Audient EVO 8

But with only one knob on the top of the device, is there enough hands-on control? Surprisingly, yes. The Evo 8’s one-knob approach is comparable to the UA Apollo Twin, minus a few bells and whistles (dim, HPF, pad, polarity invert). You select the control parameter by clicking the top-panel input and output buttons, then twist away. The white ring of LEDs surrounding the main knob conveys a lot of information: input and output gain while you’re moving the knob, plus output metering when you’re not. However, the LED ring’s position encircling the central control knob on the flat top of the device means that if you push it further than a foot away, the knob begins to obscure the LEDs. An angled top would avoid this but undoubtedly increase the price. Also, LED colour changes would be practical as you move through modes, as with the Apollo Twin. Separate input and output meters be a little more intuitive as well. That said, you can still tell when your inputs are clipping; the backlit input buttons turn red. And, critically, Evo 8 is a fifth the price of an Apollo Twin – with two more preamps. In Evo 8, Audient has created a functional metering and level-setting solution at an unbeatable price.