Best Multichannel Audio Interfaces with DSP in 2023
As plugins have become more sophisticated and more convincing, they’ve steadily required more and more computer resources. While modern computers have become more and more powerful as well, there are many cases where offloading some resources to interface-based DSP can be extremely beneficial. These are some of the best multichannel audio interfaces with DSP.
Perhaps you’re working on an older computer, a laptop, or a newer system that isn’t maxed out on RAM or processor speeds. Or maybe you work with audio and video simultaneously, or have some incredibly large and demanding sessions to open up.
But even if you have the fanciest new desktop computer available, there are still multiple potential benefits to choosing an interface with onboard digital signal processing. They can allow you to add effects on the way in without needing additional hardware or dedicated system resources.
And, they can provide near zero, making them perfect for using during tracking, whether you’re committing to sounds on the way in or just using your effects chain to inspire a performance.
Let’s run through some of the best multichannel audio interfaces with DSP to figure out which one might be the perfect choice for you.
Antelope Orion Studio Synergy Core Pro (Best Overall Package)
Antelope Orion Studio Synergy Core
Buy it new on B&H, Thomann, or Amazon. Look for deals on Reverb.
To say that Antelope Audio’s gear is some of the best available is an understatement.You’ll find their equipment in some of the best professional studios in the world – and for good reason. The Orion Studio Synergy Core Pro is one of the best multichannel interfaces with DSP on the market. It sports eight total processing chips that work together to power the huge plugin library that Antelope Audio provides with it.
Included are 51 different high-quality effects. This library is expandable through Antelope Audio’s web storefront, so you add as many of their best-in-class effects to your library as you want. It features 12 discrete transistor preamps that provide a clean, clear signal. And if you want to integrate external preamps, you can even bypass the onboard inputs and go directly into the ADCs.
It integrates perfectly into any multichannel setup, with 16 line outputs that can be easily switched to a reamping mode, and you have ADAT and S/PDIF outputs to integrate with other units. With the powerful onboard processing, latency just isn’t an issue, even when stacking multiple effects. As far as system connectivity, it works with Thunderbolt 2 and 3 as well as USB 2.0 standards.
“Next-generation” doesn’t begin to describe what this interface can do. It’s not the least expensive on this list, but a fair deal relative to other options with similar features. When it comes to multichannel interfaces with onboard DSP, it’s hard to get any better than this.
The one potential drawback with the onboard Antelope effects is that they run in a separate Antelope application, rather directly in your DAW. This doesn’t matter when you are recording, but using them at the mixing stage is slightly more complex than just inserting a plugin, and requires an extra step. Not dealbreaker at all, but a mild inconvenience compared to just clicking on an effect from your plugin menu.
Fortunately, Antelope Audio has started to make some of its effects available natively so they will run directly in your DAW. But if you want super seamless DSP powered effects at the mixing stage, see our next entry on this list.
Universal Audio Apollo x8 (Best Onboard DSP)
Universal Audio Apollo x8
Buy it new on Sweetwater, B&H, Thomann, or Amazon. Look for deals on Reverb.
Universal Audio is one of the pioneers of the digital recording age, and they have one of the best overall plugin suites available to prove it. Until very recently, you needed their hardware to use them.
Fortunately, their Apollo line of interfaces include many of their best effects, and the onboard digital signal processing to run them. Just as with Antelope, these interfaces aren’t exactly “inexpensive”, but the build and sound quality is second to none, entirely suitable for placement in high end professional studios, but priced within reach of ambitious hobbyists and semi-pros.
The Apollo line offers a number of model options with different channel counts. They all feature some serious horsepower. With the x8 you get a 16-in/22-out interface that’s compatible with PC and Mac, as well as UAD’s famed UAD-2 HEXA Core DSP.
Each input sports the company’s Unison preamps The conversion is top-notch, offering up to 129dB of dynamic range. It supports 7.1 surround sound mixing, making it ideal for engineers in film, TV, gaming, even content creation.
The DSP offers extremely low latency, so you don’t have to worry about running multiple plugins in real time. You get various emulations of classic preamps that integrate remarkably well with their Unsion preamps, as well as compressors, amp sims, and effects like saturation, delays, and reverbs. It’s also compatible with UA’s Luna recording system, providing extremely tight software and hardware integration.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a higher-quality interface than the Apollo series, and their effects can easily be described as “best in class”. The only real downside is that it runs on Thunderbolt only. It will eat a lot of budget, but if you’re looking to make a real investment in a multichannel interface with onboard DSP it’s one of the best model lineups in the business.
Tascam 16×08 (Best Rackmount Budget Option)
Tascam 16×08
Buy it new on Sweetwater, B&H, Thomann, or Amazon. Look for deals on Reverb.
Tascam has always been a frontrunner when it comes to making recording technology accessible to the home studio. From the days of the bedroom portastudios that recorded to high-bias cassette tapes to modern digital interfaces like the 16×08, their products offer a high level of recording quality while staying competitive on price point.
With this model, you get 16 mic and line inputs. Eight Ultra-HDDA preamps give you a clean and quiet signal while providing up to 56dB of input gain. Two of the inputs are switchable to be used as a DI, and if you want to integrate additional hardware you get eight balanced line outputs.
A built-in DSP mixer lets you add processing, with each channel offering a four-band EQ, compressor and reverb send. It can also be used as a standalone preamp, adding to its versatility. And since it operates on the USB2.0 standard it can even be used with mobile devices like tablets.
Offering great audio quality at just under $400, the 1608 is one of the best multichannel audio interfaces with DSP with this channel count, and at this price point. The onboard signal processing helps you free up resources on your recording machine, making it especially suitable for working on older systems, laptops or mobile devices.
MOTU UltraLite-mk5 (Best Compact Model)
MOTU UltraLite mk5
Buy it new on Sweetwater, B&H, Thomann, or Amazon. Look for deals on Reverb.
MOTU has long been known for compact, high quality interfaces.. The UltraLite-mk5 sports 40 simultaneous channels in an 18-in/22-out configuration, in a remarkably small half-rack unit.
In addition to its small size, the mk5 is a standout for its monitoring capabilities. The SABRE D/A converters deliver high quality conversion with just 2.4ms of latency, while the CueMix5 software allows for incredibly easy control of separate monitor and headphone mixes.
The onboard DSP here is modest in scope but powerful with an effects suite that includes reverb, dynamics, and 4-band parametric EQ.
It has 2 mic preamps, 6 line inputs, 10 line outputs, and eight channels of digital optical connections, with powerful 22-in/6-out monitor mixing MIDI I/O allows integration of hardware synthesizers and triggering of external units.
RME Fireface UCX II (Best Half Rack Design)
RME Fireface UCX II
Buy it new on Sweetwater, B&H, Thomann, or Amazon. Look for deals on Reverb.
RME’s Fireface UCX II is another compact half-rack design that offers some pretty incredible connectivity for its size. It features 20 total inputs and outputs as well as 2 mic preamps and connections for MIDI and word clock. You can even send CV signals through the DC-coupled outputs to trigger external hardware like synthesizers.
Each channel offers latency-free DSP effects that include a 3-band EQ, high-pass filter, compression, expansion, echo, reverb, and auto leveling. Levels are easily monitored via front panel RMS and peak metering. And through RME’s TotalMix software, you get to set up your routing however it best suits your workflow.
If you need to record more than two channels at a time you’ll have to connect additional preamps, but the UCX II offers loads of expandability for its size.
For those interested in a full rack space option from RME with even more features and expandability, the UFX III is also a good option.
Steinberg UR44C (Best Budget Model)
Steinberg UR44C
Buy it new on Sweetwater, B&H, Thomann, or Amazon. Look for deals on Reverb.
If you’re looking for a recording interface with more preamps and onboard DSP, but budget is tight, then the UR44C is definitely worth looking into.
There are a lot of reasons to love this affordable compact option. It works with PC, Mac, and iOS systems and provides up to 32-bit/192kHz conversion. It’s also bus-powered, making it great for location recording and mobile work, or it can be connected with the included 12V DC power adapter.
It features 4 combination XLR/TRS inputs with Class A preamps along with MIDI I/O. The rear of the unit has two line inputs and four line outputs. You also get a free copy of Cubase AI that runs on regular computers as well as tablets. As for the DSP, you get a channel strip, reverb, guitar amps, and Steinberg’s dspMixFX suite.
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