Antelope Audio Zen Studio+ Reviews
How does Antelope Audio improve on their hugely successful and critically acclaimed portable USB audio interface? For the Zen Studio+, they kept all the great features — the beloved form factor, 20 analog inputs, 12 world-class mic preamps, front-panel instrument jacks, ADAT, their signature clocking, audiophile sound quality, and more — then added fast Thunderbolt connectivity and an ever-growing arsenal of incredible-sounding FPGA-powered hardware-modeled vintage effects. Antelope Audio's Zen Studio+ is a tour-de-force: a versatile, high-end mobile recording solution that transforms wherever you are into a pro studio.
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Highest Rated Reviews
Great Upgrade to an Already Fantastic Interface
I'm an original Zen Studio owner. When I moved to the Zen Studio interface a few years ago from my old Avid interface, it was literally a revelation. It immediately improved my workflow, recording and most important, my mixes.
So when I found out Antelope Audio was releasing the Zen Studio+, I pre-ordered the new unit right away. I had thought a few months ago that I might upgrade to the Orion Studio, but I find myself using all 12 on-board pres and the D-Sub inputs frequently, so the Zen Studio+ was going to work best for me.
I've had the Zen Studio+ for a few weeks now, and I can say that it is indeed a significant improvement over the previous unit. All the familiar capability is there of course, intuitive routing, an improved control panel. But now there is built-in talkback, reamp outs, thunderbolt, improved FPGA processing and now whole session saves. I've been going back and forth between my Mac Pro and my MacBook, and being able to transfer whole session setups between rigs is very useful. I put the new Zen Studio+ control software on my iPad. Boom! Now I can control gain levels when I'm behind the drums or in the other room.
At first, I thought the handle on the Zen Studio was a terrible idea, but if you do any remote recording, the handle becomes second nature, especially when you're grabbing it to put in your back pack like you would your laptop. Its surprisingly light. It makes you wonder how they got all that functionality into such a tiny lightweight box.
The mic preamps are excellent. Clean but still have body and warmth. I find them pretty hard to clip, although I would still like to see a pad somewhere in the software for that occasional bashing drummer. Plugging drum mics straight in without a ton of physical patching is wonderful. The Zen Studio+ is a bargain to me since in addition to great conversion and I/O you get 12 world class preamps in one unit. That's about 200 bucks a channel! And if I'm out and about recording remotely, I don't have to drag another rack of gear. The FPGA effects give me all sorts of outboard options. I've been using the VEQ-55A EQ on kick and snare as a default. It sounds and feels like my favorite API EQ. I can't wait to try the FET 176.
The FPGA amps and cabinets are equally impressive. I plugged an electric in last week for the first time and fired up the Plexi 59 FPGA. I honestly would be fine with some of the sounds I'm getting from the Zen Studio+ on a recording. I've never said that about any plug-in guitar amp effects, and I've owned a lot of them. That is how good the Antelope Audio FPGA amps are. It just sounds and feels like a guitar plugged into a real amp.
I've been very impressed with Antelope Audio's approach to hardware based digital effects. Especially choosing to painstakingly recreate models like the original 176 compressor or Lang EQ. Looking forward to whatever the future brings. Bravo on a great upgrade!
Well Featured Portable Interface
I've been very happy with the Zen Studio+. It has a great complement of inputs and outputs for a portable interface and some great uncommon features like the reamp outputs and hardware inserts. It's nice to be able to patch in a hardware compressor when I'm tracking vocals and there are a ton of creative possibilities using the reamp outputs. While I wouldn't claim to be a real golden ears type I do feel like I hear an audible difference using this interface over the three interfaces I have owned in the past.
The included FPGA effects are also a major bonus. I had stopped using a DAW for the last few years so it was a real plus for me to get so many usable, great sounding effects included with the purchase.
The included mixing and routing capabilities are both a plus and a small minus. On the plus side you can set up multiple mixes to say provide band members with independet mixes and the routing is incredibly powerful. The only problem is that with this power comes complexity and I've definitely had some head scratching moments getting the routing set up the way I need it. However once you do have it set up the way you need it you can save it as a preset and access it later and you can also create multiple presets so for example, I have a preset for recording with my band and another for when I'm recording solo with my synth setup.
All in all I'm very happy with my purchase and would make the same one again.
