The World's Best Audio Interfaces Just Keep Getting Better!

The Dream is Real

The ULN-2 Expanded is the result of a dream to create a piece of audio gear that provides unbelievable audio quality while at the same time offering a degree of mobility and convenience that until very recently was simply not possible. The successful integration of world-class analog stages, excellent A/D/A conversion, and the amazing digital mixing, routing and FireWire connectivity that has already made the Mobile I/O line famous, places the ULN-2 in a unique position among computer audio interfaces.

The ULN-2 Expanded is a portable, high–quality, modular FireWire–based multi-format audio converter, interface, and processor for professional audio applications. The ULN-2 is equipped with two balanced analog inputs on Neutrik™ combo connectors, two channels of Digital I/O (AES/EBU and S/PDIF), eight channels of ADAT optical I/O with switchable TOSLINK support, two balanced analog outputs (1/4" TRS), two balanced monitor outputs for connecting directly to power amps and self powered monitors, as well as wordclock in/out and 2 IEEE 1394 FireWire connectors that support 400 Mbs operation.

The Best Mic Pres Available

ULN stands for Ultra Low Noise and the Mic Pres in ULN-2 live up to the name. Providing massive gain (up to 72 dB) with an EIN of -130.5 dBu, fantastic detail and an ultra-fast slew rate, the ULN Mic pres are up to the most demanding recording situations you can throw at them.

And of course it has the same FireWire connectivity, amazing A/D/A converters and powerful onboard DSP as its older sibling – the Mobile I/O 2882.

Balanced Analog Sends and Returns

The ULN-2 also features balanced analog inserts for each input. This lets you use ULN-2 as a standalone analog Mic pre/direct box; use the sends as an active splitter to drive a backup recorder, or even patch in analog dynamics processing between the Mic Pre and the integrated 24bit/96kHz A/D converters.

Flexible Powering Options

The 4-pin XLR power port on the ULN-2 allows you to power the unit with a variety of readily available broadcast battery systems. The 4-pin power port is compatible with power sources having the following characteristics: 9-30V DC, Pin 4 Hot, 15 Watts.

Key Features

2 Mic/Line/Instrument analog inputs on Neutrik Combo connectors Balanced TRS analog sends and returns for analog inputs 2 analog outputs on balanced TRS connectors 24bit/96k converters on all channels Headphone amp with front panel volume knob Balanced stereo master control room monitor output with front panel volume control AES-S/PDIF Digital I/O with selectable SRC 8 channels all new ADAT I/O with switchable TOSLINK support v.5 Configurable mixer for near-zero latency mixing and routing Metric Halo’s unique instantiable +DSP processing 4-pin XLR power port for compatibility with most location battery systems 10 front panel preset system/routing memories for stand-alone operation FireWire Connectivity Compact, light, and bus-powerable Total recall with MIO Console OS X drivers with multi-box support

At Home in Any Situation

ULN-2 is the perfect tool for capturing audio wherever inspiration hits, in the studio or on the road. Well suited to any recording situation, the ULN mic preamps provide allow you to work how you want, and not have your work style dictated by your tools.

Equally suited to all sources, from condenser mics to the lowest-output ribbon mics, you can choose your mic and your placement with no concern about the performance of the preamp.

Coupled with Metric Halo’s exclusive Character processing, the ULN preamps are literally the most flexible and best sounding pres available today. You can transition from a wire-with-gain to a gooey tube pre with one click of the mouse, and every input can have the right character for the material you are recording.

Fully balanced analog inserts on TRS connectors allow outboard analog dynamics processing to be introduced between the mic pres and the A/D converters. Wordclock I/O and 4-pin XLR power port (for use with typical broadcast camera batteries) complete the rear panel connections of this highly portable device.

The ULN-2 Expanded is the only unit in its class with an on-board processing engine that supports fully instantiable processing, allowing you to use Metric Halo’s world-renowned signal processing effects without sacrificing your computer’s processing power or introducing any additional latency in your monitor path. From MIOStrip to HaloVerb, the ULN-2 Expanded comes with all the basic production processing you need. And remember, this one rack space audio interface has the ability to run entirely from the FireWire bus of a laptop computer or from any DC power source (9V-30V), making it truly and completely mobile.

Organically Scalable

A unique feature of the Mobile I/O system is that MIO’s work well individually or as a group. Mix and match 2882 and ULN-2 units to create a system that meets your needs for track count and preamp power. Adding a unit to the system organically increases the DSP power of the system, so that your DSP always scales with your I/O. Break your system up for small gigs when playing out or add the units of your mates to build a huge system when required. By standardizing on Mobile I/O, each member of the band can have ultimate quality while working alone, and the band can have huge track counts when playing together. You can’t lose!

Stand-alone Operation

Flexible signal routing and sophisticated patch and preset management systems are also featured in the ULN-2 Expanded, including a front panel, ten-preset register for standalone operation. ULN-2’s front-panel recall system allows the unit to function equally as well as a stand-alone Mic Pre/Converter system. In standalone mode, the ULN-2 operates with the converters directly routed to and from the AES/SPDIF I/O, ADAT or TOSLINK.

As a standalone converter, the ULN-2 provides a 24bit/96kHz stereo front-end with ultra-low noise mic pres for any recording system. It also functions seamlessly as a digital monitor controller, making it ideal as digital headphone amp and studio monitor controller.

Applications

The ULN-2 Expanded supports a variety of applications. For studio recording, it provides a very high quality interface to a DAW, offering sound processing or simple file transfer between workstations. Its exceptional sound quality is the perfect complement to the studio’s existing analog to digital conversion chain. Songwriters and engineers can use the ULN-2 Expanded to record and edit on the road, in the hotel, while traveling, or anywhere that inspiration strikes.

The ULN-2 Expanded is suitable for broadcast applications, too. It offers instant playback of two individual stereo sends for music cues or sound effects. The compact package and portable power features mean that the unit can go anywhere users need to work, and make on-site fixes or edit location recordings without the need to send files back to the studio, saving valuable time before air.

In the live performance arena, in addition to operating as a remote recorder for archiving performances or to play out backing tracks and musical cues, the ULN-2 Expanded can operate as a soft-synth mixer and I/O interface. The ULN-2 Expanded is also a great addition to a live sound engineer’s setup, providing a simple and efficient tool for analysis and system venue tuning with SpectraFoo.

ULN-2 Technical Specifications

Mic Inputs
Stepped Gain Range	+6 dB – +72 dB (6 dB Steps)
Gain Range with Trim	-14dB – +70 dB
Input Impedance	3.3 kΩ
Harmonic Distortion @1kHz (+9dBu in @ 6 dB Gain)	0.0005%
Intermodulation Distortion 1k component (19 kHz/20kHz @ +8dBu)	-96 dBu
Equivalent Input Noise (E.I.N.) 20 Hz – 20 kHz Flat @ 72 dB Gain
150Ω Source	-130.5 dBu
50Ω Source	-132.0 dBu
0Ω Source	-134.0 dBu
Frequency Response
18 Hz – > 20 kHz	± 0.1 dB
8 Hz – > 50 kHz	± 1.0 dB
3 Hz – >100 kHz	± 3.0 dB
Crosstalk @1kHz
trim link engaged	-107 dB
trim link disengaged	-132 dB
Maximums
Max Gain	72 dB
Preamp Headroom	20 dB above Digital Clip
Phantom Power	+48v Regulated, high current, individually switchable, P48 test compliant, short circuit/ hot-swap protected
Physical Specs
Controls	Stepped Gain (12 steps 6dB – 72 dB) Continuous Attenuator on return Attenuation link Mic/Line Select switch Independent Monitor Volume Controls Independent Phantom Power Controls
Dimensions [W x D x H]	13.75” x 8.25” x 1.73” 34.9 cm x 21 cm x 4.4 cm
Weight	4 lbs 1.8 kg
Power
Rating	8 watts @ 9 – 30v DC
Connectors	2.1 mm Coaxial 4 pin XLR Broadcast Battery FireWire

Download Tech Specs as PDF

ULN-2 Expanded: Integrated 2d Card and MIO Console 5

Now a standard part of all Mobile I/O units, the 2d Card is a massive DSP processing engine that is the nerve center of the ULN-2 Expanded. The 2d Card greatly enhances the DSP processing power of the Mobile I/O and provides brand new ADAT implementation based upon the technology developed by Alesis to provide rock-solid reliable ADAT interfacing.

Future Proof

In 2001 we introduced the Mobile I/O 2882 and called it “Future Proof”. Seven years later, while the competition has obsoleted multiple generations of products, the 2882 is still arguably the best FireWire interface available on the market. In 2003, we released the ULN-2, with the finest preamps available in any interface, then or now. With the release of the 2d Card and v.5, we deliver yet again on our commitment to making “Future Proof” products that stand the test of time.

While other manufacturers churn you with the special of the day, we build products that preserve your investment and deliver for you year after year and project after project. It is our philosophy and we take it seriously.

Simultaneously Simpler to Use and More Powerful than Previous Versions

2d and version 5 support the configuration of custom mixers which can be streamlined to the specific task you need to accomplish. Create a mixer with all the features you need and none that you don’t. We’ve included many templates get you started quickly, and a new direct insert and routing model lets you visualize the configuration you need, and implement it directly from the mixer.

Five times increase in DSP power compared to original ULN-2

The 2d Card supercharges the ULN-2 Expanded, allowing you to create complex mixers and processing with DSP to spare. With full support for all sample-rates and flexible multibus routing, you can make your ULN-2 Expanded do anything you can think of — including multiple cue busses with deep DSP zero-latency processing.

All new ADAT implementation with switchable TOSLINK support

The ULN-2 Expanded includes an all-new, rock-solid ADAT implementation with switchable support for Optical S/PDIF. This means that the ULN-2 Expanded units support using ADAT for I/O expansion and interfacing.

New v.5 Mixer

The heart of the 2d Card, the new v.5 Mixer is a completely customizable mixing engine. You can create custom mixers either from scratch or start with any of the templates we've included to get you started quickly. With the v.5 Mixer, your ULN-2 can be a mastering console in the morning, a tracking console in the afternoon, and a live sound mixer/recorder in the evening. Whatever the application, you can configure an elegant custom setup.

Latency-Free, Time-Aligned Mixing Architecture

The v.5 Mixer is based upon the +DSP graph technology originally designed for +DSP. With the 2d Card, we have created the concept of an Übergraph. The Übergraph is an internal +DSP graph that represents the entirety of the Mobile I/O, including the 2d DSP, all the physical I/O, and the FireWire I/O. Since the +DSP graph provides infinite routing and multing capabilities with integrated latency compensation, the addition of full access to all I/O resources means that everything can go everywhere in the new system, with the unique benefit that all signal paths are automatically time-aligned. This has incredible implications — you can route anything anywhere and never have to worry about routing delays. All sends and busses are automatically realigned with the primary bus, bringing back analog simplicity to parallel routing, with digital simplicity in set up and recall.

While the v.5 Mixer is based upon the Übergraph, it does not require you to interact directly with the Übergraph — all the complexity is managed for you behind the scenes. Rather, the v.5 Mixer manages all of the plug-ins and connections within the Übergraph for you. So, even though you may be creating an incredibly complex network of plug-ins with many mults and bus to bus routes, the user interaction required for you to control the system is simple and direct.

The v.5 Mixer works as complex routing manager, adding plug-ins (including mixer plug-ins) to the Übergraph based upon your configuration commands. Because the +DSP engine automatically configures the runtime environment to compensate for routing latency in the configured DSP graph, you can rely on the fact that bus to bus routes all arrive with no routing latency. This allows you to configure sub-mixes and stems, including sub-bus processing, without having to worry about phase-cancellation problems or other latency related issues.

Simplified Routing

The v.5 Mixer incorporates the MIO patchbay router and FireWire returns directly into the mixer surface. As a result, you simultaneously gain additional routing flexibility along with ease-of-use. Simply route the signal directly from its origination point in the mixer and Bob’s your uncle!

Direct Insert of Plug-ins

The Mobile I/O has long supported a growing list of plug-ins with +DSP, but the way that you inserted and routed them could be cumbersome for multi-channel production. With the v.5 Mixer, you can now take advantage of a sophisticated direct insert model. No more cables, +DSP panes, etc. Just insert the plug where you want to process the signal. Done!

v.5 Mixer Direct Plug-in Insert (in the inserts!)

Of course, with the +DSP license, you are not limited to simply putting plugs in inserts and simple linear routing of Plug-ins. You can always insert a +DSP graph in any insert in the mixer to add a routing playground, allowing you to split, mult, parallel and feedback signals to your heart’s content. And then you can save the graphs as your own “Secret Weapons” - instantly instantiable with two mouse clicks.

Multi-Bus Mixing

The v.5 Mixer allows you to create an arbitrary number of busses (limited only by the capabilities of your hardware) — each of which can be used as a master bus (routed to an output) or an aux bus (routed to other busses). Each bus is dynamically adjustable from mono to 7.1 surround. The busses can be mapped directly onto the main control UI or driven by sends. Basically, make the mixer what you need it to be. And multiple busses of multiple types are supported at all sample rates. Unlike some other products on the market, all inputs can be routed to all busses (even mults of any input), so you won’t be limited in what you can mix.

v.5 Multiple Busses, Multiple Types, and Sends

Sends

As we mentioned above, any input can be sent to any bus. Sends are simply inserted in any insert slot, which means that you can send pre or post processing. Each send can be pre or post fader, so it can track the mix of the main UI or it can be used as a completely independent send. Every bus in the system can be returned to any other bus in the system, so you can use the busses as internal auxes, mix-minus feeds, PFL busses, etc. Anything you can think of, you can accomplish with the flexible routing engine in the v.5 Mixer. The v.5 Mixer provides an innovative send window that gives you a consolidated view of all the sends for the selected bus with a full sized fader for the send level, per-bus solos and channel mutes, and support for any width send bus (that’s right — you can send to a surround bus!).

v.5 Sends Window

Ultra-Low Latency

One of the primary advantages that dedicated DSP-based systems have traditionally had over native DAWs is their latency performance. Round-trip Latency is how long it takes for a signal sent into the DAW to come back out, and it is a primary consideration for musicians when monitoring their performances. With the Mobile I/O and v.5, you get the best of both worlds — ultra-low latency native performance and even lower dedicated DSP latency performance when you want it!

With roundtrips through the computer to utilize native Plug-ins, the combination of the hardware and driver allows the use of extremely small buffers (32 samples) on modern computer hardware. Coupled with the best-in-industry safety buffers of the MIO Driver, you can achieve less than 5ms (4.53ms) Round-Trip latency at 32 samples @ 44.1k, and you can go below 3ms (2.6ms) Round-Trip latency at 32 samples @ 96k, again rivaling the performance of PCI-based solutions, yet with the convenience and portability of FireWire.

And if that performance is not sufficient for your monitoring needs, the 2d Card allows you to monitor through +DSP Plug-ins with an incredible 1.5 ms of latency @ 44.1kHz and less that 0.7 ms of latency at 96k. This gives you dedicated processing at latencies that correspond to less than 2 ft of sound propagation through the air. As good or better than dedicated digital mixers!

Integrated Surround Monitor Controller/Switcher

An exciting new feature included with v.5 is the Monitor Controller. This is a consolidated, configurable routing engine that allows you to easily route and control the output gain of any set of sources to any set of outputs, from mono to 7.1 surround. The monitor controller lets you switch between inputs and busses with a single click. You can also select between outputs (like big and small monitors, or stereo and surround monitors, or monitors and cans), with a single click.

v.5 Monitor Controller

The Monitor Controller is smart enough to automatically route sources to the proper output channels, even mapping between different sized sources and outputs (mono -> stereo, stereo -> 5.1, etc.). All output gains are applied across all the channels of the output path automatically. The Monitor Controller also supports both per-channel and per-path calibration, so you can calibrate your output path to standard monitoring levels (for example, the K-Standard).

Routing of Inputs to Computer

In v.5, all inputs to the computer are FireWire returns; this gives you an incredible amount of flexibility and power in how you can use your MIO. The combination of mixer strip direct outs and FireWire routing allow you to choose the inputs to your computer dynamically:

• Record Pre or Post Processing… or both
• Record full mixes or individual stems
• Use the MIO as an outboard processing rack
• Use the MIO to route signals between any set of CoreAudio applications
• and much more…

Full Surround Support

Any bus in the v.5 Mixer is adjustable between Mono and 7.1 surround. The mixer dynamically adjusts with context-sensitive panners and allows you to adjust to the needs of your current project. You can even mix in different formats simultaneously. The mixer will even automatically adjust the width of inserted Plug-ins as you adjust the widths of the busses. Coupled with the integrated Surround Monitor Controller/Switcher, the Mobile I/O is the most powerful integrated surround interface on the market. You won’t believe what you can do!

v.5 Surround Mixer

Full and Flexible Metering

v.5 supports user-selectable pre- or post- fader metering on all strips (including sends) as well as hardware metering for hardware I/O. Plug-ins have detailed metering where appropriate. All Metric Halo hardware has real, usable Front Panel meters. We don't skimp on metering. Not that you would expect anything less from the creators of SpectraFoo!

User configuration of strip colors, size and position

Your gear is as personal as the music you make and record. You spend a huge amount of time looking at the mix surface of your system; it should reflect your preferences and tastes. So every strip in the v.5 Mixer can be adjusted in size and color to reflect your mood. You can also use this configurability to organize the mixer in a way that makes sense to you. Color and position can be used to segregate channels by type, source, and function — all in the way that makes the most sense to you. The mixer defaults to a nice, readable, neutral color and size, but you are free to make it as garish as you like.

Incredible Sound

The Mobile I/O interfaces have a deserved reputation in the industry as the best sounding interfaces around. +DSP also enjoys a reputation for incredible sound. The ULN-2 provides preamps that rank amongst the best dedicated pres in the industry and simply kick the crap out of the competition’s integrated preamps. And v.5 just kicks it up a notch or ten. The new mixer expands upon the MIO’s original incredible 80-bit mixer, and provides direct access to the exceptional +DSP Plug-ins, adding new plugs, Character and highlighting the exceptional character of the MIO converters and preamps.

2d Plug-In Bundle

Every ULN-2 Expanded includes a bundle of essential signal processing Plug-ins that provide production processing for all Mobile I/Os. All 2d bundle Plug-ins operate with zero additional latency, providing professional quality, best-in-industry latency performance for processing with native systems (meeting or beating the latency performance of dedicated hardware Digital Audio Workstations).

The bundle includes:

• Metric Halo’s exclusive Character signal processing available on every channel
• The eagerly anticipated HaloVerb (mono/mono & stereo/stereo)
• MIOStrip — a complete channel strip Plug-in which includes:
  • Gate w/side-chain filter
  • Compressor w/side-chain filter
  • 6-band EQ
• MIODelay — a short time track alignment delay
• M/S Decoder
• Dither

With the 2d Bundle on the ULN-2 Expanded, you can put a MIOStrip (that’s a Gate, Compressor and EQ) and Character on every input channel, and still have enough DSP power to run two stereo HaloVerbs (or 4 Mono HaloVerbs) at 1x rates.

The bundle is designed to provide all the serious production tools you need. With MIOStrip you have the basic bread-and-butter mixer strip processing required for most production tasks. The MIODelay lets you slip tracks to adjust for acoustic delays between mics, while the M/S Decoder allows you to work just as easily with M/S mic techniques as you can with stereo or mono sources. No professional device would be complete without dither, so we put that in for good measure. And of course, no production mixer would be complete without reverb, so we have included HaloVerb — a simple, but effective reverb with both mono/mono and stereo/stereo flavors.

Metric Halo’s Exclusive Character Signal Processing

Every channel in the 2d Mixer, including Bus Masters, has our exclusive Character signal processing available. We took a hard look at the characteristics of the euphonic distortion found in “classic” analog devices and components (like tubes, fets, and transformers) and built a process to integrate that euphonic distortion directly in the Mobile I/O hardware.

Character allows you to turn the pristine ultra-low distortion preamp inputs in the Mobile I/O HW into classic “character” pres. By adding Character to your summing bus, the v.5 Mixer instantly acquires the characteristics of classic (and modern) analog summing busses.

The best part is that you can choose the Character that suits your Mic, Source or mix — because v.5 ships with more than 15 different types of Character — and one is sure to suit your needs.

It is hard to describe the effect of Character in words, but our beta testers have been moved to try. This is what they have to say:

Software Field Upgradable to +DSP

While the 2d Card includes the basic processing bundle with every card, you can add a +DSP license to your box at any time. Adding a +DSP license will allow you to take advantage of the greatly increased processing power of the new DSP and the ease of inserting Plug-ins directly into mixer channels. If your unit is already a +DSP unit, then you already have a +DSP license. But if your unit doesn't already include +DSP, you can add a license without any additional physical changes to your hardware.

The +DSP license includes a variety of additional Plug-ins including Multi-band EQs, Compressor, Limiter, Distortion Processors, and many more. With the +DSP license, you also gain access to insertable graphs which allow you to build your own “Secret Weapon” processors — wrapped up, phase compensated graphs of Plug-ins that may be re-inserted on demand.

Finally, the +DSP license adds many bonus Plug-in Macros — insertable, pre-configured processors, including Guitar Amp Models, Guitar Processors, Parallel Compressors and Limiters, Mid/Side Mastering processors, Vintage-style reverbs and many more…

Use the following table to see the differences between the plugins included with the 2d Card and the additional plugins and macros that you get with the +DSP bundle:

Feature	2d Card	2d Card +DSP
Character (22 types)	√	√
Multibus Mixer	√	√
Surround Support	√	√
Monitor Controller	√	√
MIOStrip	√	√
M/S Decoder	√	√
Short Delay	√	√
Dither	√	√
HaloVerb	√	√
TransientController		√
MIO EQ 6		√
MIO EQ 12		√
MIO State Variable Filter		√
MIO Comp		√
MIO Limit		√
Delays Family(15 plugins)		√
MIO Simple Pitch Shifter		√
Allpass filters (2 plugins)		√
MIO Soft Clip Family (3 plugins)		√
MIO Nonlinear Map Family (4 plugins)		√
MIO Volume Control Family (16 plugins)		√
MIO A/B Switch Family (16 plugins)		√
MIO M/S Processor		√
Static Matrix Family (5 plugins)		√
Channel op Family (5 plugins)		√
Oscillator Family (6 plugins)		√
MIO Mod Delay		√
Insertable Graphs (infinite possibilites)		√
2d Amps	2d Card	2d Card +DSP
Bass Head		√
Bass Head Shape 1		√
Bass Head Shape 2		√
British Mil Spec		√
British Mil Spec Bright Cab		√
British Mil Spec Grind		√
British Mil Spec Light Grind		√
British Mil Spec Rhythm		√
British Mil Spec+Vibrato+Trem		√
MH Clean		√
MH Clean Tweed		√
MH Hi-Gain		√
Small Dark		√
Small Dark No Cab		√
Small Tweed Crunch		√
Small Tweed Touch O' Dirt		√
2d Effects	2d Card	2d Card +DSP
Autoflanger		√
Autoflanger 2		√
Autoflanger 3		√
Cool Mono Echo		√
LoFi Mod Echo		√
Mono Rotary		√
Slap Delay		√
Vibrato+Tremolo		√
Stereo Rotary Speaker		√
2d Reverbs	2d Card	2d Card +DSP
Diffuse Prime		√
Diffuse Room		√
Early Diffuse Room (no tail)		√
Hall 1		√
LongVerb		√
Med Diffuse Room		√
ModVerb		√
Small Diffuse Room		√
2d Mastering	2d Card	2d Card +DSP
Parallel Compressor		√
Parallel Limiter		√
Mid-Side Compressor		√
Mid-Side EQ		√
Mid-Side Limit		√
Stereo Parallel Limiter		√
2d Pedals	2d Card	2d Card +DSP
Nezumi		√
Nezumi Less Gain		√
Screamer		√
Cabinets	2d Card	2d Card +DSP
Closed 2x12		√
Closed 2x12 with Air		√
4x12 Cab		√

System-wide +DSP Licensing

MIO Console v.5 automatically extends any +DSP license on any attached box to all the boxes attached to your system (for boxes that are 2d Expanded) while the boxes are attached. What this means is that you can use any +DSP Plug-in or macro on any box in your system, as long as at least one +DSP licensed box is attached. If you need to store +DSP Plug-ins in persistent states or tend to split your boxes into multiple systems, you will need to license each box that needs to use the +DSP license independently.

Many templates included to get you started quickly

In the past, one challenge for new MIO users has been figuring out how to utilize the power and tame the complexity of the MIO Console. The v.5 MIO Console takes care of the complexity. It is said that a picture is worth 1,000 words. Well, a template is worth 10,000 words. MIO Console v.5 ships with a collection of pre-configured templates to get you started quickly. The templates also supply a great starting point to see how to approach a problem, and also to just see what is possible.

You can access these templates with a single click in MIO Console:

Open Template Window

Updated Record Panel

Originally designed to record the Soulive Winter 2002 tour for their live album release “Soulive” on Blue Note records, the Record Panel is an industrial strength, massively multichannel, ultra-reliable recording engine. Supporting multi-box, multichannel recording, the Mobile I/O coupled with the Record Panel is the only computer-based system that can record up to 108 channels on a laptop.

Record Panel

In constant use by thousands of engineers world-wide, the Record Panel is a time-tested, rock-solid recording tool for when you just have to get the take. The prime choice of many A-list FOH/Recording engineers for capturing once-in-a-lifetime live recordings on tour, the RP has proven to be a reliable tool for the capture of multitrack recordings in challenging conditions with no chance for a second take. The Record Panel has also found a home in the Classical recording world — again, where failing to get a take is not an option!

The Record Panel supports recording at all sample rates and supports many different record-file formats (including SD2, AIFF, Wave, Broadcast Wave, and CAF), including basic recording metadata. The RP even supports recording at 16-bit for reduced disk space requirements (for recordings that don't require ultimate fidelity).

The v.5 Console enhances the rock-solid performance of the Record Panel with new work-flow features, including configuration of active tracks, ordering of tracks, record-enables directly from the mixer control surface, and enhancements to playback performance.

Sophisticated State Management

MIO Console automatically tracks all the system configuration documents that you create and use, so you can switch between configurations with a single click. This is excellent for when you have your MIO connected to your computer, but what if you want to use your MIO without your computer say as a standalone converter, signal processor or mixer?

All Mobile I/O hardware has support for setting a Boot State — the configuration the hardware will use when the unit boots up. As of v.5 of the Mobile I/O software, this boot state includes the entire state of the unit including the configuration of the mixer, the router, sample rate, clocking, analog I/O levels (for HW that has digital control), and +DSP configuration.

The ULN-2 extends this functionality and provides support for 10 different hardware states that are all accessible from the front panel.

This functionality allows you to fully configure your hardware and “pour” a complete digital signal processing engine into the HW for instant-on processing. With this functionality, you can turn your MIO into any stand-alone effects processor you can imagine. This is perfect for installation and live theater as well as remote recording and even upgrading your living room listening rig!

ConsoleConnect

Metric Halo’s exclusive ConsoleConnect Plug-in allows you to work with your MIO as if it were a part of your DAW or Host of choice. Whether you work in Logic, Nuendo, Cubase, Pro Tools, Digital Performer, GarageBand, Live or any other AU, VST or RTAS host, you can interact with MIO Console directly from within your host, and enjoy Total Recall of all your MIO configuration (Analog Levels, Routing, Mixing, Plug-ins, Monitor Control, etc.) directly from your host application’s session. No other product has integration this complete, and no other product on the market integrates with every host!

Full Support at All Sample Rates

The 2d Card and v.5 support all features at all sample rates, so you are good to go at 96k. Multiple busses, Plug-ins, reverb, etc. — whatever you want to do, it works at all sample rates.

Rock Solid & Road Tested

Thousands of ULN-2 units have been in service since 2003 used in critical situations when failure is just not an option. The v.5 Console and 2d Card have just completed an extensive beta testing cycle; with almost 200 cards in the program and 6 months of extensive testing in all kinds of production environments, you can be sure that the software and hardware is rock solid and ready to go to work. In the words of one of our beta testers: “Honestly, I’ve seen many released packages that were a lot less advanced and stable than this beta. Ship It!”

How to Get It

Mobile I/O hardware is available from a growing list of authorized resellers in the US and in countries all around the world. In the US, hardware may also be ordered directly from Metric Halo.

To find a dealer or distributor, please check our Dealers Page. To order directly from Metric Halo, mosey on over to the Metric Halo Online Store.

If you need help finding a dealer outside the USA, please get in touch with the distributor for your region:

Distributor	Territory
Audio Chocolate	Australia
Media Integration	Japan
Metric Halo Deutschland	Germany/Austria/Switzerland/Spain
Futureware ApS	Denmark/Sweden/Finland/Norway/Iceland
RSL Europe BV	Benelux
Athens Pro Audio	Greece
SVC London	United Kingdom
HHB Communications Canada	Canada