How do the Audient EVO 4 and EVO 8 audio interfaces stand out in a crowded market. What innovative features do these minimalist devices offer. Are they suitable for both beginners and professionals. How does the build quality compare to competitors.
Sleek Design and Aesthetic Appeal
The Audient EVO 4 and EVO 8 audio interfaces break away from traditional pro-audio aesthetics, embracing a more minimalist, hi-fi inspired design. These interfaces feature a single, large knob on the top surface, with flush-mounted buttons and connectors contributing to their streamlined appearance. The dark, almost faceless design is accentuated by dimly glowing white buttons against a cool black background, creating an intriguing visual effect.
One notable design element is the large, bright green button adorned with a microphone icon. While it may disrupt the otherwise cohesive aesthetic, it serves an important function that we’ll explore later in this review.
Tactile Experience and Illumination
The central knob offers a satisfying tactile experience with soft clicks as you rotate it. An eye-catching ring of white LEDs illuminates during operation, providing visual feedback before fading away, preserving the interface’s sleek appearance when not in use.
Build Quality and Durability Considerations
While the EVO 4 and EVO 8 have a substantial feel, there are some concerns regarding their overall durability:
- Plastic construction with a textured matte finish
- Noticeable flexing when squeezed firmly
- Front panel of the EVO 4 can unclip with strong pressure
- Less rigid compared to competitors like the Komplete Audio series or MOTU M2/M4
These interfaces should withstand normal use, but they may not be as resilient to accidental drops or rough handling as some alternatives on the market.
Connectivity and I/O Options
EVO 4 Specifications
The EVO 4 is a compact 2-in/2-out audio interface offering:
- 2 combo jack inputs (XLR/TRS) on the rear panel
- Support for microphone and line-level signals
- Front-panel Hi-Z input for guitar (channel 1)
- JFET transistor technology for enhanced guitar tone
- USB-C to USB-A cable included
EVO 8 Expanded Features
The EVO 8 builds upon the EVO 4’s foundation with increased I/O capabilities:
- 4 combo jack inputs (XLR/TRS)
- 4 line-level outputs (1/4″ TRS)
- Dual headphone outputs
- USB-C cable included (supports 48V phantom power for all inputs)
- Note: Using USB-C to USB-A adapter limits phantom power to 2 inputs when bus-powered
Innovative Features and User Experience
Smartgain Technology
The standout feature of both EVO interfaces is the Smartgain function, activated by the prominent green button. This intelligent system automatically sets optimal gain levels for microphone inputs:
- Press the green button to initiate Smartgain
- Select the desired input(s)
- Press the button again
- Perform or speak into the microphone(s)
- Smartgain analyzes the signal and sets the “perfect” gain
While manual gain adjustment is still possible, the effectiveness of Smartgain may make this unnecessary for many users.
Convenient Output Management
The EVO interfaces incorporate thoughtful output handling features:
- Automatic speaker muting when headphones are connected
- Ideal for home studio setups where monitoring and recording occur in the same room
- May be less convenient for larger multi-room studio configurations
It would be beneficial to have the option to disable this auto-muting feature for more flexibility in various recording scenarios.
Additional Control Features
The EVO interfaces offer some clever control options that enhance usability:
- Microphone input muting by holding the corresponding button briefly
- Stereo-linking of channels 1&2 or 3&4 (EVO 8) by pressing their buttons simultaneously
- These simple yet effective controls contribute to a streamlined workflow
Minimalist Design: Pros and Cons
The sleek, minimalist approach of the EVO interfaces presents both advantages and potential drawbacks:
Advantages
- Clean, uncluttered appearance
- Simplified control layout
- Focus on essential functions
Disadvantages
- Lack of at-a-glance visual feedback for settings
- Need to select inputs to view gain levels
- Potential learning curve for users accustomed to traditional interfaces
While the innovative design improves certain aspects of the audio interface workflow, it comes at the cost of immediate visual information that some users may find valuable.
Software Integration and Monitoring
To complement the hardware, Audient provides a well-designed mixer application for the EVO interfaces:
Key Software Features
- Clear, intuitive user interface
- Software control over hardware functions
- Direct monitoring capabilities for low-latency tracking
- Animated visual feedback
- EVO 8: “Artists’ Mix” feature for creating separate headphone mixes
The software mixer serves as a comprehensive control center, potentially addressing the lack of visual feedback on the hardware itself.
System Integration Quirk
An interesting behavior to note is that when the EVO is set as the default audio device on your computer, the main hardware knob takes control of the system volume rather than just the interface’s output level. While the end result is the same in terms of volume control, this integration may be unexpected for some users.
Audio Quality and Performance
While the original text doesn’t provide specific details about audio quality, we can infer some information based on Audient’s reputation and the features of the EVO interfaces:
Preamp Technology
Audient is known for their high-quality preamp designs. It’s likely that the EVO 4 and EVO 8 benefit from this expertise, potentially offering clean and transparent microphone amplification.
Digital Conversion
Although specific converter specifications aren’t mentioned, modern audio interfaces in this class typically offer at least 24-bit/96kHz recording capabilities. The actual performance would need to be verified through listening tests and technical measurements.
JFET DI Input
The inclusion of JFET transistor technology for the Hi-Z input suggests that Audient has put thought into providing a musical and potentially “analog-flavored” direct input for instruments like electric guitar and bass.
Target Users and Applications
The Audient EVO 4 and EVO 8 seem well-suited for several user groups:
Home Studio Producers
- Compact form factor ideal for small workspaces
- Smartgain feature simplifies the recording process
- Auto-muting speakers when using headphones is convenient for bedroom studios
Podcasters and Content Creators
- Easy-to-use interface with minimal controls
- Smartgain helps achieve consistent audio levels
- Software mixer provides flexibility for multi-source recordings
Mobile Musicians
- Portable design for on-the-go recording
- USB bus-powering eliminates the need for external power
- Durable enough for careful transportation, though maybe not for rough handling
Entry-Level Professional Studios
- EVO 8 offers enough I/O for small ensemble recordings
- Dual headphone outputs with independent mix control
- Potentially high-quality preamps and conversion (based on Audient’s reputation)
The EVO interfaces strike a balance between simplicity and functionality, making them attractive options for users who want a streamlined recording experience without sacrificing audio quality.
Comparison to Competitors
To better understand the Audient EVO 4 and EVO 8’s position in the market, it’s helpful to compare them to some popular competitors:
Focusrite Scarlett Series
- Similar price range and target market
- Scarlett interfaces offer more traditional controls and metering
- EVO’s Smartgain feature is a unique selling point
MOTU M2 and M4
- MOTU interfaces feature metal construction, potentially more durable
- M2 and M4 include detailed metering displays
- EVO interfaces offer a more minimalist, modern design aesthetic
Native Instruments Komplete Audio Series
- Komplete Audio interfaces have a similar sleek design philosophy
- NI includes valuable software bundle
- EVO’s Smartgain and auto-muting features set it apart
The Audient EVO 4 and EVO 8 differentiate themselves through their unique design, innovative features like Smartgain, and potentially high-quality audio performance derived from Audient’s pro-audio heritage.
Value Proposition and Final Thoughts
The Audient EVO 4 and EVO 8 present an intriguing option in the crowded audio interface market:
Strengths
- Innovative, user-friendly features like Smartgain
- Sleek, minimalist design that stands out visually
- Potentially high-quality audio performance (based on Audient’s reputation)
- Thoughtful touches like auto-muting and easy stereo linking
Considerations
- Build quality may not be as robust as some competitors
- Minimalist design sacrifices some immediate visual feedback
- Learning curve for users accustomed to traditional interfaces
For users prioritizing simplicity, modern design, and innovative features, the EVO 4 and EVO 8 offer compelling value. They seem particularly well-suited for content creators, home studio enthusiasts, and those new to audio recording who appreciate a more streamlined approach.
However, users who prefer more traditional controls, require detailed at-a-glance metering, or need extremely rugged construction for frequent transport may want to consider alternatives.
Ultimately, the Audient EVO 4 and EVO 8 represent a fresh take on the audio interface concept, blending smart technology with minimalist design. Their success will likely depend on how well this approach resonates with users in real-world recording scenarios.
Audient EVO 4 & EVO 8
Are Audient’s minimalist EVOs smarter than the average audio interface?
The EVO 4 and EVO 8 are a bit different. They give off a hi‑fi vibe rather than the usual 1U pro‑audio feel of the majority of audio interfaces. They are almost faceless with just that one single large knob on the top and no other gain or volume controls protruding from any other side. The buttons and connectors are all set flush to their surface and the buttons glow dimly white on a cool black background that seems to fall into its own dark aesthetic. The cool effect is only slightly ruined by the large bright green button with the microphone icon that annoyingly disrupts the otherwise perfect first impression.
Ignoring the disruption, you rotate the central knob with your fingers, feeling the soft clicks while being dazzled by the stunning illuminations of the ring of white LEDs that vanish after a pause, leaving you again in the very cool darkness trying to ignore the distracting green button.
The boxes have a reasonable heft to them and I had no concerns about them being dragged off the desk when cabled up. They are made of plastic with a slightly textured matt finish which feels reasonably premium until you give it a squeeze, when you find a surprising amount of give. Just gripping the EVO 4 reasonably tightly I found the front would unclip and have to be clicked back into place. It doesn’t compare that well to the rigidity of the plastic of the Komplete Audio 1/2/6 or the cool confidence of the metal‑cased MOTU M2/M4. The EVOs are certainly not going to fall apart, but you don’t feel they are going to survive much of a adrop either.
The EVO 4’s back panel is similar but with half the I/O count of the 8.The EVO 4 is a two‑channel in/out audio interface. The microphone inputs on the back are combi jacks and will take XLR microphone and regular jack inputs at line level. For guitar, a Hi‑Z input is located on the front, and routes to channel 1. This is run by JFET transistor technology for some added tone. The EVO 8 is the same, just with an extra pair of combi inputs, which it stretches to accommodate an additional pair of line‑level outputs plus a second headphone output. The EVO 8 comes with a USB‑C cable which allows it to pull in 48V phantom power over USB to run all four microphone inputs, although if you use a USB‑C to USB‑A cable or adapter it will only be able to power two inputs over bus powering. The EVO 4 comes with the USB‑C to USB‑A cable as it only has the two microphone inputs to power.
The EVO 8’s back panel features four combi jack inputs and four quarter‑inch audio outs.The big green button invokes the Smartgain feature where the EVO automatically sets the ‘perfect’ gain for your microphone inputs. Hit the button, select the inputs, hit the button again and then play for a bit so that the Smartgain can work its magic. You can also set the gain manually, but with Smartgain doing things perfectly one would wonder why you’d have to. We’ll check this out in a moment.
On the output side there’s some handy auto‑muting going on when you plug in the headphones. That can be very useful if you’re recording in the same room as the interface but less useful in a larger setup where you might have a musician plugged in on headphones in another room while you are monitoring on speakers. But the first scenario is frankly more likely and is a convenience that I wish was a possibility on other interfaces. It would be nice to have the option to disable it.
A couple of less obvious features are that you can mute the microphone inputs by briefly holding their button and you can stereo‑link 1&2 or 3&4 by pressing them together. These simple front panel controls are really welcome.
The downside of the minimalist design is that you can’t see at a glance what anything is set to. You don’t know what the gain of input 1 is without selecting it and then the lovely ring of LEDs shows you. So, while many elements of your regular audio interface workflow have been innovatively improved, they are at the cost of a ‘glance‑able’ overview.
For monitoring and mixing on your computer you get a rather nice mixer application. It’s very clear, unfussy and gives you software controls over the hardware elements. You can set direct monitoring levels for all the inputs if you want to bypass your recording software. It animates nicely and I guess this is where you could get your glanceable overview. On the EVO 8 you can enable an ‘Artists’ Mix’ where you can create a different monitoring mix for each set of headphones. One quirk I found was that if the EVO is set as your default device on your computer then the main knob actually gets its hooks into the system volume level and controls that rather than the volume of itself. Is this important? I’m not sure because the resultant control over volume is the same whether it’s done in the OS or the box, but it’s interesting, nonetheless.
With the increased interest in podcasting and live streaming, it’s great to see a Loopback function in the mixer. This allows you to route the output of your DAW software back into Facebook, YouTube or another piece of software like OBS or Vmix for streaming or into another DAW along with external instruments for live recording, and many other possibilities. This should be a standard feature on every audio interface.
The focus of the EVO interfaces is on ease‑of‑use, so it’s time to plug some things in and see how quickly you can get recording. It’s the absence of things that really helps with the overall sense of simplicity. The fact that you’re not faced with lots of knobs and connections gives it a nice air of calm. The microphone connections are all on the back, which seems counter‑intuitive when all other interfaces put theirs on the front. But actually, the size and shape of the EVOs tends to make you pick them up to plug things in, so the location of sockets doesn’t really matter. Also, cabling at the back makes it easier to leave microphones plugged in without cables trailing over your desktop, although more difficult to plug things in temporarily — and we find ourselves in a forever discussed desktop interface debate.
Once you’re all plugged in then all you have is the nice big knob and the green button. Setting levels is easy enough. Select the input you want to control and turn the knob to the desired level. What that level is is difficult to say without referring to the software mixer. As you turn the knob the halo of LEDs gives the gain position, but a moment after you stop turning the LEDs become a level indicator. You can press the channel button again to flash up the current gain setting. The white halo of lights has no peak indicator; instead, the lit channel button will glow faintly red, which is at least something. Setting multiple levels becomes a repetitive task of pressing buttons and turning the knob and then going back to compare. While the single‑indicator‑with‑multiple‑functions approach isn’t that troublesome, it’s not as immediate as the signal indicators and knobs positions of other interfaces.
With the Smartgain mode, Audient have managed to find an innovative and useful feature in a very crowded marketplace.
This is where the green button comes in. Smartgain mode is the EVO’s built‑in sound engineer and it’s quite brilliant. Press the green button, select the input channels you want to set and press the green button again. The mic icon will flash orange and the LEDs will dance while you sing and play a 10‑second soundcheck. Smartgain mode will analyse your inputs and invariably set the right gain for each of them. It’s excellent. I’ve no complaints and I’ve tried different microphones, guitars and line‑level sources. You can watch the EVO trying out different settings in the software mixer and play a game to force the gain down by shouting into the mic. Even when plugging an electric guitar in the front after having that channel set up for a condenser mic, all you need to do is run Smartgain again and you’re set.
I won’t ever need to set a level manually again, which neatly eliminates all of my user interface criticisms. Smartgain appears to be aiming for ‑12dB, which is going to work in any situation. Of course, you can make your own adjustments if you wish but I don’t think the majority of users would need to, unless you’re really bad at soundchecks.
The EVO’s specifications match up very favourably to similarly priced audio interfaces. They have a dynamic range of 115dB, signal‑to‑noise of 100dB and can record up to 24‑bit at 96kHz. For comparison I ran it alongside my current top‑of‑the‑heap audio interface around this level; the MOTU M4. The recording quality overall was excellent, living up to the dynamic range and very low noise specifications. In A/B tests with the M4 I couldn’t tell them apart, which is good news for the EVO. The JFET guitar input sounded great but it was no warmer or rosier than the Hi‑Z input on the MOTU, as far as I could tell.
The latency performance was also excellent, going all the way down to a couple of milliseconds at 16 samples without any hint of a struggle, glitch or pop. At these levels software instruments become completely playable and software monitoring felt comfortable. Audient actually publish the latency figures on their website, and I found them to be reasonably accurate with no secret vanity buffers hiding in the background.
The EVO 4 is a great little lump of an audio interface with decent audio quality and performance and is perfect for the solo home recordist. The EVO 8 gives it a bit of gravitas, feels more robust and expands the connections so that two or more people could comfortably collaborate. With the Smartgain mode, Audient have managed to find an innovative and useful feature in a very crowded marketplace. It will definitely appeal to people wanting a simple route to recording that will work more reliably than most manual gain knob fiddling. If you embrace Smartgain then the single knob interface becomes less taxing and more elegant. The software mixer is excellent and nicely fills in all the gaps in the hardware interface. It also has a nice little scrolling display graph that shows the recent output levels, allowing you to spot peaks. It lacks MIDI and an on/off switch, but otherwise is a capable, useful and stylish choice.
Pros
- Minimalist design.
- Great latency performance.
- Smartgain is smarter than you.
- Fabulous mixer app.
- Loopback function.
- Sounds great.
- Excellent value for money.
Cons
- Minimalist design.
- No at‑a‑glance overview on the hardware.
- Plastic case.
- No MIDI.
- One knob interface will not be for everyone.
Summary
The EVO 4 and 8 are minimalist in design but powerful in operation, and offer great audio performance and quality. Smartgain — the EVOs’ auto‑gain function — will get you recording quickly without any mess or fuss.
Audient EVO 4 Review: 4 reasons to buy and 1 not to | by Alan Mendelevich | ReNoob
When I got a bit more serious with music early this year, I contemplated buying an audio interface and even came up with an algorithm to decide whether I needed one. At the time I concluded that there isn’t much having an audio interface would improve for me and postponed the purchase.
Last month I revisited this decision as I wanted to get a pair of studio monitors and, while it still would be possible to make do with no audio interface, the reasons for having one outweighed the arguments for skipping it once again.
I’d still mostly use it for outputs, as I don’t record any live instruments and I still have a USB microphone (though I plan to upgrade it at some point). So my options would come from the entry-level segment with 1–2 inputs, monitors and headphones outputs.
After some research I narrowed my options to 2.5 options (affiliate links):
- Focusrite Scarlett Solo — just because it’s the most popular;
- PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 or Studio 24C — because I use Studio One and it ticks all the boxes (and a bit more).
Scarlett Solo was sold out at the time in all the reasonable places so it left me with a decision on whether slightly newer and improved PreSonus interface was worth a ~$60 premium over the AudioBox.
While researching this dilemma I stumbled upon several reviews of Audient EVO 4, liked what I saw and made an off-character for me impulse purchase. I even made a TikTok about it.
So, after having it for about a month I think I’m ready to cover the reasons for this purchase that turned out to be true.
Note: It’s universally agreed by reviewers that the sound quality characteristics of EVO 4 are really good in this price segment and I’m in no position to judge that, so if you are expecting a review of the “sound”, you should look elsewhere.
This is, obviously, subjective but the layout of EVO 4 makes more sense to me than that of Focusrite or PreSonus interfaces: inputs and monitor outputs on the back, headphones on the front, controls on top.
PreSonus has the weirdest layout in my opinion — headphones on the back, huh? Both Focurite and PreSonus have controls on the front panel which, unless you stuff the interface into some cavity, is less convenient than having them on the top, in my humble opinion.
The gain knob on top of the EVO 4 is a “controller” and not a direct amplifier handle. I have a few devices that have knobs that control volume directly and all of them started to crackle and/or behave weirdly after a couple of years. In theory, this shouldn’t happen with the one on the EVO.
Additionally, this also means that when you control volume on your computer it controls the volume on your interface and the two are not separate. I’m not sure how this works on other modern interfaces but, as far as I remember, this wasn’t the case on an M-Audio I had years ago.
Some reviewers complained about the fact the knob moves in “steps” and not in continuous fluid movement. I don’t see a problem in this as it’s not limited to one 360-degrees circle — getting from 0 to 100 on a PC takes about two full turns. So I think there’s enough precision as it is.
Others complained that there’s only one knob and you have to switch “modes” to change what it controls. I can see how this could be a problem when you want to adjust multiple things on the fly while, say, recording a podcast but:
- not a very realistic scenario for me;
- you can control all of these independently in EVO Control panel:
Reason 3.
Bundled software
This is obviously subjective and depends on what you use and/or want to use. But hardware (Focusrite in this case) bundled with Ableton Live Lite is a bit long in the tooth by now, and I already use Studio One Pro so not much use for Studio One Artist bundled with PreSonus interfaces either.
EVO comes with Cubase LE and a bunch of other stuff: Retrologue and other synths, 1gb Audient sample pack on Loopcloud, mixing tutorials and more.
I don’t plan on switching to Cubase but having it around (even if in a limited version) is quite nice.
Reason 4. Loopback
EVO 4 comes with bundled native loopback support. This means that you can easily route your computer audio for streaming and mix it with mic input, etc. Or, purely theoretically (wink), record from Spotify straight into your DAW.
Overall, I’m happy with the purchase and would be totally happy if not one major design flaw they tout as a feature…
Reason not to buy: Headphones mute monitors.
If you plug your headphones in it mutes the monitors and the only way to hear through your monitors again is to unplug the headphones. If you switch between monitors and headphones often this is probably a big enough reason to look elsewhere.
Luckily for me, I mostly work in headphones and switch only occasionally so this isn’t a huge deal. Still annoying, though. The same probably true if you mostly work on monitors and rarely use headphones. But if you use both all the time I can imagine this could drive you mad.
I reached out to Audient support in hopes this could be addressed in a future firmware update but, as I suspected, they confirmed that this is hardwired in hardware and can’t be changed.
It’s up to you to decide whether this is an important enough handicap for you to look past EVO 4 or whether the positives I outlined above outweigh this shortcoming.
If you do decide to buy though, and you do it on Amazon, you can use my affiliate link so I get a few cents for writing this up 😉
And follow me on TikTok (@ailonid) for some music production related tips.
Audient Evo 4 Review (Best Budget Audio Interface?) 2021
Disclosure: We may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, our opinions are not for sale.
- We review Audient’s newest home recording device
- Find out our first impressions, the specs and the functionality of the device
The Lowdown
Overall we are really impressed with the Evo 4. Audient have set out to design a simple-to-use interface and in the process have created a great sounding product with some really unique features.
Currently retailing just over $100, the unit is a little pricier than other entry-level interfaces but in our opinion, the extra money is worth it even if you are just starting out.
Introducing: Audient Evo 4
The Evo 4 is the latest interface from British audio giants Audient. First debuted at NAMM 2020 the Evo 4 promises to make home recording as easy as possible where simplicity is key.
With the rise of home recordings, podcasters, streaming and online gaming, Audient have designed the model to be cost-effective as well as intuitive and of course, offer a high-quality sound.
Marketing director, Andy Allen explained:
“We believe technology shouldn’t get in the way of the creative process; it should enhance it and be accessible to all, no matter what their skill-level or art-form and EVO is here to help make great-sounding recordings as easy and effortless as possible’’.
But does the Evo live up to Audient’s promises?
Audient EVO 4
Capture your microphones and instruments and start recording audio directly to your computer with EVO 4’s intuitive feature set. Combining leading tech specs with incredible performance and sound quality, EVO 4 is the perfect interface for beginners and pros alike.
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First Impressions
The Evo 4 comes in a very cool black box which strangely felt reminiscent of unboxing a new iPhone. The lid slides open and you’ll find the interface, a very simple instruction manual and USB lead for connecting to your mac or pc.
We definitely love the mantra of simplicity – there is nothing worse than getting bogged down in a 30-page instruction manual when you get a new piece of gear and Audient have lived up to this with a simple, two-sided fold-out leaflet.
The unit itself has a very cool all black, matte design. On the top of the Evo are 6 black buttons, clearly labelled and all in black except the auto gain button (which we’ll come to later).
The large rotary volume control isn’t anything new. However being located on top of the box is a nice design move (as opposed to the front), particularly compared to other budget interfaces on the market it feels quite natural to move. Power the box on and you’re greeted with a blink of luminous lights.
Specs
The Evo 4 is a 2 in/2 out interface with L and R outputs to hook up to your monitors via ¼ Jack. In terms of mixing you have a standard ¼ jack output for headphones as well as a ¼ jack in for guitar recording.
The unit links to your computer via USB. For those with newer apple computers, it may be frustrating to see the included lead is USB-C to USB-A meaning an adapter may be necessary (or a different lead) but this isn’t really Audient’s fault!
All new Evo preamps are built into the box giving 58dB gain range which competes with other budget interfaces on the market.
The controls themselves are super easy and clear to use if you’ve owned an audio interface before these won’t really need explaining. On the top surrounding the volume dial, you’ll see options for phantom power, input select (1 & 2), and buttons to toggle between monitor mix and output volume.
Conveniently whichever button you select lights up, with an eye-catching red light for phantom power which will help eliminate those ‘oops’ moments of feeding 48v to a dynamic mic.
However one of the most impressive aspects of the Evo 4 is the auto gain function which automatically sets your input gain level for you, eliminating the need to even touch a gain dial.
Functionality
The instruction booklet advises downloading drivers from Audient in order for the interface to work, although we loaded up Logic and found the Evo was recognised and worked perfectly without needing to do this.
We then set up a condenser mic to test out the auto gain function. The process itself is very simple and only takes a few seconds – hit the green auto gain button, select your input, hit the button once more and perform.
First, we tried setting a level for quiet speech and then staged the output to around -16dB. To compare, we then clicked our fingers and re-staged the signal. The louder signal was peaking around -2dB in our DAW but a couple of buttons clicks on the Evo and we were back down to a suitable level, around -16dB.
Now we’re not going to promote the idea of not learning to gain stage properly, but this aspect (particularly if you are a beginner) is a really unique and interesting function.
We could pick holes and say it would be better if we had the option to stage the input gain ourselves, but really we would be criticising the Evo for the sake of it – after all are we really likely to need this other function, particularly in a budget or entry-level interface?
The reality is the auto gain works great and really, whether you’re a beginner to audio production or a pro the function is a great little addition.
Whilst recording the LEDs surrounding the volume dial illuminates to represent your levels and you can easily switch between your monitor and output volume (although once your levels are set you’ll probably only need the rotary dial for your monitor level).
We recorded some vocals with a budget condenser mic and found the preamps sounded great, with plenty of clarity, certainly good enough to enable a high-quality recording at home (we’d love to give this a try with a higher end mic like a Neumann TLM102 or 103!).
Sadly at the time of writing, we were in isolation, so unable to do a shootout with other preamps but we will say that the difference between another budget interface we have at home was noticeable – the Evo came out on top offering a lot more warmth and presence. Really impressive for its price.
Final Thoughts
Overall we are really impressed with the Evo 4. Audient have set out to design a simple-to-use interface and in the process have created a great sounding product with some really unique features.
Currently retailing just over $100, the unit is a little pricier than other entry-level interfaces but in our opinion, the extra money is worth it even if you are just starting out.
We would suggest if you are a beginner getting to grips with gain staging as this is a crucial part of recording (in fact check out our article on Analogue Signal Flow to get a better idea of signal paths and staging correctly), however, we loved this feature both for its functionality and for the ability to stand up and sound check our microphone without having to stretch with one hand to rotate a gain dial!
We’re confident the Evo 4 will become a regular in people’s home studio setups. Following hot on the heels of the 4 is the Evo 8 as well, so if you need more inputs for recording then there is the option to upgrade for only around $60 more, which is available for shipping in June 2020.
We really enjoyed getting to grips with the Evo 4 and are excited to be able to give our demo model away to one lucky reader.
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Audient EVO 4 Portable Audio Interface review
Last year, one of my bandmates got in touch and asked me about an audio interface for his teenage son, who’s become really passionate about guitar. I did recommend him something good and cheap, but to be honest it felt a bit arbitrary selecting one product from a sea of lookalikes (and soundalikes). The democratisation of audio production has led to an explosion of cheap consumer gear.
In practice this amounts to companies just repackaging the same old features and designs under competing brand marquees. Audient’s new brand of EVO interfaces is an admirable attempt to bring some new features to the table. These innovations are not just novelty for the sake of it, they can meaningfully improve the quality of recordings and the device’s workflow.
The most trumpeted of these new features is ‘Smartgain’ – an algorithm that Audient has built into the guts of the device that listens to the input signal and sets the gain at an optimal level for clean recordings. Digital clipping can ruin an otherwise fine recording, and novices often lack the know-how or critical ear to know it until the damage is done.
The claim is that, after pressing the big green button on the front of the EVO 4, you can stop worrying about this issue. Well, I can report that this works well in practice as well as in theory. I tested the Smartgain feature with a bunch of different signals – spoken voice and acoustic guitar via mic, 5-string active bass, passive electric guitar and electric piano via DI – and avoided clipping my recordings in all cases.
It is possible to trick the algorithm into failure by unexpectedly switching up your performance dynamics, but this is an outlier case that wouldn’t apply in the real world. In short, this is a clever, cool and well-executed feature.
The rest of the EVO 4’s feature list is strong while losing a couple of nice-to-have capabilities in favour of keeping the unit light, small and cheap.
The same can be said for the ‘loopback’ feature. Loopback is a kind of audio routing where the system sounds of your host device (anything from a desktop to a phone) are recorded alongside your mic and instrument sources. This is a crucial technical hurdle to overcome in the world of livestreaming and digital content and would usually require tricky hardware workarounds or third-party software.
By building this functionality right into the device itself, Audient has solved this problem in a clean and elegant fashion. This is potentially the ‘killer app’ of the EVO 4 and stands to give it a real edge for aspiring podcasters, Twitch streamers and aspiring YouTube stars. Again, a smart feature implemented in a straightforward way.
The rest of the EVO 4’s feature list is strong, though it lacks a couple of nice-to-have capabilities in favour of keeping the unit light, small and cheap. For example, the fact that it can be powered entirely by the USB-C connection is great, but the protocol is USB 2.0, not the more current USB 3.0. So there’s a small decrease in performance trading off against the portability. And while the EVO 4 is surprisingly inexpensive, look closely at the tech specs: the analog-to-digital converters can only write files at a maximum of 96kbps, whereas most competing products in this price range can extend this to 192kbps.
It’s simple to have the EVO 4 sit at one’s workspace with all the controls necessary to engineer at one’s fingertips.
For the purposes of this review I feel it’s important to be transparent about where sacrifices have been made to keep the cost down. However, when I was using this interface, I didn’t feel like these engineering limitations translated obviously into subpar recordings. The preamps and A/D conversion are transparent, capturing the sound of my go-to instruments without introducing unwanted artifacts or tonal changes.
To be sure, the EVO 4 lacks the musicality of the premium inputs found in the best gear (think Universal Audio, RME, Antelope etc), but holds the line well enough against competitors in the same price bracket. One omission that I don’t think is justifiable: plugging into the headphone jack disables the main monitor sends. It’s possible to work around this limitation, but it makes things a little harder than they should be.
Audient has doubled down on the beginner-friendly aspect of the EVO 4 by offering access to their online software portal, ARC, as part of the purchase and registration of the unit. The products on offer, from brands like Steinberg and Two Notes, are ones that would be found in many professional setups. In the bad old days back access to pro software required a massive investment which a newbie simply could not afford. What’s on offer here is plenty to get started with, and there’s no need to worry that you’re missing out on the good stuff.
The final thing to say about the EVO 4 is how nice it is to use in an ergonomic sense. I like having notches in the movement of the main volume knob so I can commit a gain level to memory and come back to it. The ‘big knob’ design has been very well implemented. It’s simple to have the EVO 4 sit at one’s workspace with all the controls necessary to engineer at one’s fingertips. Being housed in plastic rather than some kind of metal makes the EVO 4 feel a bit less bombproof than other portable interfaces, but this is a small price to pay considering the price you’ll pay to own it.
Specs
- Price: $129 / £99 / AU $199
- Type: USB audio interface
- 2 transparent Audient EVO preamps
- JFET instrument input
- Class-leading conversion
- Ultra-low latency performance
- 24-bit/96kHz sample rate
- Front-panel headphone jacks
- Stereo monitor outputs
- Smartgain automatic level-setting feature
- Loopback functionality
- Included software and plug-ins package
- Power: USB 2.0
- Contact: Audient
Audient EVO 4 USB Audio Interface
3.0 out of 5 stars
RF interference, low output gain, may not be suitable for dynamic mics
By DK on January 9, 2021
I bought the unit in December 2020, and I like its form factor, software control app, hardware layout, sound quality, etc. I used it with Sennheiser E835 to record tutorial-type screencasts for my online courses. (I don’t use it for music and use it solely for recording spoken words.) The gain setting for the mic was set nearly 100% based on the Smartgain feature. Even though I was generally happy with the sound quality, I found that some recordings contain a bit of static. I was wondering if the microphone was faulty.
After spending much time to figure out why there was static noise in the recording, I found out that my unit suffered from RF interference with a cell phone. If a phone is nearby, say within 5 feet, the unit generates static noise about every 10 seconds. The closer the phone is to the unit, the worse it becomes. The attached waveform screenshot shows this.
Since I have to set the gain to nearly 100% and boost the volume by +7~10db in the post to have -20 LUFS, the static noise during the recording is audible at reasonable playback volume.
I tested with two Windows 10 computers, but the interference did not go away. Being frustrated, I even connected the unit with a standalone USB charger and tested it, which you can see in the attached video. When I move my phone recording the scene closer to the unit, you can see the light meter blinks. When I move the phone away from the unit, the problem disappears. When I put another phone right next to the unit, you can see the light meter blinking quite a lot.
Maybe my unit is faulty, but it seems I am not alone. One review in Amazon describes the basically same problem, and at least one YouTube review mentions it as well. Most importantly, the EVO customer service acknowledged the problem and provided the following solution: “It is normal for audio interfaces to pick up interference from devices such as cell phones, the only solution to this is to keep them away from the interface.”
Due to the two-factor login, I need a cellphone to login to my worksites. It is inconvenient to remember to move the phone away every time I need to record something. If I ever forget to put my phone away, the recording will suffer from interference. Even if I put away the phone, I wonder if the recording will come out free of static noise every time.
Another con is the low mic output gain. The gain range is 58 dB, but the maximum gain level is unknown. The unit is struggling to drive E835. If I move my mouth about 4 inches away from the mic with a pop filter in-between, the unit’s Smartgain often fails to set the level. I guess that is because the unit could not reach around -12 db even at 100% gain. When it succeeded, it set the gain at 100%. I have been using the mic without a pop filter and about 2 inches away from my mouth. I recently got Rode Podmic, which needs even more gain than E835, and found EVO 4 really struggles to drive the mic. Please note that I have a low-pitched voice and speak rather softly.
I returned the unit, and I miss its software control feature–EVO Control. This software allows you to control all functions of the unit using a mouse. That is, you do not have to touch the unit at all. For example, during online meetings, I could mute/unmute the mic using the software, which I found very convenient. Further, it allows me to save the current setting, including gain setting for each line, mute status, playback volume, mix, etc., and load it later. I found this feature very useful, especially when I connect/disconnect other devices. (One quirk was that with EVO Control running, my computer did not sleep. Once I uninstalled it, the computer was able to sleep.)
However, the low output gain and the RF interference issue made the unit unsuitable for my use. If you use a condenser mic, the low output gain is probably a moot point as condenser mics need less gain than dynamic mics. Even the RF interference may not be an issue with condenser mics, as the static noise may be inaudible at a lower gain level.
I bought M-Audio Air 192|4 recently. I find that it does not have the RF interference issue and that the maximum gain is higher than EVO 4. At the maximum gain, I can clip the recording with E385 at my normal voice level, which is impossible with EVO 4.
I hope Audient updates the product in the future for better shielding against RF interference and higher mic output gain. Then, probably it could be one of the best interfaces in this price range, IMHO.
8 Unique Features — Should You Buy One?
This post was most recently updated on August 8th, 2021
Does the world really need another two-in, two-out entry-level audio interface?
There are already dozens of them available, so what makes the Audient EVO 4 any different, and should you get one?
That’s precisely what this EVO 4 review is here to answer.
Let’s take a look:
Audient EVO 4 Overview
The first thing you need to know about the new EVO 4 is that it’s made by Audient, one of the most well-respected names in pro audio recording tools (like those massive mixing desks you find in pro recording studios.)
It’s worth noting, however, that the EVO 4 isn’t really an Audient interface.
It seems the British company has aimed to separate their high-end audio interfaces from this entry-level model by creating a new brand altogether, but they still want you to know that the EVO is from Audient and that it is a completely professional piece of gear.
Is The EVO 4 For You?
The EVO 4 is best for those who need clean plug and play audio from up to two inputs—while recording a separate channel to be edited in post (ex. zoom or skype interview). With up to 58dB of gain powered by USB-C, the EVO 4 is also super portable.
At the top of the unit you’ll notice something a little different from most of the best audio interfaces.
The EVO 4 has just one knob for adjusting all parameters on the interface and a few buttons for selecting what the knob controls.
The single knob on this device is huge, has a lovely notched feel, and works well for controlling all aspects of the audio interface.
Some might find this design a bit of a pain in the ass. Personally, I’m a massive fan.
Other home studio interfaces have all these fiddly little knobs that aren’t overly tactile like another impressive audio interface, the Focusrite Scarlett range.
EVO 4 vs. Scarlett 2i2
The closest interface in the Scarlett range is the 2i2. The two units share a lot of similar feature, so let’s take a look at what’s different:
Audient EVO 4 | Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 | |
Smartgain preamps | YES | NO |
AIR preamp modelling | NO | YES |
AIR preamp modelling | NO | YES |
Can record to USB C iPad Pros | NO | YES |
Controls | One big comfy knob | Multiple small fiddly knobs |
Guitar inputs | One big comfy knob | Multiple small fiddly knobs |
Weight | 360g | 655g |
Weight | 360g | 655g |
Packaged dimensions (for taking on the go) | 6.77 x 3.46 x 3.84″ | 8.15 x 5.85 x 2.55″ |
Price | $130 | $200 |
Design |
|
|
Overall, the Scarlett 2i2 as well as other Focusrite interfaces offer a few extra recording features over the EVO 4, with the exception of the Smartgain function.
The EVO 4 wins out for design though. It’s sexier (objective, of course), smaller, and lighter, making it great for portability.
It also costs less, and does basically the same job as far as recording goes.
Let’s dive deeper into the EVO 4.
EVO 4 Specs
The EVO 4 has a front and rear panel with these connections:
Rear Panel
- 2x combi mic/line inputs
- 1x pair of speaker outputs
- USB C input
Front Panel
- 1x headphone output on the front
- 1x JFET instrument input
The four buttons on the top of the EVO 4 determine what the knob controls, including:
- Mic gain on either of the two inputs
- Volume of the monitor outputs or headphone amp
- Monitor mix between incoming audio and loopback from the computer
The two final buttons on the top of EVO engage either 48V phantom power or the interface’s brilliant Smartgain mode (more on that soon).
Okay, so pretty much what you’d expect from a modern two in two out (2I2O) interface.
What’s Unique About The Audient EVO 4?
On the surface, the EVO 4 offers more or less what you’d expect from a high-quality, affordable USB audio interface.
But it packs in a few things that make this device really great.
Smartgain
The first thing you’ll notice when you open up the box is the bright green button on the bottom left-hand edge of the interface.
It’s the only bit of color on the unit, and it’s the EVO’s defining characteristic: Smartgain mode.
No need to set the gain on your mic input manually anymore, just hit the input you want to set (1 or 2), then hit the green button and start singing (or talking, or clapping, or whatever it is you’re recording).
The EVO 4 will automatically detect the audio level at the preamp, and adjust the input gain accordingly. Easy as that!
In practice, it works exactly as it should: beautifully.
I’ll be honest, the purist in me took a bit of convincing to let a computer manage my input gain settings. Then I realized that computers run our lives anyway, so what’s the difference?
The Preamps
The preamps themselves are fricken awesome too.
They have a high dynamic range (so they are suitable for loud sources), low self-noise, and offer a massive 58dB of gain.
For reference, the Shure SM7B, known for its soul-sucking need for high-gain preamps, requires about 60dB of clean gain.
So, it’s a little short of that mark, but it would probably run an SM7B okay if you had a loud singer or guitar in front of the mic. Any other dynamic mic though, and you won’t have a problem at all.
Of course, the audio quality from these preamps is insane.
They are super clean, clear, and honest. Exactly what you’d expect from Audient.
I’ve worked with a fair bit of Audient gear before, including pro-level interfaces like the iD14 and mixing desks like their flagship ASP8024, and the sound from this baby for sure hits the mark.
USB C Powered
Two things I love about this:
- The EVO can be powered from your USB bus, no need for additional power supplies
- It has an actual USB C input on the box, so you can use a double-ended USB C cable when working with newer MacBooks
Small & Sexy
Okay, this is maybe a little bit of a personal preference, and not really what you should be buying an interface based on, but this thing oozes class.
I love the fact that it takes up very little room on my desk, and it’s straight black with just the one green button.
It’s all about that aesthetic, and this EVO 4 next to my Space Grey Macbook with matching black Apple Mouse & Keyboard screams Instagram-ready.
The Big Knob
Yes, I’ve mentioned this already, but it’s a big one for me.
Big one, get it?
It feels great to use, it’s super easy to set the gain level (if you’re not using the smart gain mode), and I love that it’s on the top of the box, not on the sides like some other units.
Switching between the different uses takes a bit of getting used to, especially when you’re recording with two mics at once and you want to adjust the gain separately on each. Then again, that’s where you use the smart gain mode and be done with it!
Headphone/Monitor Switching
An interesting feature on the EVO 4 USB interface is that as soon as you plug a set of cans into the headphone output, it mutes the monitor outputs.
The logic here is that you wouldn’t need to have the monitors going if you’re wearing headphones.
This is a helpful feature for isolating the sound from your headphones, but it does mean that if you’re mixing on monitors and headphones (which is a recommended approach), you have to constantly plug and unplug your headphones.
The same control on the EVO determines the output level of the monitors and headphone output too, so you’ll often need to adjust this if you’re switching between them.
Personally, I find this whole thing a little frustrating.
What would have been a smart implementation, in my opinion, is to allow your headphones to be constantly plugged in, and then have some form of output switching feature on the unit, like double-tapping the output level button.
Maybe on a new model, @Audient?
EVO Control App
Because all of the features of the EVO are digitally controlled, you can dial in your settings without even touching the interface.
Audient has been nice enough to build a dedicated software app for the EVO called EVO Control, allowing you to access things like output level and mic input gain from the click of a mouse.
To be honest, it really just offers the same functions as the EVO does, so the only reason I can imagine needing to use this is if your interface is well out of reach, which would need a pretty long USB C cable…
There’s another app that comes with the EVO that’s much more usable, though: The Audio Loopback app.
EVO 4 Audio Loopback App
The EVO’s Audio Loopback app allows you to record audio from your computer alongside whatever is coming in through the interface.
It’s like having a set of cables connected from the output of the EVO to the inputs, except without needing any actual cables, leaving the inputs free to record with mics!
There are a couple of instances where this feature is a godsend:
- If you’re recording a podcast with a remote guest connected via Skype or Zoom. The Audio Loopback app enables you to record their audio to one track, and your voice to another.
- If you’re a gamer/streamer, and you want to record your computer audio alongside your voice.
The great thing is that the Audio Loopback app makes this whole process super easy. Here’s what I mean:
What’s even more helpful is that the app gives you the option of either recording to two separate tracks in your DAW for maximum flexibility, or bouncing down to one stereo track for when you’re streaming on sites that only cater to one track max.
Sick!
Conclusion
As you can probably tell, I’m a huge fan of this interface.
Yes, there are a couple of areas for improvement, but you can’t expect the world from a unit this budget-friendly, and Audient has delivered about ¾ of the world with the EVO 4, so I’m happy.
Audient EVO 4 USB Audio Interface
Capture your microphones and instruments and start recording audio directly to your computer with the Audient EVO 4 USB Audio Interface and its intuitive feature set. Combining leading tech specs with incredible performance and sound quality, EVO 4 is the perfect interface for beginners and pros alike. Made for the smart creative, EVO 4 will deliver a powerful recording solution no matter your art-form.
Whether recording your latest track, producing a beat, or creating a podcast, get your ideas down fast with EVO 4’s advanced and versatile feature set.
Unrivaled audio performance
Building on Audient’s 20+ years of audio design experience, EVO 4 gives you unrivalled audio quality on your desktop. EVO 4’s innovative technical design ensures you will get professional quality recordings from the start.
Get the most from your microphones with the clean, warm and accurate EVO preamps – offering 58 dB of gain range. Hear your recordings more accurately than ever with 113 dB of dynamic range. Plug your guitar or bass straight in through the JFET instrument input and start recording instantly.
Smartgain Mode
Make sure you capture everything perfectly with Smartgain mode. Start playing or singing and Smartgain mode will automatically set the level of your microphones. You can even perfectly match and adjust gain to both channels simultaneously.
- Set gain correctly
- Avoid clipping and distortion
- Get better recordings
- Work independently
Powerful Control
Smart touchpoints allow you to control your speakers, headphones and channels all from one knob. Individually switch phantom power on/off for each channel and give your microphones the power they need to perform. Make effortless recordings with ultra-low latency monitoring. Set levels and activate features from your computer.
Free software
Compatible with all major audio software and plugins, EVO 4 comes bundled with a collection of professional software, giving you everything you need to start recording.
Features:
- 2 x EVO mic preamps designed to sound clean, detailed and accurate
- Class-leading AKM converters (AD/DA)
- Smartgain allows you to dial in your channels automatically
- Smart Touchpoints provide intuitive and fast control at your fingertips
- JFET instrument input for guitars, basses, keyboards and more
- Speaker and headphone outputs
- Compatible with Mac, Windows and iOS
- Monitor mix for ultra-low latency when recording
- Monitor pan for headphone mixes
- Loopback allowing you to record your computer audio simultaneously
- USB2.0 Bus Powered
- Phantom power – true bus powered +48V
- DAW-controlled mic pres – set levels using compatible software
- 24-bit/96 kHz resolution for stunning audio quality
- Free Software + Plugins
90,000 Audient Evo 4 external audio card review. Ideal for beginners
A small black box recently appeared on my desktop. Right now I’m looking at her, and I see the sound indicator blinking in time with my words. This is an external sound card Audient Evo 4. This card does not need an outlet – it is powered by a USB port, and it has a Smartgain function, with which you can adjust the sound for recording in 10-15 seconds.
Card specifications:
- 2 EVO Mic Preamps with
- AKM ADC / DAC converters (24 bit / 96 kHz)
- Smartgain function
- JFET instrument input
- Monitor output
- Headphone out
- Audio Loop-back
- Combined regulator
- USB Power
Phantom Power
Appearance
I must admit, I opened the box with some apprehension.After all, this is the first external audio card in my life. And I was afraid that I would not be able to connect it.
In reality, the card turned out to be even better than in the picture. It is so small that it fits easily in the palm of your hand. The set includes a USB Type-C → Type-A wire, and a small instruction.
Forced to disappoint those who like to play with the map settings. Will not work! They are simply not here. The only setting for the operation of the card is related to the Smartgain function, but more on that below.
Actual size Audient Evo 4
All the other buttons, 6 in total, plus the universal knob, just do their job.They can be turned on or off, and nothing else.
First connection
I have a Mac so no additional drivers are required. After reading the instructions, I performed five steps:
- Connected microphone to XLR input no. 1
- Connected the power cable to the card (Type-C), then to the laptop (Type-A)
- Pressed the microphone button No. 1
- Pressed the phantom power button
- Opened Hindenburg Journalist Pro
program
Hindenburg immediately proposed to designate the Evo 4 as the input source.And … that’s it! I immediately started a test recording. Everything took no more than 2 minutes.
For Windows you need to download additional drivers. Write in the comments, I will send you a link to the instruction for Audient Evo 4 in Russian.
Smartgain function
The Smartgain function is used to automatically adjust the input level. This is very convenient – you do not need to monitor the levels, and generally be afraid that the sound will be recorded with distortion. I do podcasts, and in my case it is important to be included in the conversation with the podcast guest, and not to distribute attention to the control of the recording.Let the card do everything by itself. And the Audient Evo 4 does it just fine.
Setting up Smartgain is fast, in a few steps:
- Press Smartgain button
- Press microphone button
- Press the Smartgain button again
After that, the indicator will start blinking red, and your task at this time is simply to speak into the microphone. After 10-15 seconds, the Smartgain button will blink green, and this will end the setting.You can start recording your podcast.
Monitor Mix signal monitoring
The computer takes time to process the signal, so you always hear voice sound during recording with a slight delay (Latency). And if you are playing an instrument, the audio delay will prevent you from recording. Imagine you played a chord, then the second, and at this time the sound of the first chord is heard in the headphones. It turns out a mess of sounds.
The Audient Evo 4 has a Monitor Mix function.When activated, the sound in the headphones comes from the card, and not from the computer. With almost zero latency, somewhere around 0.006 milliseconds.
I have not tried recording music or singing, and normal spoken voice sounds without any artifacts or overlaps.
By turning the knob, you can check the input sound on the channel, the sound reproduced by the computer, or mix both sounds in the required proportion.
Muting
When recording a podcast, you often need to mute the microphone on your side while the guest answers a question.It’s easy to do – just press and hold the microphone button. When it starts blinking, the microphone is muted. The reverse procedure – press and hold – the microphone turns on again.
Cubase LE editing software free of charge
The card comes with Cubase LE and several other third-party programs. Downloading Cubase LE requires a rather convoluted map registration process. The card must also be registered on the audient website.com, and on the Steinberg website, and there is also a pin code on the bottom of the card. As a result, I have several access codes, and I no longer remember which one.
Cubase LE interface
Get ready for the registration quest! After reaching the final level in this game, you will be allowed to download the software. I draw your attention to the fact that Cubase LE weighs almost 16 gigabytes.
Most of all I was interested in the iPad version of the editing program, but I could not solve this quest.Perhaps you can do it.
Loopback & Pan
As you can see, I am using the card for voice recording, and I have not tested some features. But I will describe them because they are important. For example, is the Loopback feature that allows you to stream, stream sounds, and record all conversations while streaming.
The pan function allows you to record sound from a pair of stereo microphones placed in different places in the room. That is, for example, you can choose the optimal placement of microphones near the grand piano so that the sound is in full stereo mode.
Summary
My favorite approach to business is that you connect the technique and it works without shamanic dances. If you share my approach and want to spend time on creativity, and not on technical exercises, then I definitely recommend Audient Evo 4.
I’m not a great master of sound, I just want my podcast to have a clear, deep, rich voice of me as a presenter. This is what I got from Audient Evo 4.
Where to Buy Audient Evo 4
If you are a beginner it is not worth buying from Avito.The card is already registered for another person, and you will not receive free legal software. Therefore, it is more correct to buy in a store. I recommend the online store Musiclab.pro . The company has been working on the market for 10 years, it has an excellent reputation, and the owner of the store, Alexander Severyukhin, is a sympathetic person who will provide you with any technical advice.
Read more reviews in Yandex Zen
Audient enters the streaming market with a series of affordable EVO sound cards – SAMESOUND
British Audient keeps up with trends: following Roland, Rode Microphones and Samson, the company introduced the Audient EVO line of audio interfaces for streaming and podcasting.Stylish black audio interfaces Audient EVO 4 and Audient EVO 8 offer the necessary minimum channels for recording and broadcasting, as well as a number of useful features for streamers and musicians.
Despite the combination of black and green in the interface, reminiscent of Razer’s peripherals for gamers, Audient is not targeting gamers as the main audience for new products. Despite the fact that sound cards are positioned as consumer devices for not the most demanding users in terms of functionality, new products offer the most necessary set of ports and connectors.Positioning shouldn’t be misleading – you could build your first home recording studio around the EVO.
Audient EVO 4
The Audient EVO 4 features two inputs and outputs, a DI input with JFET transistors and EVO mic preamps with phantom power. The latter are specially designed for the new series of cards and offer a gain headroom in the region of 58 dB. Additionally, the interface is equipped with a DAC / ADC that supports recording with a sampling rate of up to 192 kHz and a bit depth of up to 24 bits.The dynamic range of the transducers is 113 dB.
The interface operates in Loopback mode for organizing broadcasts, in which the user hears only those signals that come from the computer. The company also pays special attention to the Smartgain function, which automatically selects the correct gain level depending on the incoming signal. For example, the map easily detects when the user is playing the guitar, and when he speaks into the microphone and adjusts the gain on his own.
The specs are decent for an entry-level device – streamers and podcast writers are unlikely to need more. The price of the card is corresponding – $ 129.
Audient EVO 8
Audient EVO 8 is an extended version of EVO 4. The main difference is the number of channels available to the user. So the card offers four inputs with EVO mic preamps, two monitor outputs and two headphone outputs with independent volume control. The increased number of channels had an insignificant effect on the cost – they ask for $ 189.99 for the card.
Judging by the prices, stylish appearance and excellent equipment, the card will be a great success in the budget segment. The British company notes that the line is positioned as consumer devices, not hobbyists or professional devices, so it has launched a separate website dedicated to products and the EVO by Audient brand. The site provides more details about the new products, as well as open pre-order for both models. Delivery of devices to customers is scheduled for January 22-24, 2020.
Review of the functional “budget employee” Fly IQ4514 Quad EVO Tech 4
This review is dedicated to the EVO Tech 4 smartphone, which Fly showed to the general public in November 2014. The novelty combines many modern functions with a democratic cost – about 100 USD.In addition, the model under consideration has a rather restrained design – no decorative elements on the front side, silver edging around the perimeter of the case, softened corners, average dimensions – 14 cm by 7.3 cm, with a thickness of 9 mm. A highlight in the “appearance” of the smartphone is the rear panel – it is made of plastic imitating a polished metal surface, however, from the point of view of ergonomics, this solution is not very advantageous – handprints are clearly visible and the surface is quite slippery
Specifications Fly IQ4514 Quad EVO Tech 4
- The hardware platform consists of a 4-core MediaTek chip operating at 1300 MHz, a Mali graphics coprocessor and 1GB of RAM for running applications.Such “hardware” adequately copes with the main part of modern programs, but before some resource-intensive games with demanding graphics it can “fail”. There is not much permanent memory in the smartphone – 8 GB, but with a shortage of space, the user can get a maximum of 32 “gigabytes” by inserting a memory card. The battery capacity of the EVO Tech 4 is 2000 mAh, according to the developers, 1 charge is enough for 170 hours of “life” in standby mode, for 50 hours – when listening to music files or for 7.5 hours of autonomy during a conversation;
- The frontal camera module is equipped with a 2-megapixel matrix, the main one has a resolution of 8 megapixels, plus flash, autofocus, several different shooting modes and a self-timer.With sufficient lighting, photos and videos are of quite decent quality, but with a lack of light, you can notice the “budget” of cameras and the device as a whole;
- The diagonal of the display in EVO Tech 4 is 5 inches, the resolution for this size of the screen is not too high – 720 by 1280, which gives the same average pixel density – 294 pixels, the matrix is installed in IPS format, which provides excellent color reproduction and decent viewing angles. The stock of brightness is large enough for comfortable work with a smartphone in any conditions, and the ability to choose 1 of 5 levels of color temperature will allow you to customize the device “for yourself”;
- The sound quality in a smartphone leaves a double impression – the call signal is loud, audibility is at an excellent level, but the sound of media files is at least average, wheezing is detected when the volume is increased;
- EVO Tech 4 is controlled by 4.4.2 modifications of Android, in which the user has 7 working screens, an impressive list of preinstalled software and ample opportunities for customization.
Pros and cons of EVO Tech 4
The advantages of a smartphone include the following:
- Interesting design;
- Large screen;
- Sufficiently productive hardware;
- User-friendly interface;
- A large number of already installed programs;
- High definition rear camera;
- Support for working with 2 SIM cards;
- Democratic cost.
The disadvantages of the device are as follows:
- Material of the body, on which traces remain;
- Average screen resolution;
- Poor shooting quality in low light;
- Wheezing in the sound;
- Low battery capacity.
Conclusion:
Based on the foregoing in the review, we can conclude that when developing the IQ4514 Quad EVO Tech 4, Fly’s engineers managed to combine interesting properties – design, screen size, a decent camera, good hardware – in a budget smartphone, of course, they have drawbacks a place to be, but the low price of the device is quite capable of covering them.
Your attention video review of model
Published: Reviews of budget smartphones under 160 USD, Reviews of smartphones, With 2 SIM, tags: Fly.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV (Evo 4) – development history, specifications and data, photo
Development history
The platform of the Mitsubishi Lancer was completely redesigned in 1996, and with it the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV , which has become extremely popular all over the world.The sports car is available in two versions – RS and GSR .
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV outwardly has become more aggressive, on the front bumper there are now two impressive foglights, a large air intake. The hood is now distinguished by a pair of air intakes – a large one in the middle, and a small one on the side of it, on the right side. Rear spoiler Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV now impresses with its impressive dimensions, its shape has changed, its base is in the shape of a triangle and takes up most of the trunk lid.
Production of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV ended in January 1998.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV – Specifications
General | |
---|---|
Body number: | CN9A |
Complete set: | |
Issued: | August 1996 – December 1997 |
Body | |
Body type: | sedan |
Number of seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 4 |
Engine | |
Engine type: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1997 |
Power, hps / rpm: | 280/6500 |
Torque, Nm / rpm | 353/3000 |
Aspiration: | turbo |
Valves per cylinder: | 4 |
Valve and camshaft location: | overhead valve with two camshafts |
Engine layout: | front, transverse |
Power system: | multiport fuel injection |
Fuel | |
Fuel grade: | 98 |
Consumption, l per 100 km (urban cycle): | |
Consumption, l per 100 km (extra-urban): | |
Consumption in liters per 100 km (combined): | |
Speed | |
Maximum speed, km / h: | |
Acceleration to 100 km / h: | |
Actuator | |
Drive type: | Permanent all-wheel drive |
CAT | |
Mechanic: | 5 |
Automatic: | – |
Suspension | |
Front: | McPherson strut, coil spring |
Rear: | multi-link, helical spring |
Brakes | |
Front: | ventilated disc |
Rear: | ventilated disc |
Dimensions | |
Length, mm: | 4330 |
Width, mm: | 1690 |
Height, mm: | 1415 |
Wheelbase, mm: | 2510 |
Wheel track in front, mm: | |
Rear wheel track, mm: | |
Clears, mm: | 155 |
Tire size: | 205/50 R15 |
Curb weight (kg): | 1350 |
Gross weight (kg): | |
Trunk volume, l: | |
Fuel tank volume, l: | 50 |
Video review (Test Drive)