Apogee Duet 3 is the latest model, packing the functions of a professional audio interface into a compact unit. In addition to industry-leading audio performance with relative THD+N of -113 dB and a dynamic range of 123 dB, it features a high-quality mic preamp with up to 75 dB of gain, handling every music production scene from home studios to mobile setups. With a refined design combining glass and aluminum, a weight of just 340 g, single-USB-cable setup and compatibility with Mac, Windows and iPad, it lets you achieve pro-level sound anywhere with ease. Furthermore, rich features such as the onboard DSP, Apogee Control and the Symphony ECS Channel Strip enable advanced audio control and sound shaping for beginners and professionals alike.
A Music Production Staple: An Outstanding Audio Tool
"Duet," Apogee's popular series.
"Duet 3," the latest model released in 2021, packs the functions of a professional audio interface into a compact unit, and since its release it has continued to perform in all kinds of music production scenes, from home studios to mobile setups.
This time, we explain the appeal of Apogee Duet 3 in detail.
Pursuing the Highest Sound Quality
Duet 3 is an audio interface that draws on the high-quality audio technology Apogee has cultivated over many years.
This product excels in A/D conversion, the technology that converts sound to digital, and boasts top-class performance in the industry.
It is designed to keep distortion to a minimum while responding quickly to changes in sound, so even subtle nuances are faithfully reproduced.
- Relative THD+N: -113 dB: an indicator of how little distortion and noise there is. A figure of -113 dB means very low distortion and noise, delivering clear sound.
- Dynamic range: 123 dB (A-weighted): dynamic range indicates the span from the quietest to the loudest sound. A wide dynamic range of 123 dB means it can capture everything from subtle nuances to loud sounds.
High-Quality Mic Preamps
The mic preamps in Duet 3 offer top-level performance among products in its class.
The specific performance is as follows.
- High gain: provides up to 75 dB of gain, firmly amplifying faint audio signals.
- Low noise: very little noise, so you can record clear sound. For example, even with a 150 Ω microphone at 60 dB of gain, there is almost no noise and the sound is very clear.
- Wide input range: supports a maximum input level of up to +20 dB, handling a wide range of audio signals.
It also includes convenient functions such as "48V phantom power, grouping, soft limit and phase invert."
These functions are covered again in detail in the "Apogee Control" section later.
A Timelessly Beautiful Design
Duet 3 skillfully combines high-performance internals with a modern, refined design.
Its exterior combines glass and aluminum exquisitely, offering both beauty and durability.
With a compact size of 150 mm × 102 mm × 30 mm and a light weight of just 340 g, it is easy to move between studios or use on the go.
In addition, it supports bus power, so no separate power supply is needed and setup is complete with a single USB cable.
This means that, regardless of your environment, high-quality music production is easy anywhere.
Flexible Connectivity and Intuitive Operation
Duet 3 is compatible with a variety of devices, so it can be used both in the studio and on the go.
Its features are explained clearly below.
- Inputs: one balanced 1/4-inch instrument/line input and one balanced combo mic/line/instrument input. You can connect various audio equipment such as guitars and microphones.
- Outputs: one 1/4-inch zero-ohm headphone output and balanced left/right speaker outputs. You can send clear sound to headphones and speakers.
- Breakout cable: the included breakout cable lets you connect even more equipment, giving you two inputs (2 in) and four outputs (4 out).
- Device compatibility: compatible with a variety of devices, including Mac, Windows and iPad, so you can produce high-quality music anywhere.
It also supports the following operating systems (OS).
- macOS: 10.14.6 (Mojave) or later
- Windows: Windows 10 Anniversary Update or later
- iOS: iOS 13 or later
Hardware DSP for High-Quality Audio Processing
Duet 3 has a built-in digital signal processor (DSP).
This lets you process effects in real time without putting a load on your computer's CPU.
A DSP is a chip for processing sound in real time, so you can record without latency and reproduce professional-sounding audio.
Also, with the built-in mixer, each output can be set individually, making sound adjustments easy.
Apogee Control: Advanced Audio Control with Intuitive Operation
The dedicated controller "Apogee Control" is software that makes Duet 3's advanced functions easy to operate.
With this software, you can efficiently handle device settings, input/output control, low-latency direct monitoring, management of the built-in effects and flexible routing of input and output signals.
It also includes the following convenient functions, each used by pressing its own button.
- 1. 48V phantom power: supplies the power needed when using condenser microphones.
- 2. Group: groups multiple inputs to change levels and other settings all at once.
- 3. Soft limit: prevents clipping when sudden loud sounds come in, maintaining natural sound quality.
- 4. Phase invert: solves phase problems caused by microphone placement and balances the sound.
A Powerful Tool for Sound Shaping: Symphony ECS Channel Strip
The included Symphony ECS Channel Strip plug-in is a convenient tool that combines three essential audio processing functions in one.
The Symphony ECS Channel Strip plug-in opens when you click the "Print FX" button on the input channel you want to use in Apogee Control.
- 1. EQ (equalization): based on vintage 1970s hardware EQ, it can give music a rich contour. Switching the high-pass filter to the compressor sidechain achieves aggressive compression without pumping.
- 2. Compressor (compression): features parameters tuned by legendary mixing engineer Bob Clearmountain, providing solid gain reduction with only the controls you need. Parallel compression is also easy with the MIX knob.
- 3. Saturation: provides variable levels of harmonic distortion, from a subtle volume boost to more obvious drive, adding rich color to your sound.
The Symphony ECS Channel Strip also comes with presets for various recording situations, shown when you click the area labeled "Default."
With Save As in the presets, you can also save the current settings as a preset.
Recording with Effects
Duet 3 lets you use the built-in DSP to record while applying effects in real time.
This function lets you record while monitoring the sound with effects applied, with almost no perceptible latency.
To use it, open the Symphony ECS Channel Strip as described earlier and set up the effects you need (EQ, Compressor, Saturation).
When the settings are complete, turn on (light up) the "Print FX" button at the top left of the plug-in.
When you start recording in your DAW, the audio is recorded with the configured effects applied.
* Effects applied with Print FX cannot be changed after recording, so set them carefully when using this function.
The Loopback Function
The Loopback function can mix audio output from applications on your computer (for example, music or game sound) with audio input from a microphone (for example, your own voice) internally.
This mixed audio can then be sent back to an application.
Open the drop-down menu called "Assign to SW Inputs" (assign to software inputs) below the mixer.
From this drop-down menu, choose the destination you want to loop back to.
For example, choosing "Software Input 1-2" routes the mixer output to the computer's virtual inputs 1-2.
In the input settings of your DAW or streaming software, select the corresponding Duet 3 inputs (e.g., inputs 1-2).
The audio mixed in the mixer is now fed into your DAW or streaming software.
With the Loopback function, you can do things like the following.
- Online streaming: in game streams and live broadcasts, you can deliver game audio and your own voice to viewers at the same time.
- Podcast production: you can mix background music and narration in real time and record them.
Limited-Time Sale Information
What did you think?
The high performance packed into its compact body makes it a product we can confidently recommend to anyone who wants to raise the quality of their music production.
Apogee Duet 3 is currently on sale, limited to 150 units, at a special price of ¥69,900 (tax included)!
The company's USB audio interface "BOOM" is also included in the sale.
It also supports the "Apogee Control" explained above, and as a 2-in/2-out product that can also be used with iOS, it is a perfect match for mobile setups.
Be sure to check them out!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What kind of music production is Apogee Duet 3 suited to?
It handles every music production scene, including vocal recording, instrument recording, podcast production and remote recording. With its high-quality mic preamps, pro-level recording is possible.
Q2. Do I need a separate power cable?
No. Duet 3 supports USB bus power, so it runs on a single USB cable. No additional equipment such as a power adapter is required.
Q3. Can it be used with an iPad?
Yes. It supports iPads running iOS 13 or later, enabling high-quality music production on the go. Take advantage of its portability to produce anywhere.
Q4. What role does the included Symphony ECS Channel Strip play?
It is a plug-in integrating EQ, a compressor and other audio processing functions, delivering high-quality sound shaping modeled on vintage hardware. It uses parameters tuned by a professional mixing engineer.
Q5. Can I connect multiple microphones or guitars at the same time?
The unit itself supports two inputs, and the included breakout cable expands it to 2 in/4 out. This is sufficient for a small studio setup.
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