Audient Horizon 8P
By Audient
Audient Horizon 8P is a professional 24-in / 32-out Thunderbolt 3 audio interface designed for musicians, producers and recording engineers who require high-quality multichannel recording, flexible hardware integration and comprehensive monitoring. Featuring eight Audient Console microphone preamps with 75 dB of gain, ORBIT variable impedance control, two JFET instrument inputs and high-performance 32-bit / 192 kHz conversion, it combines analogue recording circuitry with detailed digital control. DB25 line connectivity, dual ADAT expansion, independent cue mixes and scalable Thunderbolt integration make Horizon 8P a versatile recording and monitoring centre for Mac-based studios.
Key features
- 24-input / 32-output Thunderbolt 3 audio interface
- 8 Audient Console microphone preamps with digital gain recall
- 0–75 dB microphone gain range
- ORBIT relay-based variable microphone impedance control
- High, Mid and Low microphone impedance settings
- Independent +48 V phantom power on each preamp channel
- Sweepable 25–250 Hz high-pass filter and −10 dB pad
- 2 front-panel JFET instrument inputs on channels 1–2
- 8 switchable DB25 line inputs with preamp bypass
- 8 independent DB25 line outputs
- 32-bit / 192 kHz AD/DA conversion
- Up to 133 dB dynamic range on the monitor path
- 0.99 ms round-trip latency at 192 kHz with a 64-sample buffer
- Dual optical ADAT / S/PDIF input and output banks
- Up to 16 channels of ADAT expansion at supported sample rates
- Main and Alt stereo monitor outputs for A/B comparison
- 2 independently controlled headphone outputs
- 4 independent cue mixes
- Mono, polarity, dim, reference-level and talkback functions
- Motion UI colour display and front-panel Control Wheel
- Horizon Control software for mixing, routing and configuration
- Selectable +18 dBu and +24 dBu analogue reference levels
- BNC Word Clock input and output
- Daisy-chain up to 4 Horizon interfaces on one driver
- Silent fanless cooling and 1U all-metal construction
- macOS compatibility
Overview
| Product Type | Rackmount Thunderbolt Audio Interface and Monitoring System |
| Maximum Total I/O | 24 Inputs / 32 Outputs |
| Audio Resolution | 32-Bit / 192 kHz |
| Mic/Line Inputs | 8 × XLR/TRS Combo Inputs |
| Microphone Preamps | 8 × Audient Console Preamps |
| Microphone Gain Range | 0–75 dB with Digital Recall |
| ORBIT Impedance Settings | High: 2.8 kΩ; Mid: 1.2 kΩ; Low: 220 Ω |
| Phantom Power | Independent +48 V per Channel |
| High-Pass Filter | Sweepable 25–250 Hz |
| Input Pad | −10 dB |
| Instrument Inputs | 2 × Front-Panel JFET Inputs on Channels 1–2 |
| DB25 Line Inputs | 8 × Line Inputs Sharing Channels 1–8 with the Mic/Line Preamps |
| DB25 Line Outputs | 8 × Independent Line Outputs |
| DB25 Pinout | Tascam/AES59 Balanced Analogue Standard |
| Monitor Outputs | 4 × TRS Outputs for Main and Alt Stereo Speaker Pairs |
| Headphone Outputs | 2 × Independently Controlled Stereo Outputs |
| Independent Mixes | 4 |
| ADC Dynamic Range | 127 dB A-Weighted |
| Line-Output Dynamic Range | 132 dB A-Weighted |
| Headphone Dynamic Range | 124 dB A-Weighted |
| Maximum Line-Output Level | +24 dBu |
| Analogue Reference Levels | Selectable +18 dBu or +24 dBu |
| Optical Digital Inputs | 2 × ADAT / S/PDIF |
| Optical Digital Outputs | 2 × ADAT / S/PDIF |
| Digital Expansion | Up to 16 ADAT Channels; Channel Count Depends on Sample Rate and Mode |
| Word Clock | BNC Input and Output with Switchable Internal Termination |
| Supported Sample Rates | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz |
| Round-Trip Latency | 0.99 ms at 192 kHz / 64-Sample Buffer |
| Computer Connection | Thunderbolt 3 |
| Thunderbolt Ports | 2 |
| Host Compatibility | Compatible Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 Mac Systems |
| Operating-System Compatibility | macOS Only |
| System Expansion | Up to 4 Horizon Units; Maximum System Capacity of 200 × 200 I/O |
| Control Software | Horizon Control |
| Hardware Interface | Motion UI Colour Display, Control Wheel and Assignable Function Button |
| Talkback | Dedicated Hardware Input or Mac Internal Microphone |
| Power | IEC Mains Input, 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz |
| Cooling | Fanless |
| Rack Format | 1U |
| Dimensions | 483 × 330 × 44.5 mm |
| Weight | 4.15 kg |
Included Content
- Audient Horizon 8P audio interface
- IEC mains power cable
- Quick Start QR code linking to setup instructions
- Horizon Control software and driver download through Audient ARC
- Access to Audient ARC software offers after registration
Creative Tools
- Record vocals, drums, acoustic instruments and ensembles through eight Audient Console preamps, with up to 75 dB of gain for demanding microphone applications.
- Explore different microphone responses using ORBIT variable impedance control, selecting High, Mid or Low input impedance to change the interaction between a microphone and its analogue preamp.
- Save and recall preamp gain settings for repeat sessions, making it easier to restore established recording configurations.
- Reduce rumble and unwanted low-frequency energy using the sweepable 25–250 Hz high-pass filter, and engage the −10 dB pad when recording louder sources.
- Power condenser microphones independently with per-channel +48 V phantom power, allowing mixed microphone setups to be configured individually.
- Connect electric guitars and basses directly to the two front-panel JFET instrument inputs, providing convenient instrument recording without a separate DI box.
- Switch individual input channels from the built-in Mic/Line preamps to the DB25 line returns when using external preamps, consoles or outboard processors. Each channel uses one selected input source at a time.
- Keep eight channels of external equipment connected through the DB25 line input and output connections, supporting hybrid recording and mixing workflows.
- Monitor through compatible native DAW plug-ins with round-trip latency as low as 0.99 ms at 192 kHz and a 64-sample buffer, depending on the computer and session workload.
- Expand recording and playback connectivity through dual ADAT input and output banks, with up to 16 additional digital channels at supported sample rates.
- Compare mixes on two speaker systems using the Main and Alt monitor outputs, with mono, polarity, dim and reference-level functions available for critical listening.
- Create four independent monitoring balances in Horizon Control and feed performers through the two headphone outputs or external headphone systems connected to available outputs.
- Communicate with performers using a connected talkback source or the Mac’s internal microphone, and assign the hardware Function button to frequently used monitoring commands.
- Manage channel names, metering, routing, input settings and speaker layouts through Horizon Control, with essential settings also accessible from the Motion UI display and Control Wheel.
- Expand a studio with additional Horizon interfaces through Thunderbolt daisy-chaining, using separate BNC Word Clock connections to synchronise the units.
- Install the interface in a compact 1U rack space, with fanless cooling providing silent operation near microphones and listening positions.
Ideal For
- Recording engineers
- Music producers
- Musicians and bands
- Drum and ensemble recording
- Professional and project studios
- Hybrid analogue and digital studios
- Studios using external preamps and outboard processors
- Mac-based recording and mixing systems
- Sessions requiring independent performer monitoring
- Studios requiring scalable multichannel connectivity
- Anyone seeking console-quality preamps, flexible routing and comprehensive monitoring in a rackmount audio interface