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The nio is a nifty little box, but it sports perhaps too many switches and dials

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Surely all you can expect an audio interface costing around £150 to provide is two ins, two outs, a headphone socket and precious little else. Never one to follow convention though, Novation has come up with the nio 2|4, a unit aimed at the 'do it all' producer who needs flexibility from their interface. Could this device raise the standards in terms of the features expected of an entry-level unit?

Design and features

The USB 1.1-compatible nio 2|4 is not the prettiest audio interface you'll ever come across, but we can forgive its somewhat brick-like appearance since it feels like it could survive regular outings to live venues.

The idea behind the nio 2|4 is to provide a complete package for anyone who sings, plays an instrument and/or DJs. As a result, there is - initially, at least - a baffling array of switches and dials to deal with. Input-wise, the nio can record two signals simultaneously. For one channel, you have the choice of plugging into an XLR mic input (with switchable 48V phantom power) or a line-level RCA/phono socket. The other channel can be switched between a 1/4¨ jack with line-level/guitar options and, again, an RCA/phono line-in. There are a pair of LED meters that can track either the input or output signal levels, and MIDI I/O ports too.

The outputs are where things get both interesting and complicated. There are four RCA/phono outputs: physical outputs 1/2 can convey either stereo signal A (nio outputs 1/2 from your DAW) or the monitor mix, while physical outs 3/4 can be set to yield signal A, signal B (software outs 3/4, or the FX Rack output, if you're using it) or the monitor mix. Both pairs of outs have their own volume knob.

The Monitor section has a dial to blend between software outs A and B as well as a knob to set the balance between that mix and the hardware inputs, which constitutes the final monitor mix that you hear.

Amazingly, Novation still found space for two headphone sockets. They receive the same signal, which can come from software outs A or B, or the monitor mix. Each headphone out has its own level knob, too.

This might sound like a lot to take in, but it starts to make sense when you get hands-on with the nio 2|4. For instance, you could have separate signals from your DAW and a CD player routed to the outputs and fed to a PA, while monitoring your own separate mix of the two sources.

Rack effects

Novation has teamed up with some quality developers to deliver the set of 20 'rack' units included with the nio 2|4, which, when run in standalone mode, make use of Novation's Direct FX technology.

Italian DSP wizards Overloud serve up perhaps the most exciting selection: five amp models, emulating the Vox AC30, Fender Twin, Marshall JCM900, Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier and Fender Bassman amps. Additionally, there are four distortion pedals, modelled on the classic Tube Screamer, Boss DS-1, Fuzz Face and Big Muff designs - we particularly enjoyed the fat and juicy tones of the latter. These guitar processors cover pretty much all tonal bases and rock as hard as you could wish for.