Low-noise performance from the ground up
When it comes to fighting noise, the Rubix 24 starts off with a pair of microphone preamps that go hand in hand with its extensively shielded construction. These passive noise-reduction methods work great in most cases, but sometimes bad power can ruin your day. Roland addressed this issue by outfitting the Rubix 24 with a system-wide ground-lift switch, so you can cut off any hum coming from the power supply. That’s something recording engineers have rarely, if ever, seen on an audio interface, and it’s extremely useful for recording live sound.
Onboard dynamics save time and your tracks
Ask any seasoned engineer/producer, and they’ll tell you that getting the best possible sound on the way in will save you hours of editing when it’s time to mix. One of the easiest ways to improve your incoming audio is by adding a touch of compression on the front side to keep your levels smooth. That usually requires outboard compressors to pull off, but Roland equipped the Rubix 24 with a pair of 3-mode compressor/limiter circuits. These circuits include two gentle compression modes plus a more aggressive limiter, which you’ll appreciate if you record live and have to worry about sudden spikes clipping your levels and ruining your tracks.
Cool bonus features offer added versatility
Between its class-compliant USB, robust design, and low-noise performance options, it’s clear that Roland intended for the Rubix 24 to be a great mobile audio interface, but it has some tricks up its sleeve that also make it a wonderful start or addition to your home studio. First off, it comes with a 6-month membership to Roland Cloud Pro. MIDI I/O also adds compatibility with keyboards, controllers, and other devices. Selectable headphone output sources let you create a separate monitor mix for recording, which is a real bonus if you collaborate with other artists. Finally, there’s loopback recording, which lets you record output sources from your computer. That’s particularly handy for podcasting and similar applications.
