MusicRadar Verdict
A handy, rugged form-factor for an interface that can turn its hand to different types of content creation. If only it had MIDI.
Pros
- +
Auto-setup option is ideal for getting the perfect sound for your project.
- +
Very easy to use.
- +
Flexible interface.
Cons
- -
A combi XLR/jack port would have been much more useful.
- -
No MIDI!
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Lewitt Connect 2: What is it?
Once upon a time, choosing an audio interface was easy: you had little choice in resolution and sample rate and little need to decide what application you wanted one for. The landscape has certainly changed. With the onset of podcasting, gaming and streaming content, a new slew of interfaces began to appear. Traditional specs were no longer sufficient. We’ve entered a new world where there seems to be a distinction between music production, podcasting and gaming. But surely there can be one that can do all three?
Enter Connect 2, the second interface to come from Austrian brand Lewitt, a low-profile, two-in/two-out audio interface with touch-capacitive control. But does it tick all the music production, podcasting, and gaming boxes?
Lewitt Connect 2: Performance and verdict
The approach to hardware design from Lewitt is a unique take on the desktop form factor. It’s relatively flat and the touch controls centre around a main dial with options to adjust levels for monitors, headphones, the mic and instrument inputs, direct or playback mixes and a customisable control.
The texture has an almost rubbery polycarbonate feel, which will attract greasy fingerprints. The buttons themselves are surrounded by a slightly raised protrusion as a guide and the touch is responsive, so the experience is both tactile and easy-to-use. This is made even easier by the addition of the Control Center software. While plenty of controls are at your fingertips, the Control Center is home to a more advanced feature set. Here, channels one and two have the option of three different preamp types; warm, clean and vivid. There’s also the option to add compression and noise suppression. Both options can be configured within the customisable control button, alongside a variety of set monitoring options.
Also lurking within the settings window is customisation for LED colour and brightness, which should please the image-conscious. Perhaps the most important ‘hidden’ feature is the Loopback, where we’re afforded two more (virtual) inputs for recording and streaming a video call or game audio.
Another standout feature is the Autosetup which guides you through a short process of optimising settings for either recording vocals, guitars or both. If you don’t require so much hand-holding, just use the autogain feature for each input.
As it stands, Connect 2 has all the bells and whistles to make a good all-rounder, though it’s not perfect. There are two things missing here: firstly, a combi XLR/jack input on channel one. Currently, this channel is only available as a mic input, so we’ve no chance of connecting a stereo line source.
The second missing feature for us is MIDI. In this day and age of 3.5mm jack to 5-pin MIDI dongles, surely there’s space for such an integral feature in music production? The Autosetup, Loopback and small footprint make this an ideal interface for podcasters, gamers and streamers. The addition of multiple preamps, plus denoise and compression add enough versatility to sate modest music production tasks such as recording vocals and guitar. The lack of combi port and MIDI, though limiting, don’t rule this out for music production. Just know that if you’re starting out, you might need to upgrade in the future.
MusicRadar verdict: A handy, rugged form-factor for an interface that can turn its hand to different types of content creation. If only it had MIDI.
Lewitt Connect 2: The web says
"If you have no interest in the technicalities of audio engineering and just want to get on with creating – whether that be music, videos, YouTube shows, or whatever – then Connect 2 is sure to appeal."
MusicTech
Lewitt Connect 2: Hands-on demos
LEWITT
Tom Buck
Julian Krause
Bolo Da Producer
Lewitt Connect 2: Specifications
- KEY FEATURES: Sample rate: 44.1, 48, 96kHz. Bit rate: 24-bit. I/0: 1x XLR (balanced), 1x Hi-Z 6.3mm jack, 2x Speaker: 6.3mm balanced jack, 1x Headphone: 6.3mm jack, 1x Headphone: 3.5mm jack, USB-C (bus powered). Dimensions: 151 x 110 x 41mm Weight: 394g.
- CONTACT: Lewitt
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