All user reviews of 4/5 for the PreSonus AudioBox USB

Setup

- MacBook Pro
- OS X 10.8.5
- 4GB RAM
- Logic Pro 9

Overview

The PreSonus AudioBox offers a great variety of features for the money. There are few interfaces in its class that offer the same features for $150 or less (the Audiobox is very easy to find used for less than $100). For Apple users, the Audiobox is practically plug-and-play, and the proper software is provided for PC users as well.

For beginners, it's a perfect entry level interface for basic mono/stereo recording, but it also makes a great "on-the-go" interface for experienced musicians and engineers. The preamps are very usable and the interface is bus-powered via USB, so your band could literally record an acoustic demo of a new song while sitting in a tour van with a microphone and laptop computer.

Now this is not to say that the PreSonus Audiobox does not come with its own set of limitations.

Pros and Cons

While the Audiobox is a great value, it will be easy to outgrow if you choose to expand your setup (I say this from personal experience). Having 2 hybrid XLR/TRS inputs and 2 TRS outputs may keep your setup compact, but it certainly limits your options for recording a multi-instrument setup (full band, drum set, orchestra, etc). You may have to be more creative with microphone choice and placement if you intend to use this box for one-take full band recording, but it is possible.

The preamps are fairly clean, with a decent amount of 'headroom,' but they are definitely not the best out there. The 24-bit converters are on par with its price point, and there's nothing a little "studio magic" can't improve in post-production The control pots are very sturdy, and the unit itself is built into a durable metal casing (again, making it perfect for on-the-go applications).

Latency

It's also worth mentioning that the latency of this unit is a little more than noticeable. The interface includes a mixer control which can be adjusted between input and playback. This is a fancy way of saying that you can choose between monitoring the signal going into the box or the actual recording taking place in your DAW...or a blend between the two (which I have found to be kind of pointless).

I leave the mixer control on the playback setting 99% of the time, because I prefer to hear the actual recording going into the DAW in real time, but the latency for this interface is a bit high if you choose to record that way. Conversely, there is no latency at all if you switch the mixer control to input, but then you're unable to monitor the signal for possible clipping or software effects in your DAW as you record. As I have mentioned before, though, this unit makes up for its limitations in value and price. The latency issue is just something to adjust to as you get used to the Audiobox.

Bottom-Line

The PreSonus Audiobox is an ideal, affordable interface for the beginner who wants to explore the endless possibilities of audio engineering, or the performing musician who wants a quick and easy way to record demos and ideas. As I continue to expand my own setup and graduate to more versatile interfaces, I intend to keep my AudioBox because it's an invaluable tool for portability and quick, no-fuss recording.

I use this card for 3 years as an amateur, exclusively for electric guitar and vocals.

First under windows 7, the system was not stable as indicated in other reviews. Drivers to reconfigure each use or switch between Presonus card and PC sound card.

I am now on mac. The card is detected immediately and works perfectly. The real question is: is that one day we will be able to sound just under windows?

UTILIZATION

I use GarageBand, the issue of drivers do not arise under mac.
The card has a knob for adjusting the output équilbrer between the dry and wet. So I work systematically on its dry, headphones plugged into the headphone jack of the card with a total absence of latency.

No problem to record two tracks simultaneously jack or XLR jack plus (2 inputs are compatible jack / XLR). Note that the card has phantom power for microphones.

I am not using all MIDI.

GETTING STARTED

Being really amateur singing level, I do not have the skills to judge the quality of voice reproduction with the card. However, it seems very satisfactory, although slightly too focused on mediums. The equation is set in a jiffy with the software computer music.

Side guitar, with his dry guitar plugged directly is very well made and slightly compressed, which provides a natural balance between the strings, and a lot of potatoes in the bottom of the spectrum. For my part, I am very satisfied with this aspect, but it is taken into account for the purists who seek a totally transparent sound.

The card works well with various plug-ins and effects processing software. Having my little habits and my own effects, I experimented with my rack connected upstream (between guitar and map), compression is much more experience, including distos / fuzz who find themselves completely overwritten. The sound is very clean exploitable. And any way, record a sound worked is mmmmmaaaaaaaaaaallllllll!

In addition, no difficulty in using the instruments software only, without connected to the instrument card.

OVERALL OPINION

Given its price, I found this great card. It is not clear to the quality and finesse of pro gear, but this is not its purpose.

For amateurs, even confirmed it has all the qualities to give you sound very good.

connections in and out simple and begins when the main mao
2 combo inputs is to say either XLR or jack, two gain settings
2 outputs TRS headphone output with a dry signal mixer and mixed signal
midi in and out
first on a pc but drivers charge each time and pass on mac and hop over problem.
USB connectivity
use with professional studio one 2.6 and a mac book pro 13 COREI5 4GB
it turns

UTILIZATION

Mac no crash
studio one pro 2.6
for now I'm one track after so I do not know

latency 2.3 ms

GETTING STARTED

no installation setup prob either pc or mac, mac not

OVERALL OPINION

this is my first interface and I advice to all those who want to began, it has good performance level preamps and no complaints, even though of course we know that there are many more unfortunate that there is no limiter gain for input signals that can create distortion, but hey should not exaggerate

Card works with small PC configuration, ideal to start. My config was 2GHZ Dual core, 2GB RAM, 150 HDD (XP sp3 and Vista 32 laptop)

UTILIZATION

Used with Cubase sx 5 and 6 artist, very low latency (one of the lowest in this range at the time), midi keyboard for VST latency more pronounced depending on your hardware.

GETTING STARTED

Very easy installation, driver findable on site, taking easy hands.

OVERALL OPINION

Quality / price at the time, beat, it's the card that I really started to worked on PC, from the Hardware type machines MPC, MV, and other BAR.
Save time and money to model. I have since changed, but stayed true to Presonus with 44 VSL.Sans hesitation, I do it again this choice.

I had a computer later on (2010) so this is my first sound card
I chose the following good return webzine, its price, its robustness (all metal)
- Used for audio: macbook> audiobox> mackie mixer> amp> speakers
- To connect guitar, bass, mic, drum machines, synths, sampler while the jack 6.35

UTILIZATION

I had read that some galleys level driver, I have not had this problem being on mac
Used with cubase, near-zero latency

GETTING STARTED

Installed, no problem, plug n play with mac
I'm a big noob and I did not encounter any problems or incompatibility config
I never opened the manual!

OVERALL OPINION

So it's three years since I used no other models used before, my judgment will be limited
I like its simplicity, robustness
negative: it is true that it is a pity we can lower the input gains below-10db because a guitar with humbucker that even mini clip ... but not mess with my strat simple, ditto for the p-bass or other electronic devices
I think I have read different opinions on it sounded 'cardboard', this is not the impression it makes me,,,
checkez my songs on soundcloud to get an idea!

At the time I was just starting with recording and the sales assistant at Woodbrass recommended me this sound card.
I currently use it with a $600 Studio Projects T3 mic, which isn't the best match. The higher quality of the mic's diaphragm and tube are completely ruined by the poor quality integrated preamp of the Audiobox.
I use it primarily to record vocals with a 3.7GHz processor and 8GB RAM.
Monitoring system: Alesis M1MKII

UTILIZATION

The drivers are not very stable. I have to reinstall them every two months on average.
Presonus' technical support isn't the best in my opinion, no driver updates for years (since it came out in fact). Moreover, the ones included on the CD that comes inside the box don't work, you have to download them form the manufacturer's website according to your system.
The latency is high, but that's something inherent to USB audio peripherals, around 6ms at the input and 30ms at the output. It's alright to record demos but not for a studio.
With a good PC you can play back about 30 channels simultaneously but the card makes some noise.

The (detented) potentiometers aren't very precise and the internal phantom power generates quite some noise, which we can nevertheless get rid off by cutting the low-mids.
No XLR for the outputs — a big disadvantage of the card.

GETTING STARTED

Installation is very easy, since it's connected via USB.
However, as I mentioned before, you must go to Presonus' website to get them.


OVERALL OPINION

I've used it for two years and it was my first sound card. I now have an Avid Digi 003 Rack and the difference is huge.
Nevertheless, for the price (less than $150) and despite its flaws, this card is a good product to start out with in a home studio.
What I like the most about it is its minimalism, and what I like least is its lack of a sound character.

In my experience, this card is definitely better than an M-Audio (which sound metallic) or an entry-level Apogee with only two buttons, so I would definitely recommend it in this price range.

Bought it a little over a year to use "home"; plugs into a macbook pro, this little marvel allows me to stroll enough to record anything in a bag bandoulire.

Use: voice + guitar or keyboard

UTILIZATION

I do not remember, so it is that the installation was going alone.

GETTING STARTED

One branch and it works

OVERALL OPINION

The only inquitude I c'tait vis vis the lack of external power supply, since it is USB powered. Once in the amount of levels I heard a lightweight grsillement, who disappeared in removing the power supply of the Mac.

I was looking for a way to record vocals on a PC config with XP Pro SP3, 2.6GHz Quad Xeon with Reaper in the record "amateurs" a dozen times a year max. I took it as a bundle with a Rode NT1A (value for money by the way).

Otherwise it is easy to setup: USB cable, 2 in combo XLR / Neutrik jack with 48V phantom power supply that can connect a microphone and singing an acoustic example, in two out jack 6.35 to go to the monitoring and output headphone jack is also 6.35. Nothing is missing for this configuration. The pottards are accurate and of good quality.

It fulfills its function, the preamps are good, even if they are not worth much more expensive models. But do comprare what is comparable. In this price range, it is hard to beat.

UTILIZATION

Little star less because the drivers seem a bit flaky: if you install it and you did not disconnect (which should be the case you might say) is nickel. on the other hand if you need to lug the gear to record also, I had the misfortune of having to reinstall once the drivers. The latest version seems to correct this concern compared to the previous one. Since RAS.

GETTING STARTED

Very simple to implement. No need to open the manual. While thinking about taking (as always) the latest drivers on the manufacturer's website and not the version included with the CD.

OVERALL OPINION

For the use I make, namely occasional recordings, it's a great product given its price / quality ratio.

The presonus audio box usb works great with a Mac, just plug it in, select the Audiobox in the sound preferences, and then you are ready to record and monitor in full stereo.

UTILIZATION

Two downsides: 1) it does not have a line-level input, so you can only do instrument / midi / mic, and 2) USB + CPU under 1.5Ghz = noticeable latency. The faster your computer, the less problems you'll have with latency. To get around latency, you would have to monitor your input from the Audiobox rather than from the program you are recording with. For instance, if you plug in a guitar to distort with a software plug-in, you'll be monitoring the guitar's clean signal via the Audiobox before it reaches the plugin running on the computer. That is the only way to get zero latency monitoring, right at the source. Of course what gets recorded and played back is the guitar with full effects.

GETTING STARTED

getting started was easy and the manual was very to the point. Construction and looks are fantastic, though. No cheap plastic cases or dials. All metal and a nice blue brushed aluminum faceplate. For the price, I recommend it. It works as advertised on a Mac (haven't tried it on a PC yet) and the mic preamps are pretty darn good. Meaning, good sound ... better than cheap mixers and way better than your stock computer sound car

OVERALL OPINION

Because it is bus-powered, the mic preamp gain is mediocre. Condensers are best for vocals with this, while for louder signals like a guitar amp you can get away with dynamic mics.

If you are on a budget but need a good sounding interface and have a decent computer, I recommend this Audiobox. Otherwise I recommend the next step up, the Presonus Firebox at double the price. So to get the best bang for your buck, try this one and you wont be unhappy. What more could you ask for .

I needed a portable sound card and not to the CHRE Smaart Live and in turn this card is ample with two input / outputs: USB powered without external power supply super. I use it on Mac OSX 10.5 and Windows XP via Parallels Desktop and I had no problem with installation: you plug in mac and PC on and just install the drivers.

UTILIZATION

As I said above, no hassle installation, no incompatibility on my macbook core 2 duo. I did not use the textbook, I directly download any latest drivers on the net at the same time it is a product we do little more simple: two pots for gain, a headphone knob A hand knob outpout, and a grate for the costs between the direct sound input and the one that goes through the computer (as the mbox).

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are stable, no worries for now. Not yet gaffe latency, but for my use with Smaart Live is no big deal. But I am not too fan of the grate to knob COST input or playback. Missing pad on the entries, he could have put in for what it is. It gnre weird things, not when you do audio, but there Smaart peaks that occur in the extreme that was not a sound card and more CHRE c ' is sometimes boring to the measurements, we are forced to take it several times.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a week and is perfect for what I did. But for the record I do not want to speculate because I do not serve for a.
I was well liked how even smaller but hey, it's a lot more dj is USB powered so no need to carry around a power supply.
I tried other models of equivalent Roland, Digidesign, M-audio, but I did not find such a good report quality price: 140 euros is much less than other CHRE brands.
It's a choice I would do without any problem for this use, but for the record, I have an RME Fireface 400 and a TC Konnect 48 and see nothing but the price and not CHARACTERISTICS .