Description
The Antelope Audio Zen Tour Synergy Core packs Antelope’s cutting-edge Synergy Core FX processing platform into the compact, road-ready form factor of the Zen Tour. Small yet mighty, the Zen Tour Synergy Core offers comprehensive analog and digital I/O, with both USB and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. A major step up from the hit original Zen Tour interface, the Synergy Core adds upgraded pro-class A/D and D/A conversion, Antelope’s signature Acoustically Focused Clocking technology, and the easy-to-use touchscreen control from Antelope’s flagship Goliath interfaces. Simply put, the Zen Tour Synergy Core outperforms any competing product with its unbeatable value and vast studio potential — a complete all-around solution for artists and producers, both on your desktop and on the go.
Stacked with Effects Potential
Want to record wet/dry and monitor in real-time through a mic preamp emulation, EQ, compressor(s), modulation, and reverb? With your plug-ins offloaded to the dedicated FX processing built into the Zen Tour Synergy Core, complex FX chains are no sweat. The Synergy Core platform takes the load off your host CPU, eliminating the distracting latency that plagues DAW native plug-ins – so you can reduce your buffer size and improve your recording system’s stability. Loaded with 4 ARM DSP cores and 2 FPGA processors, the Zen Tour Synergy Core can process up to 256 FX instances over 32 audio channels with ultra-low latency and zero CPU drain.
Kickstart Your Production With 36 Core FX – Included Free
Get creative in the studio and enhance your tracks with a vast variety of effects, including Antares Auto-Tune Synergy, Vari-Speed Tremolo, Space Flanger, Opto-2A, and tons more. Your Zen Tour Synergy Core comes with 36 premier FX from Antelope’s growing library, so you can get going immediately — including 2 preamp models, 4 equalizers, 5 compressors, 22 guitar amps & cabs, 2 special processing FX, and AuraVerb reverb.
Hear the Truth: Updated Converters + Antelope Clocking
Antelope Audio re-engineered the Zen Tour’s input and output stages with upgraded op-amps and updated converter chips. Utilizing Antelope’s signature Acoustically Focused Clocking technology, the Zen Tour Synergy Core maintains pristine AD/DA conversion for artifact-free recording and critical listening, with a best-in-class dynamic range of 124 dB on the ADC, 127 dB on the line out DAC, and 130 dB dynamic range on the monitor output. You get the pro-class conversion found in the Orion Studio Synergy Core interface – in a much more portable package.
Small Interface, Massive I/O
Zen Tour Synergy Core’s comprehensive connectivity rivals that of rackmount pro audio interfaces with 4 Instrument/Line inputs, 4 Mic/Line Ins, 8 Line Outs (DC-Coupled), 1 Stereo Monitor Out, 2 Headphone Outs and 2 Re-Amp Outs – a total of 8 inputs and 14 outputs – with ADAT & S/PDIF expandability for an additional 10 channels of digital I/O. The Zen Tour Synergy Core is ready to plug into your Mac or Windows PC, with Thunderbolt 3 (Type-C) as well as USB 2 (Type-B) for cross-platform compatibility — and users of multiple computers/operating systems can switch connections on the fly.
Route Any Audio, Anywhere
The comprehensive Routing Matrix inside Antelope’s software Control Panel houses a full-fledged digital patch bay, so you can freely route audio between the interface’s analog and digital inputs. Process DAW tracks through Synergy Core FX and re-amp guitar DIs with the Shred Guitar Amps & Cabs, or integrate external audio equipment. With the ‘training wheels’ removed, your workflow can be as intricate as you want it to be.
Sturdy & Portable
Hand-assembled in Europe, the Zen Tour Synergy Core can rock both your studio desktop and your band’s practice space – and live to tell about it!
Like the Original Zen Tour Interface – Only Better
Ever since it hit the pro audio world back in 2016, the original Antelope Zen Tour interface has been in a league of its own. Never before had artists and producers enjoyed this kind of connectivity, sound quality, and touchscreen control on a desktop unit. The Zen Tour Synergy Core more than lives up to its predecessor’s impressiveness – and unlocks Antelope’s future-proof Synergy Core FX processing platform, too.
Features:
- Synergy Core FX processing: 4x ARM DSP + 2x FPGA handling up to 256 effects instances per session
- 36 Synergy Core FX plug-ins included
- Compatible with the Antelope Audio AFX2DAW bridge plug-in
- USB (Type-B) & Thunderbolt 3 (Type-C) computer connectivity
- Up to 130 dB dynamic range AD/DA conversion at up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution
- Proprietary 4th-generation Acoustically Focused Clocking & Jitter Management clocking technology with 64-bit DDS
- 4 Discrete transistor mic preamps with mic modeling support (for Antelope Audio Edge & Verge modeling microphones)
- Dedicated mastering monitor out DAC for critical listening
- Two pairs of headphone outputs
- Two pairs of re-amp outputs
- 8 DC-coupled line outs on DB25 for sending CV/Gate to your analog synthesizers
- ADAT and S/PDIF digital connectivity. External converters can be clocked via ADAT
- Multifunctional touchscreen display for monitoring and operation
- Hand-assembled in Europe
- Free technical support is available 20 hours/business day over phone, chat & ticketing system
Zen Tour Synergy Core comes with 36 Synergy Core FX (a $2120 value when purchased separately):
| FX Plugin | Type | |
| 1 | Gyraf Gyratec IX | Dual Tube Mic Preamp with HPF |
| 2 | VCA160 | VCA Compressor / Limiter |
| 3 | Stay-Levin | Vari-Mu Tube Compressor |
| 4 | FET-A76 | FET Compressor / Limiting Amplifier |
| 5 | VEQ-1A | 2-Band Tube EQ |
| 6 | VMEQ-5 | 3-Band Tube Mid-Range EQ |
| 7 | X903 | VCA Compressor / Limiter |
| 8 | PowerFFC | Feed-Forward Compressor |
| 9 | Clear Q | Parametric EQ |
| 10 | Power EX | Expander |
| 11 | VEQ-HLF | Tube 2-Band HPF / LPF |
| 12 | Auraverb | Reverb |
| 13 | BA-31 | Germanium Mic Preamp |
| 14 | Power Gate | Noise Gate |
| 15 | Plexi 59 (UK) | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 16 | Bass SuperTube VR | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 17 | Darkface 65 (US) | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 18 | Top30 (UK) Bright | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 19 | Tweed Deluxe (US) | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 20 | Overange 120 (UK) | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 21 | BurnSphere (DE) Lead | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 22 | Marcus II (US) Lead | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 23 | Modern (US) CH3 | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 24 | Rock 75 (UK) | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 25 | Rock 22.10 (UK) | Tube Guitar Amp |
| 26 | Darkface 65 2×12 | 2×12 Guitar Cabinet |
| 27 | Top30 2×12 | 2×12 Guitar Cabinet |
| 28 | Modern 4×12 | 4×12 Guitar Cabinet |
| 29 | Green 2×12 | 2×12 Guitar Cabinet |
| 30 | Vintage 4×12 | 4×12 Guitar Cabinet |
| 31 | Green 4×12 | 4×12 Guitar Cabinet |
| 32 | Caliper 50 1×10 | 1×10 Guitar Cabinet |
| 33 | Bluelux 1×12 | 1×12 Guitar Cabinet |
| 34 | Clst 1×12 | 1×12 Guitar Cabinet |
| 35 | England 4×12 | 4×12 Guitar Cabinet |
| 36 | Bass Tube 1×15 | 1×15 Guitar Cabinet |
1. Specifications:
ANALOG
Analog Inputs
4 x Hi-Z / Line Inputs
4 x Mic / Line Inputs on Combo XLR jacks
Analog Outputs
1 x Stereo Monitor Out on TRS 1/4 Jacks (Pair), +20 dBu max
8 x Line Outs on TRS, +20 dBu max (DC-Coupled)
2 x Stereo Headphone Outputs
2 x Re-amp Outputs
Mic Preamp
EIN: -128 dBu (A-weighted)
Dynamic Range: -121 dB (A-weighted)
THD: -106 dB
Max input: +20 dBu
Max Gain: 65 dB
D/A Monitor Converter
Dynamic Range: 130 dB
THD + N: -115 dB
D/A Converter (Line Out)
Dynamic Range: 127 dB
THD + N: – 106 dB
DC Coupled
A/D Converter
Dynamic Range: 124 dB
THD + N: -110 dB
DIGITAL
Digital Inputs
1 x ADAT (up to 8CH)
1 x S/PDIF (up to 2CH)
Digital Outputs
1 x ADAT (up to 8CH) also transmitting word clock
1 x S/PDIF (up to 2CH) also transmitting word clock
USB 2.0 I/O
USB 2.0 Type B connector
(Up to 24 channels)
Thunderbolt™ 3
Thunderbolt™ 3 Type C connector
(Up to 32 channels)
CLOCKING
Clocking System
4th Generation Acoustically Focused Clocking
64-bit DDS
Sample Rates (kHz)
44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
OTHER
Operating Temperature
0-50°C, 32-122°F
Weight (Approx)
1.6 kg/ 3.5 lbs
Dimensions (Approx)
Width: 255 mm / 10.0”
Height: 62 mm / 2.4”
Depth: 168 mm /6.6”
Power Consumption
25 Watts
IN THE BOX
Zen Tour Synergy Core Interface
Quick Start Guide
Inline External Power Supply Unit
USB Cable
Warranty Card
2. System Requirements
WINDOWS
PC: Computer with USB ports and Thunderbolt™ 3 (backwards compatible with Thunderbolt™ 2)
OS: Windows 10 x64 with the latest updates
RAM: 4GB minimum (8GB or more recommended)
CPU: Intel Core i3™ or AMD FX and higher
MAC
Model: Apple Mac 2012 or newer with USB ports and Thunderbolt™ 3 (backwards compatible with Thunderbolt™ 2)
OS X: macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and higher – Recommended macOS 10.14 (Mojave)
Memory: (RAM)4GB minimum (8GB or more recommended)
Additional Info: Internet connection required for product activation.
