Apogee Duet FireWire Audio Interface
A portable audio interface that features amazing Apogee sound quality, Duet has control functions built directly into Apple's Logic Pro, Soundtrack Pro, and GarageBand software so you can create professional recordings effortlessly.
- Connect any combination of two instruments
- Multifunction controller knob
- FireWire 400, compatible with Mac OS X Core Audio
- Integration and control with Apple's GarageBand, Logic Pro, Logic Express, and Final Cut Studio
Overview
With Duet, you can plug in guitars, keyboards, and microphones and record your music, or simply experience how much better your favorite tracks in iTunes sound. Duet is compact and powered by FireWire, so you can pack up your studio and go anywhere your music takes you.
Duet features two superb microphone inputs, each with phantom power and up to 75dB of gain. With Duet, you can record a pristine vocal track while playing your guitar or keyboard, stereo mic your acoustic, or even capture a live concert.
Duet's dual, 1/4-inch high impedance inputs are ideal for any combination of two instrumentalists: guitar and bass, bass and keyboard, guitar and guitar, etc. Simply plug into the breakout cable inputs labeled with the corresponding instrument icons and jam or record using your favorite Core Audio-compatible application.
Whether it's through the 1/4-inch outputs to your powered speakers or via the headphone jack, Duet delivers the amazing sound quality Apogee is known for. With the multi-function controller knob, you can easily toggle back and forth between your monitors and headphones, control the volume and mute playback. Duet's studio reference-quality sound combined with simple and powerful control features make it an ideal choice for creating music or simply delivering the ultimate iTunes listening experience.
Along with exceptional sound quality and powerful control features, Duet also offers incredible ease-of-use for recording. With software integration into Apple's OS X, GarageBand, Logic, and Soundtrack Pro, Duet empowers you with an interface designed exclusively for the Mac. It makes the technology of recording easy and elegant so you can focus on creating great music. And with its unique GarageBand integration, Duet makes creating high-quality audio for Podcasting easy.
Features
- Two channels of professional-quality 24-bit/96kHz audio input and output
- Two balanced XLR inputs, with selectable 48V phantom power on each input
- Two unbalanced high impedance instrument inputs
- One high-level stereo headphone output
- Two unbalanced -10 dBV line outputs for powered speakers
- Multifunction controller knob for volume and input gain control and assignable MIDI control
- Multisegment LED meters to display input or output levels
- FireWire 400, compatible with Mac OS X Core Audio
- Integration and control with Apple's GarageBand, Logic Pro, Logic Express, and Final Cut Studio (Soundtrack Pro)
- Compatible with any Core Audio-compliant audio application
- Apogee's Maestro software for advanced control and low latency mixing
Specifications
- Breakout cable: Two XLR microphone inputs, two 1/4-inch instrument inputs, two 1/4-inch monitor outputs for powered speakers
- FireWire 400 connector
- Two LEDs to indicate 48V phantom power
- Dimensions (WxLxH): 4.0 x 6.3 x 1.5 in./10.16 x 16.0 x 3.81 cm
System Requirements
- Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later
- 1.0GHz or faster PowerPC G5 or Intel Core Duo processor
- 2GB RAM
- FireWire 400 port
In the box
- Duet
- Breakout cable
- FireWire cable
- Apogee software CD
- User's guide
Note: If you need a FireWire 400/800 cable to connect your Apogee Duet to the FireWire 800 port of your MacBook Pro, please contact Apogee Customer Support at (310) 584-9394. They'll ship a free cable to anyone who has purchased and registered an Apogee Duet since October 1, 2008.
Warranty
One year
Mfr. Part No.: DUET
Note: Products sold through this website that do not bear the Apple Brand name are serviced and supported exclusively by their manufacturers in accordance with terms and conditions packaged with the products. Apple's Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Please contact the manufacturer directly for technical support and customer service.
Most Useful Reviews
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Apogee Duet FireWire Audio Interface
Sweet Studio Apogee Addition
Written by AB from COLUMBIA
May 16, 2008
Researched several options before buying this product. We recently bought Logic Studio and a Mac Pro, so wanted to be able to integrate our analog and digital studio with a compatible interface. I was a little skeptical that the Duet would fit the bill, but it has certainly proved to be a solid performer. It is easy to use and easy to set up to play nice with Logic. My only word of advise would be to read the instructions before installing. If you do not set it up in the order recommended, you will have problems resetting it up afterwords. I found this out the hard way after adding extra drives and formating my boot drive without disconnecting my Duet. The installation disk has an uninstall feature, but it took several times to reconnect correctly. Live and learn from my mistake, but definitely think about adding this to your studio. Apogee Duet is a nice hub for your studio and produces a great sound if you remaster or mix audio. …More
162 of 176 people found this useful
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Apogee Duet FireWire Audio Interface
Perfect, For MacBook PRO Only
Written by NB from Greenville
Oct 20, 2008
This item was made to work with the traveling musician... and was PERFECT for MacBooks before the new line of notebooks came out (late October 2008). Beware that this unit will absolutely not work with the new MacBook due to the lack of a FireWire port. I cannot express what a shame this is. The MacBook Pro has a FireWire port and will work with the Duet perfectly. As far as set-up etc. goes, the unit is extremely simple (I've only used it with Logic Studio, so I can't say how it works with other programs) - you simple plug it into the FireWire port, and it works. Can't ask for anything better than that!! I should add that it works perfectly on the iMac, Mac Mini, and Mac Pro (desktops) as well. I have used it on a 1.83 ghz Mac Mini with 2GB Ram with absolutely no problems at all. I highly recommend it. …More
136 of 141 people found this useful
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Apogee Duet FireWire Audio Interface
Quality, Integration, & Fashion Too!!
Written by AS from Kingsville
Jun 28, 2008
From the outset, it's easy! For those who want Apogee quality, but do not/cannot spend $2,000.00 on the Ensemble, and if you don't need the Ensemble's 8 Channels, the Duet is perfect for Guitar, Keys, Bass, Vocals, and if you have a good set of over-heads, say..AKG 414's, you can get AWESOME drum sounds! I use it with Logic and Garageband. The unit is heavy and sturdy, all metal. Highly recommended. I would appreciate more features in the software that is included. …More
101 of 103 people found this useful
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Most Recent Reviews
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Apogee Duet FireWire Audio Interface
My ears no longer hurt.
Written by AK from New York
Dec 11, 2009
Now that I have just moved to NYC and is thousands of miles away from my high-end rig. I have been listening to music with my MacBook Pro on my Sennheisers. The sound through the headphone out on the Mac and the Duet is night and day. My ears no longer feel fatigued: bad digital to analogue converters seem to put a lot of stress on my drums.
For those who is hesitating because of the Firewire 400 issue. Don't worry, Apogee throws in a Firewire 800 to Firewire 400 cable and the usual Firewire 400 cable in the package. So it is compatible with all firewire computers. …More1 of 1 people found this useful
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Apogee Duet FireWire Audio Interface
Lived up to its hype...
Written by RT from Toronto
Oct 30, 2009
Few products live up to their hype but this is one of them. Although most people talk about the quality of recording (which is great) just as impressive is using it for output. The firewire cable bypasses the Mac's sound card so you're going right into the duet and then out to your amp and speakers. The difference is noticeable, a real clarity to the sound that actually had me listening to old songs again just to enjoy them!
The Duet is simple to hook up and the interface is clean and simple. If you're using it for recording, it has a great feature where by holding down the dial for a few seconds (mute mode) it lets you switch from speakers to the headphones in a snap. The mic inputs provide phantom power as needed. Really easy to adjust levels with this, both input and output. The design is great, clean, and snazzy.
Some people dislike that you can't turn the unit off but I personally prefer putting my equipment into sleep mode rather than powering on and off every day, less wear and tear on the electronics. …More9 of 10 people found this useful
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Apogee Duet FireWire Audio Interface
Peace of Mind
Written by SR from Vancouver
Oct 19, 2009
I was fed up with audio cards that required drivers to be updated and failed to do so. The Duet is a lovely package of size and function which fits nicely into Garageband and Logic Studio Beautifully! Since it is made for Macs, the drivers should stay up to date. The sound is fantastic! Enjoy! …More
6 of 6 people found this useful
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Questions & Answers
Most Interesting
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Does this product work with the new MacBook Pro, since there is no longer a firewire 400 port? Is it also compatible with OS 10.6?
- Asked by DN from Knoxville
- Oct 24, 2009
Best Answer
Yes Apogee supply a Firewire 800 to 400 cable , as well as the older Firewire 400 to 400 cable , so there is not problem connecting to any current Mac products .
The Duet is compatible with OS 10.6 " Snow Leopard " .
Apogee posted a update for OS 10.6 on Sep09 which also is compatible with 10.5.8 "Leopard" too . …More- Answered by MH from Sydney
- Nov 25, 2009
- 5 of 5 people found this useful
- 2 more answers
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About Apogee Duet software compatibility
- Asked by SA
- Oct 5, 2009
Best Answer
The Duet works with any Mac compatible, core audio compliant application such as Logic pro and Express, GarageBand, Soundtrack Pro, Cubase and Nuendo, Digital Performer, Ableton Live, Reason, Bias Peak and Deck or any application supporting Mac's Core Audio. …More
- Answered by GL from PLAYA DEL REY
- Oct 8, 2009
- 5 of 5 people found this useful
- 1 more answer
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Does it also support MIDI i/o?
- Asked by MO from Boulder Creek
- Nov 2, 2009
Best Answer
The Duet is an Audio interface & does not have MIDI connections .
The control knob will send out midi control values , but if you want to connect MIDI devices you need to a buy a USB midi interface .
You may want to check your MIDI device as many MIDI devices now have a direct USB connection so you don't require a MIDI interface . …More- Answered by MH from Sydney
- Nov 25, 2009
- 5 of 5 people found this useful
- 1 more answer
Most Recent
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How can you connect a Duet to a 5.1 or 7.1 surround system? If so, will it work as such or just plain stereo?
- Asked by SM from DURHAM
- Dec 11, 2009
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MIDI i/o? Apparently thru USB only? New iMacs have Firewire 800 - is that supported? w/MIDI?
- Asked by MO from Boulder Creek
- Nov 2, 2009
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Does this product work with the new MacBook Pro, since there is no longer a firewire 400 port? Is it also compatible with OS 10.6?
- Asked by DN from Knoxville
- Oct 24, 2009

