Focusrite Red 8Pre

Focusrite Red Evolution Pres with DigiLink Connectivity

Focusrite’s Red 4Pre interface is a hit product that has many Sweetwater customers clamoring for more channels. Focusrite has obliged. Red 8Pre packs eight pristine, software-controlled Red Evolution mic preamps fitted with Focusrite’s renowned Air circuit and high-resolution 24-bit/192kHz converters with parallel path summing. This increases signal-to-noise, allowing the Red 8Pre to deliver stunning audio quality. It’s incredibly versatile, too, offering dual Thunderbolt 2 ports with vanishingly low round-trip latency, Pro Tools|HD, and Dante network connectivity, and a total of 64 inputs and 64 outputs. Housed in a 1RU chassis, the Red 8Pre will look quite fetching in your studio rack.

Pristine Red Evolution preamps

The Red 8Pre’s software-controlled Red Evolution mic preamps deliver 63dB of gain, so you can use your favorite low-output ribbon microphones. Also onboard is Focusrite’s famous Air effect, which emulates the sound of the company’s acclaimed transformer-based ISA preamps. If you’re looking to bring out the breathiness of a vocal or enhance the presence on an acoustic guitar, the Red 8Pre will delight you.

High-end converters with parallel path summing

Focusrite spec’d the Red 8Pre with their new high-end conversion system that features parallel path summing, in which two matched converters run in parallel to optimize the S/N ratio. The converters operate at up to 24-bit/192kHz sampling and boast a dynamic range of 118dB (A/D), and 121dB (D/A). Noise and distortion? Not here! With a ruler-flat frequency response of 20Hz to 35kHz (±0.25dB), the Red 8Pre delivers a miniscule 0.0009% THD+noise.

Thunderbolt, DigiLink, and Dante: Connectivity you need

The Red 8Pre is designed for the modern studio — yours. Dual DigiLink connectors give you a direct connection to Pro Tools|HD systems and Avid interfaces. Dual Thunderbolt 2 ports with incredibly low round-trip latency let you daisy-chain your displays or hard drives. Got Dante? The Red 8Pre has you future proofed for Ethernet-based audio networking, too. And if you need to expand your rig, you’re covered for up to 64 additional channels with any combination of Dante interface (such as Focusrite’s RedNet series).

Valuable software included

Your Focusrite Red 8Pre ships with a hot software bundle that includes Focusrite Control, which gives you fast, intuitive control over your mic preamps and monitor/mix setups. Also included is the Red plug-in suite, which models Focusrite’s coveted Red 2 and 3 EQ and compression, as well as the Softube Time and Tone plug-in pack, which gives you eight of Softube’s pro-grade plug-ins — TSAR-1R Reverb, Drawmer S73 Intelligent Master Processor, Saturation Knob, and Tube Delay.

Remote control from your iPhone or iPad

With the free Focusrite iOS Control app, you can adjust the mixes you made with Focusrite Control on the desktop app from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.

Focusrite Red 8Pre Features:

• 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
• Focusrite Control software
• Focusrite Red plug-in suite
• Softube Time and Tone plug-in pack
• Free Brainworx bx_console re-creation of Focusrite’s ISA 110 and ISA 130 modules
• 3-year warranty

• Computer Connectivity: Thunderbolt 2
• Form Factor: Rackmount
• Simultaneous I/O: 64 x 64 (includes all I/O)
• A/D Resolution: 24-bit/192kHz
• Number of Preamps: 8 x mic, 2 x instrument
• Phantom Power: Yes
• Analog Inputs: 2 x 1/4″ (instrument), 1 x DB-25 (mic 8 ch), 2 x DB-25 (line 16 ch)
• Analog Outputs: 2 x DB-25 (line 16 ch), 2 x 1/4″ (monitor out)
• Digital Inputs: 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), 2 x DigiLink, 2 x Optical (ADAT), 1 x Coax (S/PDIF)
• Digital Outputs: 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), 2 x DigiLink, 2 x Optical (ADAT), 1 x Coax (S/PDIF)
• Headphones: 2 x 1/4″
• Data I/O: 2 x Ethernet (Dante)
• Clock I/O: In/Out (word clock), In/Out (loop sync)
• Software: Focusrite Control, Red plugin suite, Softube Time and Tone plug-ins
• OS Requirements – Mac: OS X 10.9 or later
• Rack Spaces: 1U
• Height: 1.73″
• Width: 19″
• Depth: 13.39″ (chassis only)
• Weight: 11.3 lbs.

User Guide