New Gear Review: Zen Tour Synergy Core by Antelope Audio

Antelope Audio aims to up the ante in the desktop interface market with the Zen Tour Synergy Core.

With more and more kitchen tables, practice spaces, hotel rooms, and other non-studio spaces becoming professional production facilities, the market is demanding more from its smaller-format recording solutions. Musicians need high-end performance and power that is compact, so inspiration can be easily captured anywhere, anytime.

The early desktop interfaces were basic tools by design, serving as a compact functional companion to any computer by offering basic I/O. This latest crop of desktop interfaces however, are anything but basic; they provide generous amounts of I/O, advanced functionality, and high fidelity. It’s hard to resist the urge to be creative and productive anywhere, anytime.

Manufacturers are taking full advantage of both enhanced internal DSP and the big track counts of USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt. They are presenting the marketplace with units that can stand alone on that desktop, and rival or exceed much larger rack-based workstations.

Enter Antelope Audio’s Zen Tour Synergy Core, an update, upgrade, and facelift from the original Zen Tour. This includes beefing up the 4 mic preamps to discrete and topping off the D/A monitor converter at a massive 130dB of dynamic range. Also added is the latest Synergy Core processing platform of 4 DSP and 2 FPGA chips that can drive Synergy Core specific effects like the SSL 4000 Bus Compressor emulation, and more. Thunderbolt 3/USB 2.0 connectivity leads to double the DAW track counts (32 on Thunderbolt, 24 on USB 2.0).

So, let’s see how this compact unit fares in the ever-changing mobile content creation landscape.

Features

At first glance, this unit seems aimed at guitarists with 4 Hi-Z inputs, 2 re-amp outputs, and 22 built-in amp and cabinet emulations. But when considering its 8 DC-coupled line outputs for modular synths, etc., one would think electronic musicians might be the target demographic. Even further, it seems it could be aimed at on-the-go mix engineers when you realize the unit can handle up to 128 FX instances at once (simultaneously) and become an analog summing station. And to top it off, it also just happens to be an 8-in/14-out audio interface with almost zero latency (literally and actually).

The build quality of the unit feels solid and professional, with a master knob that can glide effortlessly through all kinds of gain and volume adjustments. A touchscreen allows for some quick access to basic functions, while the Control Panel software offers some serious routing, processing, and mixing abilities. The Zen Tour comes with a package of 36 Synergy Core FX with the option to add more through their webstore. This type of design aligns with current industry practice for this kind of interface by housing internal DSP FX and emulations.

The Synergy Core FX are routed through the Control Panel software—a virtual patch bay of endless configuration. These configurations can route the effects (AFX) though the virtual DAW sends and returns (24 on USB/32 on Thunderbolt). If you wish to apply the Synergy Core AFX directly as DAW plugins, you need to purchase Antelope’s AFX2DAW plugin ($195), and be using Thunderbolt only.

Of course, the main feature of any Antelope product remains their legendary master clocking technology. It’s funny how the manual recommends “taking advantage” of their “proprietary 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking technology & Jitter Management algorithm.” No need to recommend, just use it. Chances are this word clock and the pristine clarity it brings is one of the reasons you purchased an Antelope product.

In Use

Antelope has made unpacking the Zen Tour Synergy Core a heightened experience with modern packaging that includes the words: “Record. Produce. Anywhere.” The desktop unit visually jumps out of the box with 2 dark shades of metallic sheen, a touchscreen, and a huge rotary dial. A USB 2.0 cable is included, but as usual a Thunderbolt cable is not. A small external 18V power supply has a universal power cord connection for 110V or 220V.

Following the lead from a scan code URL link, the installation process was flawless and actually more streamlined than previous Antelope installs I have experienced. A driver install followed by a launcher install, and the Zen Tour SC was recognized; a firmware update automatically followed. The next step is to launch the Control Panel from the Antelope Launcher; upon this, you are presented with an overwhelming color-coded array of I/O.

Antelope concedes in the manual that this menu can be a bit mystifying. If you are new to the Antelope Control Panel and how it routes both the interface and DAW, they recommend spending some time learning and experiencing all this varied functionality. Antelope’s YouTube channel has an excellent playlist called “Demystifying the Antelope Control Panel” by Alex Solano, and I highly recommend it. There is also a brand new series on “Getting Starting with Antelope Audio” by James Ivey that can help you with every detail of setup and function.

I used a Thunderbolt connection which gives 32 whopping virtual signal paths of AFX and DAW. Note that this number drops to 24 if you plan on using the slower USB 2.0 connection. Regarding the “demystification” of the Control Panel, it becomes clear very quickly how to drop a preamp, line input, ADAT input, or reamp line into the 32 AFX sends/returns or the 32 DAW sends/returns. (These are called COMP PLAY and COMP REC, respectively.)

Having a solid grasp of the Control Panel helps you effectively use the 4 mixers, which can be routed to and accessed from anything. Pretty cool. From headphone cue sends to analog summing, the open-ended flexible routing options can adapt to any workflow or creativity, all from within these 4 mixers. Perhaps most importantly, you can route clean and AFX signals anywhere you want, giving you the option of recording both clean and effected, separately.

A view of the Zen Tour Synergy Core’s back panel.

In the spirit of this product’s design, I installed the driver/launcher on a 13” MacBook Pro to explore both portability and power. The combo of a laptop and Zen Tour SC makes for compact capability in nearly any application. The first thing I did was a basic 4-channel drum kit with an AKG D112 on kick, Shure SM57 on snare, and AKG C451B’s in a Glyn Johns setup.

Setting preamp levels is a matter of pressing the physical “gain” button that cycles through the 8 analog channels, and then dialing the large elegant rotary knob. This same rotary will adjust your 2 headphone outputs with the physical “HP” button. The headroom on Antelope’s new class of built-in mic pres is impressive; this is also a byproduct of the new preamps being coupled with the increased A/D specs of 124dB at -110THD+N.

While the clean sound was quite acceptable, I couldn’t resist heading right to the FX menu to record the same setup with some color. As mentioned, once you figure out the routing possibilities, you can split your recording paths. I routed the drum mics to AFX inputs with the EMI REDD 47 preamp emulation (note: this is a $75 dollar add-on). Yeah, there was some color in the Zen Tour SC for sure, straight from Abbey Road—or should I say colour?

The amount of virtual racks you can deploy from this small box is a tad ridiculous. Once you have some stereo busses to add AFX chains to and mix down, you can really appreciate how these emulations have been making a splash with mix engineers. There are also presets from the masters like Mick Guzauski; these give you a good template to be creative and work on your own chains and presets.

To Be Critical

The powerful Synergy Core processing platform contained in the Zen Tour eventually deserves a broader AFX library. There is certainly good representation of stunning meat and potatoes compressors, equalizers, and preamps. However, the AFX library is limited in any advanced delays, plate reverbs, and synthesis/filter effects. Antelope is indeed planning on developing this end of the FX spectrum. When available, a comprehensive FX library will make the Zen Tour SC a real-time, no-latency live performance monster.

Another feature that may still be in development is automation of the Control Panel mixers. Having this functionality could really provide some powerful mixdown abilities within the 4 mixers. You can automate the AFX within your DAW if you are using the AF2DAW add-on, however at the time there is no automation available in the Control Panel.

Summing it Up

I remember the days of taking various incarnations of small rack setups and a laptop to capture unique rooms, instruments, and artists. A piece like the Zen Tour Synergy Core would have been really welcome back then. Most engineers would have been blown away by this tabletop 1-piece set up just 5 years ago, let alone 20 years ago.

The enhancements in processing power and quality of sound—from the pure signal path to the AFX emulations—are stunning. As I’ve mentioned before in other reviews, the new Synergy Core products are a far more cost-effective investment than any computer upgrade.

The new Zen Tour Synergy Core would be an an incredibly capable desktop centerpiece for a myriad of genres, enabling music makers to record and produce professionally, anywhere.

Christopher Swist is owner and head engineer at EvenFall Studio LLC in New Hampshire. He is also Resident Artist at Keene State College and teaches Music Technology, Composition, and Percussion.

Please note: When you buy products through links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission.