The product(s) featured in this post was provided to me free of cost to me for inclusion in the holiday gift guide. Please note that, as always, any personal opinions reflected in this post are my own.
iRig Pro DUO Universal Dual Channel Audio/MIDI Interface
Suggested retail price $199.99
iRig Pro DUO is available from music and electronics retailers worldwide, and from the IK online store.
You can learn more about this and other multimedia products on the IK Multimedia website. You can also keep up with their latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
Unless you haven’t read Mom Knows It All at all, you probably recall that I’ve mentioned how much my family loves music. My husband taught himself to play the guitar not long after we were married. Then he taught himself to play the drums, as well as the bass. Like his father, my oldest son is also very musically inclined. A couple of months ago my son asked me if I knew of a way for him to easily record things here at home that didn’t require tons of super-expensive equipment. I recently learned that such a product does exist – the iRig Pro DUO.
Designed and made in Italy, the iRig Pro DUO is the first self-powered high-definition dual-channel mobile audio and MIDI interface for iPhone/iPad, Mac/PC and Android devices. Allowing musicians to create studio-quality music anywhere, the iRig Pro DUO comes fully loaded with everything needed to record professional-sounding audio in a mobile environment.
iRig Pro DUO is the most compact dual-channel interface available. Measuring just 130 x 75 x 38 mm, it fits easily into a gig bag, laptop bag, pocket or the palm of a hand. What makes iRig Pro DUO stand out in the crowded interface market is its remarkable level of portability and professional audio quality. Designed to fit recording studio specifications into a travel-ready enclosure, it is the smallest fully-featured dual-channel interface available. Its compact size and multitude of powering options make it ideally suited for use while on the move – for true “off the grid” performance, iRig Pro DUO can be powered by 2 AA batteries (included). Plus, iRig Pro DUO can be powered via USB for Mac/PC or via an optional wall power adapter. This means that it’s ideal for use everywhere: on the road, at a gig, in the studio and anywhere in between. It’s a perfectly portable self-contained mobile studio solution for the musician or producer who wants the utmost in recording quality and versatility.
iRig Pro DUO features two XLR/TRS combo audio input jacks with gain controls and phantom power, ultra-low noise/high-headroom preamps, high end 24-bit AD/DA converters, MIDI IN/OUT jacks for connecting controllers and other MIDI devices, a stereo pair of TRS balanced output jacks and a headphone out with level control. To top it all off, it’s also truly self-powered via 2 AA batteries and comes with an array of additional powering options. No other studio-quality audio interface offers this level of portability at such an affordable price. And, most remarkably, it manages to fit all of these features (and more) into an extremely compact enclosure that fits easily into the palm of a hand. With iRig Pro DUO, true mobility for portable simultaneous 2-channel recording and processing has finally arrived for everyone.
True pro quality
iRig Pro DUO’s high-grade analog circuitry and no compromise power supply design provide studio-quality sound on the go. Its dual XLR/TRS audio input jacks can be used to plug in guitars, basses, keyboards, line-level instruments and microphones to capture pristine and transparent 24-bit audio on the go. Players can record two channels of audio simultaneously using two instruments, two studio microphones or any combination of instruments they desire. It’s perfect for singer/songwriters, guitar and bass jammers, duet singers and more – the possibilities are infinite. MIDI controllers and instruments can be connected with ease thanks to iRig Pro DUO’s MIDI IN/OUT jacks. All the required cables for connecting MIDI hardware are included (TRS to MIDI-DIN).
With its dual inputs, musicians can make multi-track recordings on the fly. iRig Pro DUO can accommodate high-end phantom powered condenser microphones – 48V phantom power is available with the flip of a switch. Sound can be conveniently monitored with zero latency via either its 2 balanced TRS outputs or its headphone out jack with onboard level control.
Superior output
iRig Pro DUO’s high-quality balanced outputs can easily drive any kind of input. They deliver a stunningly clear audio signal thanks to its exceptional output drivers. The totally floating design of iRig Pro DUO’s balanced outputs protect it from potential ground loop issues and buzz when performing onstage with iOS devices or laptops. This superior design makes it the ideal audio interface for live performing musicians that want to connect their gear directly to the stage audio system without having to use any special cables or problematic DI Boxes.
True studio sound
When it comes to recording interfaces, they’re really only as good as they sound – and iRig Pro DUO sounds absolutely fantastic. This is due to world class AD/DA conversion, no compromise analog stages, superior power supply, ultra-low noise and high-headroom preamps and professional balanced audio outputs. Simply put, iRig Pro DUO lets musicians and producers make great sounding recordings with all the musical subtlety and nuance of a pro studio interface, but in an extremely mobile form-factor.
Truly loaded with apps
iRig Pro DUO also comes with over $/€450 worth of useful apps and software from IK Multimedia that allow it to work right out of the box. These include powerful tools like AmpliTube® Metal, SampleTank® SE and T-RackS® Classic for Mac and PC as well as a full complement of recording and processing apps for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices. iRig Pro DUO is loaded with everything needed to fuel creativity and enhance productivity. For the complete list of included software and apps, please visit www.irigproduo.com/apps.
iRig Pro DUO is also fully compatible with a wide variety of third party apps and software, like Cubasis, ProStudio Vocal FX, MultiTrack DAW, Samsung Soundcamp and more. It’s also compatible with Apple’s GarageBand and Logic Pro X apps, and iOS Voice Memos and more.
Here’s a trailer showing iRig Pro DUO in action.
The iRig Pro DUO is a must have gift for any musician, developing or established. The size of the unit makes it highly portable and extremely convenient to use both at home and on the go.
It sounds like a lot of consideration was put into this, they’ve got all the bells and whistles. I think it’s an awesome thing to learn about. Who doesn’t want professional studio sound!
This looks really cool. There’s a lot of awesome features on there and we love listening to music so would be great to have one of these.
You wrote a good and thorough article on this. Makes me want to listen to music again, like I did when I was a kid. So many great features that I’m sure music fans will flock to buy it.
Awesome! My assistant’s son is taking drum lessons, so I’m going to share this with her. It’s a great birthday gift idea for her boy. I love that products like this make it easy for musicians to share their gift with others.
How cool, I love trying new gadgets so I’ll add this to my list. I’ve heard a lot about the irig now I want to try it.