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Discrete 4 Microphone Preamp and Thunderbolt/USB Interface

SKU: # 512684   |   Model: # DISCRETE 4   |    Product Reviews4 Reviews  Write a Review

Discrete 4 Microphone Preamp and Thunderbolt/USB Interface

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Discrete 4 Microphone Preamp and Thunderbolt/USB Interface
Discrete 4 Microphone Preamp and Thunderbolt/USB Interface
Discrete 4 Microphone Preamp and Thunderbolt/USB Interface

Product Videos :

YouTube Video Introducing Discrete 4 | Antelope Audio

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Discrete 4 with Basic FX collection
Console-grade discrete microphone preamp interface


Key Features:
• Real-time 3D mic modeling via FPGA engine
• 60+ Premier real-time FX also accessible in DAW
• 4 Console grade 6-transistor discrete preamps
• Basic FX pack use 2 channel strips with 2 FX instances each
• 4 Console-grade Class A mic pres with discrete transistor design
• DC Coupled analogue line outputs
• Precise and recallable stepped gain control
• Dedicated knobs for each mic pres
• 4th Generation 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking
• FPGA FX models including BAE, Grove Hill, Gyraf Audio classics
• NEW AFX2DAW Plugin for accessing the FPGA FX in your DAW
• 4 Analog ins on combo XLR (2 mic / line, 2 Hi-Z / mic / line)
• Thunderbolt & USB connectivity
• 2 Word Clock outputs
• Additional digital connectivity via S/PDIF and 2 ADATs
• Talkback mic & button on front panel
• Create & share custom presets
• Remote control via Mac/PC/iOS/Android apps

Basic FX Pack
Enter the world of authentic vintage gear modeling with the Basic FX. Explore the true sound of iconic and expensive units from BAE, Gyraf Audio, Lang and Grove Hill. The Discrete 4 Basic FX pack allows you to use 2 channel strips with 2 FX instances each. The Basic FX library features 60+ Antelope Audio real-time FPGA FX, including Vintage EQs, Compressors, AuraVerb, Guitar Amps & Cabinet models.

Plug in your guitar directly into one of the hi-Z enabled inputs and instantly sculpt your tone with some of the most iconic guitar amps and cabinets around. Then add vintage compression, EQ and AuraVerb to hear a finished studio quality result with real-time responsiveness while playing through your preferred amp, cabinet and microphone combination. Perform and record either with FX or your direct input and process later using the integrated guitar effects.

The Antelope AFX platform is a rapidly expanding hardware modeling engine. Discrete 4 includes preamp models, guitar amps, transformer and tube FX, and a huge selection of classic vintage gear, accessible in any DAW via the AFX2DAW Plugin.

The Antelope Audio real-time FPGA platform is now extended to a complete professional studio experience:

Mic Preamps: Gyratec IX, VPA 76, BAE-1073MP, RD-47, BA-31
Conversion: Reel to Reel
Guitar Amps: Bass SuperTube VR, Burnsphere (DE), Marcus II (US), Overange 120 (UK), Tweed Deluxe, Top30, Darkface, Modern, Plexi 59, Rock 75, Rock 22.10 Guitar Cabinets: Bass Tube 1x15, Darkface 65 2x12, Top30 2x12, Modern 4x12, Green 2x12, Vintage 4x12, Green 4x12, Caliper 50 1x10, Bluelux 1x12, Clst 1x12, England 4x12
EQ Legends: VEQ-55b, VEQ-STU 089, VEQ-STU 169, VEQ-STU 900, VEQ HA32C, BAE 1023, BAE 1084, NEU-W492, NEU-W495, NEU-PEV, VEQ-4K Black, VEQ-4K Brown, VEQ-4K Pink, VEQ-4K Orange, BAE-1073, VEQ-HLF, VEQ-1A, VMEQ-5, VEQ-55A, Lang PEQ2, UK-69
Vintage Compressors: FeedForward Antelope Compressor, FET-A76, VCA160, x903, Tube176, Gyraf Gyratec X, Grove Hill Liverpool, Stay Levin, ALT-436C, SMT-100A, FET-78A, BA-6A, Tubechild670, Impresser, BAE 10DCF (NEW)
Utility Effects: PowerGate, PowerEx (NEW), Master De-Esser (NEW)
Reverb: AuraVerb

Bringing All-Star Technology & Performance to a new audience
Antelope Audio's Discrete 4 Microphone Preamp Interface brings a new level of sound quality and power to home studios and mobile recordists. It comes with 4 console-grade, 6-transistor discrete preamps, 121 db dynamic range conversion and rock solid clocking.

Both the Discrete 4 and the Discrete 8 come with DC coupled analogue line outputs to be used at CV (control voltage) interfaces. Primarily for recording with and taking full advantage of analogue synths. Discrete 4 features all of the Antelope Audio premier real-time FPGA FX, including authentic models of iconic gear from BAE, Lang, Gyraf Audio and many more.

The Antelope AFX platform is based on a rapidly expanding hardware modeling engine. Discrete 4 includes Accusonic microphone and preamp models, guitar amps, transformer and tube FX, and a huge selection of classic vintage gear, which are now accessible in the DAW via the new AFX2DAW Plugin (sold separately).

Discrete 4 is a 14 in and 20 out interface featuring 4 analog ins, 4 analog line outs, stereo monitor outs, 4 headphone outs and 2 ReAmps. Additional digital connectivity comes on S/PDIF and 2 ADAT's.

An Entire Signal Path of Customizable Sonic Excellence
Discrete 4 was developed after an extensive research of legendary microphone preamp circuitry. Its console-grade and fully discrete preamps were hand designed to offer world-class sound. The powerful Antelope Audio FPGA engine can transform these already expensive sounding Accusonic preamps into classic units via Tube, Transformer and FET based circuitry. It's all happening real-time.

Both the engineer and the performer can instantly hear the authentic blends of 10 different mic preamps without any latency or annoying comb filtering. The microphone source can be recorded with and without Accusonic modeling. This allows the engineer to experiment with different preamp models during mixing. The entire signal path was designed for optimal sound with any microphone and it really shines with Antelopes new Edge and Verge microphones. These new microphones were specially designed for the Discrete 4 preamps and feature matching discrete electronics.

The real-time FPGA platform offers a complete professional studio experience - Microphones, Preamps, Conversion, Compressors, EQs, Reverb and latency free Monitoring. All this backed up by Antelope's signature Clocking and combined into one unified system with instantly recallable Presets. You can even load AFX Presets from VIP Masters with their favorite combinations of FPGA FX that are used daily on their own award-winning mixes.

A Breakthrough Discrete Microphone Preamp Design
Traditionally, interface preamps are comprised of only 2 transistors, which makes them a hybrid between transistors and IC chips. Antelope Audio incorporates a fully discrete design consisting of 6 accurately matched transistors, yet maintaining the advantages of digital control and repeatability of gain levels. Field effect transistors add an expensive-sounding touch of warmth and naturalness to the sound. Bipolar transistors keep THD and noise extremely low, which is quite uncommon in a discrete design.

Antelope's console grade 6-transistor discrete preamp is exceptional and unique. The Discrete 4 mic preamps were the first step of the device design process. Unlike other units where mic preamps are added to the interface, the Discrete 4 preamps are actually what the device is centered around.

Clocking Is The Center Of The Antelope Universe
The Discrete 4 mic preamp interface is a professional clocking solution in its own right. It features Antelope's 4th Generation 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking (AFC) technology from the highly acclaimed Trinity, OCX HD, LiveClock, Pure2, Goliath, Orion, and Zen products. Discrete 4 comes Two WC outputs allow you to distribute clock to your other digital gear and mic preamps in your setup connected via ADAT and S/PDIF. Discrete 4 will ensure all your gear is perfectly synced.

Expert Monitoring With Ease For Both Pros and Beginners
Discrete 4 has a comprehensive and easy to set up Monitoring and Talkback section. A band can have up to 4 individual monitoring mixes with FPGA FX included sent to its 4 Headphone Outs. The engineer can make custom headphone mixes for each performer. Effects can be included to allow artists to hear sound closer to what will be on the record.

Users can create custom presets to easily setup various tracking scenarios in a snap. The front panel features an assignable monitor volume knob to control level of the Stereo Outs and individual Headphone Outs. Metering is viewable on the front panel display, inside the EasyPanel and also via the remote App.

A Rapidly Growing Audio Interface Platform
Discrete 4 can save and load AFX presets and exchange settings with the entire Antelope line of FPGA equipped pro audio interfaces. This means that you can share your own FX settings with other Antelope users and load professionally programmed stacks of FX from the Pros. This makes Discrete 4 a great option for both new users and existing Antelope owners, who use a second rig for touring or travel. This helps users leave their current studio untouched when on the road or doing session work outside their own facility.

Remote Control via IOS and Android Phones or Tablets
Use the Discrete 4 downloadable remote App to adjust all microphone input levels, Talkback levels, as well as Monitoring and Headphone volumes remotely. Musicians can control their own headphone volume with their phones and the engineer can check input levels from the tracking room.

Minimum System Requirements:
• See Antelope Audio Customer Support page - Discrete 4 - Download Section - for current recommendations.

SPECIFICATIONS:

ANALOG
Analog Inputs
• 2 x Mic / Line Inputs
• 2 x Mic / Line / Hi-Z Inputs

Analog Outputs
• 1 x Monitor Out on TRS 1/4 Jacks, +20 dBu max
• 4 x Line Outs on TRS, +20 dBu max
• 4 x Stereo Headphone Outputs

Mic Preamp
• EIN: -128 dBu (A-weighted)
• Dynamic Range: -121 dB (A-weighted)
• THD: -106 dB
• Max input: +18 dBu
• Gain Range: 65 dB

D/A Monitor Converter
• Dynamic Range: 121 dB
• THD + N: -100 dB

A/D Converter
• Dynamic Range: 121 dB
• THD + N: -112 dB

D/A Converters(Line Out)
• Dynamic Range: 118 dB
• THD + N: - 100dB
• DC Coupled

DIGITAL
Digital Inputs
• 1 x ADAT (up to 16CH)
• 1 x S/PDIF

Digital Outputs
• 1 x ADAT (up to 16CH)
• 1 x S/PDIF

USB 2.0 I/O
• USB 2.0 Type B connector

Thunderbolt
• Thunderbolt connector

CLOCKING
Word Clock Outputs
• 3 x Outputs @ 75 Ohms 3Vpp on BNC 32 - 192kHz

Clocking System
• 4th Generation Acoustically Focused Clocking
• 64-bit DDS

Sample Rates (kHz)
• 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192

OTHER
Operating Temperature
• 0-50C, 32-122F

Weight (Approx)
• 1.7 kg/ 3.7 lbs

Dimensions (Approx)
• Width: 261 mm / 10.2
• Height: 44 mm / 1.7
• Depth: 208 mm /8.2

Power Consumption
• 15 Watts

Media


Introducing Discrete 4 | Antelope AudioWatch Video
Youtube video product demo

Q & A


There are currently no questions for this product.

Reviews


52.91.84.219
claudebot
Very good choice 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
Features  
Quality  
Value  
Overall  
Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Montréal, Quebec
I love the discrete 4 it offers good connectivity and 4 quality pre amps. I don‘t have thunderbolt so it‘s a very good usb alternative, almost no latency and the plug ins sound good. I play guitare and I play with the effect pedals on a folk it‘s really dooe you have a bunch of compressors, tube pre amps and other fx, really offers a lot for the price.
Posted by Roman on Aug 24, 2020
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Pristine Sound, Amazing Plugins 3 of 4 customers found this review helpful
Features  
Quality  
Value  
Overall  
Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Toronto (LM Pro) Eastern Ave, Ontario
PROS 1) best converters and mic pres for the price (or almost any price) 2) lowest latency among external interfaces (via thunderbolt) 3) 70 free plugins that are on par or better than UAD 4) really good and flexible control panel software 5) connectivity options (USB/TB, adat in/out, spdif in/out, analog) 6) pretty design and solid construction CONS 1) frustrating initial setup process 2) unfinished manual and poorly implemented product website 3) can't run the included plugins in your DAW in Windows (*yet*) 4) need $150 extra for TB cable and TB3 to TB2 converter 5) need $300 extra to unlock some premium features of software 6) Antelope platform not as popular as Universal Audio I had this thing for a week, running on a Windows 10 Lenovo P52 laptop. This is one of the most impressive pieces of hardware I have ever used, at any price, and I have used some very expensive gear in the past. The A/D D/A converters are so good that I spent hours just listening to music on headphones. These really are mastering grade converters. The mic pre-amps are also spectacular. I only had a $100 omni-directional condenser mic handy when I started testing this device, and I got better sound out of it than I ever could by plugging a Neumann U87 into a cheap audio interface. I got this thing running with a round trip latency of 1 ms via thunderbolt, in Reason 10.2, but only at low CPU loads. Under heavy CPU loads, you can probably only get 3-4 ms since you need a bigger audio buffer. Via USB I was only able to run it with RTL of about 15 ms under heavy CPU load. This thing also came with 70 modeling plugins that run on a FPGA chip inside the device with 0 latency! I tested the pre-amp models and some compressors, and I was blown away even further. Don't underestimate these plugins. This tech is meant to compete with UAD Unison, but I think it sounds better. Apollo Twin pushes more presence but has less clarity on lower mids. This thing has that big, expensive console sound, especially running through the modeling plugins. But, you need to take your time on the product website, reading and downloading the software. Antelope website for this product is a bit poorly designed, and the user's manual is unfinished. You will also need to spend $150 for a thunderbolt converter and cable, if you don't have one. I was also confused by and annoyed by Antelope's product lines and marketing messages. There's a newer Discrete 4 Synergy Core launched this month. Synergy Core is basically generation 2 of this unit. In my unit, there is one FPGA chip for running plugins, but in gen 2 you get FPGA + 2 additional DSP chips which will run 3rd party plugins in the future. But, as of this review, there are no plugins for the 2 DSP chips, and Synergy Core bundles come with only 35 FPGA plugins. To buy all of the other 35 plugins would probably cost you $5,000, so the Discrete 4 is a way better deal than Discrete 4 Synergy Core.
Posted by Karl on Jun 21, 2019
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Discrete 4 0 of 1 customers found this review helpful
Features  
Quality  
Value  
Overall  
Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Ottawa, Ontario
Just bought it and set it up took a few minutes and had it going no problem. So how does it sound? amazing!! up graded from Presonus studio 2/6 and wow! no bad against Presonus because they have been rock solid for me for years but the difference in converter quality is ridiculous. I put on cd music to compare with and it's night and day. It's like lifting a veil off your computer speakers but of course the price point is also way different. you get what you pay for. Buy it hands down great unit. Ottawa musicians approve lol just buy it....Les
Posted by Les Kutsera on Feb 6, 2019
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A step above the rest 4 of 4 customers found this review helpful
Features  
Quality  
Value  
Overall  
Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Burlington, Ontario
Worth every penny nothing comes close (Quality) in its price range... Pros: Master grade monitor outs Solid clocking A to D converters amazing Software plugins are excellent quality Build quality excellent Portability Mac drivers very stable (have not tried windows) Cons: Software control panel although very useable Antelope could take some pointers from UAD here. Don't get me wrong its works just fine but it takes a little more getting used to out of the box. Plugin routing was a bit of a mind buster at first there is a lack of video tuts support for the Discrete models. End with this: At the end of the day the interface is excellent you can use it as your main interface in studio and you can put it in your back pack and take it with you. I have used the interface with Protools, Studio One, Adobe audition and Final cut pro X all inter-grate perfectly no issues. Just want to add I did a-lot of research and herd so many people complain about Antelopes customer service and how it was terrible! for me thats not the case Antelope has been amazing answering all my questions taking all my calls and returning my calls top class company. I recommend this product! I gave it 4.5 because of software control panel could be better. Regards. Derek.
Posted by Derek on Jul 20, 2018
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Performance Warranty Banner

Protect your investment with the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty

A warranty can be a very important factor when making a buying decision. Because repairs can be very expensive in terms of parts and labour costs, manufacturers usually only provide one year limited warranties that generally only cover items that malfunction due to a manufacturer’s defect. With an important purchase such as a musical
instrument or piece of studio gear, however, many people want to have the peace of mind in knowing that their investment will be protected should the product no longer be performing at 100%.

Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.

How does the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty differ from most manufacturers' warranties?
  • Performance Guarantee: Normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. Band and Orchestral Performance Warranty does not include replacing pads or cleaning for woodwind instruments, unless deemed necessary by our repair staff. Ultrasonic cleaning for brass instruments will be provided if deemed necessary by our repair staff, but is not routinely offered under the Performance Warranty.
  • Product Replacement: If your product cannot be fixed or costs too much to fix, we will replace it with the equivalent model for no additional charge. If this is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
  • No Lemon Policy: Your product will be replaced should the same problem occur multiple times.
  • Convenient: Easy drop off and pick up of the product at any Long & McQuade location.
  • Guitar Setup: Guitars purchased at Long & McQuade come with 1 free setup, to be redeemed within 1 year for new guitars and 90 days for used guitars.
  • Loaners Available: A loaner product may be given while the product is being repaired.
  • Power Surge Protection: Your product is covered even if damaged from a power surge.
  • Accessory Coverage: Any peripheral devices or accessories that come with your product (i.e. foot pedal, case) are also covered.
  • Commercial Use Coverage: Music and recording professionals who purchase gear for “heavy-use” commercial purposes will still be covered.
 

Long & McQuade reserves the right to restrict the purchase of additional years of Performance Warranty. Used products come with a 3-month Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Some products (i.e. computers, software, cymbals and other items) are covered only by the manufacturer‘s warranty. Consumables (i.e. strings, reeds, drum sticks, batteries, tubes, cross faders) are excluded as they are designed to be replaced. Cosmetic Damage, Accidental Damage, or problems caused by Humidity or Temperature Issues are not covered. Speakers damaged by overpowering are generally not covered. Our coverage does not provide compensation for loss of use. As of June 2018 the Performance Warranty is no longer transferable. The warranty is only valid in Canada.

Purchasing additional years of coverage

Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.

If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:

  • NEW products: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
  • USED products: 4% of the current new selling price to increase the warranty from 3 months to 1 year. 4% for each additional year.
  • GUITARS: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year. $45 maximum. An additional free setup is not included with additional purchased years of Performance Warranty.
  • BAND and ORCHESTRAL instruments: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.

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