Red 4Pre 58 in / 64 out Thunderbolt™ 2 audio interface – with Pro Tools | HD and Dante™ network audio connectivity User Guide FFFFFA001418-01 www.focusrite.
Contents About this User Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Box Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pro Tools Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Using Red 4Pre with other Pro Tools | HD interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Loop Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Pro Tools Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About this User Guide This user guide applies to the Red 4Pre Thunderbolt Interface. It provides information about installing and operating the unit and how it can be connected into your home or studio system.
Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Focusrite Red 4Pre. Red 4Pre is a dual Thunderbolt™ & Pro Tools | HD audio interface and preamplifier, suitable for a wide range of audio integration applications. Featuring Mic, Line and Instrument analogue inputs and fourteen analogue outputs – including independent loudspeaker and headphone monitoring and LCD meter display.
System Block Diagram METER I I INST Focusrite 2 2 I 3 4 2 MONITOR Input Function & Gain Input Select Meters Output Control 2 Mic 1-4 ch1-4 D-A Analogue Inputs Instrument 1-2 ch1-2 Line 1-8 ch1-8 8 Digital I/O ADAT 2 9-16 S/PDIF In S/PDIF Out Loopback In 2 2 8 A-D Monitor 1-2 Headphones 1-2 Analogue Outputs Line 3-10 Thunderbolt 64 ROUTER ADAT 1 1-8 Pre GLOBAL SELECT 60 DAW Host Select Pro Tools 16 16 32 32 2 Dante Network Network 2 Word Clock 2 Loop Sync Numb
Red 4Pre Controls and Connections Front Panel Input Encoder Input Display Output Display H/phone Select Output Encoder H/phone Outputs METER I I INST 2 2 I 3 4 2 Focusrite Instrument Inputs Pre GLOBAL SELECT MONITOR Input Select Buttons Level Meter Display Meter & Monitor Buttons Power Switch • Instrument Inputs. Two high-impedance inputs on 1/4” jack sockets. • Input Select buttons provide direct access to the menu settings for analogue input channels 1–4.
Rear Panel Word Clock WARNING THIS EQUIPMENT MUST BE EARTHED BY THE POWER CORD AC Inlet Loop Sync Focusrite 1 Pro Tools Interface IN 2 OUT WORD CLOCK Dante Network Thunderbolt 2 Interface LOOP SYNC 1 IN OUT IN OPTICAL 1-8 ADAT I/O x2 2 4 3 2 1 LINE INPUTS 1-8 OUT IN OPTICAL 9-16 PRIMARY PORT Line Inputs OUT SPDIF S/PDIF I/O R MONITOR OUTPUTS L L/R Monitor Outputs LINE OUTPUTS 3-10 Line Outputs MIC INPUTS Microphone Inputs • AC Mains Inlet.
Physical Characteristics 300mm / 11.8” 465.0mm / 18.3” 31.8mm / 1.25” Red 4Pre dimensions are illustrated in the diagram above. Red 4Pre requires 1U of vertical rack space and at least 360 mm of rack depth, to allow for cables. Red 4Pre weighs 4.97 kg and for installations in a fixed environment (eg., a studio), the front-panel rack mountings will provide adequate support. However, if the units are to be used in a mobile situation (eg., flight-cased for touring, etc.
Operation Inputs Red 4Pre has the capacity to accommodate eight analogue inputs, two independent 8-channel ADAT inputs, a 2-channel S/PDIF input plus 32 Dante input channels.
Input Configuration The settings for an input channel – its input type and function options – are selected via the Config Menu. • To enter the Config Menu, press-and-hold a channel’s Select button Line Type +48V On Off Phase On Off HPF On Off Air On Off Link On Off To exit this screen, press any of the channel Select buttons (or, rotate the Input Encoder to the ‘Back’ option and then click).
EARTHED BY THE POWER CORD Encoder Toggle Function The Input Encoder can be programmed to toggle any one of the input functions with a single push (ie., without having to enter the Config Menu screen). This can be very useful when, for example, experimenting with microphone phasing.
WARNING ADAT THIS EQUIPMENT MUST BE EARTHED BY THE POWER CORD Digital Inputs Focusrite 1 IN 2 ADAT inputs 1 and 2 are accessed via the rear panel connectors. Signals will be available if the source is connected and locked. WORD CLOCK Each In/Out connection provides: 44.1 / 48 kHz 88.2 / 96 kHz 176.
Monitoring Monitors Monitor outputs, at line level, are provided via the 1/4” jack outputs on the rear panel. • The Output Encoder will adjust the monitor output level whenever the Monitor button is illuminated Monitor Display The monitor display shows the current volume level and whether either Dim or Mute is active. ‘Dim’ attenuates the signal by 18dB. The L/R meter display shows a pre-fade level (the signal level present before the Output Encoder).
EARTHED BY THE POWER CORD Meter Display The centre LCD screen displays eight level meters. These indicate the internal signal level, after A-D conversion, with 0 dBFS being at full scale. Analogue Inputs [I-8] I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A red clip indicator is displayed on channels that reach clipping point.
Thunderbolt Connection Confirm that Red 4Pre’s Host setting is set to ‘Thunderbolt’, see Global Host Settings on page 19. Two Thunderbolt 2 connectors are located on the rear panel. WARNING (not supplied). THIS EQUIPMENT MUST BE EARTHED BY THE POWER CORD Focusrite Connect to the host or into the chain using standard Thunderbolt cables 1 IN 2 OUT 1 IN OUT IN OUT See appendix 2 on pages 24–26 for the channel I/O allocation tables.
Pro Tools Connection Confirm that Red 4Pre’s Host setting is set to ‘Pro Tools’, see Global Host Settings on page 19. Connect both rear panel PRIMARY ports to a Pro Tools | HDX card using Mini DigiLink cables. Each Pro Tools | HDX PCI/PCIe card provides two Mini DigiLink ports (giving the card a capacity of 64 inputs and 64 outputs), thus one Red 4Pre may be connected to each card.
Pro Tools Setup • From the Pro tools menu bar, go to: Setup > Playback Engine... • In the Playback Engine menu pop-up, select: ‘HD Native’ The following steps are optional but will simplify signal routing: • From the menu bar, go to: Setup > I/O Setup... • Ensure your input and output routing tables are routed as follows by selecting the Default tab at the bottom left of the page. Notes 1.
Global Settings Press the Meter and Monitor buttons simultaneously to enter the global settings menu. • Rotate the Output Encoder to select a menu item • Click the Output Encoder to step through the available options To exit the Global settings screen press the Monitor button (or select the ‘Back’ option).
Focusrite Control The Focusrite Control application provides remote control of all Red 4Pre’s front panel hardware functions and system settings via a graphical interface on your DAW. Additionally – when operating in Thunderbolt host mode – the application provides control of all input and output routing and mixing functions. Please note: This manual includes information relating to Red 4Pre’s specific front panel controls and device settings.
Device Settings GUI Sync Tally Host Mode Sample rate Clock Source S/PDIF Source Channel Gain Channel Function Input Type Meter Source Sync Tally – will be illuminated if Red 4Pre is locked to a valid clock source Channel Gain – sets the input gain on analogue channels 1 – 4. Click-and-drag to change Channel Function – click to select an input function. See page 11 for Function descriptions Input Type – click to select the input signal type.
Appendices Appendix 1 – Connector Pinouts XLR Connectors Connector type: Applies to: Pin XLR-3 Female Mic Inputs DB25 (AES59) Connector Connector type: Applies to: DB25 Female Analogue Line Input / Line Output 13 Pin 1 14 2 1 15 16 17 5 20 8 21 22 10 23 11 13 22 + Channel 7 – Ground Channel 6 + Channel 6 – Channel 5 + Ground Channel 4 + Channel 4 – Channel 3 + Channel 3 – Ground Channel 2 + Channel 2 – Ground 24 12 Channel 7 Ground
Appendix 1 – Connector Pinouts Continued...
Appendix 2 – Channel Allocation Sample Rate: 44.1 / 48 kHz Notes The ‘Loopback’ inputs are not avalable in Pro Tools | HD host mode. Output channel allocations are only fixed when operating on Pro Tools | HD host mode.
Appendix 2 – Channel Allocation Continued... Sample Rate: 88.2 / 96 kHz Notes The ‘Loopback’ inputs are not avalable in Pro Tools | HD host mode. Output channel allocations are only fixed when operating on Pro Tools | HD host mode.
Appendix 2 – Channel Allocation Continued... Sample Rate: 176.4 / 192 kHz Notes The ‘Loopback’ inputs are not avalable in Pro Tools | HD host mode. Output channel allocations are only fixed when operating on Pro Tools | HD host mode.
Appendix 3 – AIR information Air is the name we give to the sonic signature of the classic transformer ISA Preamp. Our customers first coined this name as a simple description of the effect the ISA preamp added to their sound recordings. The three most significant attributes of the transformer design that create the “Air” effect are: • Microphone interaction, created by the unique input impedance of the transformer coupling with the microphone output impedance.
Performance and specifications Microphone Inputs Gain Range 0 to 63 dB Maximum Input Level +19 dBu Dynamic Range 118 dB ‘A’-Weighted Frequency Response 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2dB THD + N 0.0009% EIN -129 dBu ‘A’-Weighted (typical) Line Inputs Maximum Input Level +27 dBu Channels 1 – 4 +26 dBu Channels 5 – 8 Dynamic Range 118 dB ‘A’-Weighted Frequency Response 20Hz – 35kHz ±0.2dB THD + N 0.0009% Channels 1 – 4 0.
Headphone Outputs Maximum Output Level +16 dBu Dynamic Range 115 dB THD + N 0.01% Digital Performance Supported Sample Rates 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz Dimensions Height 44 mm / 1.73” [1RU] Width 483 mm / 19” Depth 340 mm / 13.4” Weight Weight 4.97 kg / 10.
Focusrite Red 4Pre Warranty and Service All Focusrite products are built to the highest standards and should provide reliable performance for many years, subject to reasonable care, use, transportation and storage. Very many of the products returned under warranty are found not to exhibit any fault at all. To avoid unnecessary inconvenience to you in terms of returning the product please contact Focusrite support.
