The NEW AudioConnect 8×8™ Audio Interface

Introducing AudioConnect 8×8, our latest audio interface engineered specifically for test and measurement applications. With 8 analog inputs and 8 outputs, expandable up to 32 in/32 out channels, this powerful, interface is ideal for audio test environments such as microphone arrays, loudspeaker directivity measurements, and automotive acoustic testing. It supports sample rates up to 192 kHz and offers built-in constant voltage and constant current power for a wide range of transducers, including SCM and IEPE microphones, accelerometers, and couplers. This eliminates the need for external power supplies and simplifies your setup.In this video, we’ll demonstrate its key features: secure BNC connections, selectable input gain with overload indicators, TEDS support for faster calibration, input monitoring, and seamless integration with SoundCheck software. You’ll also see how its configuration can be locked into test sequences to ensure consistency across labs and production lines.With simple setup and calibration, and fast configuration across multiple stations, AudioConnect 8×8 brings accuracy, control, and scalability to your audio testing workflow. Watch now to see how it can optimize your setup and improve efficiency in both R&D and manufacturing environments.

AudioConnect 8×8™ Product Page

An introduction and overview to the AudioConnect 8×8™.

Additional Resources for SoundCheck

Detailed explanations of how to use SoundCheck can be found in the SoundCheck manual.

Video Transcript: The NEW AudioConnect 8×8™ Audio Interface

AudioConnect 8 by 8 is our first 8 in, 8 out audio interface that can be expanded up to 32 in, 32 out channels. Like our other interfaces, it’s specifically designed for audio measurements, with a host of design features to simplify your measurements and optimize your performance.

Let’s take a look.

On the front here we have our 8 analog input and output channels. These support sample rates up to 192 kHz so it’s great for high-resolution measurements. BNC connectors are used for secure cable connection and there are no knobs or buttons on the front panel.  All the inputs provide both constant voltage for our SCM microphones and constant current for IEPE microphones and accelerometers. This means you can directly connect a wide range of transducers –  microphones, head and torso simulators, couplers, test heads etc. Because you don’t need an additional power supply, this saves money especially if you are using a lot of channels for microphone arrays.  Each input channel has several selectable gain options from -20 to +30dB, and includes level and overload indicators to ensure you’re operating within the optimal dynamic range. TEDS support is also included, which speeds the transducer calibration setup. 

One other thing that’s pretty nice about the inputs is that you can monitor any of them if you want to listen to the response signal. In SoundCheck, you can assign an output to any input, then you can connect a headphone or loudspeaker on that output to monitor it.

Now let’s take a look at the back. Here you’ll see two power options – either a regular 100 to 240V supply, or a 12V DC supply which means that you can power it from a car or power bank out in the field. There’s S/PDIF in and out for a digital signal – BNC connectors again – and a USB-C connection to the computer.

Here we have our expansion ports. These 4 connectors let us synchronize up to 4 AudioConnect 8x8s together for a total of up to 32 input and output channels.  I can plug in these 3 units to my master unit here, connect the master unit to the computer, and now I have 32 synchronized channels, and this is something you can’t do with most other interfaces.

This feature is really useful if you’re making directivity measurement with a large microphone array, or measuring large speaker arrays, or even making automotive measurements with a large number of microphones or speakers. 

You’ll notice there are no physical knobs or buttons on the unit. All the functionality is controlled by SoundCheck to eliminate the risk of accidental gain or configuration changes. If you configure the hardware as part of a test sequence, it can’t be changed without editing the sequence. This means if you’re sharing sequences within your organization or with manufacturing partners, you can be 100% sure all the audio interface settings are correct and the tests are run exactly to your specifications.

Like our other hardware, setup is quick and easy. All channels are internally routed, so the only external connection required is a single USB cable to your computer. The device is supplied fully-calibrated, and when it’s connected to SoundCheck, the software automatically reads the calibration data from the firmware. This ensures a fully calibrated signal path with no manual input of sensitivity (Vp) values. You can see here the interface also auto-populates the input channels with appropriate sampling rates. It can also read and apply TEDS data if your microphones or accelerometers provide that.

It’s also quick and easy to setup multiple production line stations. Once you’ve configured it once, you can copy that configuration and each computer will automatically recognize the specific device connected to it. This also makes it easy to replace interfaces without recalibrating the signal path.

To learn more, check out the full specs on our website, www.listeninc.com, or contact your local sales engineer or rep for an in-person demo or pricing.