The cheapest interface in Audient's new iD MK3 range is the one you can't buy yet. The iD1 is listed at £169 but isn't due until early 2027, while the other three are reportedly on sale now. The four models differ in preamp count, I/O, RoomTune access and release timing, so the details matter more than the names.
This guide compares the iD1, iD2, iD2+ and iD4+ using only documented figures. Everything below comes from MusicTech's report on the launch (https://musictech.com/news/gear/audient-id-mk3/), which relays Audient's own claims. No hands-on testing of these units is included, so nothing here is a verdict on sound or build. Where the report is silent or inconsistent, this guide says so.
The name map: what used to be what
According to MusicTech, the MK3 range adds no new interfaces. Four existing models get new names and move onto one shared platform. The report says each number reflects the model's preamp count.
- iD4 is now the iD1
- iD14 is now the iD2
- iD24 is now the iD2+
- iD44 is now the iD4+
The "+" models are the ones the report ties to RoomTune, Audient's built-in monitor correction.
The report also mentions earlier MusicTech scores for two of the old models: 8/10 for the iD4 and 9/10 for the iD44. Those are the publication's past verdicts on the older hardware, not test results for the MK3 versions.
I/O, preamps and expansion
This is where the models separate most clearly. The table shows what the report documents. "Not listed" means the report doesn't mention the feature, not that the interface lacks it.
| Model (old name) | I/O | Mic preamps | ADAT / inserts | RoomTune | UK price | Availability | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | iD1 (iD4) | 2-in / 2-out | 1 | Not listed | Needs RM1 mic, £39.99 extra | £169 | Early 2027 | | iD2 (iD14) | 10-in / 6-out | 2 | Not listed | Needs RM1 mic, £39.99 extra | £229 | Available | | iD2+ (iD24) | 10-in / 14-out | 2 (verify) | Not listed | Supported; mic inclusion not stated | £329 | Available | | iD4+ (iD44) | 20-in / 24-out | 4 | 16 channels ADAT in and out; 2 balanced inserts; 2 JFET instrument inputs | Supported; mic inclusion not stated | £499 | Available |
Source for all rows: the MusicTech report. All figures are manufacturer claims relayed by that report. Availability reflects its wording when retrieved on 13 November 2026, so check Audient's own pages for current stock and pricing. This pairs well with roli seaboard after administration: keep, sell or switch explained.
Only the iD4+ is documented with ADAT and hardware inserts. If you want to add a preamp unit over ADAT or patch in outboard gear, it's the one option the report gives you. For the iD2+, the report doesn't say whether it has ADAT or inserts. Confirm that on Audient's spec page before spending £329 expecting either.
The report credits every model with Audient's Console Mic Preamps, quoting 75dB of clean gain and a design matched to the ASP8024-HE console. That is a manufacturer spec. It states a gain figure, not how any preamp sounds.
RoomTune and what you really pay
RoomTune needs a reference microphone. The report says the RM Reference Microphone is sold separately for the iD1 and iD2. Later it says any non-plus interface needs the RM1 Reference Microphone, priced at £39.99.
So the report calls the mic both "RM" and "RM1". They almost certainly mean the same product, but that is an inference. Check the name on Audient's accessory page before you order. We cover related ground in go deeper on entry-level audio jobs: requirements by role compared.
The sums are simple. An iD1 with the mic comes to £208.99, and an iD2 with the mic comes to £268.99. The report doesn't say outright whether the iD2+ and iD4+ include the mic. Its wording implies they do, since only the non-plus models are described as needing a separate purchase. Treat that as unverified until Audient lists the box contents.
If the plus models do bundle the mic, the iD2+ costs £60.01 more than a mic-equipped iD2. That gets you 14 outputs instead of 6. For someone who wants RoomTune and two mic preamps, the gap is smaller than the headline £100 suggests.
Two notes on marketing. "Analogue Intelligence" is Audient's name for the platform: analogue preamps first, with DSP behind them handling levels, room correction and effects. The report quotes Chief Product Officer Andrew Allen calling iD "a completely new technology platform", not a spec refresh. That is a positioning claim, and the same report describes the range as four existing interfaces with added features.
The Analogue Tone Suite gets similar treatment. The report describes four tonal shaping tools that work before the signal reaches your DAW, but it doesn't name or measure them.
Upgrade or skip: a checklist for iD4, iD14, iD24 and iD44 owners
The report doesn't say which MK3 features, if any, reach the older hardware. Look that up first. Until you know, the default for existing owners is to skip.
Run through these questions before spending anything:
- Does Audient's spec page show a hardware difference between your model and its renamed twin? If not, you're buying a new name.
- Are you short on inputs or outputs? The jump from the iD2's 6 outputs to the iD2+'s 14, or to the iD4+'s 20-in/24-out, is documented. A new label on the same box is not an upgrade.
- Do you want RoomTune? Check whether your current unit has it, and whether a new unit comes with the mic.
- Are you waiting for the iD1 to replace an iD4? The report says the range adds no new interfaces, so the iD1 is a renamed iD4. Waiting only makes sense if you're buying new.
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This checklist is analysis based on the report's limited detail, not a hands-on judgement.
Which model fits which setup
iD1: Pick it if you record one source at a time, such as vocals, a guitar or a single mic, and you can wait until early 2027. At £169 it's the cheapest entry, or £208.99 with the RM1. If you need an interface now, the iD2 is the realistic alternative.
iD2: A singer-songwriter who wants two mic preamps and 10 inputs gets them for £229. Add £39.99 for RoomTune. That £268.99 total is still well under the iD2+.
iD2+: Consider it if the iD2's six outputs aren't enough. The report lists 14. It also lists two preamps for this model, so confirm that figure on Audient's spec page.
iD4+: This is the one for a small band, drum recording or an expanding studio. It's the only model the report documents with four mic preamps, ADAT, two balanced inserts and two JFET instrument inputs, all for £499. If you plan to add a preamp unit later, it's also the only one with documented ADAT.
Before buying any of them, verify three things: the iD2+ preamp count, the RM versus RM1 naming, and whether the plus models bundle the mic. Those gaps are the difference between a confident purchase and a guess.
