Arrdvark Products
Computer Recording Under $500
Aardvark DirectMix USB3, DirectPro LX6, and DirectPro 2496
By Dexter Weir

In the years I've been working around recording studios, I've come to appreciate gear that doesn't just sound good but also solid, reliable, and - perhaps most importantly - has value. To stay informed I read most of the gear magazines as well as spend a lot of time on Internet newsgroups, and one name makes a regular appearance among those who appreciate quality - Aardvark. From project studio aficionados to world-class ProTools HD studios, people in the know agree-Aardvark is a company that does digital right.

I looked at three of their best-selling computer recording products recently - the Direct Mix USB3, the Direct Pro LX6, and the Direct Pro 24/96. All three share a commitment to great sound, great quality, and great value. Plus, they're all easy to plug into your home computer for recordings that sound like they were done in a pro studio setting.

USB for you and me
First to bat is a great companion to any laptop, the Direct Mix USB3. As the name implies, this compact device plugs into your Mac or PC's USB port and provides two channels of 24-bit audio at a sampling rate of either 44.1kHz or 48kHz. If you're a guitarist looking to replace your laptop's cheesy sound card with a great-sounding recording and monitoring interface, this is the way to go.

Aardvark Direct Mix USB3
I enjoyed the logical layout and was able to connect the USB3 to my laptop without opening the manual (always the best test of a good design). On the front of the unit are two metal (not plastic!) 1/4" jacks: on the left is a mic/guitar jack and on the right is a stereo headphone jack.

Between the two jacks are three switches for configuring the USB3 to your needs. The input select switch optimizes the input electronics for either lo-Z mics or hi-Z guitars by adjusting the impedance, and in the case of the guitar setting, kicks in Aardvark's EFR™ (Enhanced Frequency Response) technology for high-quality direct guitar recording. The Record Select switch gives you your choice of recording the signal from either the mic/guitar input on the front, the left and right line inputs on the back, or a mix of both inputs simultaneously. The Sample Rate switch lets you chose between 44.1kHz and 48kHz sampling rates.

Aardvark Direct Mix USB3
On top, you'll find the main controls and meters of the USB3. The mic/guitar and line L/R input volume knobs let you optimize the incoming signal for best recording. The tri-color record level LEDs are intuitively easy to monitor, as are the four-stage output level LEDs. A 44mm fader controls the output level. The USB is completed on the back by a pair of 1/4" line input jacks, a pair of 1/4" line output jacks, and a USB connector.

The USB3 comes complete with Cakewalk software for both the Mac and PC. For Windows users, Guitar Tracks 2 delivers a straightforward and attractive 8-track recording interface that is wonderfully easy to use. After installing, I had it up and running in virtually no time. For the Mac, Cakewalk Metro SE fulfills the same functions.

Given its pro-quality sound, ease-of-use, portability, steel-case construction, and built-in monitoring, the USB3 is an ideal solution not just for home-studio tracking but also for field recording of music, voice, or sound effects.

The deluxe LX
Next to bat is the Direct Pro LX6, which delivers multichannel 24-bit, 96kHz capability, as well as a host of other features you won't find on your typical sound card. The LX6 uses a custom, shielded PCI card with onboard DSP, and offers audio, MIDI, and S/PDIF I/O connections to your computer.

Aardvark Direct Pro LX6 PA9
The interface is housed in a sleek black box with four metal 1/4" balanced line inputs and a headphone jack in front, plus four balanced 1/4" plus two unbalanced RCA line outputs in the rear. Also on the back are two DIN connectors for MIDI I/O, and a DB25 jack for connecting the interface to the PCI card. This abundance of I/O guarantees that the LX6 will integrate seamlessly with your studio.

The LX6 also includes powerful DSP mixing software so you can track and monitor your recordings in realtime without slowing down the computer. This comes with 3 DSP-based effects (same as the 24/96 below) to take the pressure off the native processor so you can run more plug-ins and get lower latency!

Aardvark Direct Pro LX6 PA9
The LX6 comes bundled with a well-respected recording application that offers up to 128 tracks of audio, plus MIDI, powerful effects, and support for 24-bit/96kHz recording, making it the perfect companion to the LX6. With ultra-low-latency performance, you'll be able to take advantage of the latest virtual synths from Steinberg, Cakewalk, Native Instruments, and many others!

The abundance of features and quality of components that Aardvark puts into the LX6 is amazing. What other sound card gives a fully shielded PCI card to keep out computer noise and integrates multichannel I/O with S/PDIF, MIDI, and a convenient headphone output with a level knob? If you're looking for an audio card for your computer, forget SoundBlaster - go Aardvark!

The one with all the goods
For pro-quality computer recording under $500, the  Direct Pro 24/96 hits a home run. Based on the same PCI card as the LX6 and featuring same number of inputs, outputs, realtime DSP effects, and Control Panel software, the 24/96 adds four Class A discrete mic pre-amps and switchable 48-volt phantom power. Four Class A mic pre-amps that sound this good on a unit as affordable as the 24/96 is incredible. And the fact that it has six surround sound outputs, SPDIF, MIDI, and comes with all the software is just gravy.

Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96
This system gives you the flexibility to record direct to your computer without a mixer and all the messy cables. Just plug in your mic and line level inputs, plug in your keyboards and headphones and start recording. It's just that easy.

To tap the power of the 24/96 (and the LX6), Aardvark provides the DSP-powered Control Panel. This is a beautiful piece of work - it not only handles the basics like signal routing and buffer settings, it's also a ten-channel mixer that's every bit as powerful as a hardware mixer - and then some! And because it's DSP-powered, it gives you zero-latency monitoring without slowing down your computer!

Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96
Each of the four input channels is fitted with an input pad/trim control, 3-band EQ (high and low shelving, parametric mid) and a 4-function compressor (threshold, ratio, attack, and release), freeing you from the need for outboard EQ or compressors. LED-style digital peak meters give you instant feedback on your recording levels so you won't have to worry about distortion. The four input channels are complemented with six mix channels that let you monitor channel or bus outputs directly from your recording software, giving you access to ten channels simultaneously! With six outputs, you have the option of creating full 5.1 surround mixes!

All ten channels can take advantage of the Control Panel's master reverb. This lush effect features a variety of customizable settings, letting you dial in spaces that range from the intimate ambience of a small room to the wash of sound from a massive cathedral. The beauty of this is that you can play back synths, samples, or other tracks while you add in vocals, guitar, or other instruments, and sound like you're all playing in the same concert hall!

You can determine in the Control Panel software whether you're using a mic or an instrument on each channel. In addition, the mic pre-amp features two levels, allowing you to optimize each channel to your particular configuration. This offers unprecedented flexibility for a recording interface and, to my mind, puts the 24/96 in a whole new league.

In fact, when you combine the great sound of the pre-amps with patching and DSP power of the Control Panel interface, you may find yourself wanting to trade your compact hardware mixer for a new microphone!

All in all
For beautiful-sounding recording interfaces, these three products are top picks. When you consider that they all are under $500, you can see it's a winning project studio team!

Features and specs
USB3

LX6 24/96