Occasionally, a product comes along that feels truly innovative and fresh. The Lewitt Connect 2 is just such a product. This USB audio interface from the Austria-based brand is making serious waves thanks to its easy-to-use features and excellent companion software.
The Connect 2 is a compact and affordable audio interface with an XLR microphone input and a Hi-Z input for a keyboard or guitar. The interface has most of the tools you need to capture voices and instruments, making it ideal for home recording and creating voiceovers, even on the road.
The touch-sensitive surface of the Connect 2 is intuitive and easy to use. The controls are silent so there are no annoying clicks that can be picked up by a microphone. The main control is a large wheel surrounded by sensors for setting input levels, gain, monitor output, headphone volume and blending the sound coming from the host computer with the inputs.
The Connect 2 also features a prominent and silent MUTE button that can turn off everything or silence individual inputs or outputs. Finally, there’s a special function button that can be programmed with a choice of actions such as toggling preamp settings or bringing the Control Center software to the fore.
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The interface is about the size of a small notepad and it’s small enough to sling in a bag to take on the road. It comes with a slightly skinny USB cable which draws the power needed to run the interface from the host device, whether that’s a computer, phone or tablet.
At the rear of the Connect 2 are the inputs and outputs including a single XLR socket with a 48V Phantom Power switch for driving condenser mics. For hooking up an instrument, there’s a Hi-Z 6.3mm jack. Next to that are two mono 6.3mm jacks for outputting the sound to a pair of active speakers. There’s also a choice of 6.3mm and 3.5mm stereo headphone jacks for monitoring, plus a USB Type C port for connecting the Connect 2 to the host computer.
So, that’s the basic tech stuff out of the way and so far it all sounds quite ordinary. However, what makes the Lewitt Connect 2 special is its software. This is the Connect 2’s secret sauce. The Connect software is superbly polished with most of the controls needed to ensure the best results.
The XLR microphone section has a gain knob for setting the mic level. There’s also a low-cut filter for screening out ruble and low frequencies, a 48V Phantom Power option and something called Clipguard, which works as a limiter and does a great job of stopping the audio from straying into clipping.
Beneath the gain knob, there are three preamp settings for Clean, Warm and Vivid EQ. The Warm setting is a little woolly but has a nice rich FM sound. The Clean setting does what it says on the tin, while the Vivid setting is so clear and sharp, that it will make you sit up straight and talk properly.
There are two more settings for each channel. The first is a Denoise control. Click this button and sit in silence while Connect 2 samples the room noise for 10 seconds. The result is a noise gate with a sharp fall-off that does a superb job of cutting out unwanted sounds like the hum of a fridge or the buzz of an HVAC unit.
The final control is a Compressor. There are no adjustments or settings for this. It’s a binary control that boosts the quiet sounds and tames the excessive ones. It’s a little primitive but it works.
The instrument section duplicates most of the same mic settings except for Clipguard. What you don’t get is any kind of Reverb or other settings that sculpt the sound although there are the Clean, Warm and Vivid preamp settings. It’s no big deal and you can always add special effects using a plugin via your DAW.
Although the Connect 2 has a professional sound with sampling that does up to 96kHz, it’s an easy interface to use. The Autogain function can set the levels for both channels while Auto setup takes you through the ideal settings for Clipguard, Denoiser, Compressor and three preamp modes.
There are plenty of LEDs to show the status of all the buttons, gain levels, headphone volume and monitor outputs. The LEDs can be fully customized with a choice of colors and adjustable brightness levels. There are other customization options such as a high-impedance output for handling difficult headphones.
Like all USB audio interfaces, the Connect 2 provides zero-latency monitoring via headphones. You can sing along with previously recorded material or overdub an instrument or whatever else you want to lay down on your DAW. You can even use the interface for the sound of a Zoom call, making your audio much better quality than using the built-in mic on a laptop.
The Loopback channel lets you send the computer signal back because the audio processing is it done by the DSP inside the Connect 2, working independently from the DAW running on the host computer. It’s ideal for streaming and recording samples. With the available input channel mapping options and the dedicated streaming mode, you can Connect 2 with your streaming software, mobile devices and mobile apps.
The sound produced by the Connect 2 is impeccable. With 72dB of gain, there’s plenty of headroom and the noise floor is low. The device can handle even the most reluctant microphones, such as Shure’s notoriously difficult SM7B. The headphone output works well, although I did find I got more output by turning on the high-impedance setting.
By connecting a guitar to the Hi-Z instrument you can enjoy a direct input signal that will faithfully capture your performance. This differential input works with any guitar, from vintage single coils to modern active humbuckers. The ground break loop circuit allows for enhanced hum immunity.
With the microphone channel, Connect 2 can automatically set the input gain after strumming your electric guitar for a few seconds. The preamp sounds give a bit more flexibility than some other audio interfaces.
When recording and mixing, you need to be sure that what you hear is what is being recorded. Connect 2 offers Zero-Ohm headphone outputs for 6.3mm and 3.5mm jacks that produce an accurate listening experience and retain the headphones’ frequency response.
Verdict: I loved the Connect 2 audio interface. It’s so easy to use and the controls, like Clipguard and Denoise, are genuinely useful. I have heard a few complaints about its control wheel being a bit jumpy, but my sample functioned perfectly on my Mac Mini M2 Pro. This is an almost-perfect audio interface for recording voices and instruments almost anywhere using just a laptop. The sound quality is second to none and the preamps are exemplary. Lewitt is a truly innovative brand and I can’t wait to see what the company comes up with next. If you are looking for a cool and easy-to-use USB audio interface, the Connect 2 is well worth an audition. Highly Recommended.
Pricing & Availability: The Lewitt Connect 2 includes the Control Center software and licenses for Steinberg Cubase LE and Steinberg Cubasis LE. It is compatible with Mac, PC and iOS. Connect 2 costs $199 / £169 / €199.
More info: www.lewit-audio.com
Tech Specs:
- Features: RGBW LEDs, MUTE, custom button, autogain, input / playback mix, gain reduction display, Kensington lock.
- Control: Capacitive touch.
- Inputs: 1x Microphone: balanced 3-pin XLR, 1x Instrument: Hi-Z 6.3mm jack.
- Outputs: 2x Speaker: 6.3mm balanced jack, 1x Headphone: 6.3mm jack, 1x Headphone: 3.5mm jack.
- Metering: 25 step high-resolution.
- Dimensions: 151 x 110 x 41mm.
- Weight: 394g.
- Power requirements: USB bus-powered.
Digital Section
- Type: USB-C audio interface.
- Software: Lewitt Control Center.
- DAW included: Steinberg Cubase LE, Cubasis LE.
- Compatibility: MacOS, Windows, iOS (plug and play with USB-C devices, devices with lightning connector require Camera Connection Kit and external bus power).
- ASIO driver: Yes.
- Sample rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz
- Bit rate: 24.
- USB Audio Class: 2.0.
- Signal flow: Input / playback mix.
- DSP powered: Yes
- Loopback: Yes.
- Inputs / Outputs: 4 (includes 2 software channels) / 2.
- Streaming modes: macOS mode, mobile mode.
- Min. system requirements: Windows 10 (64 bits): 4 GB RAM minimum, USB 2.0 connector; macOS 10.15 and higher: 4 GB RAM minimum, USB 2.0 connector.
Microphone Input
- Features: DSP (low-cut filter, clipguard, preamp modes, denoise, compressor, autogain, autosetup).
- Type: balanced.
- Connector: 3-pin XLR.
- Phantom power: 48V
- Gain range: 0 – 72dB.
- Equivalent input noise: –129dBV (A).
- Dynamic range: 118dB (A) - Without clipguard 118 dB (A).
- Max input level: 15.8dBV.
- Total harmonic distortion: 0.001%.
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz (± 0.1dB).
Instrument Input:
- Features: DSP (low-cut filter, clipguard, preamp modes, denoise, compressor, autogain, autosetup).
- Type: Hi-Z, differential ground loop break circuit.
- Connector: 6.3mm jack.
- Gain range: 0 - 60dB.
- Input impedance: 2.5MΩ.
- Equivalent input noise: –108dBV (A).
- Dynamic range: 121 dB (A) - Without clipguard 105dB (A).
- Max input level: 12.5 dBV.
- Total harmonic distortion: 0.0008%.
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz (± 0.1dB).
Speaker Output
- Features: High volume speaker mode, Mute, Volume, Map system volume controls
- Connector: 2x 6.3 mm jack, balanced.
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (± 0.1dB).
- Max output level: 12.2dBV (high-volume mode).
- Total harmonic distortion: 0.0023%.
- Impedance: 200Ω.
Headphone Output
- Features: High impedance headphone mode, Mute, Volume, Map system volume controls.
- Connector: 1x 6.3mm jack, stereo, 1x 3.5mm jack, stereo.
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz (± 0.2dB).
- Max output level: 6.8dBV (high-impedance mode).
- Total harmonic distortion: 0.003%.
- Impedance: 1.9Ω.
