Focusrite Red 8Pre Thunderbolt Audio Interface

Info

64x64 Premium Audio Interface For Pro Tools | HD™ And Thunderbolt™ 3 Workflows, Featuring Eight Red Evolution Mic Pres And 32x32 Dante™ Audio-Over-IP Connectivity

Red 8Pre features both Thunderbolt 2 connectivity and dual mini-DigiLink ports allowing you the best of both Core Audio and Pro Tools | HD workflows. Take Red 8Pre on the road for location recording over Thunderbolt then connect the same interface to Pro Tools|HDX or Pro Tools|HD Native back at the studio for mixdown. Switch easily between Pro Tools | HD and any Thunderbolt-connected DAW with Host Mode. The combination of low-latency conversion and driver technology allows real-time foldback mixes to be created in the DAW while you continue to use your native plug-ins. Unlike many interfaces, both mini-DigiLink and Thunderbolt 2 connectivity comes as standard, so there's no need to buy an additional option card.

Eight Red Evolution Mic Pres

Focusrite's Red Evolution mic pres draw on many decades of design prowess as well as many of the elements behind the incredibly popular RedNet mic pre used in many studios, broadcast facilities and live performances around the world. The digitally-controlled mic pres deliver a clear and honest sound with very low noise and plenty of gain available for the most-quiet of sources. They can be controlled from the front panel or remotely over Thunderbolt using Focusrite Control. Additionally the mic pre settings can be saved and recalled allowing you to quickly re-setup for your next session. They also include our unique 'Air' effect, recreating the sound of the transformer-based mic preamps in the ISA and original Red ranges. When 'Air' is enabled, the microphone impedance is lowered and the sound is given a subtle mid-high boost – all in the analogue domain.

Parallel Path Conversion

Focusrite has been designing digital converters for over 20 years. From the original Blue 245 and 260 mastering-grade A-D and D-A, through the Liquid Channel and more recently RedNet, digital conversion is a key part of our design heritage and philosophy. Every converter we design starts with the same objectives: low latency, high dynamic range and a flat, wide frequency response. Red 8Pre's conversion achieves just that, lightning fast performance, a dynamic range of 118dB A-D and 121dB D-A and a flat response to 35kHz. By using “parallel path summing" we have achieved even greater noise-performance than ever.

Room For Expansion

While Red 8Pre has enough I/O for many scenarios, sometimes more is needed. That's why Red 8Pre includes two ADAT ports, for up to 16 additional inputs and outputs. Simply connect any ADAT equipment, such as the Focusrite Octopre, using light pipes. However in today's modern studio, audio networking is taking over. Focusrite's RedNet range is the world's most popular modular audio-over-IP platform. We've brought some of that technology to Red 8Pre, allowing up to 32 channels of Dante inputs and outputs to be connected. Simply plug in an Ethernet cable and add additional mic pres or line I/O with ease. Alternatively arrive at the studio or venue and simply connect one Ethernet cable to Red 8Pre to gain access to the whole network. The possibilities are huge.

Hugely Flexible

Since Red 8Pre allows the user to assign any physical input or output to any driver/Pro Tools|HD channel, it's easier than ever to customise the interface layout and integrate hardware inserts. Simply open Focusrite Control software and reallocate the channels as required.

Simple Switching Between DAWs

Switch between Pro Tools | HD and a DAW connected to the Thunderbolt interface using the Host Mode setting in the included Focusrite Control software. For example, you can switch quickly and easily between Pro Tools | HD and Ableton, Logic or Pro Tools software - just keep both connected at all times and make the switch whenever you need.
Ultra-Low Latency
Monitoring latency is the enemy of any performer and if the performance isn't excellent, the final mix won't be either. By utilising the lowest-latency conversion available, coupled with a high-performance Core Audio driver, Red 8Pre's analogue round trip latency is kept to an exceptionally low minimum of 1.67ms.

Included Software

Red 8Pre includes the new Focusrite Control software, providing a straightforward and intuitive way to set up mixes and monitoring - and more! Control the mic pres – recall settings, assign stereo pairs, adjust gain and enable features such as highpass filtering and phantom power. Switch quickly between Pro Tools | HD and a Thunderbolt-connected DAW with the Host Mode setting. In addition, Red 8Pre is packaged with Softube's Time and Tone Bundle – a unique plug-in pack including four of Softube's professional quality plug-ins: Drawmer S73 Intelligent Master Processor, TSAR-1R Reverb, Tube Delay and Saturation Knob. Also in the box is the Focusrite Red Plug-in Suite, which accurately models Focusrite's classic Red range 2 and 3 equalizer and compressor hardware.

8 Focusrite Red Evolution Mic Preamps
High-resolution 24-bit/192kHz converters with parallel path summing
Dual Thunderbolt 2 ports enable easy daisy-chaining
Dual DigiLink connectivity to Pro Tools | HD systems and Avid interfaces
Dual Ethernet ports for Dante audio-over-IP networking
Vanishingly low round-trip latency
Ethernet expansion up to 64 additional channels
Free Avid Pro Tools | HD DigiLink I/O license
Focusrite Control software
Focusrite Red plug-in suite
Softube Time and Tone plug-in pack

Microphone Inputs

Gain Range: 0-8 to 63 dB in 1dB steps
Maximum Input Level: +19 dBu
Input Impedance: 6.2 kΩ, electronically balanced Air Mode: 2.2 kΩ
Dynamic Range: 119 dB ‘A’-Weighted (typical), minimum gain
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2dB Air Mode: 2dB boost at 10 kHz and -2 dB at 20 kHz (ref. 1 kHz)
THD + N: 0.0009% @ -1 dBFS
HPF: -3 dB @ 80 Hz, 12 dB/octave
EIN: -129 dBu ‘A’-Weighted (typical)

Line Inputs

Maximum Input Level: +27 dBu ±0.5, minimum gain
Dynamic Range: 119 dB ‘A’-Weighted
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2 dB Air Mode: 2dB boost at 10 kHz and -2 dB at 20 kHz (ref. 1 kHz)
THD + N: 0.0009% Channels 1 – 8
0.0006% Channels 9 – 16
HPF: -3 dB @ 80 Hz, 12 dB/octave Channels 1 – 8 only
CMRR: -70 dB 50/60 Hz

Instrument Inputs

Gain Range: 0-8 to 63 dB in 1dB steps
Maximum Input Level: +15 dBu
Input Impedance: 2.3 MΩ
Dynamic Range: 117 dB ‘A’-Weighted
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2 dB Air Mode: 2dB boost at 10 kHz and -2 dB at 20 kHz (ref. 1 kHz)
THD + N: 0.002% @ -1 dBFS
HPF: -3 dB @ 80 Hz, 12 dB/octave

Line Outputs 3 – 18

Maximum Output Level: +18 dBu 0 dBFS
Dynamic Range: 121 dB ‘A’-Weighted
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2 dB
THD + N: 0.0008%

Monitor Outputs

Maximum Output Level: +18 dBu 0 dBFS
Dynamic Range: 120 dB ‘A’-Weighted
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2 dB
THD + N: 0.0012%

Headphone Outputs

Maximum Output Level: +16 dBu
Dynamic Range: 114 dB ‘A’-Weighted
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz ±0.2 dB
THD + N: 0.018%
Output Impedance: 10 Ω
Headphone Impedance: 32 – 600 Ω

Digital Performance

Supported Sample Rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz 24 bit
Clock Sources: Internal, ADAT, S/PDIF, Word Clock, Loop Sync or from Dante Network Master

Connectivity

Front Panel
- Instrument Input: 2 x 1/4” TS stereo Jack
- Headphone Output: 2 x 1/4” TRS stereo Jack
Rear Panel
- Thunderbolt: 2 x Thunderbolt 2 connections
- Pro Tools | HD: 2 x Mini DigiLink
- Dante: 2 x Ethernet standard RJ45 (Cat 5e and above)
- Mic Input: 1 x DB25
- Line Input: 2 x DB25
- Line Output: 2 x DB25
- ADAT: 2 x TOSLINK input, 2 x TOSLINK output
- S/PDIF: RCA Phono (TOSLINK up to 96 kHz) input, RCA Phono (TOSLINK up to 96 kHz) output
- Monitor Output: 2 x 1/4” TRS stereo Jack
- Loop Sync: BNC 75Ω input, BNC 75Ω output,
- Word Clock: BNC 75Ω input, BNC 75Ω output,
- PSU: IEC