All In the tests

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After years of making hardware and software effects solutions, TC Electronic has released a series of audio interfaces. The Konnekt family is divided into two sub-families, with on the one hand the Konnekt8, KonnektLive and Konnekt24D and on the other hand the DigitalKonnekt X32 and the StudioKonnekt48, a 24bit/192kHz audio interface which will be reviewed here.

Installation

The interface, a nice 19” metal rack weighing 2.5kg, has been delivered in a handy bag with all necessary accessories: power and FW cords, software install CD, etc. It’s Mac and PC compatible, from OS10.4.10 (including Leopard), XP SP2 and Vista x32. In these times of almost daily updates, neither the drivers nor the mix and control software are up to date. But you can quickly fix this by downloading the current ones. A firmware update is necessary, however it’s a no-hassle procedure. You start by installing the driver, the TCNear software then you have to connect the interface to a free FW400 port. The dual G5 2 GHz had no problems, even after lots of shutdowns and re-booting of both the Mac and the SK48, no kernel panic or whatever, everything’s still working fine.

Now, can we plug all our studio gear into it? First, the Dynaudio BM6A: no problem, because the interface offers XLR Main Outs (therefore analog outputs, but digitally controlled). Just one quibble: though the interface shuts down without any noise, there’s a switching noise when turning it on, even with the volume set to 0. Is there a missing relay?

We need to connect all of the following: two U5s used with a SY99, a K2500X, an Orbit-3, a D-550, the G4 RME’s outputs, a VT-737-SP and a KSP8. The U5, Kurzweil, Roland, Avalon preamp will be plugged into the line inputs on the rear panel (TRS, -10 or +4 dB selectable by software). The E-mu is connected via the S/P-DIF input, the KSP8 via the ADAT I/O. The latter is locked to the SK48 clock via the ADAT sync.

The XLRs coming from the G4 are plugged into the new Impact II preamps (the -20dB pad is on). Let’s sum it up: 7 line inputs, 2 inputs on the front, 8 ADAT In, 2 of the S/P-DIF, plus 2 unused preamps, one line input and the second ADAT port (switchable in stereo TOSLINK), here are the 24 inputs claimed by TC. Note that you’ll only have 22 inputs if you choose to work at 88.2 or 96 kHz, as you lose the TOSLINK port, because you’ll need two ADAT ports in SMUX.

As for Outputs, there’s 8 analog TRS, 2 ADAT, ie 8 ADAT channels and two TOSLINK (or only 8 ADAT channels in SMUX at 88.2 or 96 kHz), the S/P-DIF and the two XLR Main Out, ie 22 outputs. Add to that two headphone outputs with independent levels. Note that the second uses outputs 11/12 . All this connection-power in only one rack unit, it’s quite impressive. The only regret, but a substantial one, is that the phantom power is common to the four preamps. So say “Adios” to simultaneous use of static and ribbon mics. Such a faulty design decision is hardly believable. Even one phantom power per pair could have done the trick...