Audient Horizon 8p

The Audient Horizon 8P is a Thunderbolt 3 audio interface designed for recording studios, advanced producers, and professional facilities that need to record multiple sources simultaneously. Its eight Audient mic preamps with 75 dB of gain, instrument inputs, and DB25 line connections combine audio recording and outboard integration into a single 1U chassis.

Key Features

• 8 Audient Class A discrete-design microphone preamps, derived from the ASP8024-HE console, with up to 75 dB of gain and digital recall of settings.
• ORBIT Control with three impedance settings to adapt the preamp response to different microphones.
• 2 JFET instrument inputs on channels 1 and 2 for direct connection of a guitar or bass.
• 8 line inputs and 8 line outputs via DB25 connectors for integrating external analog processors.
• Dual ADAT offering up to 16 additional digital channels.
• Two headphone outputs and four independent headphone mixes controlled via Horizon Control.

Record up to eight microphones directly

The eight built-in mic preamps feature the same discrete Class A design used in the Audient ASP8024-HE console. With up to 75 dB of available gain, the Horizon 8P can serve as the foundation for a multitrack session for drums, a band, multiple vocals, or an instrumental ensemble—without requiring the immediate purchase of external preamps.

Gain settings and system parameters feature digital recall. This feature makes it easy to return to a previous session or a recurring configuration, even though the signal is pre-amplified in the analog domain.

Adjusting the Input for the Microphone with ORBIT Control

ORBIT Control adjusts the input impedance of each preamp using three settings: high, medium, or low. This adjustment occurs within the analog circuit and can alter how certain microphones—particularly dynamic or ribbon models—interact with the preamp.

It is therefore not a simple equalizer or software emulation. The setting is used to select the most appropriate electrical interaction or the preferred response for the microphone being used, without imposing a specific microphone type on each position.

Direct Guitar and Bass Connections

Channels 1 and 2 feature two JFET instrument inputs. This allows you to record a guitar or bass directly into the interface—for example, to preserve a DI track for software processing or later reamping.

Add outboard gear without sacrificing the mic preamps

Eight line inputs and eight line outputs are available via DB25 connectors for connecting compressors, equalizers, external preamps, or other analog processors. The Horizon 8P is therefore well-suited for both recording and hybrid mixing workflows.

The DB25 is particularly well-suited for rack-mounted installations and permanent wiring. However, you’ll need to use multi-pair cables or a compatible patch to connect devices that use individual XLR or jack connectors.

Monitoring on Two Pairs of Speakers and Multiple Headsets

Two stereo speaker outputs allow you to set up an A/B comparison between two monitoring systems. Two physical headphone outputs are also available for the studio and control room.

Horizon Control can manage up to four independent headphone mixes. This means that different musicians can receive separate mixes, provided that the necessary outputs are connected to a headphone distribution system when more than two physical headphones need to be powered simultaneously.

Expanding Inputs and Outputs with ADAT

The dual ADAT input/output adds up to 16 digital channels. For example, it allows you to connect additional ADAT preamps or converters when the eight built-in preamps are no longer sufficient for a session.

BNC Word Clock inputs and outputs are also included to synchronize the Horizon 8P with other digital devices in a larger setup.

Working with Low-Latency Native Plug-Ins

The Horizon 8P operates at up to 32-bit/192 kHz and offers a dynamic range of up to 133 dB. Audient specifies a round-trip latency of 0.99 ms at 192 kHz with a 64-sample buffer, allowing you to record and monitor through native plug-ins without relying on a proprietary DSP ecosystem.

This value corresponds to a specific configuration. The latency achieved in practice depends on the sample rate, buffer size, computer, driver, and session load.

Centralize Routing with Horizon Control

Horizon Control combines routing, monitoring, and level display in a virtual patchbay. The software also includes a comfort reverb for musician monitor returns as well as essential monitoring controls, including Mono, polarity reversal, Dim, and Talkback.

The Horizon 8P is therefore particularly well-suited for a studio that regularly performs multitrack recording. For a setup primarily dedicated to mixing with a large number of analog processors already wired in, the Horizon 16 or Horizon 32 offer more line inputs and outputs.