Aardvark Direct Pro Q10 PCI Audio Interface with Cubase LE (Macintosh and Windows)

Manufacturer's Description for Aardvark Direct Pro Q10 PCI Audio Interface with Cubase LE (Macintosh and Windows)

The powerful Q10 is the pinnacle of the Direct Pro Series and brings a fresh new approach to computer recording. Its unique 8 XLR mic inputs and mixer-like monitoring features allow you to professionally record 10 channels direct-to-disk, without needing a mixer. Even if you don't need all 8 mic preamps at once, the flexible XLR/1/4 in. connectors can be cleverly used as 1/4 in. line inputs, so studios with analog mixers can easily take advantage of Aardvark's legendary sound quality. The Q10 is the only completely integrated system that easy to use, has an unheard of feature set, and is professional from the inside out, and it comes with Cubase LE recording software.

The Q10 is compatible with almost all audio recording software, and is often used with Steinberg Cubase VST/32 & Nuendo, Cakewalk Home Studio & Sonar, Emagic Logic Audio, Syntrillium Cool Edit Pro 2000, and gets ultra low-latency performance with software synths and samplers like Native Instruments, GigaStudio and Propellerheads Reason.

8 Class A Mic Preamps
The Q10 adds 8 Class A Mic Preamps to any recording software. This 10 in/10 Out PCI audio interface brings a fresh new approach to computer recording. Its unique 8 XLR mic inputs and mixer-like monitoring features allow you to professionally record 10 channels direct-to-disk, without needing a mixer. The flexible XLR/1/4 in. connectors can be cleverly used as 1/4 in. line inputs, so studios with analog mixers can easily use the premium A/D converters for enhanced stereo imaging and more detail in their music. Includes 2 EFR Guitar Inputs, SPDIF, MIDI, and is 24-bit/96kHz. With ultra low-latency performance for software synths and samplers, the Q10 works well with all recording software -- PC/MAC, ASIO, GSIF.

The combination of discrete transistor mic preamps, 24-bit A/D D/A, shielded no-noise PCI card, and Aardvark's legendary digital clocking technology guarantees the audio quality is second to none. The flexibility of the hardware completely replaces an outboard mixer, so you can record directly to the computer without sacrificing audio quality or studio functionality.

The DSP Control Panel for the Q10 uses the powerful DSP Processor on the PCI card, so you computer keeps running lightning fast and completely in real-time. It's laid out much like an analog mixer, and leaves native power for you to run more Plug-Ins and other processing. No other system has the brainpower of the Q10 that does so much, so easily.

Aardvark continues to break down the barriers of traditional audio interfaces. The new Q10 will elegantly integrate your audio software with your studio and will dramatically expand the capabilities of your workstation.

Hardware Features
10 In/10 Out Computer Audio Interface

Eight Discrete Transistor XLR Mic Preamps

Eight 1/4 in. Balanced Line Inputs (+4dBu/-10dBv)

Eight 1/4 in. Balanced Line Outputs (+4 dBu/-10dBv)

Four 1/4 in. TRS Inserts

48-Volt Phantom Power

2 EFR Guitar Hi-Z Inputs

24 Bit AD/DA

S/PDIF Digital I/O

MIDI I/O

Word Clock I/O

1/4 in. Headphone Out with Level Knob

Stereo 1/4 in. Monitor Out with Level Knob

Shielded PCI Card

Aardvark Low-Jitter Clock

Powerful On-Board DSP Processor

Expandable up to 4 Units (40 In/40 Out)

Aardvark announces the release of the latest Windows drivers that add high resolution 96 kHz and 88.2 kHz support for the popular Direct Pro Q10 computer audio interface. All Q10 units on the market can download the new driver free of charge and get full 96 kHz and 88.2 kHz capability.

The Direct Pro Q10 is an innovative, 10 in/10 out computer audio interface designed to work with recording software like Steinberg, Emagic, Cakewalk, Native Instruments, and many others. Its 8 discrete Class A mic preamps, 4 inserts, onboard DSP, and mixer-like monitoring capabilities make it possible to get truly professional computer recordings without a mixer. With the addition of 96 and 88.2kHz support, the Q10's impressive feature set continues to grow, placing it among the most elite professional audio hardware interfaces available.

Q10 Now Has Mac OSX Drivers
Works great on Emagic Logic, Digital Performer and Cubase SX, SL & Nuendo

Tested by both Steinberg & Emagic using both Mac OSX Jaguar and Panther

Driver version 7.0 also adds multi-card capability for Win 2000/XP, so you can expand up to 4 Q10 units in one computer. This allows up to 40 channels of I/O and 32 discrete mic preamps for true studio expandability. In addition, 88.2 kHz support has been added for Aardvark's Direct Pro 2496 and LX6 audio interfaces, both of which already support 96 kHz.

The Windows 2000/XP driver is version 7.0 and the Windows 95/98/ME driver is version 5.22. These drivers can be downloaded free of charge at www.aardvarkaudio.com.

This new driver 7.0 is built upon Aardvark's proprietary A|WDM driver model and also supports ASIO, WDM, and MME applications. This directly integrates Aardvark's audio hardware with the industry's best recording software to get ultra low-latency performance, often as low as 1.5 ms in applications like Steinberg Cubase SX, Nuendo, Emagic Logic, Cakewalk SONAR 2.0 and software based synths and samplers.

Aardvark have now released the industry's first interchangeable 'skins' that lets users graphically change the look of the powerful Q10 control panel to perfectly match their Mac recording software.

This appeals to professionals that want to use Aardvark's Q10 because of it's premium hardware components, but want to have it both function and look like one professional system. Also released as a new Q10 Control Panel 'skin' is one that is matched to the sleek silver & purple Q10 unit itself. In total, there are now eight (8) skins that users can easily change on the fly simply by using a drop down menu.

The Q10 Control Panel, which can now match Cubase, Nuendo, Logic and Digital Performer, is used by project & professional studios to get real-time monitor mixes while recording with ZERO latency. This real-time monitoring feature, combined with the Class A mic preamps, built-in Hi-Z inputs and effects inserts, is a key reason Q10 users can record direct to a computer without a mixer. Other systems have universal inputs, but lack the real-time monitoring that's critical in professional recording applications.

The Control Panel also conveniently controls all the functions of the Q10, including digital peak metering, VU metering, sample rate selection, pan, solo, mute, and all the output routing and input level gain controls. It also has system wide 'Presets' function that lets users instantly recall settings so they can immediately begin where the session last ended. zZounds is an authorized dealer of Aardvark products.

Converters: 24-bit A/D D/A Shielded

THD+N: .002% @1kHz

Dynamic Range: 110 dB D/A, 100 dB A/D

Frequency Response: 7 Hz-44kHz, +/- .5 dB

Sample Rates: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz

Analog Inputs:
8 Inputs Total
8 XLR Discrete Mic Preamp with Input trim or
Eight 1/4 in. Balanced Line (+4 dBu/-10 dBv) with Input Trim
Two 1/4 in. Hi-Z Guitar Inputs (replaces Line In 7,8) with Input Trim

Inserts: Four 1/4 in. Inserts for using Mic preamps with outboard effects

Analog Outputs:
10 Balanced 1/4 in. Line (+4 dBu/-10 dBv), 2 are Monitor Out; 1/4 in. Headphone Output with Level Knob

Digital I/O: 24-bit S/PDIF In/Out on RCA connectors

MIDI I/O: MIDI In/Out on Standard 5-pin DIN

Sync I/O: Word Clock (BNC) In/Out, MTC (via MIDI) and S/PDIF clock

Modes: Full Duplex Simultaneous Rec/Play

Expansion: Up to 4 systems can be installed in the same computer

Card Type: PCI Bus Architecture, 5 in. Length

Onboard DSP: 4-Bit, 80 MIPS

Connections: 6 in. Shielded 25-pin connector