Audient Id14 article
Audient Id14: A Complete Guide
The Audient iD14 is a compact USB audio interface from British manufacturer Audient, combining two Class-A microphone preamps derived from the company's professional console circuitry with a JFET instrument input, four balanced line outputs, dual headphone connections and optical digital expansion. The current model is the iD14 MkII, which uses USB-C and records at up to 24-bit/96 kHz. It occupies a useful position between basic two-input interfaces and full-featured studio units, offering better preamp quality than most similarly priced competitors and a practical expandability path through its ADAT optical port.
Inputs and Connectivity
The two rear-panel combo inputs accept microphone signals through XLR or balanced line-level sources through TRS jack. Both have 48 V phantom power for condenser microphones. The front-panel JFET input handles electric guitar, bass and other high-impedance instruments and shares channel one rather than adding a separate third input — something to be clear about before expecting three simultaneous analogue recordings. Four balanced line outputs allow connection to a second pair of studio monitors, an external headphone amplifier or outboard hardware.
ADAT Expansion
The optical input is the iD14's most significant feature beyond its preamps. At 44.1 or 48 kHz, it can carry up to eight ADAT channels from an external preamp or digital device. At higher sample rates, SMUX reduces the channel count. This means a small drum kit, a string quartet or any multi-microphone session is achievable by adding an external eight-channel preamp: the Audient iD14 stays on the desk while the preamp sits wherever is most convenient. Digital clocking between the two devices must be configured correctly; mismatched clock settings cause clicks, pops or audio failure.
Monitoring and Control
The large rotary encoder controls monitor volume and can be assigned to other functions through the iD mixer software. Monitor-control features include speaker switching, mono, and dim. Two headphone sockets — one full-size jack and one 3.5 mm — can be used simultaneously, useful when an engineer and performer are both monitoring from the same Audient iD14. Routing between the two headphone outputs depends on the iD mixer configuration and DAW setup.
Practical Assessment
The preamps are the principal reason to choose an Audient iD14 over cheaper alternatives. At 58 dB of gain with a low noise floor, they handle most condenser and dynamic microphones without complaint, though very low-output passive ribbons may benefit from an external inline preamp. The interface is bus-powered over USB-C. Sound On Sound's 2021 review listed it at around $299, though current retail pricing varies by territory and promotional period. For guidance on comparing it to alternatives, the buyer's guide covers the key decisions. For first-session setup, the beginner's guide takes each step in order.
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