- The Evo 16 is the latest in Audient’s interface series
- The new unit offers multiple channels, Smart Gain, and intuitive software
- Find out if we thought it was worth the money!
- Also check out our review of the Evo Start Bundle, and our shootout between the ID4 vs ID14 vs ID22
Audient’s contribution to the pro audio world really doesn’t need much introduction and their recent line of Evo interfaces has been impressive, to say the least.
Their Evo 4 and 8 interfaces have done a great job of amalgamating affordability, functionality, and ease of use.
The new Evo 16 offers something a little more complex and packs a lot into what could fit perfectly into a home setup and a pro recording studio.
I recently got hold of the audio interface to try out and see how it compares to its smaller Evo brothers.
The Audient Evo 16 audio interface offers a 24-in/24-out setup, with eight Evo preamps.
Audient’s mantra with this product is ‘a new way of doing things,’ and it’s really clear that a lot of thought has gone into building a unit that isn’t just an ‘Evo 4 or 8 with more channels.
I’d consider this an upgraded unit both in terms of features and functionality.
Whilst Audient have carried over features such as Smart Gain, they’ve evidently tried to create something unique but user-friendly.
Audient EVO 16: The Review
First Impressions
We’ve mentioned this in our reviews of the 4 and 8, but opening up the sleek black box just feels cool!
The Evo audio interface arrives with a very straightforward instruction manual which I felt was appropriate given the unit is marketed as extremely easy to use (and after all, who wants to get bogged down in an instruction booklet when they’ve just got new gear).
At first glance, the interface seems pretty self-explanatory (again, this is what Audient are going for) with 2 mic/line/instrument inputs occupying the front panel next to 8 easily laid out channel selectors.
Audient's Evo 16 is a high-quality USB audio interface with next-level features and outstanding performance.
- Smart Gain is quick and effective to use
- Great sounding mic preamps
- Intuitive digital and hardware interface and functions
The Smart Gain button is handily noted in green, not that you’d miss it of course, and this is one of the most unique aspects of the Evo series and one that really sets it apart from other interfaces.
The LED screen is small but more than adequate to serve its purpose and a nice addition that could easily have been overlooked.
The Evo 16 utilizes ‘Motion UI‘ which brings a high-resolution display to the unit which adds to the ease of use and very clearly communicates settings and other options as you cycle through the Evo’s functions.
There’s an option for two headphone outputs, easily controlled with the volume control knob.
To the rear, you have the remaining mic/line/instrument inputs plus 8 line outputs and word clock output for syncing up with other gear.
Our unit came without rack mounts, but there is the option to order the Evo 16 with these included should you want to add the interface to a rack setup.
Straight out of the box, all looks good!
Features
- 8 Evo Mic Preamps
- 2 JFET Instrument Inputs
- 2 Headphone Outputs
- ‘Smart Gain’ gain staging function
- Evo ‘Motion UI’ System with LED screen
- 24-bit/96kHz
Functionality
How the Audient Evo 16 functions is one of the ‘make or break’ aspects of the unit.
Of course, that’s a bit of an obvious statement but given the unit is marketed as being quick and easy to set up and use, Audient has a lot to live up to!
Thankfully it seems they’ve pretty much hit the nail on the head with this one.
Powering up the unit you’re greeted with the option to change the LED screen brightness and the choice of assigning your function button to one of four parameters:
- Dim: allows you to reduce the output to your speakers
- ALT Speakers: switches between main and ALT speaker outputs
- Talkback: toggles on and off the talkback function
- Mono: switches the monitor outs to mono
I felt all four of these were neat little features that could easily be bypassed but could serve a valid purpose in a full recording studio or home studio setup.
I had the Evo 16 set up at home but even the ability to flick between mono and stereo with a single button felt a lot more convenient than inserting and toggling mono on and off in our DAW to check for phase issues!
In fact, adding these functions to the interface where we’d normally expect to see them on a mixing console seemed a really smart move that helps bring some of the recording studio experience to home or smaller music setups.
Oh and speaking of the LED screen the PacMan-style ghost that illustrates phantom power being on was a fun little addition!
Smart Gain
Smart gain isn’t a brand new feature in the Evo 16, it has been present in previous models, but it’s been adapted quite cleverly to handle multiple input scenarios.
If you’re not familiar with Smart Gain, Audient have created a neat way of speeding up your workflow by automatically setting gain levels.
This is particularly handy if you’re recording alone as it means you don’t have to play or sing, adjust your level, and repeat.
This becomes particularly useful with an interface that uses as many inputs as the Evo 16 as it allows you to gain stage all your mics or instruments at once.
Check out the video below on staging a full set of drum mics and you’ll see what I mean.
Now there is an argument that an automatic gain function isn’t a replacement for human ears but from what we’ve seen on the Evo, the Smart Gain feature is a massive advantage for anyone wanting to take advantage of the unit’s multiple inputs.
Smart Gain can be activated on each individual channel or holding down the button selects all channels in one go, ready for you to gain stage.
On the slim chance something hasn’t staged correctly, an error message displays and lets you know which channel the errors lie on.
If you do want to set the gain yourself this can still be done manually by selecting the correct channel and adjusting the volume control knob.
Similarly, if you need to troubleshoot any of your mics, you can hold down the channel number to mute that channel and find the problem at the source.
On the topic of recording, the Evo mic preamps sound crisp, warm, and clear.
I was reviewing the unit in our home studio so unfortunately wasn’t able to really put the Evo to the test with a drum kit or with more than a couple of mics, but I’m pretty confident the interface could handle multiple mic setups without any issues!
Software
The software that accompanies the Evo is designed to bring an extra level of customization to your workflow using the unit.
The Evo Mixer allows you to control your inputs and outputs meaning you can adapt your routing, levels, and more with the on-screen interface.
As Audient put it, the software is ‘the control center’ for your Evo 16.
The mixer allows you to live monitor with ultra-low latency and enables the user to create custom mixes for your speaker outs or headphone signals.
Utilizing this means if you are recording in the same room as your performer you can listen to your own mix and enable them to tweak theirs as desired during tracking.
The channel strips themselves function much in the same way as they would within your DAW meaning it really doesn’t take long to get used to the on-screen options.
You’ll find a host of other functions that you can control on-screen such as talkback, mono functionality, phantom power, and gain.
The software feels well thought out and was genuinely intuitive when using the Evo, effectively giving us an on-screen version of the hardware unit that was quick and easy to get running with.
Audient's Evo 16 is a high-quality USB audio interface with next-level features and outstanding performance.
- Smart Gain is quick and effective to use
- Great sounding mic preamps
- Intuitive digital and hardware interface and functions
Final Thoughts
Having previously got out hands on the Evo 4 (and Evo Start Recording bundle) we had high hopes for the Evo 16 and it didn’t disappoint.
Our main concern was that the unit could simply have a few extra channels thrown in (and a few extra numbers on the price tag!).
However, it’s clear Audient have put time and thought into not only how they would create an upgraded unit in the Evo series but also why.
If I had to choose the ideal location for using the Evo 16, I felt it would be more suited to a full recording studio.
With that said, if you’re looking to invest in a quality interface with multiple channels for a home setup, this really won’t cost you the earth and the Smart Gain function really does make it easier when setting up your session if you’re a solo artist.
It is worth mentioning the Evo 16 will set you back around $500, so if you’re recording in a home studio setup then I’d definitely suggest exploring the other units in the Evo series first and seeing if the extra money and channels are something you’d really take advantage of.
At the same time, whilst a little pricey, it doesn’t cost the earth and would be a worthwhile investment if recording with multiple mics, such as drum recording, is something you’re planning on doing in the future.
Overall, I was really impressed with the Audient Evo 16.
It’s very clear that the team has put some serious care into creating the interface and really focussed on the needs of the user.
If you enjoyed this, make sure to check out our Evo 4 and Evo Start Recording Bundle review.