inputs 3-4 to monitor what I’m recording through Helix USB (don’t want to go through multiple DA/AD conversions).
Conclusion: I’m not unhappy with my purchase. Great sounding, high-quality interface for the price paid. Seemingly weak preamp output which surprised me. Ultimately, I think this is a great interface, and it certainly is backed by a lot of pro users. I will update here as I get more familiar with it and work out some of the kinks in my own workflow.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2019
Verified Purchase
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Top reviews from other countries
DanceCommander
Solid old school feel and sound, modern specs.
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Javier
Muy buena
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Jordan R.
Buena calidad de audio
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👍
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