Blackstar Polar 2 USB Audio Interface

Blackstar Polar 2 USB Audio Interface Overview:

Blackstar’s mission with POLAR is to create the go-to audio interface for guitarists that seek the ultimate  recording guitar tone. 

POLAR 2 is a 2 channel USB audio interface built by guitarists for guitarists. It features 2 high headroom FET  input channels for instrument, line and microphone, a high output headphone amp, +48V phantom power for  condenser microphones, balanced outputs for professional monitoring, visual level meters and the proprietary  “Enhance” switch. 

POLAR comes bundled with the studio software collection including the full St. James Plugin Suite and everything  you need to start recording now!

The 60 Second Story

• 2 channel audio interface designed for the recording guitarist.
  
• High-headroom FET input stage that improves tone and quality  of signal and accommodates for wide range of instrument  types, effect pedals and microphones.
  
• ‘Enhance’ feature that introduces electronics into the signal path  that replicate the sound of a classic guitar amplifier.
  
• ‘Enhance’ completely prevents digital clipping for instrument  inputs. Drive this interface like it’s a real amp and be free of the  fuss of setting the ‘correct’ levels.
  
• ‘Enhance’ on the microphone or LINE inputs gives natural clarity  and air to vocal and acoustic guitar performances.
  
• The ‘Enhance’ feature negates the need for extra hardware and  expensive DI’s to capture high quality guitar signal. It’s all built  into POLAR.
  
• Comes with the St. James Suite (worth $/£/€129),  Ableton Live Lite, ReLab LX480 Essentials Reverb, Melodyne  Essential and more*.
  
• High power headphone outputs and monitor output, with  independent monitor and headphone control.
  
• Mic preamp based off of the most renowned vintage  studio preamps.
  
• Comes with POLAR Control mixing software, giving the control  to adjust and fine-tune the levels, panning and routing of  your monitoring.
  
• Runs on USB 3.0 bus power, with +48V switch for microphones  that require phantom power.

Top 3 Call-outs

• The 2 channel USB audio interface for guitarists with FET  input stage.
  
• Enhance feature engages circuitry that replicates input  stage of a valve amplifier, eliminates digital clipping and  gives clarity to vocal and acoustic performance.
  
• Studio software collection bundle including the St. James  Plugin Suite (worth $/£/€129), Ableton Live Lite, ReLab  LX480 Essentials Reverb, Melodyne Essential and more.  Everything you need to record. Included FREE software*
  
• St. James Guitar Software Suite 
  
  • Albeton Live Lite
    
  • Relab LX480 Essentials Reverb
    
  • Melodyne Essential
    
  • POLAR Control Software

Why?

POLAR 2 solves frustrations that recording guitarists  commonly find when recording guitar by using a FET input  stage. When engaging “Enhance”, a unique set of electronics  are introduced into the signal path that replicates the input  stage of classic valve guitar amplifiers. This circuit mimics  valve amp behaviour and characteristics which improves  tone, touch, feel, and response. With POLAR “Enhance” on, Blackstar’s innovative input  stage will never digitally clip. No more ruined recording takes,  no more hassle or confusion around setting the ‘correct’  levels. POLAR allows the musician to drive the interface like  the preamp gain on a real amp.

The POLAR 2 interface was created through the processes  of Human-Centred Design, to help create a user-friendly  solution to get musicians back to focusing on the most important part: the music. Blackstar’s POLAR is easily the  go-to audio interface for anyone that wants to play and  record guitar.

Inside Information:

When recording guitar, the recorded signal is very  transient which requires setting lower input levels, giving  you an anaemic signal. Due to this weaker signal, it ends 
up sounding less like you’re playing through an amp,  and more like you’re playing through a plugin. POLAR 2  is designed to enhance the guitar DI signal in a way that 
restores the touch, the feel, and the response of playing  through a real amp.

POLAR features FET instrument inputs. Because of  these FET inputs you get ultra-low noise and high  headroom, which gives you the best sonic foundation for  your guitar tone. When you switch on “Enhance” on the  instrument input, it engages a unique circuit that’s been  meticulously designed to mimic the input stage of real  valve amplifiers—including all its non-linear behaviours  and characteristics.

A major issue with setting levels on other interfaces  is digital clipping due to the dynamic nature of guitar  signals. The “Enhance” feature on POLAR completely 
prevents digital clipping, meaning that setting guitar  levels is easy and the input stage can be driven just like  the preamp section on a valve amp.

On the microphone inputs, engaging “Enhance” will  gently lift the top end of your signal to add just the right  amount of air and clarity that sounds great on vocals, 
acoustic guitars, and even more.

With POLAR Control, you can adjust and fine-tune  the levels, panning, and routing of your setup for zero  latency monitoring in seconds.

With ultra-low noise and high headroom, POLAR  effortlessly accommodates a wide range of microphone  and instrument types, empowering the musician to 
achieve studio-quality recordings in any environment. 

The FET inputs combined with the “Enhance” switch  make it really easy to get an amazing guitar tone. You  don’t have to worry about any external hardware, no 
additional DI’s—all of that is built right into POLAR.

Specifications:

Overview

• Number of Microphone Preamps: 2
  
• Phantom Power: Yes, 48V
  
• Instrument Inputs: 2
  
• Line Inputs: 2
  
• Line Outputs: 2
  
• Headphone Outputs: 1
  
• Loopback: Yes
  
• Connectivity: USB Type-C
  
• Protocol: USB 2.0
  
• Form Factor: Desktop
  
• Simultaneous I/O: 4 x 4 (including Loopback inputs)
  
• A/D Resolution: 24-bit/192 kHz
  
• Bus Powered: Yes (960mA)
  
• Supported Sample Rates: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz
  

Microphone inputs

• Frequency Response: 20-20kHz ±0.1dB
  
• Dynamic Range: 109dB (A-Weighted)
  
• THD+N: -101dB (-103dB A-Weighted); 0dB Gain, 950mVrms, 20Hz-24kHz BW
  
• Noise EIN:  -121dBu (A-Weighted)
  
• Maximum Input Level: 2dBu
  
• Gain Range: 53dB
  
• Impedance: 3.3kΩ
  

Line inputs

• Frequency Response: 20-20kHz ±0.2dB
  
• Dynamic Range: 112dB (A-Weighted)
  
• THD+N: -85dB (-85dB A-Weighted); 8dB Gain, 380mVrms, 20Hz-24kHz BW
  
• Maximum Input Level: 10dBu
  
• Gain Range: 55dB
  
• Impedance: 500kΩ
  

Instrument inputs

• Frequency Response: 20-20kHz ±0.2dB
  
• Dynamic Range: 112dB (A-Weighted)
  
• THD+N: -82dB (-81dB A-Weighted); 3dB Gain, 630mVrms, 20Hz-24kHz BW
  
• Maximum Input Level: 10dBu
  
• Gain Range: 46dB
  
• Impedance: 500kΩ
  

Line outputs (Balanced)

• Frequency Response: 20-20kHz ±0.15dB
  
• Dynamic Range: 93dB
  
• THD+N: -80dB
  
• Maximum Output Level: 12.8dBu
  
• Impedance: 1k
  

Headphone outputs

• Frequency Response: 20-20kHz ±0.15dB @ 33Ω / 300Ω
  
• Dynamic Range
  • 110dB @ 33Ω
    
  • 107dB @ 300Ω
    
• THD+N
  • -83dB @ 33Ω
    
  • -85dB @ 300Ω
    
• Maximum Output Level
  • 7dBu into 33Ω
    
  • 15.2dBu into 300Ω
    
• Maximum Output Power
  • 85mW into 33Ω
    
  • 66mW into 300Ω
    
• Impedance: 10Ω
  

Analogue to Digital Converter

• THD+N: -100dB THD+N
  
• Dynamic Range: 114dB
  

Digital to Analogue Converter

• THD+N: -100dB THD+N
  
• Dynamic Range: 114dB
  

Power

• USB: 960mA
  
• External (Optional): 4.8W
  
• Accessory: USB A to DC cable, USB A to C cable
  
• Bundled Software: TBC