PreSonus

PreSonus’ ioStation 24c was announced back
at January’s NAMM show as an all-in-one
control surface and audio interface, but we
didn’t realise quite how low the street price for
this one-box production unit would be. Around
£250 for what is touted to be a high-end
interface plus a controller for all major DAWs
with a motorised fader – albeit just the one –
sounds like incredible value on paper, so let’s
see just how it shapes up.
Two-in-on
You could quite easily think of ioStation 24c as
an amalgamation of PreSonus’s FaderPort and
the company’s Studio 24c 2-in, 2-out audio
interface. In fact you don’t even have to try and
conjure up a Frankenstein image of the two
units joined at the hip – ioStation 24c is literally a
one-fader FaderPort with identical controls, with
an interface around the back with audio controls
running down the right of the front panel.
Importantly, though, the fully loaded PreSonus
FaderPort and Studio 24c interface will cost well
over £500 together. If you can manage with just
one motorised fader – and the thinking is that
you can tackle tasks like automation one
channel at a time – then ioStation 24c looks like
a huge bargain.
Out of the box, the unit nicely angled for
desktop use. You’ll possibly want to attach the
supplied rubber feet to stop slipping on said
desk, but we found its weight kept it in place
during our tests without them.
The unit needs to be powered by a supplied
PSU (not buss-powered sadly). Controls on the
front are dominated by a great set of transport
controls and 16 buttons split above and below a
main rotary that can control multiple
parameters depending on which mode you are
in. Each of these buttons doubles up in
functionality by means of a Shift button. You’ll
need to download and install the latest version
P r e S o n u s
ioStation 24c £258
Fancy an interface and controller for any DAW in one smart box for a
bargain price? Time to take the train arriving at this ioStation…
INPUT CONTROLS
Dial in your level
and choose your
input type
MOTORISED FADER
A proper automated fader
adds a brilliant pro feel
AUTOMATION
Controls for reading
and writing automation
- great with the fader
HANDY MUTE OPTION
Switches your speakers off
for when you want to
record externally
MIX OPTION
This enables you to mix
your DAW signal with
what you’ve been
recording externally
NAVIGATION
Controls for
navigating around the
screen and dialing
various values
TRANSPORT CONTROLS
Work in any DAW for the
usual record, start/stop
and loop functions
CHANNEL CONTROLS
Arm your track, Mute or
solo – the main channel
options are here
of PreSonus’s Universal Control software which
allows you to set sample rates, bufer sizes etc
on connected interfaces. You’ll also have to
make sure everything is up to date at this stage
– we had to make sure both UC and our version
of Studio One were the latest versions and also
updated the ioStation irmware. Then on boot
up with Studio One the ioStation 24c should be
available as one of the controller devices.
(Check it’s there using the Conigure External
Devices option.)
Once done, though, integration with Studio
One (and the supplied and excellent Studio One
Artist) is understandably excellent. It feels that
much more integrated than the other DAWs we
try (see below) and that bit quicker to respond,
although we’re not sure if we are imagining this
or if it’s just because the combination feels so
slick and made for one another.
Navigating around the main arrangement is a
joy, with reassuring clicks and motor whirs from
SHIFT KEY
Important as you access
each button’s secondary
function with it
MORE NAVIGATION!
Extra detail for zooming,
marking, moving sections
and much more
70 / COMPUTER MUSIC / December 2020
> reviews / presonus iostation 24c
CMU289.rev_presonus_iostation24c.indd 70 13/10/2020 10:07