Apogee's acclaimed portable interface gains DSP hardware

Armed with high-quality AD/DA and digital clocking, impeccable analog circuitry and hardware DSP, Apogee Duet 3 has come a long way since its first iteration in 2007. This portable USB-C 2-in/4-out interface The audio system includes two high-end microphone preamps with +65dB gain, +48V phantom power and Apogee's acclaimed advanced step-gain architecture, along with a great-sounding headphone output. The real stumbling block, however, is the inclusion of the onboard hardware DSP, which enables zero-latency sound shaping directly at the input stage via the included ECS Channel Strip plug-in. You'll also appreciate the Duet 3's redesigned breakout cable, which offers streamlined connectors and a longer reach, as well as its convenient bus-powered design and attractive contoured body covered in scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass.

Legendary AD/DA components and world-class analogues

To achieve professional-grade sound quality, your audio interface needs high-quality AD/DA converters, rock-solid digital clocking, pristine-sounding analog circuitry, and carefully designed power management. Duet 3 succeeds across the board, allowing you to capture any source at maximum fidelity and monitor and mix with lifelike detail, depth and dimensionality. Apogee has been designing world-class digital and analog components for nearly 40 years, and the Duet 3 epitomizes its decades of innovation and expertise with best-in-class sound and performance.

Mic preamps that can do it all

Drums, vocals, guitar, strings, brass — each source places unique demands on your mic preamp. You need a preamp that can do it all and capture every detail of every performance. The microphone preamps in Apogee Duet 3 are designed with the company's Advanced Stepped Gain Architecture, an analog circuit that dynamically optimizes over a 0 to 65 dB gain range to provide exceptional bandwidth with the lowest possible distortion — even when you increase the gain.

Hardware DSP delivers zero-latency sound shaping directly at the source

One of our favorite features of the Duet 3 is its built-in DSP, which lets you shape your sound directly at the input stage with zero latency. This audio interface comes with Apogee's ECS Channel Strip, which includes excellent-sounding EQ, compression, and saturation—all tuned to perfection by Bob Clearmountain. You also get Apogee Control 2 software for complete control of all Duet 3 functions and features, including the ECS Channel Strip, along with the Apogee Channel FX plug-in that lets you adjust preamp gain, turn on phantom power , set monitor levels, and control and print ECS Channel Strip effects directly from your DAW.

Characteristics

• High-quality Apogee AD/DA conversion and digital clocking;
• Impeccable analog circuitry and carefully designed power management;
• 2 world-class microphone preamps with +65dB of gain, +48V of phantom power and Apogee's advanced gain-scaling architecture;
• Redesigned breakout cable with 2 instrument inputs, 2 mic/line inputs and 2 balanced outputs;
• Headphone output with excellent sound;
• Built-in hardware DSP lets you shape your sound directly to the input stage with zero latency;
• Includes a hardware accelerated version of Apogee's ECS Channel Strip;
• Convenient bus-powered design via the unit's USB-C port;
• Attractive contoured body covered with scratch-resistant gorilla glass;
• Includes a travel case.

Specifications

• Computer connectivity: USB 2.0;
• Form factor: portable;
• Simultaneous I/O: 2x4;
• Number of preamps: 2 x microphone;
• Phantom power: yes;
• A/D resolution: 24bit/192kHz;
• Analog Inputs: 2 x 1/4 in. (instrument), 2 x XLR (mic/line);
• Analog Outputs: 2 x 1/4 in.;
• Headphones: 1 x 1/8 in. (stereo);
• USB: 2 x USB-C;
• System requirements (Mac): macOS 10.15 or later, iOS (Control 2 app);
• System Requirements (PC): Windows 10 Anniversary Update or later;
• Power Source: USB bus powered.