IRig Pro I/O Quattro
The Italians continue to expand their successful iRig series, including in the Pro Range. Complementing the single-channel iRig Pro I/O and dual-channel Duo I/O, the Quattro I/O is the most extensively equipped mobile interface because, in addition to 2 or 3 more inputs, there are other extras that set it apart from the smaller interfaces.
iRig Pro Quattro I/O is a 4/2 USB Audio/MIDI interface with 24 bit/96 kHz converters. It features 4 microphone inputs with 48V phantom power, built-in limiters for the first two channels, an integrated MEMS microphone, XLR outputs and internal mixdown. The interface works with PC, Mac, Android and iOS. Suitable adapter cables such as mini DIN to USB-A, USB-C and Lightning are included, but are a bit short at only 60 cm. A suitable MIDI adapter from mini jack to DIN is also included.
For a device in the iRig series, Quattro is rather large and heavy at 166 x 92 x 43 mm and over 300g in weight. It gets a bit heavier with batteries inserted, but an optional AC adapter or a computer connected via USB can also supply power if it can deliver enough power.
In the deluxe version, matching X/Y plug-in microphones are added, so the Quattro would almost have become a mobile recorder - if IK Multimedia hadn‘t omitted a storage option such as an SD card slot. This means that a mobile device such as a tablet, laptop or smartphone must always be connected. Considering that standalone mobile handheld recorders from Zoom and others are not much more expensive, so this is a minus point. Otherwise, Quattro does very well in practice: Everything works right away, is uncomplicated and intuitive, and sounds impressive - in particular, the preamps deliver very good sound for a mobile interface.
Verdict
iRig Quattro offers many connections, clean workmanship and very good sound in a portable case. The extensive features for mobile recording, field recording, streaming, and so on are basically compelling, even though we find the missing memory option quite strange - this would have turned the interface into a handheld recorder without much effort, and you would have saved yourself an additional device.