GEAR REVIEW
ARTURIA AUDIOFUSE 16 RIG | Steve Sattler
KEY FEATURES
• Keyboard oriented audio interface designed to “ leave all your gear plugged in ”
• Purpose built to be used stand alone or plugged into a computer .
• Currently the only high-end audio interface on the market with 16 TRS Inputs .
• Outputs are DC coupled , can be used to send control voltage signals to modular synthesizers etc .
• AudioFuse Control Center desktop app with flexible routing matrix included .
• On board USB Hub for connecting external hard drive , sample libraries etc .
• Dedicated USB A port for connecting a Keyboard Controller , great for on stage use .
• A generous selection of added value software included .
• Competitively priced .
Arturia ’ s AudioFuse 16 Rig is the latest iteration of Arturia ’ s audio interface range . The AudioFuse 16 Rig is a class compliant USB C interface with thirty-two inputs and twentyeight outputs . AudioFuse16 Rig has sixteen digital inputs and outputs via ADAT for a total of sixteen analog inputs and 12 analog outputs which is twice what you normally see with an audio interface in this class . Note that the main headphone output on the AudioFuse 16 Rig ’ s front panel has its own digital audio converter ( DAC ), so the interface technically has 12 analog outputs ( 10 line outputs plus the stereo headphone outputs ) plus the 16 ADAT outputs for a total of 28 outputs .
AudioFuse 16 Rig operates at 24-bit with sample rates up to 192 kHz . It has been designed to either be used as a desktop interface with the legs provided , or you can rack mount it . Arturia ’ s AudioFuse 16 Rig has been purpose built to be used stand-alone without being connected to a computer as much as it is designed to be a recording interface . All of AudioFuse 16 Rig ’ s main functions are designed to be easily accessed from the front panel .
The fact that Audiofuse 16 Rig has 16 TRS inputs on the back immediately sets it apart from any other audio interfaces currently available . AudioFuse 16 Rig has been designed to allow you to plug in all your gear and leave it connected , which solves an ongoing problem I have had as my studio has evolved . If you have a studio with a lot of outboard gear , a lot of effects processors , or like me , are a guitar player with a lot of preamps and outboard effects having this many TRS inputs at your disposal can certainly be useful to you , but the AudioFuse 16 Rig is especially useful if you are a keyboard player . If you have a collection of modular synthesizers , Keyboards , drum machines , AudioFuse 16 Rig has some unique features that set it apart from any other interface currently on the market .
Let us take a tour of the Audiofuse 16 Rigs key features . On the left-hand side of the AudioFuse 16 Rig front panel are two quarter-inch outputs , which is not a typical feature you usually see on the front of an audio interface . Having these outputs ( which mirrors analog outputs 3 and 4 on the back of the interface ) is useful if you want to do things like guitar reamping or any time you quickly want to plug something into the outputs without having to go around the back of the unit . Outputs 3 and 4 can also be assigned as headphone outputs which can be helpful in a full band recording situation .
Next to this is the input section with two XLR combo inputs for the two on board preamps and another two inputs labelled 3 and 4 which utilize 3.5 mm connections for devices that use these kinds of connections . These inputs could be useful if you want to plug in your phone or a similar device . AudioFuse 16 ’ Rig ’ s two premium grade preamps can be configured to accept instrument , line level or Microphone level input sources .
In the center of AudioFuse 16 Rig ’ s main control panel is a a full color screen and buttons that select the input and output screens and a jog
92 June 2024 Subscribe for Free ...