The team at Antelope Audio has introduced two updated audio interfaces with some very exciting new DSP technology inside. The new Discrete 4 and Discrete 8 Synergy Core Edition audio interfaces introduce the company’s new Synergy Core DSP technology. This is a pairing of Antelope’s already established FPGA effects processing with a pair of powerful new ARM digital signal processing chips. It looks like these audio interfaces could be the most powerful all-in-one units we’ve ever seen.
What Is Synergy Core?
With the introduction of Synergy Core Antelope Audio are planning to shake up the audio interface industry with regard to the addition of digital signal processing at the interface level. At its heart the Synergy Core system is a pair of brand new ARM DSP chips which work in harmony with an updated version of Antelope’s FPGA effects technology to give a better more stable user experience with even lower latency when tracking with plug-ins enabled and allowing you to run even more of Antelope’s ever growing range of effects. Antelope are also collaborating with some of the music industry’s leading software developers to give even more of what we need in a format which will allow us to work quickly and easily with no frustrating technological hold ups.
Discrete 4 & Discrete 8 Synergy Core
The Antelope Audio Discrete 4 and Discrete 8 are the first in the company’s line up to take advantage of this new leap in digital signal processing technology. Discrete 4 and Discrete 8 Synergy Core keep Antelope’s pristine AD/DA conversion, allowing capturing and monitoring of audio at up to 192 kHz/24-bit resolution with a 121dB dynamic range and phenomenal processing power to your working environment. In the background the new dual ARM DSP chips and an FPGA processor will be working together in perfect harmony to run Antelope Audio’s vast collection of vintage-inspired effects plug-ins and any third-party effects joining the Synergy Core platform. This will mean more processing power from your computer can be offloaded to the Synergy core system meaning more of your CPU power can be used to run your DAW and background computing tasks. While we have seen this before Antelope are the first to bring the new ARM chips to their interfaces. Let’s hope that the industry gets behind this innovation more than it has some other third party DSP platforms.
Connectivity
The re-badged Discrete 4 and Discrete 8 Synergy Core interfaces still keep their joint Thunderbolt and USB connectivity along with 4 console grade Discrete design mic preamps on the Discrete 4 Synergy Core and 8 on the Discrete 8 Synergy Core.
Discrete 4 Synergy Core
Discrete 4 also features four line outputs, a pair of monitor outputs, four headphone outputs as well as an S/PDIF pair. Digital expandability is possible via ADAT optical I/O. Furthermore, a pair of Word Clock outputs let you distribute the interface’s highly stable clock signal across your studio.
Discrete 4 Synergy Core comes complete with a bundle of 36 real-time FPGA FX for free, worth well over $3,000.00 USD. All these plug-ins have been meticulously modelled by Antelope from the hardware originals. On top of that, 35 optional additions are also available. All are automatable within a DAW without adversely affecting CPU load, thanks to the AFX2DAW bridge plug-in which is currently available over Thunderbolt on macOS only. The Discrete 4 Synergy Core is ideal for musicians and producers needing a road-ready recording setup that holds the creative key to unlocking unprecedented production and mixing power.
Discrete 8 Synergy Core
Along with its 8 mic/line inputs on XLR combi jacks the Discrete 8 also offers a pair of re-amp outputs, stereo monitor outputs on TRS jacks and a pair of headphone outputs as well as 8 line level outputs over 25 pin D-Sub and an SPDIF pair. There is also the option to expand your system with 16 channels of I/O over ADAT optical. You can also clock to your wider studio with a Word Clock input and 3 outputs.
Processing power is what this full-size and rack-mountable interface is also about. Again loaded with dual ARM DSP chips and an FPGA processor, Discrete 8 Synergy Core is perfectly positioned for mid-sized studios. This time the pristine AD/DA conversion delivers an impressive 130dB of dynamic range on the monitor outputs and of course, those same 36 Real-Time FPGA FX, ranging from classic compressors to studio EQs and must-have reverbs to tube guitar amp models based on iconic vintage gear are included for free.
We very much looking forward to getting a Discrete 4 Synergy Core delivered very soon to put through its paces in a recording session, but for now if you want to find out more about the new Discrete 4 and 8 Synergy Core audio interfaces take a look at the Antelope Audio website.
You can check out James’ review of the original Antelope Discrete 8 and see how processing and connectivity have changed by clicking the link and checking out the video below.