Revelator io44 USB-C Audio Interface for music production and streaming with built-in mixer and easy-to-use effects presets plus Studio One DAW Recording Software

OK, I take it all back... (see original review archived below). The good folks at PreSonus contacted me directly. They humbly admitted that the headphone and output noise issue was a grounding problem and promptly replaced my unit after receiving the return. I can say after hours of testing they have 100% solved the problem. As I mentioned, I wanted to love this product because of its built-in DSP functionality and fat channel. Now I can say that I do! I expected the headphone amp to still have a little bit of white noise at full volume (don't they all?), but it is WICKED quiet now. The difference with the new fix is night and day. The inputs also have more life and 'air' to them. That could be because previously the white noise was masking the high-end, but to my ears solving the grounding issue may have also effected overall performance..? As with all PreSonus software, the DSP mixer is clearly laid out and a breeze to use. For the uninitiated, it would be advised to briefly read the manual. My favorite part is that it seamlessly integrates into their Studio One software (included). Without having to leave the program, you can dial up the IO24's fat channel. My favorite parts are its DSP compressors: standard, tube emulated, or Class-A FET. For this price of $200, the Revelator IO24 is an incredible value. It has functionality not seen in other interfaces at this price. It can be used for high quality recording as well as live streaming with its super easy loop-back functionality. Speaking of, one reason I purchased this is to collaborate remotely writing tunes with far-away friends. With 'original audio' turned on in zoom, this thing is an amazing tool. Although the original defects should not have been brought to the market in the first place, a big thanks to PreSonus to listening to its customers. Companies make mistakes and kudos to them for owning up to them, then quickly offering a fix. --------------------------------------- [original review 20 Oct 2021] I wanted so much to love this new product - its built-in DSP mixer with fat channel and reverb was just what I was looking for. But I'm in disbelief that PreSonus released this thing with such a noisy headphone amp AND noisy line outs. Many others have complained about this, but it seems PreSonus is doing nothing about it thus far. I would give this thing 1 star if I wasn't such a PreSonus fan - I write reviews for tapeop magazine and after my rave review of Studio One, am now a convert of both their software and hardware. As others have stated, lower ohm headphones have slightly less of a noise problem, but even with my 33ohm Grado SR80s, there's a distracting pulsing noise at low volumes and significant dirty white noise at medium to high volumes. Worse still, when I connected my PreSonus eris E5 monitors to its outputs (told 'ya I was a fan) with the exact balanced cables I use with my other interfaces, the dirty white noise was still there. This noise doesn't get recorded, but the problem is, it's completely disorienting. Because the io24's noise-floor is so high, it will mask any faulty cables, mic noise, etc., potentially ruining hours of work because you couldn't detect it. My suspicion is that PresSonus had to make a lot of compromises under the hood to make this bus powered. Just think: phantom power, hardware DSP, headphone driver, etc... all from a lil' old USB port port. (Yes, it's USB C, but it comes with a USB C to USB A cable. Even when connected via USB C to C, the exact same problems plague it). As a compromise, I could live with an outboard power adapter over the host of these awful problems... OR they could have done what Audient does with their beautiful sounding id14mk2: tell their customers that if you DO connect USB C to A, the performance of the headphone amp is diminished. The io24 clearly is not taking advantage of the higher power delivery of USB C.

This unit is frankly perfect for me and would make a very solid and versatile addition to just about any audio setup. If you've got a basic USB audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, this is a fantastic upgrade. If you're considering the GoXLR, especially the mini (as I was), you should consider this device instead. I'll be comparing them a bit below as I speak to a few of the features that are most relevant to me. - Cross Platform: This unit is completely standards compliant, which means it works on both Windows and macOS (and I suspect Linux as well, though I haven't tested it myself yet; I have tested both Windows 10 and macOS Big Sur and Monterey, including with M1 Apple Silicon). The GoXLR relies on their proprietary software so you're out of luck if you use anything other than Windows. - Integrated DSP (digital signal processing): This allows you to add a filter, gate, compressor, equalizer and limiter to the inputs that run on the device itself as well as a few voice effects (Doubler, Vocoder, Ring Modulator, Comb Filter, Detuner, Delay, and Reverb). This means you get all those DSP features without having to run specialized software and waste processing time on my computer (no VST plugins or VoiceMeeter!). This fact is probably the single best feature. The GoXLR has an equalizer, compressor, gate, and the full GoXLR (not the mini) has similar voice effects (Reverb, echo, pitch shifting, gender (formant shifting), megaphone, robot, hardtune, and sampler) but both it and the Mini do not have a filter or limiter from what I can tell. - Virtual Routing and Mixes: Allows you to route different audio streams separately without any additional hardware. This is similar to what the GoXLR does. I haven't tested this extensively but it is very similar so I think they're about comparable. If you'd like to mount it under your desk like in the images I've attached to this review, please search on Thingiverse or PrusaPrints (I cannot link them directly here) My only word of warning is make sure you're plugging this directly into your computer or if you cannot, into a very high quality hub (I discovered the hard way that my hub is apparently garbage, which is unrelated to the issues below). As with many other audio devices, especially those with DSP type features, if the unit is not getting quality power you will have issues. ---------------------------------------- Note: The above is my updated review, below is my original review. I changed my review from 1 stars to 5 stars. The main reason I gave it 1 start initially is that there was an issue on the outputs (see below) but it that has now been completely resolved; the cause was a bad batch of units. They shipped me a replacement unit which I have been using for about a week now and I can confirm that the issue is completely gone. If anyone else has this issue you just need to contact PreSonus support to get a replacement. In my opinion, PreSonus has done a great job of resolving this issue. I am satisfied with my care. ---------------------------------------- On paper this unit is perfect for me. However when I received it and gave it a try I immediately noticed a pulsing noise on the headphone output even when nothing was playing from my computer (see attached video to hear what I’m referring to). I thought the unit was DOA so I sent it back and got a replacement shipped. The second unit had the identical problem, so I opened a support ticket with PreSonus and started looking around online for similar reports. Though I did not find very many reports, which I partially chalk up to it only being on the market for a few months, I did find enough reports of the exact same issue that I think people should be wary about buying this right now. If/when it gets resolved, I will update this review accordingly. I cannot link to them here but there is a thread discussing it on the PreSonus forums (topic # 46094, “Noise coming from Revelator io24. Exchange for another unit also generates same noise :(“), and on the r/presonus subreddit (title “Revelator io24 - noisy headphone output?”), and a few comments under reviews on YouTube. PreSonus was very responsive to the ticket I opened, but after exhausting all troubleshooting options they didn’t have a solution and just said their development team will look into it and to hang tight.

If you understand the bugs of this audio interface it's great. They fixed most of the bugs but it can work with or without a computer as an effects processor, which causes problems at times, sometimes the effects processor doesn't respond on the headset and 3.5mm stereo input, and you're stuck with the presets. I pray they will fix this in the next Universal Control update. I use this audio interface because of the virtual loopback IO to route audio to my headphones and not to the speakers, and to mix sources and get audio effects for desktop apps. In OBS you want a monitor feed for your headphones, and occasionally I need a separate speaker mix that doesn't feedback. Stream B is the audio that goes to the app like OBS or Zoom. I use the XLR preamp for my Audio Technique AT2005USB mic, and I use the headset preamp for my Comica HRM-S interview mic as a desk mic and that works perfect, I usually don't need a dynamic mic, the HRM-S is the best video mic to use near walls & computer monitors bar none. I use the 3.5mm audio input to add more people to my podcast using a Motu 8Pres MKII audio interface and a 4-channel headphone preamp. It works remarkably well for the price. There are three major cons; the first is the above mentioned DSP glitch. There is some RF interference with some class D amplifiers and you might want to get a USB cable with some ferrite beads if you have RF issues with this audio interface. Those run about $15-$20, they aren't common. Three is that there isn't enough gain for many wireless mics, which output -20db to use with +20db preamps. It is 24-bit and you can use the Stream B submix and the +12db line level gain for +22db gain. That sounds fine but is just a bit frustrating. The preamps aren't as good as Audient but for my use case it's good enough, no one cares for live streaming if you have a $800 sound card. You should optimize to reduce clutter and cable mess, and for me this unit works for that. I use the audio interface in combination with my expensive rack mount 28-channel audio interface. It's worth buying for the effects processor alone; ADC and DAC are good enough for a loud concert but preamps aren't good enough for many pro audio engineers.

I recently got the PreSonus Revelator io44 USB-C Audio Interface, and it has completely transformed my music production and streaming setup! The sound quality is exceptional, with crystal-clear audio that truly enhances my recordings. The built-in mixer is incredibly intuitive, making it easy to adjust levels and add effects on the fly. The effects presets are a game-changer, allowing me to quickly apply professional-quality enhancements without any hassle. Plus, the USB-C connection ensures fast and reliable performance. I was pleasantly surprised by how user-friendly it is, even for someone who is relatively new to audio interfaces. The included Studio One DAW software is a fantastic bonus, providing all the tools I need to create high-quality tracks. Overall, the Revelator io44 offers incredible value for both beginners and experienced musicians. If you’re looking for a versatile and powerful audio interface, I highly recommend this product!

I used a Scarlett Solo 4th gen for about a year before this, and honestly, it was a nightmare with driver issues. The bus clock would constantly get out of sync, audio would crackle, games would have problems with the mic, and at one point the audio just started dropping out all the time. Three weeks ago, I switched to the io44 and it's been a completely different experience. I only ran into one small issue where the Stream Mix wouldn't pick up mic audio on PC boot. I reached out to PreSonus about it, and they were incredible - patched the firmware and pushed it out within a week. Since then, it's been running flawlessly. The software is really solid, even if the navigation takes some getting used to. There's even a third-party plugin on GitHub that lets you use it with a StreamDeck! Bottom line: It's cheaper than a Scarlett, more reliable, and packs more features. Getting this audio interface is an absolute no-brainer.

This is a great budget device with built in audio adjustments like EQ, noise gate, compressor, high pass filter, and limiter. The buttons on the device are pretty useless. I only ever use the software interface on my Mac or PC. There's no way to control the speaker volume outside of the software. You can't even control it using the volume controls on PC or Mac. Just the software itself. I would recommend using a second sound card for speaker audio due to not being able to control the volume easily and switch between them as needed. I would say the internal hardware and software are good, but the overall usability of the product is half baked. But it is a great value, just don't expect to get anything out of the screen or buttons on the device itself. I consider them useless decorations. Outside of the poorly thought out controls, this device outputs good quality sound and has a good software suite. I'd recommend it.

Works great but did not need. Using my Line6 Spider as an audio interface is much better. No delay and its direct so the sound you hear is what gets recorded. Otherwise, I'd have kept it. All the functions are accessible thru computer GUI. The quality is on par with others in this price range, it comes with Studio One which is a great DAW. Again, all audio interfaces have delay so take this into consideration when buying.

Had this for a while now did lots of research for the best audio interface for the best price. Definitely think I got that out of this.

コンパクトなのに、性能が良い。 OBSを使わずしても、声と音BGMを個別に設定出来、この子がMIXしてくれた音をそのまま乗せれるので、一々同期オフセットをしてズレを直したりしなくても綺麗にしてくれます。 UniversalControllerで簡単に調整出来ます 配信(歌枠)などに使うにはとても便利だと思います。

El producto es muy bueno, subió mucho la calidad de audio de mi microfono, lo recomiendo ampliamente.

رهيب مرة

Sintesi: interfaccia audio Presonus Revelator io24, arrivata ben imballata e nei tempi previsti, integra e completa in tutte le sue parti, come da descrizione. Funziona tutto perfettamente, zero problemi, rapporto qualità prezzo disarmante, sono completamente soddisfatto. Se invece avete voglia di leggere un po' di commenti random in merito alla mia esperienza personale, da dilettante appassionato, ecco quanto segue: L'interfaccia funziona bene su Windows, riconosciuta istantaneamente previa installazione del software Universal Control e successivo aggiornamento firmware. Idem per le licenze software a corredo, di ottimo livello sia la daw che gli strumenti di terze parti, che permettono di essere operativi fin da subito, anche se è un po' lungo l'iter di registrazione ad ogni singolo produttore "convenzionato" con Presonus. Se avete un PC portatile con ingresso usb-c vi consiglio di utilizzarlo, acquistando un cavo usb-c/usb-c ad alta velocità al posto del cavo in dotazione, che funziona altrettanto bene ma andrà ad occupare uno dei sempre meno numerosi slot-a, ammesso che non lo siano già... È altrettanto consigliabile seguire passo passo le indicazioni del costruttore e dedicare del tempo sui manuali e tutorial per prendere confidenza con tutte le funzionalità offerte sia dall'hardware che dal software, in effetti le possibilità di routing audio di questo apparecchio sono veramente interessanti, ma se non si sta attenti il rischio di friggere le casse è più alto di quello che sembra. Il pulsante "mute" sotto la manopola non è lì per caso. Utilissima la possibilità di salvare i propri preset personalizzati. Io utilizzo la Revelator come interfaccia per registrare vinili mixati con la mia consolle old school (ved. Foto) e già con le impostazioni di base la qualità delle registrazioni è ottima, intendiamoci, sicuramente più si spende e più si ha, ma non ho né le orecchie né le pretese di un audiofilo, quindi per me tanto basta... e, volendo, con i DSP interni è possibile dare quel tocco di colore in più in tempo reale senza bisogno di post-processing. Si normalizza e si salva. Fine. Questa "scheda" ha sostituito la mia vecchia Cakewalk by Roland UA-1G, ormai non più compatibile con Windows 11, al contrario del mio controller Akai lpk25 che a distanza di oltre 10 anni ancora regge il passo. Con quest'ultimo mi diletto a creare qualche beat o remix dei miei dischi con Studio One, daw veramente divertente e non difficile da usare. A proposito di loop, tanto per fare un esempio di routing audio, posso utilizzare Studio One come campionatore, per inserire effetti e clip audio mentre uso la consolle, e contemporaneamente registrare l'intero mix o solo la consolle. A livello software quindi niente da dire, anche se per la sola registrazione/editing audio preferisco ancora il buon vecchio Audacity. Consiglio comunque di leggere i requisiti minimi del PC, soprattutto se l'acquisto è finalizzato a smanettare con Studio One e relativi strumenti. Tornando alla Revelator, una delle caratteristiche che mi hanno convinto all'acquisto è la possibilità di linkare i due ingressi, trasformandoli di fatto in un ingresso di linea stereo. Non tutte le schede lo permettono, anche più costose, niente di drammatico eh... ma per me è una comodità non trascurabile. L'unica osservazione, sempre nel mio caso, è che avrei preferito avere gli ingressi posteriori, (ho ridotto gli ingombri con un paio di connettori TS angolari), ma probabilmente chi attacca-stacca microfoni in continuazione troverà più comodo averli davanti. L'uscita cuffia posteriore invece è solo apparentemente scomoda, basta un cavo di prolunga e la posizionate dove volete, mentre è più importante avere la zona frontale libera da connettori che intralciano l'azionamento dei controlli. Il display, per quanto piccolo, è ben fatto e sorprendentemente chiaro, comoda anche la manopola encoder multifunzione, che insieme ai pulsanti permette di gestire quasi tutto, ma di fatto è più pratico utilizzare il software Universal Control. Scusate se mi sono dilungato, ma spero di essere stato utile a chiunque abbia la mia stessa passione. Con questa scatolina nera ci si diverte senza svenarsi, acquistata in offerta a meno di cento euro, sinceramente non so cosa si possa avere di più.

Excellent audio interface, completely portable with just the right size for what I needed. I was impressed that I can use it with my iPad and record in excellent quality.