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Getting Started

Inside the box​

System requirements​

Horizon requires a compatible Mac running macOS 14 Sonoma or later with Thunderbolt 3 or later connectivity. A USB-C connection without Thunderbolt support is not sufficient. Windows is not supported. Check Audient's support pages for the latest compatibility information.

Horizon requires an active Thunderbolt connection to a powered-on compatible computer to operate. Standalone operation without a host computer is not supported. Routing, Monitor Controller state and other Horizon settings are maintained by the host system and restored after a computer restart or Horizon power cycle once the host is powered on and the Thunderbolt connection is active again.

Installing Horizon Control and the driver​

Download Horizon Control from Audient ARC and run the installer. The installer installs Horizon Control and the required driver.

To authorise the Horizon driver extension, follow the steps for your macOS version. On macOS Sonoma, open System Settings > Privacy & Security and select Allow for the Horizon extension. On macOS Tahoe, open System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, open Horizon Control Extension and enable the driver. Restart your Mac to activate the driver. For other supported macOS versions, refer to Audient's driver installation guidance.

Once installed, open Horizon Control and follow the setup prompts. Complete driver setup and authorisation first, update the firmware if prompted, then add your Horizon devices. Devices already added do not need to be added again when you reopen the application.

Connecting Horizon 16 for the first time​

  1. Connect Horizon 16 to mains power using the IEC inlet.

  2. Connect the first Horizon device to the host computer using a Thunderbolt 3 or later cable. A standard USB-C cable is not suitable for the Horizon host connection. Each Thunderbolt port can provide up to approximately 15 W of bus power to a connected Thunderbolt device.

  3. Connect the analogue and digital sources and outputs required by your system.

  4. If you are using more than one Horizon device, connect the next unit from the second Thunderbolt port of the first device. Continue the chain in the same way as required.

  5. When mains power is applied, Horizon 16 powers on automatically and displays the startup animation on the Motion UI.

  6. Complete the first-power Motion UI brightness setup.

  7. Open Horizon Control.

Horizon 16 opens to its normal speaker-output metering view after the first-power setup is complete.

Adding Horizon 16 in Horizon Control​

Connected hardware is added to the Horizon system from Hardware Settings.

  1. Open Hardware Settings.

  2. Select Add Device.

  3. In Available Devices, add the connected Horizon unit or units you want to use.

  4. Select Save.

  5. Keep the default product name or enter a custom device name when prompted.

Added devices appear in the device list and their available I/O is shown in the Routing Matrix. Horizon Control supports up to four connected Horizon devices.

Removing a device from Horizon Control does not erase its previous configuration. If the same Horizon is connected and added again later, the host system recalls that configuration.

Firmware check​

Horizon Control checks the firmware version of connected Horizon devices when it opens.

  • If the connected devices are up to date, Horizon Control opens the Mixer.

  • If an update is required, you are prompted to update the firmware before continuing.

See Firmware & Updates for the complete firmware-update workflow and multi-device update behaviour.

Registration​

Register your Horizon 16 through Audient ARC to access available software and product resources.

First audio in your DAW​

In your DAW, select the installed Horizon audio device/driver. Changing the DAW session sample rate changes the Horizon system sample rate. Make sure that any connected digital system uses a single clock master.

See DAW Setup and Digital I/O & Clocking for more information.