It’s also one of the most popular and best-selling audio interfaces in its class. As we said already, the Komplete Audio 1 is one of the best-looking audio interfaces you can buy. We have mixed feelings about the build quality of the Komplete Audio 1. Even with low-sensitive dynamic microphones, you get a very low noise floor.Īt the other end, the max gain is a touch low at 44 dBFS at 0 dBu, but with the low noise floor and high dynamic range, it’s not a dealbreaker at all. The preamp delivers an equivalent input noise of 129.5 dBu (A), which is better than many competitors, including the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. One of the most impressive things about the Komplete Audio 1 is the ultra-low noise preamp. That’s a very decent dynamic range and allows you to record with plenty of headroom while also limiting the risk of clipping. The dynamic range of the Komplete Audio 1 microphone input measures at around 109 dB (A-weighted). In theory, 24-bit audio means a very high dynamic range, but in practice, it doesn’t always pan out that way. If you use a lower sample rate, like 48 kHz, the frequency response will be perfectly flat in the audible range. There is a drop of around 3 dB at the 75 kHz mark. The frequency response of the Komplete Audio 1 is impressively flat. Having the ability to record those frequencies is great for special effects and slowing down, which works well with the genres we mentioned. The Komplete Audio 1 is, of course, aimed at musicians of all kinds, but it’s popular amongst EDM, hip-hop, and synth-wave producers. The 192 kHz sample rate, and when it might be useful, is something that we have talked about with other small/budget interfaces. Native Instruments state a bit depth of 24-bit and max sample rate of 192 kHz. While we don’t think it ruins the interface’s overall appeal, we would have preferred to see balanced TRS outputs. For example, RCA cables aren’t as robust as TRS cables, and poor quality or faulty cables are often the cause of many sound issues. The reality is that most entry-level buyers won’t notice any issues from using RCA cables, but it still leaves the door open for potential problems. Komplete Audio 1 (back panel) / Image credit: Native Instruments On the left, you have LED level meters for both inputs, along with USB and phantom power LED indicators. The top panel is what makes the Komplete Audio 1 look so good it’s ultra-sleek and minimalistic. Wrapping up the front panel is a 1/4″ headphone jack with volume control.
![komplete audio 6 ableton komplete audio 6 ableton](https://noisegate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/KA6-Back.jpg)
Instead, many offer just a switch to go between 100% direct and 100% DAW mix, so it’s great to see it included here. We say this all the time, but it’s worth repeating not every interface gives you that control over the mix. The direct monitoring mix knob lets you blend between the direct input and the audio from your DAW.
![komplete audio 6 ableton komplete audio 6 ableton](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uzE27M4DIbc/maxresdefault.jpg)
The TRS input is switchable between instrument and line level.Īfter the inputs, there’s a button to toggle phantom power on/off for the XLR input and a knob to control the direct monitoring mix.
![komplete audio 6 ableton komplete audio 6 ableton](https://www.thedjshop.co.uk/media/wysiwyg/komplete-audio-6-product.jpg)
![komplete audio 6 ableton komplete audio 6 ableton](https://i.imgur.com/XqTuQUy.jpg)
Some users may prefer the dual combo input configuration that you get from the Komplete Audio 2, but it’s not a massive issue at entry-level. Komplete Audio 1 (front panel) / Image credit: Native Instruments