Product News, USB Audio Interface

SPL CREON High Performance USB Audio-Interface & Monitor Controller

Posted on by Don Steele
SPL-CREON-black-and-white-version-view
10
Sep

SPL CREON High Performance USB Audio-Interface & Monitor Controller

With or without DAW

Creon is designed to operate with your Digital Audio Workstation. But you can also do a lot with it as a stand-alone device: plug in an instrument and play. Connect a microphone and sing along.

Mix your own monitor signal with playback or guide tracks from any source. What you are playing is not bad? Turn on the DAW and record it.

Recording and DAW return channels, Inputs and Outputs

  • 2 microphone inputs (XLR)
  • 1 instrument input (TS)
  • 2 balanced line inputs (TRS)

Two channels can be recorded simultaneously

Playback Channels

  • 2 Channels via USB (DAW 1-2)

Analog Inputs (Sources)

  • 2 TRS line input channels (balanced)
  • 2 RCA line input channels (unbalanced)

Digital Input

  • 1 USB

Analog Output

  • Speaker | Main Out : 2 XLR sockets (L/R, balanced)
  • 1 headphone socket (TRS)

Digital Output

  • 1 USB

Hardware

  • USB2 audio system
  • High-performance, 32 bit microcontroller
  • 24 bit audio processing
  • 2 input and 2 output channels, up to 192 kHz
  • Sample rates: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz or 192kHz
  • Fixed master clock for lowest jitter
  • True 1:1 audio, no sample rate conversion or clock recovery

Software

  • Windows XP/7/8/10, Mac OS X 10.6 or higher, iOS 6 and higher
  • Multi-application mode, simultaneous ASIO and/or WDM playback
  • Low-latency Mac OS X (ASIO-like) HAL plug-in driver
  • Low-latency Windows ASIO and WDM driver
  • Driver feedback synchronization to hardware clock
  • ASIO control panel for Windows and Mac
  • USB Audio Class 2.0 compliance (asynchronous mode)

FAQ

Do I need to install software to operate Creon?

No. All controls and functions you need to have at hand are available as hardware controls and switches.

Do I need to have the DAW connected to work with Creon?

No. All analog functions such as mic and instrument preamps, line inputs, monitoring, sources listening, headphones and speakers are fully operational without a DAW connected. If you want to record you need to connect the DAW.

Which operating systems is Creon compatible with?

Windows XP/7/8/10, Mac OS X 10.6 or higher, iOS 6 and higher

Which DAW host programs has Creon already been tested with?

  • Logic 9
  • Logic X
  • Pro Tools 10, 11
  • Samplitude Pro X
  • Reaper 64
  • Cubase 5, 6, 7
  • Nuendo 6
  • WaveLab 7, 8

Can Creon be powered through the USB bus?

Nein. No, Creon requires its own power supply at all times.

Which AD/DA converters are used in Creon?

High-quality, professional-grade analogue to digital and digital to analogue converters are

used which provide a signal to noise ratio of 115dB.

What sample rates does Creon support?

44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176,4, 192 kHz.

What bit depth are the Creon AD/DA converters?

The AD/DA converters are 24bit.

How do I select inputs?

Line 1 has preference over Mic 1,

Line 2 has preference over Mic 2.

Instrument has preference over Mic 2 and Line 2.

Where is the mono switch?

The Creon does not have a mono switch for the speaker outputs, because mono summing can easily be achieved within the DAW by inserting the free bx_solo plug-in into the master output buss. Plugin Alliance offers a bundle of four free plug-ins, which includes bx_solo, here

What level does the Dim button attenuate by?

When the DIM button is depressed, the analog outputs are attenuated by 20dB.

Do I need an app to run the Crimson on an iPad?

No. Creon is a hot-plugging Class 2 device and does not need a special driver or app to operate. An original Apple camera adapter is required for connection.

Specifications

Input Sockets

  • Mic Inputs 1 -2: XLR
  • Line Inputs 1–4: 6,3mm TRS
  • Instrument Inputs 3–4: 6,3mm TRS
  • Source 1 Input: 6,3mm TRS
  • Source 2 Input: RCA

Output Sockets

  • Speaker Out | Main Out: XLR
  • Headphone Outputs: 6,3mm TRS

Input Impedances

  • Microphone Input: 10 kOhm
  • Line Inputs: 10kOhm unbalanced, 20kOhm balanced
  • Instrument Inputs: 1,1 MOhm
  • Source 1 Input: 10kOhm unbalanced, 20kOhm balanced
  • Source 2 Input: 10kOhm

Output Impedances

  • Speaker Out | Main Out: 75 Ohm unbalanced, 150 Ohm balanced
  • Headphone Outputs: 33 Ohm

Maximum Input Levels

  • Mic Inputs: +14,5 dBu (Gain fully left)
  • Line Inputs: +22,5 dBu
  • Instrument Inputs: +24,0 dBu (Gain fully left)
  • Source 1 Input: +22,5 dBu
  • Source 2 Input: +22,5 dBu

Maximum Output Levels

  • Speaker Out | Main Out: +22,5 dBu

Microphone Preamplifiers (balanced, XLR)

  • Gain Control: +7dB – +60dB
  • Frequency Response: 10Hz – >200kHz
  • Noise (unweighted, 30dB gain, input termination 150 Ohm): -90 dBu
  • Equivalent Input Noise: -128 dBu
  • Common Mode Rejection Ratio: < -70 dBu
  • THD+N Ratio@1kHz (30dB gain, input termination 150 Ohm): 0,003 %
  • High Pass Filter: fg = 80Hz, 6dB/Oct.
  • Phantom Power: 48Volt

Instrument Input (Unbalanced, 6,3mm TS)

  • Gain Control: -6dB – +31dB
  • Frequency Response: 10Hz – >200kHz
  • Noise (unweighted, unity gain, input termination 100 kOhm): -85 dBu
  • THD+N Ratio@1kHz (unity gain, input termination 100 kOhm): 0,005 %

Line Input (balanced, 6,3mm TRS)

  • Frequency Response: 10Hz – >200kHz
  • Noise (unweighted, unity gain, input termination 600 Ohm): -95 dBu
  • Common Mode Rejection ratio: < -60 dBu
  • THD+N Ratio@1kHz (unity gain, input termination 600 Ohm): 0,002 %

Source 1 Input (balanced, 6,3mm TRS)

  • Frequency Response: 10Hz – >200kHz
  • Noise (unweighted, unity gain, input termination 600 Ohm): -95 dBu
  • Common Mode Rejection ratio: < -60 dBu
  • THD+N Ratio@1kHz (unity gain, input termination 600 Ohm): 0,002%

Source 2 Input (unbalanced, RCA)

  • Frequency Response: 10Hz – >200kHz
  • Noise (unweighted, unity gain, input termination 600 Ohm): -90 dBu
  • Noise (unweighted, -10dBV, input termination 600 Ohm): -85 dBu
  • THD+N Ratio@1kHz (unity gain, input termination 600 Ohm): 0,003 %
  • THD+N Ratio@1kHz (-10dBV, input termination 600 Ohm): 0,003 %

Headphone Outputs (stereo, 6,3mm TRS)

  • Frequency Response: 10Hz – >200kHz
  • Power@0dBu: 47 Ohm load: 13 mW/300 Ohm load: 1,7 mW/600 Ohm load: 1,0 mW
  • Power max: 47 Ohm load: 670 mW/300 Ohm load: 265 mW/600 Ohm load: 150 mW
  • THD+N Ratio@1kHz (Power@0dBu): 47 Ohm: 0,0026 %/300 Ohm: 0,002 %/600 Ohm: 0,002 %

AD Conversion

Dynamic range:

  • 44.1/48kHz: 128dB
  • 88.2/96kHz: 123dB

THD+N ratio @ 1kHz (-1dBFS):

  • 44.1/48kHz: 0,002%
  • 88.2/96kHz: 0,00

0dBFS = +15 dBu

DA Conversion

Dynamic range:

  • 44.1/48kHz: 124dB
  • 88.2/96kHz: 122dB

THD+N ratio @ 1kHz (-1dBFS):

  • 44.1/48kHz: 0,003%
  • 88.2/96kHz: 0,004%

Power Supply

  • External Power Supply, Input 100–240V AC/50–60 Hz; Output 12V DC/1,5A
  • Internal Power Supplies: Audio: +/-17V, Digital: +5V and +3,3V
  • Power Consumption: 16,8 Watt

Dimensions and Weight

  • H x W x D in mm: 67x330x212
  • Weight: 2,7 kg