The Portable Answer!
Now, by popular demand, Apogee has returned to home territory with the release of a new portable 2-channel A/D converter with built-in mic/instrument preamps, featuring a special low-power, wide range supply-voltage design for maximum flexibility. (Please note: The Mini-Me is designed for 12v operation. It will, however, accept both higher and lower voltages: see specifications).
Related Videos: Mini-Me USB
The Apogee Mini-Me is a completely new design. Its looks recall the AD-1000, with its purple knobs and sturdy extruded case, but beyond that it is a completely new, 21st-century design. Everything is better, from its 24/96 sampling capability to its direct computer interfacing via USB - so you can use almost any software you choose. And the price tag? Less than a third the cost of the AD-1000. But this compact unit is not a toy. It is a professional audio product and delivers true Apogee professional-quality audio performance, from input to output.
Compact
The smooth lines of the Mini-Me front panel begin to tell the story. Left and right input level controls feature a click stop at the far left that activates a preset line/cal level, set with multi-turn trimmers. Accurate LED indicators between the input level controls give a clear display of available headroom.
Two-Channel Mic/Line Preamp
The mic preamps are a high-quality design by the team that created our award-winning and widely praised Trak2 preamps. And, like the Trak2, the Mini-Me accepts mic, line and instrument-level inputs. Phantom power is of course provided, and universal XLR/TRS connectors select the instrument input automatically when you plug in a TRS jack.
Compression
Apogee has long been famed for our Soft Limit process, designed to maximize digital level without overs - but now there's a major new twist: Apogee added Push-IT - a unique new three-curve stereo compressor/limiter circuit. It's ideal when you need extra punch, or require a safety net for the unexpected when making live recordings. This powerful new circuitry takes Apogee's dynamics control to a whole new level - from the people who invented soft limiting for digital conversion.
44.1-96 kHz Sample Rates
A single control selects the sample rate and word length. The Mini-Me's converters output a full 24-bit signal at any of the standard rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz sampling. In addition, select 16- or 20-bit outputs at 44.1 or 48 kHz using Apogee's industry standard UV22 HR system for word-length reduction.
USB
The Mini-Me's low-latency USB interface carries two channels of audio at up to 24-bits and 48 kHz sampling, from the Mini-Me to the computer and back again for monitoring. Using an operating system that supports USB Audio Devices (including Windows 98SE, Me, 2000 and XP, and Macintosh OS 9.x and 10.x), simply select the option in your recording application's preferences. ASIO drivers are also supplied for minimum latency. Even if you get the sample rates mismatched between the Mini-Me and your computer, the unit will convert rates automatically. And if you select 24-bit on the Mini-Me and 16 bit on your recording software, the unit will apply UV22HR automatically to the USB output.
Somthing You May Not Know About The Mini-Me!
The USB Audio I/O section of the Mini-Me follows the sample rate and resolution settings on your computer, while the AES and S/PDIF outputs follow the settings of the "sample rate" knob on the front panel. So, no matter what you have coming into the Mini-Me, you have the option of outputting to two different sources, in two different sample rates and bit depths!
For example, this can be used to send a 16-bit/44.1 kHz signal out of the AES output to a CD burner while simultaneously sending a 24-bit/48 kHz signal out of the USB Audio port to the computer. In this case, the analog inputs are converted at 44.1 kHz and sent through UV22HR, to dither the AES and S/PDIF outputs to 16-bit. The USB Audio section receives the 44.1 kHz signal before the dithering process, where it is still a 24-bit signal. The data is processed with a sample rate converter to derive a sample rate of 48 kHz. The result is a 24-bit/48 kHz signal that is sent out the USB port to the computer. The sample rate selection knob on the front of the Mini-Me will be set to 16-bit /44.1 kHz, while the settings in the computer will be 24-bit/48 kHz. Make sense?
Another example could be the ability for the Mini-Me to send a 24-bit/96 kHz signal out of the AES port, while at the same time sending a 16-bit/44.1kHz signal into a DAW via USB. In this instance, set the sample rate knob on the front panel of the Mini-Me to 24-bit/96 kHz and set the computer to 16-bit/44.1 kHz.
The basic concept is that the Mini-Me AES and S/PDIF outputs will always follow the front panel setting, while the USB Audio outputs will always follow the settings on the computer.
