EVO 8 audio interface powers the audio for Studiobox, the innovative new tech & production company that delivers a complete filming solution directly to your door. Designed for live webinars, interviews, press junkets, live-streamed web content, talking-head tv segments or even running a virtual course, each ‘Studiobox’ includes a professional grade 4k camera, lighting and audio equipment – without the need for a film crew.
A complete broadcast capable studio, all in one box.
Studiobox prides itself in providing a complete, one-stop, ‘out of the box’ solution. The tech is all hidden, leaving a simple, straightforward interface for clients, whilst everything is controlled remotely. That’s absolutely everything; from adjusting the camera angle, lens settings, colour correction and lighting right through to the audio. “In order to control lights, camera and audio via computer, each element requires an interface. The EVO 8 is our interface between the computer and the multiple microphones we use,” explains co-founder, Ian Smith.
“EVO provides a very slick, easy-to-use computer interface”
“An integral need for our product was an audio interface that could be controlled from a computer. The EVO provides a very slick, easy-to-use computer interface,” he continues, explaining their choice of EVO 8. “We work with the EVO through its software, allowing our operators to remotely control the unit over the internet without asking the talent to touch any hardware.”
EVO 8 is a 4 in/4 out audio interface with an intuitive feature set. This includes four EVO Preamps offering 58dB of gain as well as high performance converters providing 113dB of dynamic range. Powered directly via USB, EVO 8 can be controlled via its customisable software, EVO Mixer. “The software controller is the major standout feature. It was the best one we found in an audio interface,” confirms Ian.
“The [EVO] software controller is the major standout feature”
Studiobox was born during pandemic lockdowns as a solution to continue production. Ian and co-founder Max Ostrove quickly realised that they could go one better than sending kits of parts. “We figured that we could leverage technology to control lights, camera and audio through a computer and then combine them all in a ready-to-record unit that could be shipped anywhere and set up in minutes,” explains Max. “By solving for Covid, it turns out we stumbled into the future of production, where it’s just easier and cheaper to send a Studiobox than fly and house a crew for a shoot.”
With an EVO 8 in each of their seven Studiobox units so far, they have been steadily expanding their setup as demand grows, after installing the first one back in the summer of 2020. “Clients are amazed that this box can do everything,” adds Max.
“Clients are amazed that this box can do everything”
With the operators monitoring and adjusting the audio in realtime, they haven’t yet utilised the automatic levels setting function, Smartgain. This could be set to change, however, according to Ian: “We have plans to automate many of the functions in the box, so that an operator isn’t necessary. At that time the Smartgain function could be a critical feature.”
Max confirms that the future is looking bright for this fast-growing start-up. “Studiobox is currently developing software to allow anyone to control a box. We imagine remote production units becoming a part of video creator’s kits, like a drone or slow motion camera. For the audio world, the remote podcast recording box is coming out next.”
Studiobox is based out of Los Angeles, and the EVO 8s were procured from B&H. Find out more at their website www.studiobox.co and on Instagram @studiobox.co
