Audient EVO 4 2-In/2-Out USB Audio Interface

Audient EVO 4 2-In/2-Out USB Audio Interface

The Audient EVO 4 is a compact desktop USB audio interface with two inputs and two outputs, designed for recording microphones and instruments directly to a computer. This is the standalone EVO 4 interface. It combines two EVO microphone preamps, a dedicated JFET instrument input and high-performance conversion in a bus-powered unit that is controlled from a single large rotary encoder on the top panel. The layout is deliberately simple, so gain, monitoring and output level can be managed from the hardware without reaching for software for every adjustment during a session.

Key features

• Two EVO microphone preamps with 58 dB of gain range
• JFET instrument input for direct recording of guitar and bass
• 24-bit conversion at sample rates up to 96 kHz
• 113 dB dynamic range on the analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters
• Smartgain automatic gain setting, including both channels at once
• Audio loopback for recording computer audio alongside the inputs
• Individually switchable 48 V phantom power for each input channel
• USB bus powered over a USB-C connection, with no separate power supply

Microphone preamps and instrument input

The two input channels use combination XLR and quarter-inch sockets, so microphones and line-level sources can be connected to the same channels. Each preamp provides a 58 dB gain range, which covers a wide range of dynamic and condenser microphones, and phantom power can be switched independently per channel when a condenser microphone requires it. Audient specifies a microphone preamp EIN figure of -128 dB, reflecting the low-noise design of the EVO preamp stage. A separate quarter-inch JFET instrument input is provided for electric guitar and bass. The JFET stage is designed to present the kind of input behaviour an instrument expects when it is recorded directly and processed later with amplifier modelling or effects software.

Conversion and monitoring

Conversion is 24-bit with sample rates up to 96 kHz, and the converters are specified with 113 dB of dynamic range. Two balanced quarter-inch outputs feed a pair of studio monitors, and a quarter-inch headphone output is provided for direct listening while tracking. The Monitor Mix function allows ultra-low-latency monitoring of the input signal, which helps performers hear themselves without the delay that can occur when monitoring only through recording software. Connecting headphones automatically mutes the speaker outputs, a feature Audient calls Smart Muting, so switching between loudspeaker and headphone monitoring does not require separate level changes.

Smartgain, loopback and controls

Smartgain addresses one of the most common recording problems, which is setting input level correctly. The user starts playing or singing, and the interface analyses the incoming signal and sets the gain automatically. Both channels can be set together, which is useful when recording a stereo pair or two matched sources. Loopback allows computer audio to be recorded at the same time as the microphone and instrument inputs, covering uses such as capturing a remote guest on a call, game audio or playback from another application. Control is centred on Smart Touchpoints and the large volume encoder, which manages speaker level, headphone level and channel settings from the top panel.

Compatibility and everyday use

The EVO 4 connects over USB-C and operates as a USB 2.0 device. It is bus powered, so it runs from the computer connection and suits laptop-based and mobile setups where a spare mains outlet may not be available. It works with Mac and Windows computers and with major digital audio workstation software. For podcasting, streaming, songwriting and home recording, the EVO 4 provides a focused two-channel path from microphone and instrument to computer, with monitoring, automatic gain and loopback handled inside one small desktop unit.