Housed in a reassuringly hefty and very attractive metal casing with rubber slip mat that recalls the industrial lines of the MacBook Pro, the Duet sports an OLED screen on the top panel that displays information such as output and input levels. Also on the top panel are two small programmable touchpads and a large central control knob that turns either clockwise or anti-clockwise with a satisfying click. The same control knob can be pushed like a button to access different functions, such as input level, output level, headphones level, and so on.
Apogee Duet sets the industry standard for portable professional audio recording on Mac and iPad. Made for the musician, producer and engineer that wants the ultimate sound quality and elegant simplicity, Duet features legendary Apogee AD/DA conversion, 2 world-class microphone preamps, USB MIDI I/O and ESS Sabre32 DAC technology. Take advantage of Duet’s low latency USB connection and powerful native Mac processing to join the ranks of top engineers and producers who count on Apogee to deliver hit after hit. With Duet’s 2 Combo inputs you can connect microphones, guitars, keyboards or line level devices such as external mic preamps or a mixing board. Duet also includes 4 analog outputs - 2 1/4” balanced outputs for connection to speakers or outboard equipment and a separate, independently controlled 1/4” stereo headphone output. WINDOWS 10 COMPATIBILITY Windows 10 compatibility is now standard for the latest generations of ONE, Duet and Quartet USB audio interfaces. Customers who purchase the latest generation of these products will be able to register and download a Windows 10 compatible software installer from Apogee’s website.
Existing customers will also have access to the download. The Windows software installers will include a firmware update for the hardware, custom Apogee ASIO audio driver and PC compatible version of Apogee’s Maestro application for controlling audio interface settings and low latency monitoring. All the same functionality currently available to Mac and iOS users will be available to Windows 10 users and the same interface can be used on either Mac, PC or iOS.
Features. 2 analog inputs with world-class mic preamps and selectable 48 V phantom power for connecting microphones, instruments or line-level devices. 4 analog outputs - 2 balanced 1/4” outs for speakers or outboard gear, 1/4” stereo headphone output. USB 2.0 High Speed connection to Mac. Direct digital connection with iOS devices. (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Lightning and.
30-pin cable sold separately). Software control of hardware parameters including input selection and low latency monitoring Specs.
Apogee Duet is an award-winning audio interface, headphone amp and MIDI interface making it easy to create professional recordings anywhere on your iOS devices (iPod touch, iPhone, iPad or Mac). With Apogee’s legendary digital audio conversion and world-class mic preamps, Duet is the best way to capture your music with incredible dimension and detail. The new Duet for iPad and Mac features special circuitry designed to deliver professional performance for iPad use along with low latency USB 2.0 performance for Mac.
And with the addition of MIDI I/O you can connect and power a Core MID compatible keyboard/controller while using Duet with your iPad or iOS device. Apogee is an award-winning industry leader in digital recording technology with over 25 years of experience. Preferred by recording pros around the world, Apogee products like Duet, Ensemble and Symphony I/O have been instrumental in creating countless GRAMMY® and OSCAR® winning recordings and have set the industry standard in professional recording for over two decades. Duet is built solidly on this reputation.
From the mic preamps to the AD/DA converters and the clocking, Duet is best-in-class and cutting-edge Apogee technology. With components carefully selected in critical listening tests and a highly efficient circuit design, Duet was built by Apogee engineers to make a difference you can hear. Duet’s AD/DA converters are designed to deliver the purest recordings and best listening experience possible. Duet’s efficient circuitry and state-of-the-art components provide a simplified signal path resulting in incredibly transparent recordings. Much like the AD/DA converters, Duet’s mic preamps feature the latest components and offer seamless click-free transitions as the gain increases and decreases throughout the incredible range of 0-75dB. This unprecedented feature allows you to dial in the perfect level, either with the controller knob or from within software, while delivering ultra-low noise and smooth, crisp detail. Duet’s mic pres are suitable for all dynamic, condenser or ribbon microphones, allowing you to capture any sound without compromise.
An Apogee technology first introduced in 1992 on Apogee’s AD-500 converter, Soft Limit can be heard on countless platinum selling records around the world. Once a technology exclusively reserved for Apogee’s most advanced audio converters, Soft Limit is included in Duet and can be enabled in Apogee Maestro software. This superior analog design prevents the digital clipping that causes distortion by instantaneously rounding off transient peaks before they hit the analog-to-digital converter. Soft Limit allows several more decibels of apparent level to be recorded while subtly providing an analog-like warmth to the sound. Apple’s iPad is an incredible audio recording and music creation tool. Starting at $399, it is by far the most accessible, reliable and dynamic way to make music. Interacting with iPad to make music is like playing an instrument.
In fact, some apps like Apple’s GarageBand turn your iPad into a guitar or virtual instrument. Whether you are moving faders on a mixer, adjusting software parameters, or editing a waveform, iPad’s multi-touch interface is a more hands on environment and superior to mouse clicks or track pad swipes.
There are hundreds of music apps for iOS and iPad. With multi-track recording DAWs like GarageBand and Auria, synths and drum machines like Animoog and DM1, utilities and guitar effects like Audiobus and JamUp Pro, the music creation offering for iPad is vast and varied. And most apps are more affordable than their Mac based counterparts. IPad makes everything easier with a simplified user interface and plug and play connectivity for accessories like Apogee audio interfaces.
You’ll be amazed by how simple it is to set up your studio. Sharing functionality is built-in to most apps, making it easier then ever to move files and collaborate on different devices including iPad to Mac.
Apogee Duet is an award-winning audio interface, headphone amp and MIDI interface making it easy to create professional recordings anywhere on your iPod touch, iPhone, iPad or Mac. With Apogee’s legendary digital audio conversion and world-class mic preamps, Duet is the best way to capture your music with incredible dimension and detail. The new Duet for iPad and Mac features special circuitry designed to deliver professional performance for iPad use along with low latency USB 2.0 performance for Mac. And with the addition of MIDI I/O you can connect and power a Core MID compatible keyboard/controller while using Duet with your iPad or iOS device. A difference you will hear From the mic preamps to the AD/DA converters and the clocking, Duet is best-in-class and cutting-edge Apogee technology. With components carefully selected in critical listening tests and a highly efficient circuit design, Duet was built by Apogee engineers to make a difference you can hear.
Pristine, next generation AD/DA converters Duet’s AD/DA converters are designed to deliver the purest recordings and best listening experience possible. Duet’s efficient circuitry and state-of-the-art components provide a simplified signal path resulting in incredibly transparent recordings. Smooth, detailed world-class mic preamps Much like the AD/DA converters, Duet’s mic preamps feature the latest components and offer seamless click-free transitions as the gain increases and decreases throughout the incredible range of 0-75dB. This unprecedented feature allows you to dial in the perfect level, either with the controller knob or from within software, while delivering ultra-low noise and smooth, crisp detail. Duet’s mic pres are suitable for all dynamic, condenser or ribbon microphones, allowing you to capture any sound without compromise.
IPad puts you in touch with your creativity Interacting with iPad to make music is like playing an instrument. In fact, some apps like Apple’s GarageBand turn your iPad into a guitar or virtual instrument. Whether you are moving faders on a mixer, adjusting software parameters, or editing a waveform, iPad’s multi-touch interface is a more hands on environment and superior to mouse clicks or track pad swipes. Setting up your studio has never been easier iPad makes everything easier with a simplified user interface and plug and play connectivity for accessories like Apogee audio interfaces. You’ll be amazed by how simple it is to set up your studio. Breakout Cable Duet’s breakout cable includes two combination mic/instrument connectors (XLR and 1/4” built into a single connector) and two balanced 1/4” connectors for speakers. The elegant single cable-to-junction design allows for easy cable management and the locking connection to Duet is robust and stylish.
Two Analog Inputs Duet’s 2 combination input connectors (XLR and 1/4”) allow you to connect microphones, guitars and keyboards or your favorite external mic preamps, compressors and EQs. Four Analog Outputs Duet includes four analog outputs. 2-1/4” balanced outputs for connection to speakers or outboard equipment and a separate, independently controlled 1/4” stereo headphone output. With these four outputs it’s possible for a DJ to monitor a separate mix in headphones while sending a house mix to the club, a live performer to send a click track to in-ear monitors while sending a backing track to front-of-house, and a recording engineer to send a headphone mix to the performer while dedicating the main outputs to studio monitors. MIDIDuet provides a single USB MIDI connection for your CoreMIDI compatible keyboard, synth, or DJ controller.
This eliminates the need for an external MIDI interface and promotes an all-in-one music creation solution where Duet and Maestro manage all audio and MIDI. On iPad, Duet’s MIDI connection allows both Duet and a keyboard or DJ controller to be connected at the same time to the iPad’s single connector (Lightning or 30-pin).
Full-Color OLED Display The high-resolution OLED screen built into Duet’s top is the main control center for Duet, delivering visual feedback for multiple functions including metering, numeric value for input and output levels, input grouping, and phase, muting, phantom power and Soft Limit indication. With this display you know the status of any input and output at any given moment without having to refer to Maestro or your recording software.
Configurable Touchpads Duet also introduces configurable touchpads. The two touchpads, located on either side of the encoder knob, allow you to quickly access output functions such as “Mute Outputs”, “Dim Outputs”, “Sum to Mono” or “Toggle Headphone Source”. Each are assignable using a drop-down menu within Apogee’s Maestro 2. This unique feature allows you to select the function you want and access it directly from Duet without having to look at software.
Multi-function Controller Knob Along with its sleek aluminum chassis, the multi-function controller knob is one of the most recognizable features of Duet’s design. This central control feature allows you to quickly and easily toggle through Duet’s inputs and outputs and set levels while looking at Duet’s dynamic OLED display.
To anybody that buys a Duet for its sound output quality, don't make the same mistake I did. The duet's headphone output will not drive high impedance headphones like Sennheiser's HD-600 + HD650 and AKG K701's to their full potential. I bought the HD-600's thinking I could have a portable audiophile set up, but found a narrow soundstage and bass muddy.
It was much better connected through my integrated Proton amp (similar to a NAD 3020) with tight definable bass and a wide soundstage. I could understand then why so many rave about how good the HD-600s are.
I am getting a Chinese AC mains powered USB DAC/headphone amp in a couple of weeks to power them. I now have the open Audio Technica ATH-AD1000 which to me sounds great, although I have a overwhelming desire to upgrade to the ATH-AD2000 or the closed ATH-W5000. Some people may claim that like the Etymotic ER-6i's they lack bass.
The AD1000 even sounds OK connected to my iPod Nano. Hmm.from what I've read, most people seem to think highly of the headphone amplifier in the Duet. To my ears, my HD-590 has never sounded better. That said, the 590 is easier to power than the 600, 650, etc. The DAC is worth the price alone. Hell, the pre-amps are worth the price alone.if only I could sing. I primarily got it to replace my guitar amp (living in a condo now)-I've used cheaper USB interfaces this way before, but this made a huge difference.
I actually feel like I'm playing a guitar again. I was considering the PreSonus Firebox ($250) and was a little intimidated by $500 pricetag. Listening to iTunes through the Duet DAC is worth every penny. After my first day with it-absolutely no regrets. A true piece of art. I have read several good reviews of the hardware but was wondering how the Duet has been with regard to software updates?
Have you ever had to hold back with updates because of incompatibilities? I have been looking at changing to an interface instead of recording direct via the line in on my Mac into Garageband and Logic and this should allow me to record direct or via microphones. I can't find a product that doesn't need additional drivers (I always try to get thinks supported with any built-in generic OS X ones if possible) so I figured this being a recommended solution on the Logic page should be well supported? I always update to the latest OS X versions on release so was hoping to find a solution that will allow me to keep doing this.
The only other concern is long term FireWire support now Apple have shipped a new Mac without it. As for the overal Duet performance - I found the sound fantastic and the interface is really good to use.
![Apogee Duet F55a938 For Mac Apogee Duet F55a938 For Mac](/uploads/1/2/3/8/123828612/113609713.webp)
But I've also had the random harsh distortion thing and the only reliable solution that works for me is to close the app, log out and log back in. I had Kernel panics when switching sampling rates, but that has only happened once since the Mac Pro firmware update. However, the Kernel Panics still happen when switching users (though not always). Apogee customer service have admitted there is a problem and a fix is 'on the way.' What's not clear is if the problem is OSX related, or Apogee related, or both. Click to expand.Are you still experiencing those issues?
Random harsh screeching sound. I found that it usually occurs when some application calls for graphics rendering (like the Cover Flow mode in Finder, iWork things, playing High Definition video). Funny thing is, if I don't do anything, it usually gets worse and worse and eventually the audio will just drop out completely, leaving me with no choice but to unplug and replug my Duet. If I do act quickly, meaning, when the screeching starts, I quickly open a Finder window, select Cover Flow mode and click a bunch of folders so it rebuild that view each time, the sound will go back to normal.
Very, very strange. I'm on the latest version of Leopard (10.5.6), and I'm using the latest driver from Apogee. The problem occurs in every application, but video players (Quicktime, VLC) are most prone to the problem.
Oh, and the internal audio has zero issues, aboslutely no dropouts, clicks, pops whatsoever. Click to expand.Not really. The Bose setup essentially has its own built in audio interface in this case. However, from what I have read, it does have a secondary input?
![Apogee Apogee](/uploads/1/2/3/8/123828612/586396937.jpg)
So you can plug in iPods or other MP3 players etc etc. So it's feasible that with the right cable you could take the output of a Duet and route it into the Bose's aux input. But thats a bit of a chore, and using a Duet for these speakers is not likely to bring about any appreciable gains anyway. PS, While im here. For anyone with a Duet that was not aware, there was a software update released last month. But like the May 08 update, I think it is again just a Maestro update, rather than a driver update, as the driver itself is included with recent versions of OS X now. The only time I ever had any distortion issue experience with the Duet, was when using Soundflower.
Its hard to describe what happens, but its as if the duet loses its clock, and it loses sync/locks up the audio into a very very short repeating loop that ends up sounding like a digital buzz. I put this down to a soundflower issue though, as its not done this when using any other software. Also, it was fixed not by restarting the whole computer. But simply reselecting the audio output again.
And of course, by not using Soundflower where avoidable. Newbie requiringhelp with Duet Hi.
Hope I'm in the right place.apologies if I'm not.I have just bought the Apogee Duet and cant seem to get any signal output. I have configured my G4 Macbook Pro to use the Duet, I have configured the Apogee control panel and followed all instructions in the Duet setup manual and I can SEE signal going in when I play guitar but cannot hear it through my headphones. When I play itunes however, it comes through crystal clear. (I have also made sure the output light on the Duet itself is lit) Any suggestions much welcome. Hope I'm in the right place.apologies if I'm not.I have just bought the Apogee Duet and cant seem to get any signal output. I have configured my G4 Macbook Pro to use the Duet, I have configured the Apogee control panel and followed all instructions in the Duet setup manual and I can SEE signal going in when I play guitar but cannot hear it through my headphones.
When I play itunes however, it comes through crystal clear. (I have also made sure the output light on the Duet itself is lit) Any suggestions much welcome. I have had two bouts of the distortion/screeching mentioned on earlier posts. This is with the 17' Unibody MBP, listening via headphones. The first time While playing a DVD movie, I restarted and that corrected the problem. The second time, while doing some light audio editing via Peak Pro, I removed the firewire cable from the Duet and then re-inserted it, and that cleared the noise. Very disconcerting and hurtful to the ears.
I hope Apogee is sorting this out. UPDATE: This problem is manifesting itself quite often now. I notice it most often starts (though not always) when replaying audio for the first time immediately after launching applications like Peak 6, or Toast 10. Sometimes, after pulling out the firewire cable and reinserting it, the sound output reverts to the computer speakers, even though all preferences still indicate the Duet is selected. I have to reset preferences to another source and then back to Duet, to achieve Duet output again – and then it sometimes comes through the left channel only.
Only a full restart overcomes all these problems. Until it rears its head again. I am using fully updated OSX and Duet software, on the new 17' Macbook Pro. In the last two days alone, this has happened six times. I had no such problems with the Duet before OSX 10.5.6 or the new Macbook Pro. I have had similar problems described in this thread (and in ) according to the click and pops with Duet This sound example shows a recorded sound from a Analog Tape player Studer B 67 MK2.
I'm manually turning the tape in slow speed to detect if the clicks are on the tape or generated from the computer. The clicks can not be on the tape since the pitch dosen't change this sound example might be interesting since it was recorded but often I hear the click without a noticable effect on the raw sound recorded (henche only happening in the duet output signal). The example doesnt prove that duet is mailfunctioning since it can also be peak that creates this. Gear: iMac 2.66 GHz intel core Duo, 2GB RAM - OSX 10.5.6 using Katsura's Pro Phase and Bias Peak 6 but same clicks appears with quicktime or other software when the ckicking occurs A restart clears off these problems I haven't noticed the graphics rendering-effect but I will put some attention to it since im also using Katsura's Pro Phase application to register the channel separation on the Studer Analog tape recorder digitalizing from. Duet DO drop FW800 speed. Even if you have it last in a daisy chain - and even if you have a FW-hub. I've tried both and I have about 700 Mb/s to my WD FW800 disks (2 in a software RAID 0).
When I plug in Duet - last in chain or via my hub - the speed drops more and more over time (30 minutes) and stays on 400 Mb/s. If I unplug Duet the speed goes up to 700 Mb/s again. This is the case with or without the driver from Apogee installed. This is in Lion - I never tried this in Snow Leopard.
I'm quite shure it's the same in Snow Leopard. So - the Duet DO slow down FW800 speed. Where in chain doesn't matter. Duet needs a new driver for Lion.
Only killing duetDaemon (=restarting it) makes it work. The popup comes and goes. It's not stabile. Duet DO drop FW800 speed. Even if you have it last in a daisy chain - and even if you have a FW-hub. I've tried both and I have about 700 Mb/s to my WD FW800 disks (2 in a software RAID 0).
Apogee Duet F55a938 For Mac
When I plug in Duet - last in chain or via my hub - the speed drops more and more over time (30 minutes) and stays on 400 Mb/s. If I unplug Duet the speed goes up to 700 Mb/s again.
This is the case with or without the driver from Apogee installed. This is in Lion - I never tried this in Snow Leopard. I'm quite shure it's the same in Snow Leopard. So - the Duet DO slow down FW800 speed. Where in chain doesn't matter. Duet needs a new driver for Lion.
Only killing duetDaemon (=restarting it) makes it work. The popup comes and goes. Free cute furry monster icons for mac free. It's not stabile.