The Audient EVO4 is Audrey Martinovich’s Hardware Product Of 2020, she explains why.

My pick for Hardware of the Year this year isn’t the fanciest or most expensive. I wanted to choose something that really had a positive impact on my workflow this year. Gear is cool, but if you don’t use it, is it worth having? The EVO4 and EVO8 interfaces by Audient are my pick because of how much they have streamlined my process for creating tutorial videos. I have the EVO4 which has two XLR inputs and two virtual inputs, or Loopback channels, that allow you to route audio from Pro Tools (or other applications) to other software, without needing to install third-party audio routing software.

Before, I would patch the output of my Pro Tools rig into a Zoom H4N, then import those files and sync them with the video files in Premiere. Using the EVO instead means I can totally skip that step. So now, on one computer, I have Pro Tools open on one monitor with the audio routed to the EVO’s Loopback channels. Then, on my second monitor, I have VMix open, which records my Pro Tools display, the audio from Pro Tools on the Loopback channels, my voice over microphone through Mic Input 1, and my camera simultaneously, making post production smoother. 

Loopback is also handy if you’re interested in live streaming your Pro Tools sessions to Twitch or for unattended mixing sessions. I’ve sent the audio from Pro Tools to Source Connect Now using the EVO for real-time feedback from clients and it’s been great. Sometimes the simplest things can make a big difference!