DiGiGrid M Musician’s 2×2 SoundGrid Recording Interface

The DiGiGrid M is a compact two-input, two-output recording interface built for musicians who want to record a voice and an instrument at the same time on a Waves SoundGrid network. It suits singer-songwriters, guitarists and producers who already use SoundGrid, or who want a small, high-quality interface they can later grow into a bigger networked system.

Small Box, Studio Preamp

Input 1 is an XLR mic/line input with up to 70 dB of gain, switchable +48V phantom power and an 18 dB per octave high-pass filter at 100 Hz to clean up rumble and stand noise. That much gain is enough for quiet singers and low-output dynamic or ribbon microphones, not just condensers. Input 2 is a 1/4″ Hi-Z instrument/line input with 6 to 30 dB of gain, so a guitar or bass can plug straight in without a DI box. Each input has dedicated metering.

Built Around the Headphone Output

The M’s two outputs are a stereo headphone output driven by a dedicated high-power headphone amp, with an analogue level control. It is designed for tracking on headphones, and can drive high-impedance studio headphones as well as low-impedance ones. Important: the M has no line outputs for studio monitors. If you want to connect speakers, choose the DiGiGrid D, or add another SoundGrid I/O to your network.

SoundGrid Network Connection

The M connects to your Mac or PC, or to a SoundGrid network switch, with a single Cat 5e or Cat 6 Ethernet cable that carries audio and clock. It works as a standard audio device with native DAWs, and the same unit can be shared by more than one computer on the network. It comes with Waves’ SoundGrid Studio application, the eMotion ST mixer and StudioRack, which let you add a SoundGrid DSP server later to run plugins with very low latency while you record.

Paired with a DiGiGrid S switch, up to four DiGiGrid units can be networked up to 75 metres apart and powered over Ethernet, so you can place an M in a vocal booth and run a single cable back to the control room.

Power and Placement

The M is a 9 cm cube made from high-grade aluminium extrusion with a non-slip base. It runs from the included 12 V twist-lock power supply, or from Power over Ethernet when connected to a PoE switch such as the DiGiGrid S. An optional mic-stand adaptor plate, sold separately, lets you mount it on a stand next to the performer.

What You Need

• A Mac or PC with a wired Ethernet port, or a suitable Ethernet adaptor
• SoundGrid Studio and the DiGiGrid driver from Waves (check the Waves website for current operating system and DAW compatibility)
• A pair of headphones for monitoring

Who Is It For?

• Singer-songwriters recording vocals and guitar at the same time.
• SoundGrid and Waves users who need a compact tracking station or an extra input in another room.
• Studios with a vocal booth that want a headphone feed and mic input at the performer’s position on one network cable.

It is not the right choice if you need speaker outputs, more than one microphone input, or a simple USB interface for a single computer without SoundGrid.

DiGiGrid M vs DiGiGrid D and IOX

The DiGiGrid D, from the same desktop range, has four inputs (two mic preamps and two instrument/line inputs), level-controlled monitor outputs for speakers, two extra line outputs and a headphone output, so it is the better choice as a main studio interface. The rackmount DiGiGrid IOX gives 12 mic/line inputs and 6 line outputs for larger rooms. The M is the smallest option, focused on one mic, one instrument and headphones. Compare all audio interfaces, or find a condenser microphone for vocals.

Key Features

• 2-in, 2-out SoundGrid interface at up to 24-bit / 96 kHz
• XLR mic/line input with 0 to 70 dB of gain
• +48V phantom power and 100 Hz high-pass filter
• Hi-Z instrument/line input with 6 to 30 dB of gain
• High-power stereo headphone output with analogue level control
• Dedicated input metering
• Single Cat 5e / Cat 6 Ethernet connection, shareable between computers
• 12 V twist-lock power supply included, or Power over Ethernet
• 9 cm aluminium cube with non-slip base, optional mic-stand mount
• Includes SoundGrid Studio, eMotion ST mixer and StudioRack software

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect studio monitors to the DiGiGrid M?

No. Its outputs are a stereo headphone output only. For speakers, use the DiGiGrid D or another SoundGrid I/O with line outputs.

Can I record a vocal and a guitar at the same time?

Yes. Input 1 takes a microphone and input 2 takes a guitar or bass directly, and both record at the same time.

Does it need a separate power supply?

A 12 V power supply is included. With a PoE switch such as the DiGiGrid S, it is powered through the Ethernet cable instead.

Does it work without a SoundGrid server?

Yes. It works as a standalone interface with your DAW. A SoundGrid server is optional and adds low-latency plugin processing.

Can I mount it on a mic stand?

Yes, with the optional DiGiGrid mic-stand adaptor plate, which is sold separately.