If you're a producer or musician who is looking to upgrade their studio in 2026, then one of the first places to start would be with the humble audio interface. That old 2-in-2-out box of yours is probably no longer fit for purpose and could do with being replaced with something packing a little more I/O for your expanding studio.
Enter the Antelope Audio Discrete 8 Oryx Synergy Core, a 26-in/38-out USB-C interface that includes high-end conversion, console-grade preamps and real-time DSP, all in a single 1U rack unit. While still a considerable outlay, the Discrete 8 Oryx Synergy Core is no mid-range halfway house. This audio interface will be your studio mainstay for a long time and comes at an accessible price point, too.
The build quality and sleek design are instantly striking, with eight tactile preamp rotaries, a bright colour display, combo XLR ports to the left for mic, line and Hi-Z inputs and four headphone outputs on the right. This unit puts the right I/O at your fingertips.
But that’s not all, because around the back, you have a world of professional connectivity options, including ADAT, S/PDIF, line outputs, and six more combo inputs culminating in an impressive 26×38 I/O setup. All inputs are DC-coupled, too, so you can easily integrate that ever-growing modular setup.
Flexibility is the name of the game here, as included in all that I/O are two 1/4” TRS outputs that can be either utilised to reamp and process your guitar signals with more outboard gear, or have as an additional stereo monitor output so you can run two pairs of speakers simultaneously.
The preamps feed into Antelope Audio’s newest analogue-to-digital converters, which allow up to 130 dB dynamic range, and its proprietary 64-bit AFC (Acoustically Focused Clocking) technology promises increased sound width, separation, and detail. For those less interested in the technical details, this all means you have access to clean, low-noise sound.
In the box
Beautifully crafted hardware aside, Antelope Audio has also developed class-leading software in the form of its virtual-patchbay and Synergy Core effects platform. This entire ecosystem truly cements the Discrete 8 Oryx Synergy Core as a studio centrepiece.
The virtual-patchbay provides you with the power to route all of your digital and analogue signals, monitor sends or headphone mixes with drag-and-drop simplicity. While the Synergy Core effects platform gives you access to a suite of 37 plugins which run on the unit itself, rather than on your computer, enabling you to process any signal with zero perceptible latency.
The Discrete 8 Oryx Synergy Core is the ideal upgrade option for your studio. Whether you’re tracking bands, producing electronic music or building a hybrid setup with digital and analogue gear, the Oryx holds its own. This is a professional-level interface with an intuitive design that anyone can use.
All of this top-tier sound quality, flexible routing, powerful onboard DSP and real-world workflow wrapped up in a sleek 1U rack unit can be yours for just €1199 and is available from the Antelope Audio website and authorised dealers.