PreSonus AudioBox iTwo 2x2 USB/iPad Recording System

I bought this unit to replace my older Presonus Audiobox USB which developed a problem with the headphone output, where I just wore out the volume pot after years of use. But it got pretty heavy use for 8 years solid and had been on 24/7. The new one I bought, the iTwo is junk. It sounds good, when it works. But I never know if it is actually going to work, that's the problem. I plug it in and there is no sound(you can't leave it on because it disconnects from the computer and doesn't reconnect when the computer comes back on, so I was told by tech support to unplug it when it's not in use - very inconvenient). Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. The computer says it's hooked up and reading it, but no sound comes out of the headphone jack. I have been back and forth with Presonus about this TWICE and tried everything possible to try and get it to work consistently with no luck, and they won't do anything about it. They won't honor the warranty and replace the unit. It has been a problem from Day 1. I get so annoyed at this thing I want to throw it in the trash and just buy another brand. I am so angry I spent the money on this! I loved my old one, but the new ones just aren't made as well. I don't think I'll buy another Presonus unit ever again. Such a shame because I really liked their stuff before.

iTwo was integrated into a small church audio system which included iMac computer and Presonus 16.0.2 mixer. The primary uses of the iTwo 1) digitize audio from Presonus mixer and 2) provide iMac audio to Presonus mixer. The iTwo works for both uses very well.

I bought this unit to replace my older Audiobox USB which I kept plugged in to my computer and on for 8 years straight with no problems until one day the volume pot on the headphone output stopped working. I needed a new interface for a recording job, so I bought the iTwo because it had the added iPad input. It's a nice unit but I have had problems with it not working off and on ever since I bought it 9 months ago. It seems to be incompatible with Mac OS X Mojave. I have been back and forth with Presonus support and they can't figure out what is wrong with it, and I get nowhere with them. It randomly disconnects from the computer and no sound goes through it. I have to keep unplugging it and replugging it in to try to get it to connect. Sometimes I have to do it more than once and restart the computer multiple times. It's a pain in the backside. I am not happy with this new unit. I am not sure I will buy Presonus products again.

Update to critical review by jrg. I don't know what changed, but I just used various combinations of Audiobus 3, Flux:FX and Flection Distortion to process a drum machine in real-time through an iPad Air 2 for nearly an hour and my battery decreased only 1%! I powered the Audiobox iTwo through a 6 ft. USB/Thunderbolt cable to the power adapter that came with the iPad. The last time I did something similar, several months ago, this would have consumed 10-15%. Perhaps one of the iPad updates since I last used the Audiobox changed something on the iPad to remedy this extra battery usage. Presonus' claim about the "trickle charging" may now be valid. I'm unable to edit the previous review, but if I could I would give this item 5 stars.

I have an iPad Air 2 and it does not charge the iPad while it is connected to an AudioBox iTwo that is powered using an Apple charger. A Knowledge Base article on their website claims that the iPad "trickle charges" while in operation. I closed all apps on the iPad except for the three required to perform the audio activity I had purchased the unit to perform. The iPad did not charge nor did the battery deplete any more slowly as a result of the "trickle charging." I connected a Korad 3005 testing power supply, which is capable of providing much more power than the Apple charging adapter that is packaged with the iPad, to the AudioBox and its charging function did not improve. The iPad still was not charged by the AudioBox iTwo. If you damage the AudioBox iTwo with a mismatched or faulty power supply the unit does not qualify for a repair under warranty. Presonus wants $85 USD to repair and return the unit to you, in addition to you paying the shipping both ways.

I'm not here to review the recording capabilities of the iTwo, but after several failed attempts to get m-Audio and Focusrite USB boxes to play nice with Win8.1 I couldn't be happier with the iTwo. Not one glitch with the installation or playback in the first few days. I'm sure the competitive hardware is great but their Win8/8.1 drivers and support leave a lot to be desired. I primarily use USB audio boxes for playback through KRK Rokit8's and a Rokit10 sub. Two thumbs up for this application.