Apogee Symphony Desktop USB-C Audio Interface

Here's What Apogee Say About the Symphony Audio Interface

Put the Sound of a Symphony on Your Desktop

Symphony Desktop for Mac and Windows packs the legendary sound quality of Apogee’s rack-mount Symphony I/O Mk II into an elegant and inspiring 10x14 audio interface that sits on your desk and fits in your bag. With Symphony Desktop, musicians and producers are empowered to record, overdub and mix with the music industry’s most respected AD/DA converters and mic preamps. 

By combining superior performance, with new features like mic preamp emulation, the Symphony ECS Channel Strip plugin and ultra low latency recording with hardware DSP and Apogee native FX plugins, Symphony Desktop will amplify your creativity in your studio or on the go and give your recordings the Apogee sound quality Advantage.

Legendary Sound Quality

Cutting edge analog and digital components selected by curious and critical ears

Like every product in the Symphony line, Symphony Desktop benefits from Apogee’s core mission to design the finest performing audio interfaces using cutting edge analog and digital components, carefully selected by ear. While others cut costs and rely on conventional design approaches, we use innovative components and circuit optimization to consistently improve the performance of our products

A/D Conversion - Faithfully capture every nuance 

Similar to Symphony I/O MkII, Symphony Desktop’s analog-to-digital convertor stage features ultra-low distortion, high-slew rate, fully differential analog op-amps plus a cutting edge A/D convertor in a performance-enhancing dual-sum configuration. Create with the confidence that every nuance of your analog input is faithfully reproduced in the digital domain.

D/A Conversion - A widescreen window into your mix 

Symphony Desktop’s digital-to-analog stage employs brand new technology to provide uncompromising Symphony DAC performance in a portable product, including a robust ultra-low distortion, high-current output driver. Regardless of downstream connections, Symphony Desktop provides a transparent, widescreen window into the sonic landscape of your mix.

Mic Preamps - Superior performance 

At the core of the input stage, are Symphony Desktop’s mic preamps offering up to 75dB of gain. The preamp design features Apogee’s unique Advanced Stepped Gain Architecture which ensures ultra-low noise and distortion regardless of the source, from pounding kick drum to delicate fingerpicking on an acoustic guitar. With variable impedance settings on both mic and instrument inputs, Symphony Desktop optimizes the input stage to better match your specific devices, for deep lows and clear highs. Selectable mic preamp emulation adds character, attitude and maybe a bit of grit to your recordings.

Mic Preamp Emulation With Apogee Alloy

Apogee Alloy Mic Preamp emulation processing gives you the warmth and tone of coveted analog preamps

The Apogee Alloy Mic Preamp (AMP) emulation offers analog circuitry plus DSP processing to create the richest, most authentic audio modelling available in an audio interface. Critical aspects of the model such as input impedance, transient profile and distortion characteristics are first implemented in the analog domain, followed by precise and accurate refinement in DSP, for a hybrid result that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

British Solid State - Class A console sound

Inspired by the Marinar “Round can” input transformer and discrete transistor design of our Class A Neve 1066 mic preamp, this emulation gives you the sonic weight and smooth transient response of the hardware. Push the level for increased width and punch.

American Tube - Lush, 50s tone 

This emulation offers the lush, larger-than-life sounds of our 50s era Ampex 601 preamp, carefully restored and modded for lower noise and greater dynamic range. We’ve captured the harmonic warmth, richness and high-end sheen of the hardware, plus the “gently overcooked” sound of the overloading circuit.

Hardware DSP and Native Plugin FX

Run Apogee’s premium plugins on Symphony Desktop and in your DAW, No Hardware Required

Obsessively crafted by the same team that designs all Apogee hardware and software products, Apogee FX are premium plugins that run on the hardware DSP in Symphony Desktop or as native plugins on your computer. 

From visually modern interfaces that allow you to precisely shape and contour your sound to meticulously modeled vintage hardware so accurate it has been endorsed by the hardware manufacturer, Apogee plugins will quickly find their way into your daily recording tool kit.

Symphony ECS Channel Strip Plugin - Tuned by Bob Clearmountain

Included with Symphony Desktop is the Symphony ECS Channel Strip plugin. Tuned by Bob Clearmountain, Symphony ECS includes EQ, Compression and Saturation controls that let you create the optimal blend of channel FX for tracking vocals or acoustic instruments. 

Match to Your Mic Pre Selection

With Symphony ECS you have 3 characters to choose from. Symphony, American Tube and British Solid State. The profile of each is matched to the built-in mic pre and mic pre emulations. You can also mix and match to your sonic sensibilities. 

Print, DualPath Link and Native workflow

Symphony ECS gives you the full range of Apogee workflow options. For zero latency tracking, you can print though it as you record or set up a DualPath Link for monitoring and print later when you mix. Or simply use Symphony ECS as a native plugin in your DAW, no Apogee hardware required.

Work the way you want to with Apogee FX Plugins, Native, Print and DualPath Link Modes

Apogee FX Plugins and Symphony Desktop offer a variety of FX recording workflows that let you choose the best path for your creativity. When you are recording, you want inspiring sound quality, ease-of-use and ultra low latency. With Symphony Desktop you have options that fit the way you flow. 

Go Native 

All Apogee FX plugins work natively with or without Symphony Desktop connected

Apogee FX plugins run natively in any DAW. Just instantiate the plugin you want on the channel you are recording to and adjust your buffer for the best latency performance. 
Advantages: Simplest way to get a sound and not print FX in your recording

Commit and Print While you Record 

Nailed it? Record directly to your DAW through Symphony Desktop Hardware DSP. With Print mode active you can commit and record Apogee FX Plugins directly from the hardware DSP in Symphony Desktop to the corresponding channel in your DAW. 

Advantages: Zero-latency monitoring, permanently capture the FX sound you are recording with and speed up your process

Link for Lowest Latency, Commit Later when you Mix

The most powerful and advanced Symphony Desktop workflow mode is DualPath Link™ . With DualPath Link mode engaged in your DAW, you have ultimate flexibility with Apogee FX plugins. You can dial in an inspiring sound when you are tracking without printing FX.

Advantages: Zero-latency monitoring, and the flexibility to adjust the FX sound of the track later in the mix

With Symphony Desktop and Apogee FX, there’s no need to adapt your creative workflow to the restrictions of your audio interface and plugins, you choose the way you want to work.

Logic Pro X and Symphony Desktop For the ultimate DualPath Link experience

Logic Pro X users enjoy the ultimate Apogee FX Rack and DualPath Monitoring experience, thanks to unique hardware-software integration features, such as the Logic Pro X Direct button and Audio Device Control view. And, it can all be controlled from a single window in Logic, no need for an additional mixer or console app.

Simple, Seamless Control From Device To DAW

With Symphony Desktop you have a range of intuitive hardware and software control options. From the touch screen and control knob on the device, to the control app on your computer to the focused input and monitor control plugin for your DAW, you can easily access the settings you need to stay in your creative groove.

Designed to redefine professional portable recording

Like its iconic cousins Duet and Quartet, Symphony Desktop embodies an elegant aesthetic and intuitive user interface designed to compliment your studio and inspire your creativity. The streamlined form factor packs Symphony I/O grade rack-mount performance into a compact recording companion that looks great on you desk and the die cast aluminum chassis and treated glass touch screen are rugged and resilient enough for the road.

Key Features

• 10 IN x 14 OUT simultaneous channels of audio
• Cutting edge components and circuit design deliver detailed and pristine sound quality
• A/D & D/A Resolution up to 24bit/192kHz
• 2 Advanced Stepped Gain mic preamps, up to 75dB of gain, variable impedance
• 1 Instrument input with variable impedance
• Built-in hardware DSP processing of Apogee FX Rack plugins
• Flexible, zero latency plugin workflows: Print, Monitor and DualPath Link
• Apogee Alloy Mic Preamp emulation (Analog processing + DSP modeling)
• Analog Inputs: 2 x XLR-1/4" combi (mic/line), 1 x 1/4" (Hi-Z)
• Analog Outputs: 2 x 1/4" (monitor)
• 2 assignable headphone outputs: 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8”
• Digital I/O: 2 x Optical Toslink (ADAT,S/PDIF)
• Computer connectivity: USB over type C Connector
• Dynamic touch screen display
• Software control: Symphony Desktop Control application
• Compatibility
• macOS 10.12 or later, Quad Core i7 Processor or higher
• PC: Windows 10 Anniversary update or later, Quad Core i7 Processor or higher

Included Apogee FX Plugins

• Symphony ECS Channel Strip - Native and hardware DSP versions
• EQ
• Compressor
• Saturation
• Symphony Reverb - Native version
• Included Mic Preamp Emulations
• British Solid State
• American Tube

In the Box

• Symphony Desktop
• 12V DC power supply
• USB Type C to A cable
• USB Type C to C cable
• Quick start guide