Apogee Duet Reviews

[brandondrury]

Apogee Duet @ Musiciansfriend



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Apogee Duet Description
The Duet is a two-channel FireWire audio interface that features the amazing sound quality that made Apogee Electronics famous. With control functions built directly into Apple s Logic Pro, Soundtrack Pro and GarageBand software, Duet empowers you to create professional recordings effortlessly on your Mac.

[brandondrury]

This was sent to me via email from Anyse.

Installation and "getting started"

I got my new Apogee "DUET" on Monday, June 17, in the afternoon. The first thing that I did, after opening the box and taking out all of the "stuff," was to read through the complete written "DUET User's Guide." I noticed that all "parts" listed were correct. The manual is very short, well written and organized and strives to be as "simple" as the DUET is supposed to be.

First, I got out all of the stuff that was in the box. The first thing that I connected to the DUET at the top right was a nine-pin connector that has 6 cables and connectors leading out from it making up all of the DUET’s input/output connectors. These are comprised of Mic IN 1 & 2, Instrument IN 1 & 2, and Speaker/Amp OUT L & R (one can hook up to an electric amp, powered speakers and such for monitoring through them rather than through the built-in headphone jack, or both for that matter). Next, I plugged in my headphones in that jack that you can see in the picture at the bottom right. Also on the bottom left, one can see if the 48V phantom power is turned on.

Next, according to the manual, I inserted the software installation CD. After just double-clicking on a single icon, all of the software was quickly installed. Apogee states that one must restart the Macintosh after installing the software for the DUET. Well, as the software also informed me of this, I was automatically presented with a screen to RESTART the Mac upon the completion of the software installation. I did just that as there was no other choice. I like when this sort of thing is built into the installation software. Most users do not read anything and just jump in and "do" it.

At this time, I had connected all of the necessary cables to the DUET. The microphone line was plugged into the Line 1 mic connector of the DUET. The guitar was plugged into the Line-in 2 musical instrument connector.. What I liked about how Apogee made these easier to use was that they put as large of a picture on each plug of a mic, then the text “IN 1” and “IN 2” on each of the proper ports. They did the same with the instrment ports by putting as large of a picture of a guitar as they could with the same text as on the mic ports. For the amplifier/speakers, they put a large picture of a speaker with the sound graphic coming off of each with the text “OUT-R” and “OUT-L” As the DUET is a 2-Port at a time interface, one can hook up 2 mics, two guitars or instruments, or one mic and one instrument at a time. This makes plugging in the mic and instrument quite easy as well as "stupid" proof. What furthers this “idiot-proofness” is that the mic, instrument and amp/speaker ports are wired so that they can quickly be identified as parts of their “pairs” right away. I also connected the firewire cable to the DUET but did not connect it to the computer yet. It connects to the top left of the Duet.

After my Mac was rebooted and ready to go, I was, finally, instructed to hook up was the firewire connector to the computer with the computer on! I was instructed to hook it up while the computer is ON! I did this with a bit of trepidation. Then, with the DUET plugged into the computer, I was instructed to launch iTunes and to listen to some music so that I could hear how clear and crisp the sound was and that I should also be able to pick up some nuances in the music that I do not normally hear. Well, needless to say, I did just that. I went into iTunes and selected a number of songs that I usually listen to through my "buds" as well as stereo system and I was actually surprised to hear that the music was quite clear and that I could hear some very fine instrumental nuances through the laying of an oud (Greek/Middle Eastern striged instrument) in one piece and the work of a fiddle in another as well as the grand vocalizations of June Tabor in another piece that actually blew me away even though I must have heard the tune 30-40 times before. I was definitely impressed.

[I need to add a little confusion that I faced while striving to learn what it means that the DUET “works with” iTunes as well as with “controlling” some of Logic’s functions. I learned that one can actually “listen” to iTunes through the DUET ([stated sarcastically here] as if I can’t hear anything else from any other program on the MAC with the DUET plugged in!) and I actually felt misled. Yes, the music “sounds” better than through a regular headset connected to the local output of a MAC, on my “buds,” or my stereo system [not that it is any good!) and that is a “good” thing. However, there is no “interface” or direct “interaction” between iTunes and the DUET. (I can’t cange tracks or select tunes and such with it at all Also, I heard and read that the DUET also works with some of the “controls” of Logic. I expected to be able to click on the big knob and move horizontally or vertically on the screen to make selections or even to move along the timeline and such. All this actually meant is that there is a “control panel” built into Logic that detects the DUET and that one can use it to set up the input/output parameters as one can do with the supplied “Maestro” software. I feel that Apogee should have SHOWN me, or everyone else, EXACTLY how each of this programs interpay with the other or else had stated the same!]

On to making music with LOGIC Express 8
I belong to the Apple Logic Express 8 forum. A funny thing happens there that is really not funny at all! I read that one person had a problem getting sound out from LE 8 when using his DUET interface. Later, he said that he got it to work without even stating how he solved the problem. Of course, this does not make me happy at all because I had the same problem with my own DUET and, were this person a little more considerate, he would have posted his "fix" for the problem. Well, I figured it out using, no pun intended, "logic." My logic also lead me to a solution written in one of the LE 8 documents, "Logic Quick Start Manual." On page 7, there are two pages devoted to using the Apogee DUET and how to set it up properly. What was interesting is that, before I got to those docs, I already determined that I needed to be sure that the vocal tracks should be on "Input 1" and the musical instrument tracks should be set to "Input 2" in Logic, just like on the DUET. I had already made sure that this was done. Then I read that there is an actual DUET control panel built into LE 8. First, I had to set Input 1 to the mic and then Line 2 to the musical instruments (as was my setup at the time). I am actually abe to set up for 2 mics, 2 instruments, or one of each at a time. I also checked the 48 volt phantom power on each as well. It was so easy to figure out and, lo and behold, all things started to work!

First, I tried to do the vocal track and all went swimmingly. I had to adjust the volume on the DUET as well as the track volume itself as it was way too loud. Next, I played my guitar and it was too low, so I had to raise the volume on the DUET as well as in Logic.

So far, I have only been able to input only one track at a time. It seems that I can only do a single track of a musical instrument or a vocal. This is because, were I to do BOTH at one time, I have no way to keep one another from being recorded by the mic. I have a standard omnidirectional mic and, after this, I have learned that I really need a unidirectional mic to cut down the cross recording. Also, I have tried to play the guitar track while recording the vocal track and this seems to go in and out as a "Mute" button goes on and off without my even touching it. The playback right now is a bit sketchy as well as trying to record voice to sync with the recorded instrument track.

After this, I started to make some new files to work with. It turned out that the one that I wanted to use, specifically for the “Composer” --> “Accoustic Guitarist,” has a flaw in it. While it was routed to BUS 20, the track WAS NOT routed to “Outputs 1-2” so that the “Mic Mix” track could be heard on a headphone or even through the MAC’s built-in audio. As a result, I reset a lot of the tracks in this “template” to work as it should and it is now my “primary template” for all future work with Logic. I am glad that I went through the “logic” of figuring out the input/output strucure used in Logic Express 8 earlier so that I could figure this out. I feel that I have learned a lot in just the past week or so. I say this knowing that it may not seem like much to many of you!

I am "completely new" to working with a DAW as well as with any interface. I know that there is a learning curve that I must work with so that all of this can eventually be done with ease and with a laugh about how much of a "newbie" I used to be. However, if anyone has any suggestions to help me with LE 8, I would appreciate any and all thoughts and even solutions!

The Apogee DUET is available from most online music supply retailers as well as your local Apple Store. It is manufactured to work only with Macintosh Computers. I got mine for the full suggested retail ($495) as well as an additional 2-year warranty ($74) beyond Apogee’s 1-year manufacturer’s warranty from Musician’s Friend. I have a safe investment.

Anyse Joslin