Reviewing audio interfaces is harder than it used to be. Even affordable models can deliver clean recordings, and the differences between converters rarely tell you as much as a list of specifications suggests. The more useful question is what an interface lets you keep connected, how quickly you can route it, and whether it makes a session easier to run.
That is where the AudioFuse Studio Rev2 makes its case. Arturia has built a desktop interface that can serve as the centre of a computer-based studio, particularly one with synths, outboard gear and more than one person who needs to hear a mix. After spending time with it, I found myself appreciating the small workflow decisions as much as the sound.
Plenty of ways into a session
The Studio has eight analogue inputs: four front-panel mic, line or instrument inputs with DiscretePro preamps, and four further line inputs on the back. The rear pair on inputs 5 and 6 can also accommodate a turntable through an integrated phono preamp. There are insert points for the four preamp channels, two dedicated reamping outputs, and ADAT connectivity if you need to expand the setup with something like an AudioFuse 8Pre. It is an appealing layout for anyone who wants synths and other hardware ready to record without constantly swapping cables. Arturia’s feature list sets out the connections in more detail.
We tried the preamps, and they sounded excellent: clean, capable and easy to work with. The monitor output also had plenty of level in our setup. At this point in the market, though, I would be reluctant to recommend an interface at this price simply by claiming its converters transform a recording. The Studio’s stronger argument is that it brings good sound and a lot of useful connections together in a unit you can operate from the desk.
The Rev2 changes are focused rather than a wholesale redesign. Arturia says the preamps have more headroom and a wider gain range than the original Studio: maximum microphone input level rises from +11 to +18 dBu, while the stated gain range increases from 71 to 78 dB. It also has an updated Bluetooth receiver. Those are welcome improvements, especially if you record a range of quiet and loud sources, but an owner of the first Studio should look closely at those changes before treating Rev2 as an automatic upgrade. Arturia publishes the Rev1 and Rev2 preamp figures side by side.
Monitoring that earns its desk space
The Studio works particularly well as a control centre. You can switch between two sets of speakers, control two headphone outputs independently, and build a main mix plus two cue mixes. Mute, dim and mono controls are close to hand. When somebody needs a different headphone balance, the routing is flexible enough to provide it without disturbing the main monitor mix. Arturia also includes a talkback mic, a useful feature when the performer is away from the desk. Arturia’s monitoring overview covers the available controls.
AudioFuse Control Center makes the deeper routing manageable. It offers a lot of options, but I found it easy to get to grips with, and being able to control the main output from the computer helps when the physical unit is out of reach. One of my favourite touches is the shortcut on the hardware: pressing the Arturia logo brings up the control software. It sounds minor until you are in the middle of a session and want to change a route quickly.
The drivers were rock solid throughout our testing. That is a more meaningful compliment than it might sound. An interface can offer every connection in the world, but it still has to disappear into your workflow.
Bluetooth is more useful than I expected
I initially took the Bluetooth receiver for a gimmick. In practice, it became a quick way to bring a phone into the monitoring setup. I could listen to a track from Apple Music as a reference and switch back to the DAW without reorganising cables or the session. The incoming audio can also be mixed with the interface’s other sources or recorded into the DAW. Rev2 updates the receiver with support for AAC and several aptX codecs. It receives audio from a phone or tablet, and even a laptop running your DAW should you want to kick back on your studio couch instead work at your desk; it does not send your monitor mix to Bluetooth speakers or headphones. Arturia’s Rev2 details and Bluetooth FAQ clarify that distinction.
What I would change
For all its connectivity, I would have liked the option of plugging a microphone into the back. The four mic inputs are on the front, which makes sense for a desktop interface when connections change frequently. In a more permanent setup, though, rear access would help keep cables out of the way. I realise this isn’t a typical feature, but the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 we reviewed had front mic access as well as mirrored rear connections which I found useful. It is a rack unit, so the layout serves a different purpose, but the comparison came to mind while using the Studio.
The desktop format has another trade-off: it is lovely to have the monitor controls within reach, yet the unit and its connected cables need space on the desk. That is worth considering if most of your gear lives in a rack.
Value and alternatives
At Arturia’s listed US price of $1,199, the Studio Rev2 is a substantial purchase. The fourth-generation Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 is currently listed at $769.99 in the US and offers more built-in mic inputs in a rack format. If your priority is recording a full band or drum kit for the least money, that price difference matters.
The comparison looks different if you want a desktop monitor controller, cue mixes, Bluetooth references, phono input, inserts and reamping in the same box. Those features are the reason to consider the Studio. Arturia’s rack-mounted AudioFuse 16Rig sits above it at a listed $1,499 in the US and makes more sense when a large collection of line-level hardware and rack integration are the main priorities. The Studio is the more hands-on choice when you want to run the room from the desk.
I can also see it working well in a compact live electronic setup. There is room for several synths on the analogue inputs, expansion through ADAT, and enough routing flexibility to build different monitoring feeds. I would plan that setup and test it before a show, but the Studio provides the connections to make it practical.
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Verdict
The AudioFuse Studio Rev2 is easy to recommend to a producer who wants a studio organised around the interface: synths and outboard connected, two speaker choices ready, individual headphone mixes available, and useful controls within arm’s reach. Its preamps sounded excellent in our tests, its output had ample level, and the drivers gave us no trouble.
It costs considerably more than some interfaces with more microphone inputs. What earns that premium is the way it combines recording, routing and monitor control in a well-built desktop unit. Even Bluetooth, the feature I expected to ignore, turned out to be part of that appeal.
Pros
- Solid construction you’d expect from an Arturia product.
- Tons of quality I/O and flexibility.
- Bluetooth connectivity is surprisingly useful.
- Dedicated software shortcut button on the hardware.
Cons
- It’s not cheap compared to some units with comparable connectivity.
- Front panel mic I/O can get in the way on a desktop interface, but there is the Audiofuse Rig if that’s an issue for you.
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