An interface that feels like an amp?

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Thomann Affiliate: www.thomann.de...
Sweetwater Affiliate: sweetwater.sjv...
My personal Thomann recommendations: thmn.to/thocf/...
My webstore for Captures, presets etc: ko-fi.com/soni...
Blackstar Polar 4 interface: blackstaramps....
Thanks for watching my review and demo of the excellent Blackstar Polar 4 (guitar) interface! This interface has some awesome features that take recording guitar (or other instruments like vocals etc.) to the next level! With the enhance feature on all the inputs, the interface responds like the input of an analog amplifier. So it never clips digitally! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! Cheers!
Gear used in this video:
Schecter PT SLS Elite
Blackstar Polar 4 interface
St James guitar amp sim suite
ML Drums by ML Sound Lab
Cubase 13 Pro
Klotz Cables & DI Box
This channel is sponsored by:
ML Sound Lab: ml-sound-lab.com/
An original song of mine with me on vocals: • My First Song w/Vocals...
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#blackstar #polar4 #interface
Disclaimer: this video is sponsored but as always all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own!

Опубликовано:

4 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 59

@SonicDriveStudio 24 дня назад

Thomann Affiliate: www.thomann.de/intl/index.html?offid=1&affid=3210 Sweetwater Affiliate: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0mGvx My personal Thomann recommendations: thmn.to/thocf/cv37zixo68 My webstore for Captures, presets etc: ko-fi.com/sonicdrivestudio Blackstar Polar 4 interface: blackstaramps.com/polar4-welcome/

@bassgoul 23 дня назад

Pretty cool device, but companies just need to standardize instrument input levels in software and hardware

@RickGuitarist94 23 дня назад

10000000% YES on this. I have to really watch my input volume when creating patches in Amplitube because the volume can wildly vary between amps.

@bassgoul 23 дня назад

@@RickGuitarist94 yeah overloud THU wants a HOT signal just before clipping and helix native wants a pretty low level and theres a range to work in... Would be nice to just plug in an instrument input with no worry to set levels because there is a standard everyone follows

@RickGuitarist94 23 дня назад

@@bassgoul that must be why my Helix floor unit sounded like total shit. I tried leveling the signal and just no matter what I did, every amp I tried sounded like total shit even with setting post EQ, a boost in front of the amp, and even trying OH IRs that I know I like. It's probably better now since their cab update though I'd imagine. But that was my experience with the helix. So far though, amp loudness aside, Amplitube/ToneX has been AMAZING for me. I've been able to nail some artist presets and get very close in some cases. Maybe someday IKMM will make a multi-fx floor unit with a metric ass ton of DSP for seamless preset transitions 🤞

@lostinpa-dadenduro7555 23 дня назад

Search Ed S Input Level on here. Ed has made a comprehensive spreadsheet with various interfaces versus software package, and suggested levels.

@matthewearl9824 23 дня назад

I k multimedia, already has a top of the line unit that does this called the axe I/O. It even has re amping and a switch for active and passive pickups.For gain control. Works with a tone x bundle perfectly.

@MetalheadOv666 22 дня назад

I have one and it’s awesome! Haven’t used the reamping input yet but the switch for active/passive is cool but the z-tone knob is awesome and also a “bold” switch to choose jfet or pure.

@veers0r 23 дня назад

Smells like marketing BS to me. Blackstar claims > “Enhance” restores the touch, feel, and response of playing through a real amp. When the Enhance switch is engaged on the instrument input, a unique circuit is introduced that mimics the input stage of a real valve amplifier, including all of it’s non-linear behaviours and characteristics. Input stage is a loose term but I guess we can agree that the input stages of 'real valve amplifiers' aren't all the same. Any modeler worth anything will also already model the 'input stage' of the specific amplifier in question. So throwing in a generic 'input stage' in front of the model of the real input stage is unlikely to make it sound any closer to what is being modeled. As for the actual specs they don't specify any latency or input sensitivity. The sensitivity is critical for getting the levels right, so the amp responds as it should. The input impedance is on the low side with 500k.

@davidfaustino4476 23 дня назад

500k??? LOLOL maybe that's why their amps always sound like doo doo.

@HighImpaktAudio 23 дня назад

Fantastic video as always my friend! I didnt even realize it had that soft clipping feature, and the loop back as well. Those are extremely useful! I might have to get my hands on one 😆

@SonicDriveStudio 22 дня назад

It's pretty neat!

@juanmelgar152 22 дня назад

I needed this! Gonna buy from affiliate to support channel

@bill-sr1vd 22 дня назад

A limiter on the input can be just as bad as clipping when you're trying to record a guitar. It's not that hard to adjust the input so it doesn't clip. You usually only need to do that once, then forget about it.

@jjdubois6101 23 дня назад

All I care about is latency and a hi impedance setting. I also just realised how it’s funny that amp modellers don’t really model any Blackstar amps. 😂

@demondrive147 23 дня назад

same, also driver stability on low buffer sizes!

@BaritoneGoatStudio 23 дня назад

I like the design and having 4 line outs. The loop back feature might actually compel me to grab this as an upgrade from my presonus. It is definitely in the running!

@NinecoreNeil 22 дня назад

I have the Polar 2 and I use it all the time,Blackstar always try and innovate when they release a new product ,for Blackstar to bring out an interface and try and do something a bit different other than just make an interface is normal for them this is what they do .

@whatmusiciwant 23 дня назад

I don't know man, it's not that difficult to open your DAW, plug your guitar in, and then set it to -12dB (which is usually the ideal input gain), I usually use a VU meter to do such.

@LucasLeCompteMusic 23 дня назад

Seems pretty cool!

@justsomerandomguyman 22 дня назад

I really don't get the point. A real, quality interface like an RME or similar will provide better drivers with lower latency and likely better onboard preamps. The best signal chain will always be a high quality standalone DI box into a high quality interface. This just seems like a gimmick to me.

@Bigjunk9999 23 дня назад

What's the round-trip latency at 48 KHz on a 64-sample buffer?

@SonicDriveStudio 23 дня назад

Good question! That's probably a question best asked to Blackstar

@givemeajackson 23 дня назад

i'm on an axe IO solo. apart from IK being a company of obnoxious pricks when it comes to licenses and logins and whatnot, it sounds and feels basically identical to my HX stomp. it also has a better feature set for recording guitar imo, with a dedicated amp out, adjustable input impedance, also has a jfet mode which i always leave off, and two footswitch or expression pedal inputs. on this thing, having max 500kohm input impedance is kinda weak for a guitar interface. i'm not not really convinced. the enhance feature just seems to throw on some mild compression and a small level boost? but the headroom is nice.

@whatmusiciwant 23 дня назад

Yeah, my UA audio Volt is a 1Megohms. It also has three different compression choices and an optional built in 76 Compressor emulation, which actually sounds amazing on pretty much everything. Though it's a 6:1 ratio so you have to be kind of careful.

@EDWINPIERCE168 22 дня назад

Cool

@r3ya919 23 дня назад

There is a lot of bs potential in this enhancement does not clip thing. Sounds like it is really easy to fuck up the dynamic range of your audio with this thing. Haven't tried it but there has to be a disadvantage and bad dynamic range makes the most sense to me. Of course you can just dial in a useful amount of gain. But no clipping as an advertising strategy seems a little shady.

@SonicDriveStudio 22 дня назад

I don't think it's shady at all. It does exactly what it says. If you turn off enhance it acts as how you'd normally expect an input of an interface to react

@r3ya919 22 дня назад

@@SonicDriveStudio I usually trust your point of view. But in this case i am really sceptical. The points advertised do not make sense to me. Thats why i calle it shady. Of Course it acts like every interface. But using this enhance feature as a special selling point is bs to me. It solves a problem nobody has. And for the few who have that problem its a bad solution since it does not help with a good positive dose of education on how to avoid it no it says there is no problem and goes ham.

@r3ya919 22 дня назад

I am also biased against blackstar. Its not the first time i have had this strong impression of them doing weird marketing stunts. There was an amp that was sold to me as a tube amp but it wasnt and it sounded weird so i never bought it. But their name was ruined for me at that point. I do not trust the brand. Thats my personal experience with them. The point above is just adding to that. They create stuff thats awesome but their advertisment team is shady to me. At its best.

@r3ya919 22 дня назад

Anyway have a great time :)

@SonicDriveStudio 22 дня назад

@r3ya919 thanks man! Look, this is a place where we can all share our honest opinions. Thanks for your comments! My opinion in the video has been truthful but I appreciate other perspectives as well. Cheers!

@Steadybeheady 23 дня назад

Pretty cool, but not replacing my Axe I/O still. Another “made by guitarists for guitarists” interface!

@alex_gfy 23 дня назад

same Blackstar that "borrowed" from Bluguitar? yea im good

@feoul92 23 дня назад

Would love to know how this stacks up against something like the Audient id4. Considering they both are in the same price bracket

@mohitrahaman 23 дня назад

Also the IK AXE I/O

@progreggae 23 дня назад

How it feels compared to Audient JFET inputs?

@Mr_Bollie 23 дня назад

tbh, it smells so much of Audient. Even the software looks re-branded.

@progreggae 23 дня назад

@@Mr_Bollieafter they stole Thomas Blug designs for powered pedals I'm not surprised

@michaelj.anderson1116 23 дня назад

I have an Audient Sono interface. I'll probably never use anything that's not Audient tbh.

@burtsgurt 23 дня назад

I have had an Audient ID4 for a couple of years now. The JFET DI is great along with the USB C speeds with almost zero latency. I don't think I will ever go to another brand other than Audient.

@RyRyTheBassGuy 22 дня назад

Probably not as good. I preferred them to the couple of DI boxes I tried out (which I was not expecting).

@Haho-aho 23 дня назад

This certainly isn’t a good example of gain staging. If you have a good modeller plugin, why would you want to have something altering the signal before hitting the plugin? Using a real od pedal will just make it all even more complicated 😬 I could just be overthinking it, but I doubt anyone who wants to seriously record guitars would keep that enhanced thing on 🤷‍♂️

@SonicDriveStudio 22 дня назад

I think it's pretty neat and handy! You can set the levels as how you would normally but just without worrying about clipping the inputs

@Haho-aho 22 дня назад

@@SonicDriveStudio well I guess it’s not a bad idea to make sure the signal doesn’t clip 🤷‍♂️ sometimes I’ve used a tube preamp myself before the interface. I guess this is kind of the same thing.

@JacekF-z 23 дня назад

See the video with Michael Blug of BluGuitar where he shows how Blackstar completely copied the design of his Amp1 Mercury amp into AmpedOne, right down to power transformer windings, etc. So I guess more tech they stole from someone else?

@donniejean 23 дня назад

I wonder if he had them patented?

@nikolas4377-xp4se 23 дня назад

right on time, i was thinking to upgrade my audio interface the last couple of days, i have the steindberg UR28m, and there is nothing wrong with that but there is some noise when recording and also a bit of latency, and i read somewhere that the analog interfaces don't have any latency, so my question here how was the noise and latency compared to your other audio interfaces? plus i noticed there is no hiz button on the blackstar but i guess its not needed there

@shreddyz 23 дня назад

All interfaces have some degree of latency because there will always be some analog/digital conversion at some point as long as you're using any digital software. You can adjust the latency by changing the buffer size and secondarily the sample rate. Many interfaces will have the ability to directly monitor your input with zero added latency though.

@nikolas4377-xp4se 23 дня назад

@@shreddyz yeah i have setup mine with as much less latency possible, just wanted to know if this one has any, how about the noise?

@econgblues626 23 дня назад

who did they copy this time lol

@demondrive147 23 дня назад

Dude, with all respect, addding a little bit of cons will not hurt, so it won't look like a complete ad

@SonicDriveStudio 23 дня назад

Whenever I encounter cons I note them in my videos. It's just a fun interface with some cool and unique features, there's not much to add imho but definitely check out some other reviews as well, others might have different opinions than me

@donniejean 23 дня назад

Con: it’s not free 😂

@demondrive147 23 дня назад

@@donniejean con: sounds like a snake oil