Antelope Zen Q Synergy Core Desktop 14x10 Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface

Bring it. Together.

From input to output, the Zen Q is designed to help you grow to a bigger setup without losing the desktop size format. The ultra-linear preamps and pristine AD/DA conversion give you professional quality in the studio or on the go – all in a compact package.

Add to that its generous connectivity and real-time onboard effects, and you’ll be up to almost any task – whether you want to record, mix, master, stream, or just play.

There is a USB and a Thunderbolt version of the interface available.

CONNECTIVITY

All I/O, all the time

With its pairs of headphone outputs, preamps, and instrument inputs, the Zen Q interface was built with collaboration in mind. Flexible routing and switchable inputs unlock a wealth of possible setups. Four simultaneous Hi-Z instruments and two pairs of monitors? No problem. Four balanced analog outboard inserts? You got it.

If you need even more inputs, hook up any ADAT-compatible preamp with up to eight additional channels, and you’re ready to record a full band live. The stereo input and output over S/PDIF can be used to add an outboard effect, record a digital hardware synth, or send a high-quality clocking signal to the rest of your studio.

Extensive connectivity

It all starts with the bus-powered connectivity – you only need a USB or Thunderbolt cable and a computer to start the show. The multipurpose inputs and the digital ports allow you to change things on the fly and expand your setup easily.

Console-grade preamps

For our discrete preamps we use a combination of transistors that results in maximum noise reduction and, most importantly, precise sound capture

Signature clocking & conversion

The 64-bit AFC clocking and AD/DA converters give the stereo image more detail and a sense of spaciousness. This gives your recordings stand-out sound quality and makes the Zen Q ideal for mastering.

Discrete console-grade preamps

The Zen Q audio interface packs two professional-grade microphone preamps with 65db of gain and individual phantom power. Their ultra-linear, discrete circuit topology is on par with the preamps found in legendary consoles at the world’s best studios.

The clock you can’t beat

Taken from our award-winning master clocks, the AFC™ (Acoustically Focused Clocking) technology ensures professional, low-jitter AD/DA conversion up to 192 kHz / 24 bit. This makes listening, mixing, and even mastering with the Zen Q an absolute audiophile experience. From analog to digital and back, your sound meets nothing but the best signal path.

From studio to studio

The portable design of the Zen Q means you can carry it in your backpack and take it on tour with you or any on-location recording session.

Work at the speed of sound

Unleash the true power of the Zen Q by creating custom monitor and headphone mixes, combining device inputs and DAW outputs with real-time analog-modeled Synergy Core FX – all that from an intuitive control panel.

Handy loopback

The built-in loopback feature lets you livestream a complete mix to Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and more.

Session recall

For every individual recording scenario, you can save session files and create exact snapshots of all your settings so you can load them later without losing your progress

Easy routing

The signal routing is as versatile as it is intuitive, and any configuration can be stored and recalled as a preset.

Real-time onboard FX

Powered by the Synergy Core, the Zen Q comes with a selection of 37 analog-modeled effects, with many more available in our Software Store. This ultra-low latency processing is entirely run within the interface on a unique combo of FPGA and DSP chips, at no extra cost to your computer’s CPU or memory. This means you can record and monitor voice and instruments through real-time models of effects and guitar amps, from classic gear to rare gems.

Not ready to commit? No problem. You can still take advantage of the Synergy Core effects during mixing by using afx2daw. Analog workflow in the digital domain.

CONVERSION & CLOCKING

• Class-leading AD/DA conversion with up to 127dB of headroom

• Recording, mixing and playback at up to 24-bit/192kHz

• Proprietary 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking (AFC™) technology & Jitter Management algorithm delivering increased width, separation, and detail.

CONNECTIVITY

• 2×Discrete ultra-linear preamps with 65dB of gain for studio-quality recordings. Both work as microphone/line/ Hi-Z inputs, on combo XLR jacks, and supply 48V of phantom power

• 2×Hi-Z/line instrument inputs over TRS

• 2×DC-coupled line outputs over TRS

• Thunderbolt™ 3 port (for Zen Q Thunderbolt) or USB2.0 type C port (for Zen Q USB) carrying 16 input and 16 output channels in any popular DAW with custom macOS & Windows drivers

• Digitally expandable over ADAT IN , with 8 channels available

• Digitally expandable over S/PDIF I/O, with 2 channels available

• 1 × Stereo monitor output over TRS

• 2 × Stereo headphone outputs with separate volume control

WORKFLOW-ENHANCING FEATURES

• Bus-powered interface powered by the Thunderbolt or USB-C connection without the need for a dedicated power source

• Direct monitoring with Synergy Core effects, processed in real-time with imperceptible latency

• Simplified I/O routing with pre-configured settings, allowing immediate recording and playback

• Front panel with easily accessible controls over input and output levels, and other settings

• Customizable presets with signal routing, level adjustments, mixer and effects settings

• Customizable monitoring mixes with adjustable volume, pan and reverb

REAL-TIME EFFECTS PROCESSING

• Collection of 37 Synergy Core effects modeled after classic and rare analog outboard gear

• Synergy Core proprietary onboard platform powered by 2×DSP & 1 × FPGA chips for real-time effects processing with imperceptible latency

• Modeling Engine allowing pairing with the Edge line of microphones for real-time use of vintage microphone emulations

37 INCLUDED SYNERGY CORE EFFECTS

• Gyraf Gyratec IX (Dual Tube Mic Preamp with HPF)

• VCA160 (VCA Compressor / Limiter)

• Stay-Levin (Vari-Mu Tube Compressor)

• FET-A76 (FET Compressor / Limiting Amplifier)

• VEQ-1A (2-Band Tube EQ)

• VMEQ-5 (3-Band Tube Mid-Range EQ)

• X903 (VCA Compressor / Limiter)

• PowerFFC (Feed-Forward Compressor)

• Clear Q (Parametric EQ)

• Power EX (Expander)

• VEQ-HLF (Tube 2-Band HPF / LPF)

• Auraverb (Reverb)

• BA-31 (Germanium Mic Preamp)

• Power Gate (Noise Gate)

• A-Tuner (Guitar Tuner)

• Plexi 59 (UK) (Tube Guitar Amp)

• Bass SuperTube VR (Tube Guitar Amp)

• Darkface 65 (US) (Tube Guitar Amp)

• Top30 (UK) Bright (Tube Guitar Amp)

• Tweed Deluxe (US) (Tube Guitar Amp)

• Overange 120 (UK) (Tube Guitar Amp)

• BurnSphere (DE) Lead (Tube Guitar Amp)

• Marcus II (US) Lead (Tube Guitar Amp)

• Modern (US) CH3 (Tube Guitar Amp)

• Rock 75 (UK) (Tube Guitar Amp)

• Rock 22.10 (UK) (Tube Guitar Amp)

• Darkface 65 2×12 (2×12 Guitar Cabinet)

• Top30 2×12 (2×12 Guitar Cabinet)

• Modern 4×12 (4×12 Guitar Cabinet)

• Green 2×12 (2×12 Guitar Cabinet)

• Vintage 4×12 (4×12 Guitar Cabinet)

• Green 4×12 (4×12 Guitar Cabinet)

• Caliper 50 1×10 (1×10 Guitar Cabinet)

• Bluelux 1×12 (1×12 Guitar Cabinet)

• Clst 1×12 (1×12 Guitar Cabinet)

• England 4×12 (4×12 Guitar Cabinet)

• Bass Tube 1×15 (1×15 Guitar Cabinet)

Antelope ZEN Q SYNERGY CORE THUNDERBOLT Specifications

Connectivity

Performance

Digital Audio

Compatibility