PRISMSOUND Atlas USB Recording Interface

Atlas is ideal for music and sound recording, mixing, multitracking, overdubbing, stem-based mastering, analogue summing and critical listening applications.Atlas provides Prism Sound's renowned performance, sound quality and state-of-the-art clock technology in a dedicated unit compatible with both Windows (Vista, 7 and 8, 32 and 64 bit, ASIO as well as MAC OS X 10.4.11 and later (Intel). Once configured with a computer, Atlas can also operate stand-alone using its ADAT, S/PDIF or AES3 I/O.

Signal path
Eight analogue input channels and up to 10 digital input channels are available as inputs for your audio workstation software through the host computer's audio driver. Similarly, eight analogue output channels, up to 10 digital output channels and stereo headphone outputs can play 20 different channels. For low-latency foldback or monitoring to headphones or main outputs, each output pair (1-2, 3-4 etc or the headphone output) can optionally be driven from the built-in DSP mixer with an individual local mix of any selection of inputs through the controller applet. All analogue inputs are electronically balanced with automatic unbalanced operation. Analogue outputs are electronically balanced with 'bootstrapping', i.e. level is maintained if one leg is grounded.

Multichannel Digital Input and Output (MDIO) expansion
As well as the built-in inputs and outputs Atlas can accommodate other optional digital interfaces such as Pro Tools | HDX and AES3 multichannel options through its MDIO expansion slot. This flexibility makes Atlas perfectly suitable for the home, native or project studio as well as larger multitracking facilities by seamless, reliable integration with the industry standard platforms. The MDIO expansion means Atlas is future-proof allowing further digital interface options to be developed and available such as Thunderbolt (to be confirmed).

No-compromise, full Prism Sound audio quality
Atlas makes no compromises on audio quality. It is the result of years of research and development into digital audio conversion and extensive dialogue with Prism Sound's customers. Atlas draws on Prism Sound's years of experience in developing digital audio products, including its range of audio test equipment, adopted by a wide variety of clients across the audio industry from pro-audio to consumer electronics. This experience means that Atlas is well-behaved both as a computer peripheral and an audio processor. Reliability is vitally important in professional recording. Prism Sound has always made extensive use of precise software calibration techniques in its converters - pots and tweaks are always unreliable, so there are none. The design team has gone to great lengths to minimise noise and interference, in particular hum. All of the analogue circuits have galvanic isolation, while the unit's electronically balanced I/O allows it to handle common mode interference sources as well as enabling trouble-free connection to unbalanced equipment. It is often said that THD+N figures do not always correlate well with the perception of sound quality and this is true - partly because the traditional measures of THD+N or SINAD expressed as RMS figures are rather a broad measure. With this in mind, we have taken great care to make sure that not only is the Atlas noise and distortion spectrum beyond reproach, but the RMS distortion result measures up to the state of the art.

Atlas in Brief:

• • No-compromise, full Prism Sound audio quality
  • Dedicated USB interface
  • Multichannel Digital I/O (MDIO) expansion port
  • ASIO drivers provided for Windows VISTA, 7 and 8 (32 and 64bit)
  • Directly compatible with CORE AUDIO on Mac OS X 10.4+
  • Eight "Prism Sound" premium-quality AD and DA channels
  • Concurrent operation of ADAT and switchable S/PDIF or AES3 ports
  • Eight high-end integrated mic preamps (typ.-130dBu EIN)
  • Mic pres have individually switchable phantom power and 20dB pads
  • MS Matrix processing on mic inputs
  • Two instrument inputs
  • RIAA Equalization on inputs 1 & 2
  • Prism Sound "Overkillers" on every analogue channel to control transient overloads
  • Fully-floating (isolated) balanced architecture for optimum noise rejection
  • Mono or stereo input configurations
  • Outputs selectable between workstation bus or Atlas mixer
  • Low-latency "console-quality" digital mixer for foldback monitoring
  • Fader, pan, cut, solo on every mixer channel
  • Dual headphone outputs each with its own front-panel volume control
  • Front-panel master volume control and mute, assignable to selected channels
  • Configurable for stereo, 5.1 or 7.1 or surround monitoring
  • Built-in sample rate conversion (SRC) on S/PDIF Inputs and Outputs
  • Prism Sound 4-curve SNS noise shaping on digital outputs