Apogee has long provided a range of audio professionals with tailored interface choices, from the portable Duet [Tape Op #150] and Symphony Desktop [#142] to the flagship Symphony I/O Mk II [#140]. Their latest addition, the Symphony Studio series, smartly fills the gap with single rack space interfaces clearly aimed at professional mixing and mastering studios, especially those with immersive monitor systems. Three configurations range from 2 to 8 mic/line inputs with 8 to 16 line outputs. For this review, I tested the 2x12 model in my 7.1.4 mixing room over several weeks.
The Symphony Studio makes an immediate visual statement with Apogee’s signature purple faceplate. The front panel is thoughtfully laid out, featuring a large multifunction control knob, a high-resolution OLED display, and a set of intuitive buttons. Two front panel headphone outputs (one 1/4-inch and one 1/8-inch) provide convenient monitoring options. Around the back, the unit connects to Mac or Windows computers via a locking USB-C port and draws power through a standard IEC connector.
Compared to Apogee’s desktop models, the Studio series offers significantly more analog I/O but omits digital I/O and word clock options. While the Symphony Studio shares its design with the flagship Mk II, it doesn’t use the same analog circuitry as the Mk II SE converters. Still, the conversion quality is exceptional – clean and detailed, whether you're recording, mixing, or routing audio through analog gear.
The two mic/line inputs provide only XLR connectors – no XLR combo or TRS jacks – while the twelve outputs are delivered via two DB-25 connectors. The all-analog inputs and outputs can accommodate professional and consumer signal levels, and the transparent mic preamps generously provide up to 75 dB of gain – enough to handle low output dynamic microphones. Apogee’s analog Soft Limit circuitry, which activates just below full scale at around -4 dBFS, adds a subtle safety net by taming transients without introducing noticeable artifacts.
Users can control all preamp functions – gain, polarity, phantom power, and Soft Limiting – directly from the front panel or through Apogee’s powerful Control 2 [Tape Op #149] software application. Control 2 extends the hardware's functionality, enabling detailed control over routing, metering, DSP effects, and monitor configuration. Any or all analog outputs can be defined as speaker channels or line level. Low latency headphone mixes can be created, and talkback can be routed to any monitor path. The desktop Apogee Control remote unit (available separately) can be added for those who desire dedicated monitor control hardware.