The Apogee Symphony Desktop is a simple USB-C audio interface with an integrated LCD touch display and just one encoder that offers easy monitoring and control over its features. Among them are the Symphony ESC Channel Strip for enhancing and improving the quality of signals before they reach the DAW, as well as the Symphony Reverb algorithm. Users can also internally emulate two microphone preamplifiers. Furthermore, this audio interface is equipped with Apogee's high-quality converters, which make pristine recordings possible. One of the three analogue inputs is to be found on the front side and is specifically designed for connecting an electric guitar or a bass. Through an optical input, the interface can be expanded to include more inputs. The Apogee Symphony Desktop is based on the Apogee Symphony I/O Mk II and was first introduced at NAMM 2020.
The encoder wheel of the Apogee Symphony Desktop controls the overall volume; however, when pushed, it can execute a second function assigned by the user. The default function is to mute the monitor loudspeaker connected on via the rear panel. The touchscreen, with its size of a conventional smartphone, offers well-arranged navigation through all functions: Complete signal routings can be created in a matter of seconds. For professional sound, the Symphony Desktop can emulate the microphone preamplifier models AP-57 and AP-66, allowing greater control over the tone quality of the input channels. More effects are can be applied through the ECS Channel Strip, among them a compressor and an equaliser to shape the sound. Next to an input for electric guitar or bass, a headphone output is also found on the front side, while the rear side offers two 6.3mm monitor outputs.
The Apogee Symphony Desktop offers a high level of performance, outstanding usability, and transparent sound. Signals can be amplified up to 75dB. The dynamic range of the integrated converters is 123dB on the input side and 128dB on the output side. Recordings can be processed in a quality of 196kHz and 24Bit. Thanks to its compact size, this audio interface can easily be placed on every surface in a studio. The casing is made out of metal, thus promising years of reliable use, and the slanted interface makes using the device very comfortable. The package includes a USB flash drive for installing updates, which occurs automatically after it is connected to the audio interface. As well as being accessible for Windows and Mac operating systems, the Symphony Desktop can also be used with an iPad, for flexible and mobile recordings.
Apogee was founded in 1985 and is based in Santa Monica, USA. The company first made a name for itself with the release of special anti-aliasing filters that solved a number of prevalent technical issues that were present throughout the emerging digital audio technology at the time. For example, digital recorders made by Sony, Otari and Mitsubushi were successfully equipped with Apogee filters. Then, in 1991, complete digital-to-analogue converter systems came onto the market, setting completely new standards in the industry. Among the most innovative Apogee products from this period were various audio interfaces such as the Symphony I/O, Big Ben and Duet. The latest models, the JAM and MiC, were developed specifically for the iPad and iPhone. The company's philosophy is to be as environmentally friendly as possible and to support charitable organisations around the world.
With the Apogee Symphony Desktop, signals can be directly edited using the audio interface, for fast and effective productions. The Symphony ECS Channel Strip was designed by Bob Clearmountain and can be accessed from the hardware or natively used in any DAW. The internal preamp modulations help to add a unique tone and color, which is achieved through analogue circuits and digital signal processing. The analogue-to-digital converters offer an extremely low level of distortion and noise in the signal, which makes capturing the finest nuances possible. The impedance is adjusted automatically for microphone and instrument inputs, which results in a sound with clear treble and a deep bass.