Audient Expands EVO Range with SP8 With 8-Channel Smart Mic Preamp

Audient expanded its EVO range of USB-C audio interfaces with the EVO SP8 8-Channel Smart Mic Preamp ada AD/DA converter, a compact unit combining 8 microphone/line inputs, 8 line outputs, and two ADAT I/O connections, allowing it to handle multi-mic recording sessions with ease. Building upon its successful EVO range of audio recording equipment, Audient designed the EVO SP8 to expand the possibilities of its EVO audio interface range for bigger multitrack sessions. "Bigger sessions demand more channels and expanding your existing audio interface via ADAT might be the most cost-effective solution to scale up your studio," says Audient/EVO marketing director, Andy Allen. "SP8 does exactly that, giving you eight studio quality analogue preamps, a modern and intuitive user experience with  exceptional audio performance across the board.”

As with all EVO products, the new SP8 benefits from the addition of Smartgain, a time saving feature which gives the option to automatically set the gain with the touch of a button. "As with EVO 16, EVO SP8 can automatically set the gain for all 8 channels at once," explains Andy, highlighting the added advantage for musicians who have multiple mic inputs (drummers) or line inputs (synth players). For musical instruments, the SP8 includes two dedicated JFET dedicated inputs.

"If you’re expanding your current non-EVO audio interface, you get up to eight channels of simultaneous Smartgain with SP8, which not only takes the guesswork out of setting your levels, but also saves you time. If you are pairing two SP8s with your EVO 16 then you have Smartgain on all 24 channels! Soundcheck an entire band in less than 20 seconds. Imagine how that could transform a session and allow producers to stay focused on what’s important - making music," says Andy.
 
There’s also a high resolution, full-color LCD screen built into the unit, expanding the metering possibilities and supporting the one knob centralized control. "Navigate SP8’s hardware features with blazing speed, courtesy of our Motion User Interface. The wide angle screen intelligently displays information as you need it, transforming EVO SP8 into a fully immersive, easy to use Smart Preamp - the first of its kind," Andy continues. With the option to view the channel status and keep an eye on metering levels, Motion UI uses a centralized one-knob system to adjust all EVO SP8’s hardware parameters.

"We’re calling it the mic preamp of the future," states Andy. "Our powerful EVO Mic Preamp technology combines all the sonic advantages of a studio-grade analogue mic preamp with digitally controlled tactile precision, so you can set your gain with pin-point accuracy - right down to the decibel." EVO Mic Preamps provide 58dB Mic Gain, while its advanced 32-bit converter technology offers 121dB of dynamic range. 

Just like the previous EVO 16, the solid steel chassis with non-slip rubber feet means the EVO SP8 fits comfortably either on a desktop, in a portable rig or as a permanent fixture in the studio. Optional rack-ears make it even more flexible. The new Audient EVO SP8 is expected to ship in the first quarter of 2023 and will retail at €449 inc local VAT and $499 MAP.
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