Description
Record with the Power of Thunderbolt
Quantum 26x32 Thunderbolt™ 2 Audio Interface/Studio Command Center
Your expandable, ultra-high definition recording system.
Taking full advantage of the high-speed Thunderbolt™ 2 bus and ADAT Optical I/O, the PreSonus® Quantum audio/MIDI interface delivers up to 26 inputs and 32 outputs, with extremely low latency. Boasting superb audio quality; 24-bit, 192 kHz recording and playback; recallable XMAX microphone preamps; and the ability to expand your system as your needs grow, it’s a great choice for a wide variety of professional and semi-pro producers and electronic musicians.
We cut the wait.
Every design decision during Quantum’s engineering was made with one goal in mind: speed. Quantum sports high-speed Thunderbolt 2 connectivity and a no-frills, direct-to-DAW architecture, with no DSP. The result is our leanest, fastest, lowest-latency interface to date.
Cutting-edge 24-bit, 192 kHz converters with 120 dB of dynamic range and a surprising amount of expandability and software control options round out the package.
Expandable when you need more I/O—up to 96 in and out.
The Quantum offers two combo mic/line/instrument inputs and six combo mic/line inputs, each with a digitally-controlled XMAX preamp and individual +48V phantom power. You also get two ¼-inch TRS main outputs, eight ¼-inch TRS aux outputs, and two independent headphone outs with dedicated volume controls. But that’s just the start. With ADAT Optical I/O and S/PDIF stereo digital I/O, you can have up to 18 digital inputs and outputs. And if you need even more I/O channels, you can stack up to four Quantum interfaces via Thunderbolt to create a monster system with up to 96 in and out. BNC word clock I/O ensures your Quantum and other digital audio devices operate in tight sync. And of course you get MIDI I/O, too.
Superior sound.
Audiophile-grade digital converters, low-jitter clocking, and recallable preamps add up to a superior recording and listening experience. The Quantum operates at up to 192 kHz for ultra-high-definition mixing and recording. High-quality converters on every input and output provide 120 dB of dynamic range to capture complex musical harmonics smoothly and naturally with no audible distortion. And our recallable XMAX Class A analog microphone preamps deliver incredibly high headroom, deep lows, smooth highs, and a rich overall sound so you’ll hear every breath, transient, and detail in your recordings.
A superior choice for any production environment.
With its pro features and abundant I/O, the Quantum fits into any recording and production environment. You get two main and eight auxiliary balanced line-level outputs, as well as Mute/Dim and Mono controls. The onboard talkback mic can be routed to any mix, and you can listen to any mix from either of two independent headphone amps. All 10 analog outputs are DC coupled so they can provide control voltage to external analog equipment. Add that to Quantum’s expandability, flexible software suite, blazing speed, and superb sound quality, and you have a recording system that will be the heart of your dream studio for years to come.
Tight integration with Studio One.
With the Quantum, your audio interface is an integrated extension of your recording environment. The perfect companion for any recording software, the Quantum 2 comes equipped with Studio One Artist to provide you with a complete recording solution. Launch Studio One®, and you’ll find full preamp control integrated into your recording environment. Need to track away from your computer? Launch Studio One Remote on your iPad®.
Quantum customers get 50% off upgrades to Studio One Professional.
Remote control with UC Surface, too!
The Quantum’s onboard features can also be controlled in PreSonus’ free UC Surface control software, so even if you use third-party recording software, you can remotely access them. We even included a real-time analyzer to monitor your audio streams. UC Surface has rapidly won accolades for an intuitive mixing interface that provides quick access to everything you need.
Now includes Studio Magic Plug-in Suite.
This suite of plug-ins adds a wealth of fresh sounds and effects to Studio One. Cherry-picked from the first names in virtual instruments and effects, each plug-in brings a different flavor of practical magic to your songs. These plug-ins aren't gimmicky one-trick ponies — these are real-deal workhorses that you'll rely on for countless mixes.
Features
- General Features
- 26x32 Thunderbolt 2 ultra-low-latency audio interface
- PreSonus’ fastest interface; record direct to DAW (no DSP)
- Stack up to four Quantum interfaces via Thunderbolt for a monster system
- Talkback switch and internal Talkback microphone
- Mute/Dim and Mono switches
- Assignable output level control
- 10 8-segment LED meters (8 input, 2 output)
- Integrated Software
- Tight integration with included Studio One® Artist DAW software (Mac/Windows) for multitrack music production and studio command features
- Wireless control over preamp levels from free UC Surface touch-control software (Mac®/Windows®/iPad®) and from free Studio One Remote for iPad
- Compatible with most recording software for Mac and Windows
- Flexible Connectivity
- Simultaneous I/O up to 26 inputs/32 outputs (at 44.1 or 48 kHz)
- 2 front-panel combo microphone/instrument/line inputs
- 6 rear-panel combo microphone/line-level inputs
- 8 XMAX remote-controllable, Class A mic preamps with individually switched 48V phantom power
- 2 balanced ¼” TRS line-level main outputs
- 8 balanced ¼” TRS line-level outputs
- Line outputs are DC coupled for sending control voltages for analog gear
- ADAT Optical/Dual SMUX inputs/outputs: 16x16 channels at 44.1 or 48 kHz; 8x8 channels at 88.2 or 96 kHz
- Stereo S/PDIF coaxial input and output
- 2 high-volume headphone outputs with dedicated volume controls
- Digitalia
- Thunderbolt 2 high-speed bus
- 24-bit resolution and up to 192 kHz sampling rate
- Top-quality 120 dB A/D/A converters
- BNC word clock input and output with low-jitter clocking
- MIDI I/O on 5-pin DIN connectors
- Physical
- Road-rugged construction with all-metal chassis and metal knobs
- 1U rack-mountable
- 12 VDC external power supply (included)
Specifications
Computer system requirements
Below are the minimum computer-system requirements for the Quantum Interface.
- Mac
- Mac® OS X 10.11.6 64-bit or later
- Intel® Core™ i5 or better
- 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
- Windows
- Windows® 10 64-bit or later
- Intel Core i5 or better
- 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
- Mac and Windows Systems
- Thunderbolt™ 1.0 or 2.0 port (NOTE: Your computer's motherboard must support Thunderbolt)
- Internet connection (required for Studio One Activation and Content download)
- Internal or external 7200 RPM storage drive highly recommended
- 30 GB hard disk space
- Monitor with 1366x768 resolution
Note: The minimum system requirements may differ for DAWs other than Studio One. Please check the requirements for your DAW of choice with its manufacturer.
Note that the speed of your processor, amount of RAM and size and speed of your hard drive will greatly affect the overall performance of your recording system. Also, a more powerful system (faster processor with more RAM) will allow for lower latency (signal delay) than you might experience while monitoring audio signals.
Technical Specifications
Microphone Preamp
Type: XLR Female (via Combo), Balanced
Maximum Input Level: +10 dBu (Balanced, min. gain)
Gain Control Range: 60 dB
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz (±0.15 dB, unity gain, 48 kHz)
20 Hz to 40 kHz (±0.22 dB, unity gain, 96 kHz)
Dynamic Range: > 110 dB (A-wtd, min. gain)
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.005% (1 kHz, min. gain)
EIN: < -131 dBu (max gain, 40Ω, 22 kHz BW, A-wtd)
Input Impedance: 1.6 kΩ
Phantom Power: +48V, > 8 mA per input
Instrument Inputs
Type: ¼” TS Female (via Combo), Unbalanced
Maximum Input Level: +15 dBu (Unbalanced, min. gain)
Gain Control Range: 60 dB
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz (±0.2 dB, unity gain, 48 kHz)
20 Hz to 40 kHz (±0.6 dB, unity gain, 96 kHz)
Dynamic Range: > 106 dB (A-wtd, min. gain)
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.005% (1kHz, min. gain)
Input Impedance: > 1 MΩ
Line Inputs
Type: ¼” TRS Female (via Combo), Balanced
Maximum Input Level: + 18 dBu (Balanced, min. gain)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz (±0.05 dB, unity gain, 48 kHz)
20 Hz to 40 kHz (±0.10 dB, unity gain, 96 kHz)
Dynamic Range: > 118 dB (A-wtd, min. gain)
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.005% (1 kHz, min. gain)
Input Impedance: 10 kΩ
Main and Line Outputs
Type: ¼” TRS Female, impedance balanced
Maximum Output Level: +18 dBu (Balanced)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz (±0.05 dB, unity gain, 48 kHz)
20 Hz to 40 kHz (±0.15 dB, unity gain, 96 kHz)
Dynamic Range: > 118 dB (A-wtd)
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.0035% (1 kHz, +4 dBu)
Output Impedance: 51Ω
Headphone Outputs
Type: ¼” TRS Female, Stereo, Unbalanced, x2
Maximum Output Level: 175 mW/channel (56Ω load)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz (±0.5 dB, 48 kHz)
Dynamic Range: > 110 dB (A-wtd)
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.03% (1 kHz)
Headphone Impedance (working range): 16Ω to 300Ω
Crosstalk
Input to Input: < -110 dB
Output to Output: < -115 dB
Input to Output: < -120 dB
Signal Level LEDs
Clip: -0.5 dBFS
Signal 1: -2 dBFS
Signal 2: -4 dBFS
Signal 3: -6 dBFS
Signal 4: -10 dBFS
Signal 5: -20 dBFS
Signal 6: -30 dBFS
Signal 7: -50 dBFS
Digital Audio
Connection Type: Thunderbolt 2
ADC Dynamic Range: 120 dB (A-wtd)
DAC Dynamic Range: 120 dB (A-wtd)
Bit Depth: 24 bits
Internally Supported Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
Clock
Jitter: < 70 ps RMS (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Jitter Attenuation: > 60 dB (1 ns in => 1 ps out)
Power
12 VDC, 5A, external power supply
Physical Dimensions
Height: 1.75" (44.45 mm)
Depth: 7" (177.8 mm)
Width: 19" (482.6 mm)
Weight: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)