The Presonus Studio 1824c is a USB-C audio interface with an integrated DSP processor that is compatible with Windows 7 and above or macOS from version 10.11 onwards and can process up to 18 input and 20 output signals with a sample rate of up to 192kHz. The two XLR/jack combo sockets on the front of the interface can be used to connect not only microphones and keyboards but also stringed instruments with high-impedance outputs such as electric guitars and electric basses. The front panel additionally houses two headphone outputs, each of which is equipped with a dedicated volume control. The interface's professional-level features are rounded out by a further six mic/line inputs, a monitoring output, ADAT and MIDI I/O interfaces, and eight line outputs. To allow users to get started right away, the scope of delivery includes a power supply, two USB cables, and the StudioOne Artist software.
The Presonus Studio 1824c is connected to the user's computer via the USB interface and can then record up to 18 channels simultaneously. The monitoring volume can be adjusted using the main rotary control on the interface's front panel, and the ten large LED meters provide a useful visual display of the gain levels for the eight mic inputs and the stereo mix. Instead of the eight line inputs on the rear of the Studio 1824c being regulated by a gain control, their signal is sent directly to the AD converter - bypassing the microphone preamp - in order to prevent any colouration of the sound, and the UC Surface software, which is compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems as well as both iOS and Android end devices, allows the interface to be controlled remotely.
The term "studio" in the Presonus Studio 1824c's name does a lot more than simply describe its appearance: Its 18 available inputs and 20 outputs are enough to allow the user to record a whole band - either in the studio or live on stage. The Studio 1824c can thus form the core of a high-performance recording or home studio, and it packs the necessary number of channels into a compact format while still delivering 24-bit conversion and sampling rates of up to 192kHz. Worthy of note is also the fact that this interface features eight of the same excellent-sounding XMAX-L microphone preamps as Presonus uses in its high-end digital consoles, and since the eight line outputs are DC-coupled, control voltage can be supplied to external analogue equipment, which makes this an interesting proposal for musicians using modular synthesizers.
Presonus is a US company founded in 1995 by Jim Odom and Brian Smith in Baton Rouge, Lousiana. The firm designs hardware and software at both professional and more affordable levels for musicians and producers. Presonus first made a splash in the mid-1990s with the DCP8, an eight-channel analogue compressor/limiter/gate with fader and mute automation that could be digitally controlled by MIDI. In the early 2000s followed a series of microphone amplifiers and the first audio interfaces for the then-emerging home studio scene. Today, the company's product range includes audio interfaces, microphone preamps, digital mixing consoles, and studio monitors as well as the established DAW software Studio One.
The Presonus Studio 1824c gives demanding music producers a powerful tool with everything they need to record even drums with high sound quality. Should additional channels be needed, extra inputs can be integrated via the ADAT interface, which then makes band productions possible with multiple monitor mixes. The results can then be enhanced with virtual instruments and effects in the Studio One Artist software, right through to the final master. What is more, the Presonus Studio 1824c's ability to create different stereo mixes also makes it an interesting proposition for DJs working with larger setups, who can use the main output to run a PA system and cue their tracks via the line output.