Balance

The Balance Sound Card connects to a computer and receives power through the USB 2.0 interface. Balance allows you to record sound with a sampling frequency of 44.1 to 96 kHz and a sampling capacity of up to 24 bits and to directly monitor the recording with a delay close to zero. Balance has 2 XLR microphone inputs with 48-volt phantom power, two guitar inputs with Jack 1/4 jacks , four balanced line inputs with Jack 1/4 jacks , as well as headphone jacks with the same type of jack and TRS outputs for monitor acoustics. When running OS X Balance does not require the installation of a separate driver; Windows users need to install the ASIO driver that comes with the device.

Balance allows you to simultaneously record sound from two sources and adjust the input level for each of them. The rotary controls have 21 fixed positions, so you can quickly set the same signal levels for the left and right inputs. You can select the recording source using the buttons located on the top panel of the device - thanks to this there is no need to disconnect the cables from the inputs that are not involved in the current recording. There are also two large controls that allow you to independently change the output levels for headphones and monitors.

In addition to the usual functions, such as recording, monitoring and listening, Balance has several non-standard features that are only available when using the interface with Reason and Reason Essentials software:

• Clip Safe. This function allows you to solve the problem that often occurs when digitally recording sound: signal distortion when the level is 0 dB (so-called clipping). In Clip Safe mode, the Balance interface simultaneously records two tracks, one with a volume set by the user and the other with a lower level. If there are distorted places in the first record, then using Reason the user can replace it with the second option, which in most cases will not have damaged sections.
• Meter / Tuner Button. When working in Reason, pressing this button brings up a large level indicator on the screen, with which you can monitor the volume of the recorded sound. In addition, at the bottom of the indicator window there is a tuner for tuning the guitar before recording.
• Recording ready indicator. The LEDs located next to the input level controls let you quickly make sure that a track has been created in Reason for recording and the corresponding input is connected to it.

Propellerhead Balance comes with Reason Essentials, which is less powerful than the full version of Reason. Reason Essentials includes a Subtractor synthesizer, a Redrum drum machine, NN-XT samplers, Dr. Octo Rex and other instruments and effects, as well as a library of sounds, patches and presets. The number of MIDI and audio tracks per project is not limited.

Balance owners can get the full version of Reason by purchasing the Reason 6 Upgrade.

The Balance interface can replace the Ignition Key USB device, which is used for authorization in Reason.

The Balance case has an angular shape; black soft-touch plastic coating is applied to its surface, the lower part is trimmed with red plastic. Rubber substrates are also attached to the bottom of the case, thanks to which the interface does not slip on the table surface.

On the rear panel are all the inputs and outputs of the interface except the headphone output, which is located in front, on the right side of the device. In addition, there are phantom power switches for microphone inputs on the back. The remaining control elements of the interface are located on the upper surface of the device: input and output signal level controls, input selection buttons for recording, Clip Safe mode enable buttons and Mute / Direct Monitoring, Meter / Tuner functions. In addition, light indicators are located on the top panel.

• Two-channel audio interface
• USB 2.0
• Hi-end Class Preamplifiers
• Hi-end 24-bit DAC / ADC, sample rate from 44.1 to 96 kHz
• Compatible with Mac OS Core Audio. ASIO driver for Windows comes with the device
• Built-in Ignition Key Authorization Key
• Direct monitoring function
• Input Level Controls
• Separate output level controls for headphones and monitors
• Output Mute Button
• Dimensions: length 192 mm / width 130 mm / height - 70 mm
• Weight: 569 gr.
• Two microphone inputs on XLR connectors with 48V phantom power
• Two Jack 1/4 Guitar Inputs
• Four Jack 1/4 balanced line inputs (two stereo pairs)
• Jack 1/4 headphone output
• Two balanced TRS 1/4 outputs

Mac OS X

• Mac PC with Intel processor (multi-core processor is highly recommended)
• 1 GB RAM
• DVD drive
• Mac OS X version 10.6.3 or later
• 3 GB of free space on your hard drive (during operation, the program may need up to 20 GB)
• MIDI or keyboard recommended
• Free USB 2.0 Port
• Internet connection for registration

Windows

• Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Opteron processor or newer (multi-core processor is strongly recommended)
• 1 GB RAM
• DVD drive
• Windows XP SP3, Vista or Windows 7 (Vista and Windows 7 only 64-bit versions)
• 3 GB of free space on your hard drive (during operation, the program may need up to 20 GB)
• MIDI or keyboard recommended
• Free USB 2.0 Port
• Internet connection for registration

• Reason official website