The PreSonus ioStation 24c is Brent March's Hardware Product Of 2020, he explains why.

At the very start of the year we saw some great releases coming out of the NAMM show. One in particular that caught my eye was the PreSonus ioStation 24c. I was already a big PreSonus fanboy and loved their Faderport range, so to say I was excited about reviewing this unit would be an understatement.

The ioStation 24c was PreSonus’ answer to their incredibly popular Faderport range, with the addition of an audio interface. Featuring two XMAX Class A analog mic preamps, plus the addition of the DAW transport controls, motorized faders and the bundle of software it comes with, it really seemed like an incredible offer from PreSonus.

I’m a big fan of Studio One V5. Mainly because of the biggest update, the Show page. Deep down I believe that the ioStation 24c may have been designed once the Show page had come to fruition. Using the ioStation in the studio as a production controller, to then later bring it to the stage with the Show page, makes it one of the most versatile audio interfaces on the market. Whether you’re an artist, producer, mixer or someone who travels a lot – the ioStation seems seminal to PreSonus’ offering of one stop product solutions.

With support for Mackie Control and HUI protocols the ioStation 24c is a fantastic controller for not just Studio One, but also Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Cubase, Ableton Live, and more.

Keeping ahead of the curve the ioStation features a relatively new USB C port, and it also comes with a cable which is not something we see with every audio interface. I was also surprised with the fantastic range of plugins and VST’s that come bundled with the ioStation 24c. Boasting a plethora of soft synths, VSTs, samples and plugins from the likes of UVI, Plugin Alliance, Output, Klanghelm and of course PreSonus.

Over a relatively short time period audio interface build quality and tech specs have become increasingly high end, whilst the price point has become only more affordable. I can’t help but think that the ioStation 24c is one of the best value for money audio interface and production controllers on the market. It’s innovative and takes a new approach to a traditional interface, giving users a more hands-on approach with mixing and working in the box. That’s why the PreSonus ioStation 24c is my favourite piece of hardware for 2020.