Heritage Audio has introduced its i73 Pro family of USB-C desktop audio interfaces with built-in class-A 73-style preamps – the 2-input/4-output i73 Pro One, 2-input/4-output i73 Pro 2, and 12-input/16-outpput i73 Pro Edge (expandable by up to eight channels over Adat).
Two years in the making, the i73 Pro family is aimed at musicians, producers and audio engineers seeking the class-A transformer-balanced circuitry and 70dB of gain found in classic 73-style Neve preamps. With a single input, the i73 Pro One allows users to track vocals, electric guitar or bass through the fast, dynamic JEFT DI or the clean line inputs to a DAW. There is low-latency monitoring, either through the analogue stereo monitor output over TRS or stereo headphone output, each independently controlled by Heritage Audio’s mixer running inside the unit itself.
A growing set of tools modelled on Heritage Audio’s own outboard and private gear collection running internally over i73 Pro One’s DSP is also available, so it is possible to simultaneously record both dry and wet streams from the mixer to DAW, and insert third-party native plug-ins via the mixer’s aux channels. AD/DA conversion supports recording, mixing and playback at up to 192kHz, 24-bit. Further features include +48V phantom power, Pad, and Phase, plus Mono, Mute, and Dim; USB-C computer connection (cable included), and Midi (Mini-DIN in/out) connector.
The included plug-ins, BritStrip (channel strip), HA 15 Pro (bass amp), Small Recording Amp Serial # C 17744, HA 1200 TapeSat, HA 240 Gold Foil Verb, and Heritage TAPEoPLEX will also be available to owners of any i73 Pro audio interface in native AAX/AU/VST3 formats.
The, i73 Pro 2 benefits from the inclusion of two class-A 73-style preamps with up to 70dB gain, each with independent +48V phantom power, Pad, and Phase controls together with independent microphone/line inputs on combo XLR jacks, whereas i73 Pro One offers an extra line input on quarter-inch jack only.
The i73 Pro Edge offers a 12 inputs and16 outputs, benefitting from two extra line inputs; two analogue stereo monitor outputs over TRS independently controlled by Heritage Audio’s mixer running inside the i73 Pro Edge (with one mix per stereo out); two independent stereo headphone outputs (with dedicated cue mixes controlled by Heritage Audio’s mixer); and up to eight channels of expandability over Adat.
Heritage Audio’s i73 Pro One, i73 Pro 2, and i73 Pro Edge are shipping via Heritage Audio’s network of dealers with an MSRP in the EU of €649 (including VAT), €999 (including VAT), and €1,499 (including VAT), respectively, and a MAP of US$649, US$999,and US$1,499 respectively. US distribution being via RAD Distribution.
