The Metric Halo LIO-8/4p mkIV is a precision USB audio interface and 8-channel A/D-D/A converter offering an advanced feature set and a hybrid DSP/FPGA processing system, and hosting a powerful software package that includes over 100 zero-latency plug-ins.

This lightweight low-power single-rack-space unit supplies 4 high-headroom microphone preamps along with 8 line inputs and 8 line outputs, all on DB25 connectors. The versatile interface offers a 128-channel, 64-bus mixer, supports resolutions of up to 192 kHz, and offers MIDI I/O along with MHLink networking and SCP computer linking, making it well suited for use as a core studio component for tracking, mixing, and mastering.

The updated mkIV version of the LIO-8/4p offers a warm, open, and very detailed musical sound and uses an integrated relay mute on the analog outputs to eliminate clicks and thumps when powering up and down. Fully calibrated analog I/O levels ensure that round trips through the converters maintain consistent levels, while the latency has been reduced from 116 samples down to approximately 18. The power consumption and heat generation has also been greatly reduced, allowing the system to run cool, without fans, saving electricity.

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For Tracking, Mixing, and Mastering    8 Channels A/D-D/A at 192 kHz    4 Mic Preamps and 8 Line I/O via DB25    USB Type-C Connector for Computer/Mobile    Hybrid DSP/FPGA Precision Processing    Production and +DSP Software Bundles    MHLink for Network Connectivity    SCP Links Additional Computer to Network    2 Hi-Z 1/4" Inputs, 1/4" Headphone Jack    128 Channel x 64 Bus Mixer

• The LIO-8/4p mkIV is a multisource, multidestination, surround-capable (up to 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos) monitor controller with analog gain control and relay hard mutes.
• The unit uses a retina-enabled, 64-bit, cross-platform console application: MIO Console 3d.
• MIO Console provides the UI to control the mkIV Mixer. This mixing engine is a full blown mixing console, not a mere interface monitor mixer. It features multibus mixing, arbitrary routing, input and output multing, zero-latency hardware plug-ins, surround support, and headphone amp control.
• The mixer supports up to 128 channels and 64 buses at sample rates up to 192 kHz.
• Four ULN-R preamps provide up to 90 dB of digitally controlled analog gain in precisely recallable 0.5 dB steps, along with independently switchable P48 phantom power.
• An additional module of four ULN-R preamps can be added when you need to accommodate more microphone inputs.

• The USB class-compliant audio interface allows you to connect to any USB audio host (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows 10+, or Linux) without having to install a driver.
• MHLink provides an ultralow-latency ultrahigh-bandwidth self-configuring audio and data backplane between multiple MH units as well as a native Gigabit Ethernet interface to the computer.
• In an MHLink system, the USB port on each mkIV unit provides a unique Satellite Computer Port (SCP) capability.
• SCP gives you the ability to patch a satellite computer with full routing into the mkIV Mixer. On multiple unit systems, all SCP ports are available simultaneously.
• Integrate software instruments, sample players, client computers, and mobile devices into your system without the need for additional interfaces or complicated clocking setups.

• Any channel in the MIO Mixer can be routed to any output, including outputs sent back to the host or to an SCP port.
• Route audio between apps or computers without any additional software or an additional complex routing model.

• The custom hybrid DSP/FPGA processing system provides massive amounts of processing and plenty of memory for high-precision, fixed-point mixing, crosspoint interpolation, metering, and routing, as well as flexible instantiable floating-point plug-in processing.

• Over 100 plug-ins are supplied including the entire Metric Halo Production Bundle and the +DSP Bundle with no additional license fees or complicated licensing tools.
• These bundles add enormous value to the package, with world-class plug-ins running at zero latency on the LIO-8/4p mkIV DSP for a wide variety of  tracking and mixing applications.

• Detailed front-panel metering with control knobs makes it easy to see what your doing and quickly adjust gain settings.
• The LIO-8/4p mkIV supports a variety of control surfaces (Mackie, EuCon, iPad, and Tablet) giving you tactile remote control over mix, monitor, and recording.

• Store the full configuration of your multibox MHLink system into nonvolatile memory Boot States, so that the full configuration is automatically restored when the system powers on—without requiring a connection to the computer or MIO Console.
• Crosspoint routing and the ability to have all I/O ports simultaneously active enables you to use the LIO-8/4p mkIV as a flexible format converter.
• Boot states allow you to program and set the unit for standalone format conversion.

• Session is a complete tracking DAW that supports Live, Take-Based, and Overdub recording workflows.
• Always available and completely integrated with the hardware, it launches instantly as part of MIO Console, and it doesn't require any licenses or dongles.

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Is this track subjects only who are directly in front of the Halo Solo?

A: The Halo Explorer is a range finder that will keep the subject it is aiming at in focus. The subject will have to be in front of this unit to be in focus.

Q: 2. What are the dimensions of this unit?

A: It is 4.6" wide x 4.7" deep x 1.75" high.

Q: 3. I'm getting really low monitoring through headphones on this. even turned up to 10 and balanced to hear the preamp only. Does anyone else have this issue?

A: I haven't heard of this issue per-say. The first thing I'd look at would be the impedance specification on my headphones. If it's on the high side, I'd consider getting a headphone amp, or headphones with a lower impedance.

Q: 4. How is volume to the headphone out controlled? (is it a static, but quasi-controlled via gain or adjusted by output knob?

A: The headphone volume control on the Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 is controlled by the knob labeled 'Output'. It is the knob that is farthest to the right, on top of the interface.

Q: 5. Is this something you can plug studio monitors into and use to control volume?

A: While the Audient EVO 4 Desktop 2x2 USB Type-C Audio Interface will connect to studio monitors for audio output and volume control, this is limited to its functionality while acting as an interface to a DAW. For a studio monitor selector and volume controller, we recommend BH #MABKPSMC Mackie Big Knob Passive Studio Monitor Controller: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1313074-REG/mackie_big_knob_passive_studio.html?sts=pi&pim=Y

Q: 6. Can one use this simply as a stereo mic amplifier with a 9v battery and no USB connection?

A: The ART USB Dual Pre can operate as a standalone mic preamp using 9V battery or AC power.

Q: 7. How is the volume level on the monitor out controlled?

A: The output level is worthy of most headphones and active monitors that one would want to connect.

Q: 8. Does it work combining the Right and Left output into single mono output by using a Y-cable?

A: Yes, it does. I use it with GarageBand and both microphones are being used. I am a hypnotherapist and needed two mins to record both my client and myself and it works perfectly. Hope this helps.

Q: 9. Will this work as a headphone amp/ dac as well as microphone amp? Am wanting to improve sound from laptop to headphones

A: Do not understand what you mean with dac . If the purpose is to improve the laptop output, I suggest you look for something else, as this pre-amp was conceived for high quality Analog to Digital Conversion (ADC) from microphones. The headphone level you've got with this pre-amp is just for monitoring purposes during recording, thus the output level is quite comparable to what's provided by a laptop.

Q: 10. Does the 24-bit 192kHz also apply to music playback or is it just for recording?

A: This specification relates to the converters that pass the analog signal from the microphone during recording only.