Do I need Thunderbolt, or can I use a standard USB-C cable?
Horizon 16 requires a Thunderbolt 3 or later connection to the host computer. Although Thunderbolt uses the USB-C connector shape, a standard USB-C cable is not suitable for the Horizon host connection.
Can I use a microphone directly with Horizon 16?
Horizon 16 is a line-level interface and does not contain microphone preamps or provide phantom power. A microphone should therefore be connected through an external microphone preamp or another device that provides an appropriate line-level output.
Can I use all 16 D-sub inputs and outputs at the same time?
Yes. Horizon 16 provides 16 D-sub line inputs and 16 D-sub line outputs, and the input and output banks can be used simultaneously.
Can I use TRS inputs 17–18 at the same time as the D-sub inputs?
Yes. The two TRS line inputs on channels 17–18 are additional to the 16 D-sub line inputs, giving Horizon 16 a total of 18 analogue input channels.
Which outputs should I connect my monitors to?
TRS outputs 17–18 are Horizon 16's dedicated monitor-output pair and are the normal connection for a stereo monitor system when Horizon 16 is the Primary device. For multichannel Speaker Layouts, additional monitor channels can be routed to the required physical outputs on the Primary Horizon using the Routing Matrix. The active Monitor Profile and Speaker Layout define the monitoring configuration.
Can I use outboard equipment with Horizon 16?
Yes. The D-sub inputs and outputs are independent, so Horizon 16 can send audio to external analogue equipment and receive the processed signal back at the same time. In the Routing Matrix, route the source you want to process to the required D-sub output, then connect the return from the external equipment to a Horizon 16 line input. Use balanced analogue Tascam-standard DB25 cabling. The analogue input and output reference levels can be set by connector bank to +18 dB or +24 dB to match the operating level of connected line-level equipment.
Do the Horizon Control Mixer faders affect the level recorded in my DAW?
No. The Mixer faders control the monitoring path. Moving a fader, changing Pan, or using Mute or Solo changes what you hear in the active Main or Independent Mix without changing the analogue or digital input level being sent to the DAW.
How does monitoring work when using multiple Horizon interfaces?
Only the Primary Horizon device provides the active monitoring system. To move monitoring to another connected Horizon, move that device into the Primary position in Hardware Settings and confirm the change. The Monitor Controller then follows the new Primary device, while the previous Primary retains its stored monitoring configuration.
Do I need a word clock connection when using multiple Horizon interfaces?
Yes. Thunderbolt carries host audio, data and control between the Horizon devices, but it does not replace the separate BNC word-clock connection. The Primary Horizon provides the timing reference for the Horizon chain and the secondary units receive word clock from it. Only one device in the complete digital system should act as clock master. Enable 75 Ω Word Clock Termination on the final or only Horizon device receiving BNC word clock in the chain.
Why is my new Monitor Profile not producing any audio?
New Monitor Profiles are added to the Primary device's Routing Matrix un-routed, so creating the profile alone does not connect it to the physical monitor outputs. Select the Primary Horizon in Hardware Settings, open its Routing Matrix, then route the Speaker Layout channels from the Monitor Profile to the required physical outputs. Return to the Monitor Controller and confirm that the intended Monitor Profile is active.
Why are fewer ADAT channels available at higher sample rates?
The available ADAT channel count reduces as the sample rate increases. Horizon 16 provides up to 16 ADAT channels per input or output direction at 48 kHz, 8 at 96 kHz and 4 at 192 kHz. S/PDIF uses a two-channel digital path and is unavailable at 192 kHz.
How do I power Horizon 16 on and off?
Horizon 16 powers on automatically when mains power is applied. To power it down, open the front-panel Settings view, select Power and confirm the power-down action with the Control Wheel. If the unit has been powered down from Settings, press and hold the Control Wheel to power it on again.
Can I route audio directly between Horizon devices in the Routing Matrix?
No, not for individual local audio sources. The Routing Matrix is shown separately for each Horizon device, and local sources can only be routed to physical outputs on the selected unit. However, the Shared Mixbus carries the Main Mix and Independent Mixes A–D across the connected Horizon system, so those mixes can be routed to physical outputs on whichever Horizon device is selected in the Routing Matrix.
For more information about setting up and using your Horizon interface, visit docs.audient.com