Antelope Audio Zen Q Synergy Core Thunderbolt 3

Product Information

Take pro-grade conversion, clocking, and preamps anywhere you go with the Antelope Zen Q Synergy Core, a desktop 14x10 Thunderbolt 3 audio interface that puts premium sound quality in a convenient bus-powered format that's priced within reach of artists and musicians recording at home, mobile producers, and content creators. In addition to the revealing quality of its hardware, the Zen Q Synergy Core empowers you with 37 analog-modeled real-time effects, which are powered by the onboard DSP and FPGA chips to ensure ultralow latency and no burden on your computer's CPU.

Each of the two Antelope Discrete mic / line / Hi-Z preamps has its own phantom power and up to 65 dB of gain, so the interface is primed and ready for recording all sorts of microphones, instruments, or even line-level signals from outboard gear. Two additional 1/4" line / Hi-Z inputs are provided on the front panel. Equipped with two independently adjustable headphone outputs, two balanced monitor outs, and two balanced line outs, the Zen Q Synergy Core can act as your home studio's hub for multiple sets of headphones, mixes, monitor feeds, and more. Its ADAT optical input and S/PDIF digital I/O ports are perfect for expanding your setup with digital gear such as external converters.

Rise Above the Sound You Know
The Zen Q Synergy Core shrinks the gap in sound quality between artists with access to premium studios and home creators. The pristine sound is due to a combination of professional-grade AD/DA converters and Antelope Discrete ultralinear preamps that share circuits with legendary American and British consoles. The standout sonic quality of the device would not be possible without the main pillar of the Antelope Audio sound—the 64-bit AFC clocking technology from the company's high-end master clocks. It is employed in prestigious studios around the world and has been trusted with the scoring of Hollywood blockbusters.
Full Production Pack, from the Get-Go
Zen Q Synergy Core comes with 37 premium analog-modeled effects that will help you create stunning, sonically rich productions. Aside from the exclusive compressors, EQs, and preamps, the interface comes with 22 guitar amps and cabs, a guitar tuner, and a signature reverb that are all ready to be applied in real time to your tracking and mixing session. The Synergy Core effects processing allows you to stack up your chain with many effect instances while monitoring through the interface without fear of overloading.

At any time, you can expand your effects collection by purchasing more classic go-to units, true rarities never before recreated in digital form, and 3rd party effects like Antares Auto-Tune Synergy.
Create from Anywhere, Anytime
The Zen Q interface is optimized for ultralow-latency recording, high-resolution playback, creative beatmaking, and podcasting from virtually anywhere. With just a Thunderbolt 3 cable (available separately), you can power the Zen Q Synergy Core from your computer and use it to its full potential without having to carry a dedicated power supply with you.
Better Recording and Producing Workflow
Every feature available to you in the interface's control panel has been added to improve the important aspects of your workflow. Since DAW monitoring inevitably adds latency, you can monitor directly through the interface to reduce delay to the absolute minimum. With the routing options, you can easily set up a near-zero latency mix and stack it with your favorite Synergy Core effects without fear of overloading the onboard platform. Dedicated signal metering is available for both input and output levels on the front-panel display and in the software control panel.
Smart Connectivity in a Small Package
The two XLR-1/4" combo input jacks give you the flexibility to choose between Antelope's Discrete mic preamps and line / Hi-Z inputs; they are easily configurable via the control panel. The front panel offers two 1/4" inputs, which can be used to record line-level sources or Hi-Z instruments.
The four 1/4" TRS DC-coupled balanced outputs (two monitor and two line) allow you to send the signal from the professional-grade D/A converter to separate destinations. Use one set for your main monitors and the other for a feed to analog outboard gear. Plus, there are two separate 1/4" headphone outputs.

Loopback Function for Streaming
For a convenient online broadcasting setup, use loopback capabilities for streaming and recording OS/DAW playback and interface inputs simultaneously.
Conversion and Clocking
Class-leading AD/DA conversion with up to 127 dB of headroom
Recording, mixing, and playback at up to 24-bit / 192 kHz
Proprietary 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking (AFC) technology and Jitter Management algorithm delivering increased width, separation, and detail in musical performances
Analog and Digital Connectivity
Two Discrete ultralinear preamps with 65 dB of gain for studio-quality recordings; all work as microphone / line / Hi-Z inputs via XLR-1/4" combo jacks
Thunderbolt 3 port carrying up to 16 input and 16 output channels in any popular DAW with custom macOS and Windows drivers
8-channel ADAT optical input and stereo S/PDIF input and output for digital expansion
Balanced 1/4" TRS DC-coupled monitor outputs
Balanced 1/4" TRS DC-coupled line outputs
Two stereo headphone outputs with separate gain control
Workflow-Enhancing Features
Bus-powered design requires no dedicated power source
Direct hardware monitoring with Synergy Core effects processed in real time with imperceptible latency
Simplified I/O routing with preconfigured settings, allowing immediate recording and playback
Color LCD screen with crisp I/O metering
Front panel with dedicated volume knob and buttons for level adjustment and hands-on control of core parameters
Customizable presets complete with signal routing, level adjustments, mixer settings, and submixes
Easily adjust the monitor mixes for the monitor output and split headphone mixes into individual cue and submixes while applying pan, reverb, and other effects
Modeling Engine allowing pairing with the Edge line of microphones for real-time use of vintage microphone emulations
37 Real-Time Effects
Collection of 37 Synergy Core effects modeled after classic and rare analog outboard gear, powered by the Synergy Core proprietary onboard platform, which uses two DSP chips and one FPGA chip for real-time effects processing with imperceptible latency.
BA-31: Germanium Mic Preamp
Gyraf Gyratec IX: Dual tube mic preamp with high-pass filter
Clear Q: Parametric EQ
VEQ-1A: 2-band tube EQ
VMEQ-5: 3-band tube midrange EQ
VEQ-HLF: Tube 2-band high- and low-pass filters
VCA160: VCA compressor/limiter
Stay-Levin: Vari-Mu tube compressor
FET-A76: FET compressor/limiting amplifier
X903: VCA compressor/limiter
PowerFFC: Feed-forward compressor
Power Gate: Noise Gate
Power EX: Expander
Auraverb: Reverb
A-Tuner: Guitar tuner
Plexi 59 (UK): Tube guitar amp
Bass SuperTube VR: Tube guitar amp
Darkface 65 (US): Tube guitar amp
Top30 (UK) Bright: Tube guitar amp
Tweed Deluxe (US): Tube guitar amp
Overange 120 (UK): Tube guitar amp
BurnSphere (DE) Lead: Tube guitar amp
Marcus II (US) Lead: Tube guitar amp
Modern (US) CH3: Tube guitar amp
Rock 75 (UK): Tube guitar amp
Rock 22.10 (UK): Tube guitar amp
Darkface 65 2x12: Guitar cabinet
Top30 2x12: Guitar cabinet
Modern 4x12: Guitar cabinet
Green 2x12: Guitar cabinet
Vintage 4x12: Guitar cabinet
Green 4x12: Guitar cabinet
Caliper 50 1x10: Guitar cabinet
Bluelux 1x12: Guitar cabinet
Clst 1x12: Guitar cabinet
England 4x12: Guitar cabinet
Bass Tube 1x15: Guitar cabinet

Antelope ZEN Q SYNERGY CORE THUNDERBOLT Specs