PreSonus Quantum 2626, 26x26, Thunderbolt 3, Low Latency audio interface with software bundle including Studio One Artist, Ableton Live Lite DAW and more for recording, streaming and podcasting

Product Information

PC/Windows: ( Studio One> Configure Audio Device… > select Quantum from Audio Device drop-down box) Connect and turn on quantum and allow device to always connect (I think mac has a similar process as well). I can't speak on the "Cleaning thing", and frankly, I would avoid turning your system upside down to fix a high CPU issue, so whatever that entailed is not where I'll be assisting. Setting up the Quantum 2626 is easy and very intuitive. The absence of a routing matrix, DSP mixer, and built-in effects make using the Quantum 2626 very simple

The first two inputs are designed for mic or instrument, while the remaining Inputs (3-8) interchange between mic and line. This depends on the kind of connector that is used. Next to these are preamp gain controls and simple multicolored LED metering to signify the activity and clipping on each channel. Ideally, a report on the experience of working with an audio interface should be pretty short. What you’d hope to read is that it was plugged in, recording software recognised it without fuss, and that audio came into and went out of the appropriate holes without noticeable latency, sounding great. In the real world, alas, it seldom works out like that, because a built-in mixer that’s supposed to make things easier ends up making everything far more complicated than it needs to be.

The Gain knobs are staggered in their placement. Instead of the top row controlling channels 1-4 and the bottom 5-8, it alternates from the top to bottom diagonally. I found this confusing at first, especially when reaching for a channel while simply glancing to the side. But I got used to it. mega-bits per second is roughly half of 1 Gb/s - giga-bits per second (giga=thousands of millions of bits. With a barely measurable round-trip latency of less than 1 ms, it's no wonder Sound on Sound magazine dubbed Quantum-series Thunderbolt audio interfaces the "fastest audio interface on the planet." The Quantum 2626 uses the Thunderbolt 3 bus and PreSonus®' proprietary driver to achieve the lowest round-trip latency of any audio interface (as low as <1 ms). Now you can record and monitor with up to 24-bit, 192 kHz fidelity through your favorite plug-ins, without leaving the DAW.

Connect and switch on quantum and open Universal Control (This was when I got the solid blue light that we all have been searching for). Find this article interesting? You will want to read about Difference Between Preamp + Audio Interface too.

The dark side

My computer is a 2018 Mac Mini that uses Thunderbolt 3, with a USB-C form factor connector. That means that with the newer Quantum 2626 I could just plug in a normal thunderbolt 3 "C to C" cable, but with the original Quantum, I would need to use a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. I have some questions about specific differences between the units, that go beyond the obvious feature differences. In terms of features, both models have the things I actually need, thus making it a tougher decision. PreSonus XMAX preamps are entirely analog, with Class A input buffers followed by dual-servo gain stages that provide low noise and a wide gain range (60dB with an EIN rating of > -131 dBu). I would describe the character as clean and open sounding, providing plenty of detail and air without noticeably shaping the input signal. In addition to using the interface to record and mix, I will also be using the interface to listen to music, while working and typing at the same desk for long stretches of time.