Lexicon unveils elegant USB 2.0 audio interfaces

By Ben Rogerson
published

Three models in I•ONIX range

The I∙ONIX interfaces certainly look the part.
The I∙ONIX interfaces certainly look the part.

In case you missed them amid all the pre-Christmas hullabaloo, we should point you in the direction of Lexicon's new I·ONIX USB 2.0 audio interfaces. If they sound as good as they look, we could be in for a treat.

Designed to sit between your keyboard and monitor, the new interfaces (there are three) are supportive of 24-bit/96kHz audio.

The U22 offers two analogue combi mic/line inputs, two balanced line outputs, a Hi-Z instrument input, a 1/4-inch headphone output and MIDI I/O.

The pricier U42S and U82S have four and eight analogue mic/line inputs respectively, plus S/PDIF I/O, two instrument inputs and two 1/4-inch headphone outputs.

Input and output levels can be controlled on the hardware using dedicated knobs, while all the analogue inputs feature low-noise mic preamps. Each interface ships with copies of Steinberg Cubase LE4, Toontrack EZdrummer Lite and the Lexicon Pantheon II reverb plug-in.

Mac- and PC-compatible, the I·ONIX interfaces should be available this month. Prices are £299 for the U22, £399 for the U42S and £599 for the U82S.

Ben Rogerson
Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.