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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.

Basic connection plan​

For a typical Horizon 32 system:

  • connect analogue line sources to D-sub inputs 1–32 and, where required, TRS inputs 33–34;

  • connect analogue destinations to D-sub outputs 1–32;

  • when Horizon 32 is the Primary monitoring device, connect the main monitor path to TRS outputs 33–34;

  • connect optical digital equipment to Digital 1 and/or Digital 2 and select the required ADAT or S/PDIF mode in Hardware Settings;

  • connect BNC word clock where the system requires a separate clock connection or where multiple Horizon devices are being synchronised;

  • connect Horizon 32 to the host computer over Thunderbolt.

This connection order keeps the physical channel numbers aligned with the channel and destination numbers you will see in Horizon Control.

First connection​

  1. Connect Horizon 32 to mains power using the IEC connection.

  2. Connect one of the Thunderbolt ports 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 required analogue and/or digital sources and outputs.

  4. When mains power is applied, Horizon 32 powers on automatically and displays the startup animation on the Motion UI.

  5. On first power-up, follow the Motion UI prompts to set the display brightness.

  6. Open Horizon Control.

Adding Horizon 32 in Horizon Control​

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

If Horizon 32 has not already been added to the current Horizon system:

  1. Open Hardware Settings.

  2. Select Add Device.

  3. Select the connected Horizon 32 from Available Devices.

  4. Select Save.

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

Once added, Horizon 32 appears in the device list and its available I/O is shown in the Mixer and Routing Matrix.

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 32 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.