Audient Evo SP8 8 Channel Smart Microphone Preamp With AD/DA

The Audient EVO SP8 8-Channel Smart Microphone Preamp is an 8-channel microphone preamp and AD/DA converter designed to expand the input/output capabilities of an existing audio interface via ADAT. It is ideal for professional recording studios, drum recording, live band tracking, and anyone who needs additional high-quality microphone inputs without replacing their interface.

Key Features

• 8 EVO microphone preamps with up to 58 dB of gain
• 2 front-panel JFET Hi-Z instrument inputs for guitar or bass
• 8 balanced line outputs
• Dual ADAT input and output (up to 16 channels at 44.1/48 kHz, 8 channels at 88.2/96 kHz via S/MUX)
• High-performance AD/DA converters
• Smartgain automatically sets the gain for all 8 channels simultaneously
• Word Clock input (BNC) for stable digital synchronization
• 24-bit / 96 kHz operation
• Full-color LCD with Motion UI and one-knob control for easy navigation and metering.

Inputs & Outputs

Best For

• Recording full drum kits
• Live bands
• Choirs and orchestras
• Expanding interfaces such as:
  • Audient EVO 16
  • Audient iD44 MKII
  • Focusrite Scarlett/Clarett with ADAT
  • Universal Audio Apollo
  • RME Babyface Pro FS
  • MOTU interfaces with ADAT.

Pros

• Excellent, clean Audient preamps
• Smartgain saves setup time
• Very intuitive front-panel interface
• Great value compared with many competing 8-channel preamps
• High-quality AD/DA conversion.

Considerations

• Not a standalone USB audio interface—it requires an interface with ADAT connectivity.
• If using ADAT, ensure your interface and the SP8 are correctly synchronized (sample rate and clock settings) to avoid digital audio issues. Community discussions note that clock mismatches are the most common cause of problems.