PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 - 6 Reasons Why You Need One

The PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 is an industry standard audio interface providing musicians, producers and home recording enthusiasts with the simple user interface they need to start laying down tracks with minimal fuss.

At under £100, this is easily one of the best audio interfaces in terms of value for money, so when we say "cheap" we simply mean budget friendly - in fact it's in our top list of best audio interfaces time and time again thanks to it's near indestructible construction, high definition sound and superb control features. We could go on and on about how much we love the Audiobox USB 96, but for now we'll just offer up 6 reasons why you need one.

Whether you need an audio interface for podcasting, need a budget friendly option to take on the road or want to be able to record high definition, studio quality recordings anywhere anytime, this is a fantastic option.

Don't be fooled by the smaller size of the PreSonus Audiobox 96 as it's basically a recording studio in a box that provides professional audio quality W/96khz recording, which is studio quality levels.

Everything you record with the PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 is in 24-Bit Resolution. You also have 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz Sampling Rates at your disposal too, which is perfect for recording all aspects of sound and ideal for producers, podcasters and even film makers.

Vocalists will also really appreciate the high-quality mic preamplifiers installed. These preamplifiers are studio quality, ensuring that all audio captured via microphones is both warm and accurate, which means you can achieve high levels of audio clarity which far surpasses any expectations you may have – especially considering the budget friendly price tag. The PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 also provides 48V phantom power for condenser microphones, so you’re completely covered for all aspects of vocal recording.

One of the major concerns when recording is getting an accurate representation of what’s going on in the mix. If there’s a latency problem then your playback and timing is out of whack – which is disastrous if you’re trying to record something! Fortunately, the PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 allows you to blend the input signal with the playback stream coming form your computer via the Mixer control for zero latency playback.

You can mix the difference between the computer signal and what you’re recording so you can drop in accurately. This is a very small but very important feature that producers and home recording enthusiasts will appreciate.

The team at PreSonus have a deep understanding of what modern musicians and studio owners, large and small need from their kit.

As studios can vary, so do the needs of musicians - not only does the Audiobox 96 have combi inputs for both microphones and line-level instruments, but it also includes MIDI I/O functionality. This allows you to connect and record your favourite synths and MIDI controllers whilst also allowing for use with any Softsynths you may have.

This also means you can control external synths and MIDI instruments via your DAW through the Audiobox 96 – perfect for live scenarios.

Whether you have a complete studio set up already, or you’re simply starting out on your musical journey, the team at PreSonus have got you covered. Although the Audiobox 96 works with virtually all DAW’s and PC/Mac audio recording software, you get a free license for PreSonus’ Studio One® Artist DAW which is essentially a complete recording solution. You also get Studio Magic Plug-in Suite included too, which is packed with virtual instruments and effects hand picked by expert producers.

Again, if you’re just starting out, there’s nothing to worry about as this has been designed to be user friendly, especially for beginners allowing you to learn on the fly and compose, record and produce your music, podcast or future #1 hit without getting bogged down in the details! Best of all, you have a massive online community to turn to at the official PreSonus forum should you need some advice.

We mentioned that it’s almost indestructible right?
Well, the PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 has been specifically designed for musicians on the move and has been constructed within a well-built metal case that’s capable of withstanding a truck running over it… check out the video below.

It’s very compact too, so you can easily throw it in your backpack, laptop bag or guitar case without worrying about any damage. All the knobs are sturdy and tough, the inner workings are protected and you can relax easily in the knowledge that when you pull it out of your case, it’s going to work!

As far as audio interfaces go, the PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 is not only one of the best sounding options out there, it’s also one of the cheapest. At just £72 its completely affordable and considering the usability, included software package and professional level sound quality, it’s quite the bargain!

If you’re just starting out in the world of home recording, you can get a complete studio recording set up for £175. The PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 Studio Audio Interface Recording Package includes a large diaphragm condenser microphone, set of monitoring headphones, Audiobox USB 96, Studio One software and all the cables you need to connect up to your computer and microphone.

Shop the entire range of PreSonus audio interfaces over at PMT Online, or call in to your local PMT Store to speak to our studio and home recording experts about your needs.