{"product_id":"arrakis-darc-sur-8-asio-console-bundle","title":"Arrakis DARC-Sur-8-ASIO Console Bundle","description":"\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArrakis DARC-Sur-8-ASIO Console Bundle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat This Arrakis DARC Surface 8 ASIO Console Bundle Actually Is This bundle takes the compact 8-fader Arrakis console and pairs it with an ASIO-based audio interface setup instead of a Dante network, making it a strong option for smaller studios that want a real physical control surface without building out network infrastructure. You get the DARC Surface 8 console, the 16-channel DARC Virtual software license, a Behringer UMC1820 USB audio interface, and a Behringer ADA8200 for additional input expansion. Rather than routing audio over a Dante network through Simple IP nodes, this setup connects directly through USB and ADAT lightpipe, giving you a simpler standalone system that's easier to get running if you don't already have networked audio gear in place. Combined, the UMC1820 and ADA8200 give you roughly 18 mono inputs and 20 mono outputs to work with, which covers a solid range of mic and line sources for a single studio. This is a good fit for anyone who wants the DARC console experience without needing to learn or manage a Dante network alongside it. How the DARC Surface 8 Physical Console Operates The Surface 8 gives you 8 physical fader channels, each with dedicated Program, Audition, and Cue buttons so you can manage sources directly at the board without digging through software menus during a live show. Monitor control lets you switch between Air, Program, and Audition feeds, with volume adjustment and toggling between Monitor, Headphone, and Cue paths built right into the console. Bright LED VU meters give you a constant visual read on Program and Audition levels, and long-life OLED displays on each channel show exactly which source is currently assigned to that fader. Being a digital control surface, the Surface 8 keeps your audio path free of signal degradation and RF interference, which matters in a studio surrounded by other electronics. Instead of connecting to Simple IP nodes over a network, this version routes its audio through your ASIO interface, keeping the physical setup contained to just the console, the audio interface, and your computer. Installation stays simple, since the console itself connects via USB, with all the actual audio wiring handled at the UMC1820 and ADA8200. DARC Virtual 16 Software and How It Works With ASIO Hardware The DARC Virtual 16 license is the software layer running the mix behind the Surface 8, handling routing, levels, and channel assignment for every input connected through your ASIO interface. Unlike the Dante-based bundles, this version doesn't require a network audio source, instead working directly with any ASIO-enabled soundcard, in this case the UMC1820 paired with the ADA8200 for extra channels. Each input channel can be labeled, color-coded, and saved into a user profile, so switching between different shows or hosts becomes a matter of loading a saved configuration instead of resetting every channel by hand. The software also supports single-channel, post-fader recording, useful for anyone wanting to capture and edit individual mic tracks separately from the finished mix. Mic channels get an added benefit here too, since mic monitor mute automatically routes monitor output to the headphones when a mic channel is active, with talkback audio following the same path. This ASIO-based approach trades some of the networked flexibility of a Dante system for a more contained, simpler setup that's easier to get running without any networking knowledge. What the UMC1820 and ADA8200 Add to Your Signal Chain The Behringer UMC1820 serves as your primary ASIO audio interface, providing built-in mic preamps along with a headphone output that includes volume control and switching between Program and Audition mixes. It also includes a second headphone output with independent software volume control, along with SPDIF digital outputs assigned to the Monitor output, which may require a D\/A converter depending on your monitoring setup. The ADA8200 connects to the UMC1820 via ADAT to add substantially more inputs to the system, giving you room for more microphones or line sources than the UMC1820 could handle on its own. Between the two units, you get roughly 18 mono inputs and 20 mono outputs, enough to cover a fairly busy single studio without needing any additional hardware. Since both units connect through standard USB and ADAT rather than a Dante network, setup is generally quicker for anyone unfamiliar with network audio configuration, though it does mean this system is less suited to linking multiple physical studios together compared to the Dante-based bundles. Why This ASIO Setup Might Be the Better Choice for Some Studios Choosing this bundle over a Dante-based Simple IP setup usually comes down to studio size and future plans. If you're running a single studio with no immediate plans to network multiple rooms together, the ASIO route through the UMC1820 and ADA8200 gets you a functional, reliable system without the added complexity of Dante network configuration. It also tends to be a more familiar setup for studios that have already worked with USB audio interfaces in other contexts, since ASIO drivers and interface routing are common ground for a lot of audio engineers. The tradeoff is that this system won't natively link to other Dante devices or additional studios the way the Simple IP versions can, so if network expansion is part of your longer-term plan, a Dante-based bundle would serve you better down the line. Who This Console Bundle Is Best Suited For This bundle is well suited for single-studio setups, smaller podcast operations, or community and campus stations that want the DARC Surface experience without taking on Dante network configuration. It works particularly well for studios that already use ASIO interfaces for other audio work, since the setup process will feel familiar. Because the UMC1820 and ADA8200 combination provides a solid number of inputs, this bundle can comfortably support multiple mics, line sources, and phone hybrids in one room. If you're a single-location station or studio without plans to expand into a multi-room network, this setup gives you real physical fader control and full DARC Virtual software functionality with a more straightforward path to getting on air.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arrakis","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50995700433143,"sku":"DARC-Sur-8-ASIO","price":3700.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0422\/1291\/7402\/files\/arrakis-systems-logo_b8066c30-a506-404b-828c-9a7d170f1e1f.jpg?v=1785794832","url":"https:\/\/www.305broadcast.com\/products\/arrakis-darc-sur-8-asio-console-bundle","provider":"305broadcast","version":"1.0","type":"link"}