PreSonus Quantum 2????

[Pat BradleyParticipant]

Wondering if anyone has experience with the PreSonus Quantum 2. I was trying to decide between this and Apogee Element 46. It burns me that The Element 46 on has one set of pair of outputs. I have no way to physically compare the two. Around $800 is my budget which limits the thunderbolt choices. Open to other options you can suggest. I have a new Mac Pro and running Logic. Many Thanks!!!!

[face (chris) JantonParticipant]

Like the *new* MacPro7,1? or a new to you MacPro6,1 or MacPro5,1?

How many outputs do you need? want?
How many inputs do you need? want?

etc.

[Pat BradleyParticipant]

The new Mac Pro tower base model that just came out. I don’t even have it hooked up yet. I’m looking for 4 preamp inputs and outputs for two sets of speakers.

I currently have a Steinberg ur28m usb interface but I’m looking to upgrade to thunderbolt.

Thanks.

[Magnus EmilssonParticipant]

Hello Pat.

This annoyingly with not be an answer to your question. I don't have any experience with either interface, though I'm fairly sure both will sound just fine. My general experience with Apogee interfaces are great, they do produce excellent equipment. I have no experience with PreSonus interfaces, though today most interfaces are perfectly fine.

My main point is this instead, I would highly recommend to get a monitor controller or similar to switch between monitors, this will decouple the interface from such duties and make switching easier and depending on controller you can add more speakers/sources as you go along. Gives you a central monitoring point and frees up outputs that you might want to use to run signals out to HW. The presonus only has a volume control knob for the "main" output (1,2) and the apogee one has none.
Because in DAW's it's easy to switch outputs, but in many other pieces of software like system sound, 2 channel editors, etc. it is often not as straightforward and requires diving into sub menus and setting pages. This is my experience from before I got a monitor controller. If this will be a problem or not is up to you to decide.

Had I been you I would wait to upgrade the interface since the one you have is perfectly fine and a simple USB-C -> USB hub will do fine as a connection. Save up some money and get a bigger interface at a later date. Something like the Apollo X8p or Symphony 8x8 for example, which provides much greater flexibility for recording monitoring and such stuff.

Above is just my experience and nothing more.

/Magnus

[Pat BradleyParticipant]

Thanks for the info Magnus, not annoying at all. Is there a monitor control you recommend?

My current interface only has 2 Pres and it would be really nice to have 4 (signal from my pedal board, bypassed DI signal and a mic to catch some of the string sound for example). The latency has been a little annoying on my current one. But I’m also not in a rush to run out and get something immediately.

[face (chris) JantonParticipant]

With your current system there's probably no concern about CPU to drive plugins, so you shouldn't _have_ to go the UAudio route 😉
An Audient iD44 looks like it would be a very nice fit. 4 mic pres, multiple outputs with monitor control, plenty of expandability via ADAT for both input and output...not sure if the Audient has software device controls (very handy thing in Logic, if the interface supports it like the Apogee) if it does that's bonus.

[Pat BradleyParticipant]

As much as everyone raves about the apollo twin, I don't think it's right for me. I share music projects with my brother sending files back and forth when we collaborate and it's a pain if one of us has plugins that the other doesn't. I had started narrowing it down to PreSonus Quantum 2 and Apogee Element 46 because I was told that thunderbolt is the way to go. Is that not the case? Should I still be looking at USB? Again, I'm not in a rush to get something, just want to be armed when the time is right (assuming my current setup works well with the new mac.) Thanks for all the info! It would seem that everyone here is much more rational than what I see on gear sluts.

[Magnus EmilssonParticipant]

As for monitor controller I'm using my SSL X-Desk for that, but there are a load of worthwhile stuff. From about $200 to the moon. The Audient Nero has been getting good reviews.

The Apollo X4 would probably fit your needs well right now, but it's a lot of money for latency free monitoring (the you can put very good dynamics/effects on though) and I would save up to a Apollo X8, X8p or similar because then we are talking completely different beasts and the flexibility increases ten fold.
As for low latency monitoring, for that to work make sure to monitor without hitting the DAW first. Doesn't matter how fast a computer you get, if it has to go back and forth between the IO and the DAW it's going to be too slow and getting below 10 ms is pretty much impossible (due to drivers etc).

As for thunderbolt vs USB it makes a difference, but it is going to be super small with only 4 channels in and 2 out... it starts to make a real difference when you are sending 32 channels both in and out or doing DSP processing on the interface. Just make sure to not connect lots of other stuff to the same USB bus.

/Magnus

[Andrew (AKA Ajay)Participant]

Hi guys!

I'm currently running a Presonus Studio 192 interface which is USB 3.0. It has on-board DSP for latency free monitoring, allows for speaker mixing and monitor switching, I've been using it in my studio successfully for nearly three years with no problems. I was thinking about upgrading to the Quantum but the Studio 192 is going great so "If it ain't broke....."

I think the UA stuff is WAY over priced when you compare it to other interfaces, especially without their plugins!?

Being a total Presonus user both live and in the studio, I think you'd be very happy with the Quantum, or even a Studio 192 for that matter.
My other suggestion would be Audient iD44 coupled with an ASP800, you'd have a great system there!

Good luck Pat, please let me know how you get on!
Ajay

[Pat BradleyParticipant]

Thanks Ajay and Magnus! I'm realizing that the thing that really bugs me about the Steinberg I have is the software that comes with it. I avoid using it because it's so confusing. From what I can gather with the PreSonus Quantum 2 and Apogee Element 46, you work more directly with your DAW, which is how I prefer to work. The Apollo X8 looks great, but I can't ever imagine having the budget for it.

[Pat BradleyParticipant]

Hmmm... I just discovered the Quantum 2 was discontinued early this month, though there are plenty still available for sale. I don't know if that should matter in terms of tech support or product quality because the Quantum is still around. I was just a little surprised.

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