Blackstar Polar 2 USB Interface

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!

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

Features

• 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