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Record straight to your desktop with Rode’s new AI-1 studio quality audio interface

Dec 5, 2017 by John Aldred Add Comment

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Famous for their microphones, Rode seem to be branching out a little. Into the world of audio interfaces. Designed to give you studio quality audio performance at home the new Rode AI-1 Audio Interface plugs into your computer, supplies 48v phantom power to microphones, and the whole thing’s powered through USB. It also comes packed with a free copy of Ableton Live Lite audio software.

It’s an impressive looking little unit. But let’s have a look at the specs.

  • Computer connectivity: USB Type C
  • Simultaneous I/O: 1 x 2
  • Preamps: 1
  • Phantom power: Yes (48v)
  • Bit depth: 24Bit
  • Sample rates: 44.1Khz, 48Khz, 88.2Khz, 96Khz
  • Analogue inputs: 1x Neutrik XLR-1/4″ combo
  • Analogue outputs: 2x 1/4″ (impedance balanced), 1x 1/4″ (headphones)
  • Direct monitor: Yes
  • Bus powered: Yes
  • OS requirements: Windows 7 or later, Mac OS 10.10 or later

The 20Hz to 20Khz frequency response and 104dBu dynamic range is quite impressive. Overall, it looks to be a great little unit, and if the audio quality in the video above is anything to go by, it sounds like it, too.

While the Rode AI-1 is being marketed towards musicians, it’s a great looking solution for things like voiceovers, vlogs or other videos recorded at the computer. I’ve been using a similar setup for years with a Rode NT1a going into an Alesis mixer into my sound card’s line input. But, that mixer and the sound card can introduce some slight noise.

Going to a purpose-built unit with a USB interface eliminates almost all of that. I think whenever my mixer dies, the Rode AI-1 will be in the running as its replacement.

For the music fans, it’ll happily take regular instrument level inputs like a guitar or bass. Or, you can bump it up to line level for things like keyboards and synthesizers.

The Rode AI-1 audio interface comes either on its own for $129, or as part of a kit with the Rode NT1 microphone for $349 ($269 separately). And both options include a free copy of Ableton Live Lite.

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Related posts:

RØDE’s new VideoMic Soundfield lets you record full 360° 3D audio on-camera Easily and cheaply record external audio for cameras without microphone sockets How to record great audio for your videos even with a phone The Sennheiser Memory Mic lets you record wireless audio to your phone anywhere

Filed Under: Gear Tagged With: Audio Interface, rode, Rode AI-1, Rode Microphones

John Aldred: from diyphotography.net

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

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