Audient Horizon 8P 24-in/32-out Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface

About: Audient Horizon 8P 24-in/32-out Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface

NOTE: For use with macOS only.

The Horizon 8P is a flagship 24-input, 32-output Thunderbolt 3 audio interface built for the mission-critical studio. Featuring eight Audient console preamps with ORBIT Control and Elite 32-bit mastering-grade conversion, Horizon bridges the gap between classic analogue character and the stability of a direct PCIe-speed connection.

• 24-in / 32-out connectivity over Thunderbolt 3
• 8 x Audient Console Preamps with 75dB gain and digital recall
• ORBIT Control variable impedance with three selectable voicings (high, mid, low)
• 2 x JFET instrument inputs on channels 1 and 2
• 8 x line I/O over DB25 for outboard and hybrid mixing
• 32-bit / 192kHz conversion, 133dB dynamic range
• 0.99ms round-trip latency (192kHz, 64-sample buffer)
• Dual ADAT I/O – 16 channels of digital expansion
• Dual speaker outputs for A/B monitoring, plus dual headphone outputs
• Hardware monitor control – mono, polarity, dim, talkback and reference level
• Horizon Control software – routing matrix, custom monitoring, and four cue mixes
• Selectable reference levels (+18dBu, +24dBu) and BNC word clock I/O
• Scalable architecture – daisy-chain up to four Horizon units on a single driver, with a system maximum of 200 x 200 I/O
• 1U all-metal chassis, three-year warranty
• macOS, up to 192kHz

Legendary sound. Faster. Audient Console Preamps

Experience the authentic warmth of a world-class tracking room. Horizon 8P features eight genuine David Dearden-designed preamps, with 75dB of gain, taken directly from the legendary ASP8024-HE console. By using discrete components, we ensure your audio is captured with true analogue integrity and massive headroom. Real analogue Audient Console preamps in your rack.

Clean, Accurate, Detailed

• Digital Recall - Save and recall your exact gain settings from previous sessions.
• Analogue Utility - Sweepable High Pass Filter (25Hz–250Hz), -10dB Pad and independent per channel 48V.

ORBIT Variable Impedance Control - Unlock your microphone’s DNA

Unlock the hidden potential of your mic locker with ORBIT, our relay-based variable impedance technology. By reshaping how the preamp and microphone interact at the analogue stage, you can shift your sound from airy and modern to weighted and vintage before the signal ever hits the converter.

• True Analogue Circuitry - ORBIT reshapes your microphone’s character at the analogue stage - something no digital plugin can truly replicate.
• Three Distinct Voicings - Toggle between High (2.8k Ω), Mid (1.2k Ω), and Low (220 Ω) to find the perfect sonic sweet spot for any source.
• Optimised Performance - Tailor the preamp response to ribbon and dynamic microphones.

Power without restrictions - Native Performance

Ditch proprietary DSP and restrictive ecosystems. Horizon 8P utilises a high-bandwidth Thunderbolt 3 connection to deliver 0.99ms round-trip latency (192kHz / 64-sample buffer) – the benchmark for real-time native monitoring.

• Total Plugin Freedom - Run your entire VST/AU/AAX library at professional speeds using your Mac’s full processing power.
• Sub-Millisecond Performance - Achieve near-zero latency for mission-critical monitoring and real-time signal processing.
• Rock-Solid TB3 Driver - Minimises CPU overhead and buffering for rock-solid, high resolution performance in large-scale sessions.
• Forward Compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and 5.

Unrivalled Audio Performance - Hear Nothing but the Truth

Horizon 8P features elite ESS 32-bit AD/DA converters delivering a staggering 133dB of dynamic range. This is conversion without compromise, providing the absolute transparency required to identify micro-details in a mix and make critical decisions with total confidence.

• Flagship ESS Converters - Features ES9823PRO and ES9039 converters - the highest-performing chips available, selected for unrivalled depth and imaging.
• Precision Transient Capture - Ultra-low noise OPA1602 and OPA1612 op-amps ensure fast, percussive transients are captured with surgical precision.
• Ultra-Low Jitter Clocking - Features hybrid analogue/digital PLL circuits for reliable jitter attenuation and rock-solid stereo imaging.

Future-proof your studio - ​Massive Scalability

Your studio should never outgrow its foundation. Horizon’s Thunderbolt 3 architecture allows you to scale from a single interface to a high-channel-count tracking and mixing powerhouse without ever changing your driver.

• Unified 200x200 Rig - Daisy-chain up to four Horizon units for a staggering 200-in / 200-out total capacity on a single MacOS driver.
• Unified MacOS Driver - Manage up to 400 channels of unified routing and synchronisation through a single software panel and host connection.
• Digital Expansion - Dual ADAT I/O per unit provides additional digital connections for external preamps and more.

Built for session speed - ​Frictionless Software

Horizon Control and the full-color Motion UI hardware display provide total command over your studio. From high-resolution metering to complex routing, the interface is designed to keep you focused on the performance.

• Routing Matrix - Route any input to any output instantly within the software.
• Custom Monitoring - Define bespoke layouts and instantly switch between multiple speaker sets.
• Independent Mixes - Create independent, ultra-low latency cue mixes for every performer.

Easy Hardware Integration - Tracking to mixing, instantly

Transform your rig into an analogue mixing hub without touching a cable. Integrate outboard gear via industry-standard Tascam-pinout DB25 and switch between sources instantly via Horizon Control.

• D-Sub Connectivity - Keep 8 channels of outboard gear permanently wired via DB25.
• Preamp Bypass - Direct-to-converter signal path for external boutique preamps.
• Input Switching - Toggle between Mic and D/Sub Line inputs on a per-channel basis for hybrid workflows.

Studio-grade DI, on channels 1 and 2 - JFET Instrument Inputs

The Horizon 8P features two dedicated JFET instrument inputs on the front panel, modelled on the input stage of a classic valve amplifier. Giving you authentic analogue character – no external DI box, no compromise on tone.

• Authentic Analogue Response - JFET circuitry provides the harmonic richness and dynamic character of a valve amp input stage.
• Simultaneous Stereo Tracking - Track a stereo keyboard rig or a guitar and bass pair together in a single take.

Your studio command center - ​Professional Monitor Control

Ditch proprietary DSP and restrictive ecosystems. Horizon 8P utilises a high-bandwidth Thunderbolt 3 connection to deliver 0.99ms round-trip latency (192kHz / 64-sample buffer) – the benchmark for real-time native monitoring.

• A/B Speaker Switching - Connect two sets of monitors for instant comparison and critical evaluation.
• Dual Headphone Outs - High-current outputs provide massive headroom for high-impedance studio headphones.
• Pro Console Tools - Immediate access to Mono, Polarity Inverse, Dim, and Reference Level.
• Flexible Talkback - Communicate via the dedicated hardware input or your Mac’s internal microphone.
• Custom Function Button - Map the hardware button to your most vital task, from Alt-Speaker switching to Talkback.

Professional Utility

• Selectable Reference Levels - Calibrate your I/O to perfectly match your analogue gear’s sweet spot and headroom ( +18dBu, +24dBu).
• BNC Word Clock I/O - Integrate seamlessly into complex digital environments with dedicated sync I/O and switchable internal termination.
• Optimised for Modern Macs - Seamless macOS integration and improved security without disabling system settings.
• Silent Thermal Design - High-efficiency fanless cooling ensures silent operation, critical for machine-room-free control rooms.

Built to Last

Housed in a rugged 1RU full-metal chassis with a sleek black finish, the Horizon 8P is a durable, long-term investment in your studio’s future. Backed by a three-year warranty, it is built to handle 24/7 operation in the world’s most demanding studios.

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• Softube - Flow Guitar Essentials
• Torpedo Wall of Sound - Highly realistic speaker simulation from Two notes
• Strymon Cloudburst - Ambient Reverb Plugin
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Specifications

• Mic Pre Input
  • MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL: 18dBu
  • THD+N @ 0dBu: -98dB, 0.0011%
  • GAIN: 0 to 75dB
  • SNR: 101dB A-Weighted
  • EIN: -129dB A-Weighted
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: ±0.5dB 10Hz to 80kHz
  • CMRR: >75dB
  • CROSSTALK @ 1kHz and 10kHz: <100dB
  • INPUT IMPEDANCE: 3kΩ
• Line Input
  • MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL: 28dBu
  • THD+N @ 10dBu: -98dB, 0.0011%
  • GAIN: -10 to 65dB
  • INPUT IMPEDANCE: 10kΩ
• DI Input
  • MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL: 12dBu
  • THD+N @ 0dBu: -75dB, 0.018%
  • GAIN: 0 to 75dB
  • SNR: 101dB A-Weighted
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: ±0.5dB 10Hz to 40kHz
  • INPUT IMPEDANCE: 500kΩ
• Additional Mic Pre Features
  • PHANTOM POWER: +48V DC, 10mA per channel
  • ORBIT
  • 10dB PAD
  • HPF
• ADC Input
  • MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL: 24dBu = 0dBFS
  • THD+N @ -1dBFS: -118dB, 0.00012%
  • DYNAMIC RANGE: 127dB A-Weighted
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: ±0.2dB 10Hz to Fs/2 (Nyquist)
  • CROSSTALK: <130dB
• Line Outputs
  • MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL: 24dBu = 0dBFS
  • THD+N @ -1dBFS: -122dB, 0.00008%
  • DYNAMIC RANGE: 132dB A-Weighted
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: ±0.5dB 10Hz to Fs/2 (Nyquist)
  • CROSSTALK: <130dB
  • IMPEDANCE: 47Ω
• Headphone Outputs
  • MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL: 15dBu = 0dBFS
  • THD+N @ -1dBFS: -116dB, 0.00015%
  • DYNAMIC RANGE: 124dB A-Weighted
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: ±0.5dB 10Hz to Fs/2 (Nyquist)
  • CROSSTALK: <120dB
  • IMPEDANCE: 10Ω
  • MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL AND POWER INTO 30R: 5.55V Peak, 1.03W
  • MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL AND POWER INTO 60R: 6.44V Peak, 691mW
  • MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL AND POWER INTO 600R: 6.55V Peak, 71mW
• Digital Features
  • INPUTS: Optical Input SPDIF/ADAT x2
  • OUTPUTS: Optical Output SPDIF/ADAT x2
  • WORD CLOCK: Input and Output, ±10ppm accuracy
  • SUPPORTED SAMPLE RATES: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz
• DSP Mixer Roundtrip Latency
  • All figures at 64 sample buffer size
    • 44.1kHz: 4.286ms
    • 48kHz: 3.938ms
    • 88.2kHz: 2.143ms
    • 96kHz: 1.969ms
    • 176.4kHz: 1.077ms
    • 192kHz: 0.99ms
• Connectivity
  • THUNDERBOLT 3
• Power Requirements
  • INPUT VOLTAGE: 85 – 264 VAC
  • INPUT FREQUENCY: 47 – 63Hz
• Physical
  • DIMENSIONS (WxHxD): 19 x 1.75 x 13 inch (48.3 x 4.45 x 33 cm)
  • WEIGHT: 9.15 lbs (4.15kg)