The barrier between analog and digital should not limit the listening experience. Benchmarks digital converter technology maintains the sense of musical engagement that was originally present when the sounds were created. The life of the music is never lost in a quagmire of digital artifacts. The depth is never hidden, the image is never smeared. Benchmark converters always deliver faithfully and consistently. The ADC1 USB continues Benchmarks tradition of excellence.The Benchmark Media ADC1s superior down-conversion design made possible in part by the latest chip technology, the unique UltraLock™ low-jitter clock, optimized analog input circuitry and the four multiformat digital outputs makes it a worthy studio tool that will sound great for years to come. I highly recommend it as a way to instantly upgrade the recording quality of any studio.- Barry Rudolph, MixThe ADC1 USB is a 2-channel 192-kHz 24-bit analog-to-digital audio converter with an unprecedented feature set. This converter was designed to consistently deliver reference quality conversion in real-world conditions. It features Benchmarks jitter-immune UltraLock™ clock system and an extraordinary analog front-end.Flexible Digital OutputsThe ADC1 USB has a total of 5 digital outputs (1-XLR, 2-coax, 1-optical, and 1-USB). These can operate simultaneously at up to three independent sample rates. One of the coaxial outputs can be configured for 16-bit TPDF dithered output. This unique flexibility allows simultaneous recording to a CDR, while recording high-resolution to a digital recorder and a DAW. For example the CDR may operate at 44.1/16 while the DAW operates at 88.2/24 while the digital recorder operates at 192/24. Backup and/or reference recordings can be created with ease while high-resolution outputs are fed to primary recording devices. The optical output supports AES or ADAT formats at resolutions up to 192/24. In ADAT mode, high sample rates are supported using SMUX2 and SMUX4.Benchmarks AdvancedUSBBenchmarks AdvancedUSB™ solution provides a bit-transparent computer interface that is capable of streaming at rates up to 96 kHz/24-bit without installing any drivers. This reduces CPU loading, eliminates driver compatibility issues, and greatly improves the reliability of the data transfer. Benchmarks unique driverless AdvancedUSB™ solution is compatible with Mac OSX and Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. Benchmarks UltraLock™ clock system insures the audio will never be contaminated with jitter-induced artifacts from a poor-quality computer-based clock. With the Benchmark ADC1, the performance of the USB interface matches the quality of the AES and ADAT interfaces. The convenience of a direct computer interface no longer comes with a performance penalty!Consistent PerformanceOften specifications only indicate how a product will perform under the most optimal conditions. The ADC1 USB is designed to deliver consistent performance - even in adverse conditions. The ADC1 USB is fully specified at all gain settings, all sample rates, through all digital outputs, and even when locked to a high-jitter clock signal. This performance insures reliable and predictable results in the real world.