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Description
The Symphony I/O 2x6 empowers all that is Apogee, from legendary quality, to ultra-low latency and maximum performance. Apogee Symphony I/O is a modular multi-channel audio interface featuring premium AD/DA conversion and world-class microphone preamps. Designed to deliver professional sound quality for audio recording, mixing and mastering on a Mac, Symphony I/O is the ultimate music production centerpiece for any modern studio.
Legendary Sound Quality
Symphony I/O is the culmination of 25 years of Apogee's award-winning design experience. Using the most advanced components available, Apogee engineers created an extremely efficient circuit and power design resulting in a significant improvement in audio clarity and transparency over any previous Apogee product.
Input and Output FlexibilityThe Symphony I/O 2x6 features 2 balanced inputs, 6 balanced outputs, as well as stereo AES I/O and 8x8 optical I/O. Plenty of I/O to handle any environment from home to professional studios. The Symphony I/O 2x6 is also extremely versatile with multiple connectivity options to fit your needs.
Complete Compatibility
Connect Symphony I/O to any Apple workstation; MacBook, iMac or Mac Pro via USB, Pro Tools HD, Symphony PCI or Thunderbolt. Symphony I/O is simple to set up and easy to use.
Videos
Apogee Electronics
Apogee Symphony I/O with Dave Tozer
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Apogee Symphony I/O.
Features and functionality
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The Dante interface offers future-proofing but may lack native low-latency monitoring; users must route audio through DAW, affecting latency.
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Apogee Control 2 software's double-layer saving system for Monitor Workflows and Snapshots can lead to confusion, as settings aren't intuitively saved together.
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Software and compatibility
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The Thunderbolt option is limited to Mac, while the Dante option works with Windows, but Macs might need an expansion chassis for compatibility.
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Users experience smoother operation on silicon Macs by adding Symphony to Pro Tools aggregate I/O, avoiding playback engine errors seen on Intel Macs.
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A permissions setup is required for MK1 Symphony on silicon Macs, detailed in a document on Apogee’s website, ensuring stable operation.
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A bug in the current Apogee Control 2 software causes delay calibration settings to reset, resolved by using an older software version provided by support.
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Use cases and applications
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The Symphony I/O MkII with Dante is suitable for electronic ambient music, offering nuanced control for subtle changes in attack and parameter envelopes.
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Symphony Studio is seen as suitable for home mix-only rigs needing 12x analog outs and a talkback mic but may not meet professional installation expectations.
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User experience
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The Symphony I/O MkII's Thunderbolt cards are reportedly compatible with M1 and M2 Macs, but users should verify with Apogee for assurance.
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Users who frequently replay tracks with subtle expressive changes might need to explore project management strategies like track freezing to optimize CPU performance.
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Users report that the Symphony Studio converters don't match the high quality of Apogee's previous products, like the Symphony MkII or Apollo interfaces.
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Setup and maintenance
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Reinstalling the Symphony Release 5.5 DMG resolved work-halting errors for some users, highlighting the importance of keeping software up to date.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 4 Reviews and 17 Ratings
266
The best and fastest converter with exceptional sound quality
The best & fastest converter. Calibrated 16 in + 16 out for all the gear i am using. Can't believe how good it sounds!
One of the Super Interfaces. But an Apogee Quatret is pretty Portable to this beast!
One of the Super Interfaces. But an Apogee Quatret is pretty Portable to this beast!
198
A OK
Never had an issue with this thing. Fan noise is sometimes a bit loud, even though my A/C is fully on and cold.
Artist usage
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In a recent Instagram post, Hardwell showcased his new studio, featuring the Apogee Symphony I/O.
You can see an Apogee Symphony behind Mac in this studio session at the 2:27 mark.
"Been re-connecting the studio all day. Finally got all analogue stuff in ! Its amazing slick now :). New apogee symphony and new patch-bay.."
In a photo posted by Bingo Players of their music studio, the Apogee Symphony can be seen on the right. While this sound card is used while working on music at home, other photos reveal they use an Apogee Duet as well, more than likely when producing on the go.
Dirty South was asked what appealed to him about getting the Symphony I/O audio interface. His reply:
"I've always heard great things about Apogee products and always wanted to one day upgrade my current setup to a higher grade interface. When I started setting up my LA studio, the Symphony I/O just came out so it was the perfect time to go for the next level interface. PCI interface is far more superior then USB and Firewire, so I'm very happy that I went for this interface."
The Apogee Symphony is the last audio interface listed under "I/O" on Owl City's studio equipment list.
Exclusive gear from the private collection of Richard Z. Kruspe. Has been played live or in the studio with Rammstein and Emigrate. Every item comes with a certificate of authenticity, signed by Richard himself. Symphony I/O 8 IN 24 Out, used by Richard Z. Kruspe of Rammstein & Emigrate in the studio. A signed document of authenticity is included.
In this Instagram photo, on the top of the right desk rack, the Apogee Symphony I/O can be seen.
Album Usage
The Apogee Symphony I/O has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Apogee Symphony I/O, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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Add recommendation1 alternative for Apogee Symphony I/O, curated by the Equipboard community.
$3,111.00 - $7,495.00
Apogee engineers have made it their passion to improve every new flagship product by using the latest in electrical components and designing optimized circuitry that often exceeds the expectations of the component manufacturer. This is the Apogee Advantage. Symphony I/O Mk II is the culmination of this 30 year commitment and raises the bar on all Apogee products before it with even better audio clarity and sonic transparency. In fact, when equipped with either the new 8×8 or 16×16 Mk II I/O modules, Symphony I/O Mk II outperforms all other multi-channel audio interfaces available for Pro Tools HD or Thunderbolt based systems, making it the flagship audio interface for the entire professional audio industry and the obvious choice for countless GRAMMY winning artists, producers, songwriters and engineers.
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