Red 8Pre 64 in / 64 out Thunderbolt™ 2 audio interface – with Pro Tools | HD and Dante™ network audio connectivity User Guide FFFA001457-01 www.focusrite.
Contents About this User Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Box Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pro Tools Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Using Red 8Pre with other Pro Tools | HD interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Loop Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Pro Tools Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About this User Guide This user guide applies to the Red 8Pre 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 8Pre. Red 8Pre is a dual Thunderbolt™ & Pro Tools | HD audio interface and preamplifier, suitable for a wide range of audio integration applications. The Red 8Pre features Mic, Line and Instrument analogue inputs and 22 analogue output channels – including independent loudspeaker and headphone monitoring plus an LCD meter display.
System Block Diagram M T I 2 INST Focusrite 2 I 2 I GLO AL S L CT 4 3 4 4 2 MONITO Input Function & Gain Instrument 1-2 2 Input Select Meters Output Control 2 1-2 D-A Analogue Inputs Mic/Line 1-8 Line 9-16 1-8 16 Digital I/O ADAT 2 9-16 S/PDIF In S/PDIF Out Loopback In 8 Line 3-10 Analogue Outputs Line 11-18 Thunderbolt 64 9-16 O T ADAT 1 1-8 Headphones 1&2 8 A-D Monitor 1-2 64 DAW Host Select Pro Tools 16 16 32 32 2 Dante Network Network 2 Word Clock I/O
Red 8Pre Controls and Connections Front Panel Input Encoder Instrument Inputs Input Display Output Display H/phone Select Output Encoder H/phone Outputs METER I I INST 2 2 3 4 I GLOBAL SELECT 5 6 7 8 2 Focusrite 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 1–8.
Rear Panel Word Clock AC Inlet N R I A WARNING 6 W CET APPAREI DOIT ETRE MIS A A TERRE PAR E CORDON D A IMENTATION 0 60 THIS EQUIPMENT MUST BE EARTHED BY THE POWER CORD AC ONLY 100-2 0 Loop Sync Focusrite Thunderbolt 2 Interface Pro Tools | HD Interface IN 1 PRIMARY PORT Line Outputs Line Inputs LINE OUTPUTS 11-18 LINE INPUTS 9-16 LINE OUTPUTS 3-10 LINE INPUTS 1-8 2 Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd 1 2 OUT WORD CLOCK Dante Network LOOP SYNC IN OUT IN OUT IN OPTICAL 9-16 OPTI
Physical Characteristics 300mm / 11.8” 465.0mm / 18.3” 31.8mm / 1.25” Red 8Pre dimensions are illustrated in the diagram above. Red 8Pre requires 1U of vertical rack space and at least 360mm of rack depth, to allow for cables. Red 8Pre weighs 5.14kg 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 8Pre has the capacity to accommodate sixteen analogue inputs, two independent 8-channel ADAT inputs, a 2-channel S/PDIF input plus 32 Dante input channels. (Additionally, when in Thunderbolt host mode, an internal 2-channel loopback signal can be added as an extra stereo input – see page 13 for details.
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).
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 the system is synced to a WORD LOOP common clock. CLOCK SYNC 1 OUT IN OUT IN OUT IN OPTICAL 9-16 P OPTICAL 1-8 OUT SPDIF 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).
Meter Display The centre LCD screen displays up to 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 8Pre’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 (one 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 25–27 for the channel I/O allocation tables.
Pro Tools Connection Confirm that Red 8Pre’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 8Pre 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 popup, select: ‘HDX’ or ‘HD Native’, as appropriate for your system 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. Note 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 8Pre’s front panel hardware functions and system settings via a graphical interface on your DAW. Additionally the application provides control of all input and output routing and mixing functions. Please note: This manual includes information relating to Red 8Pre’s specific front panel controls and device settings.
Device Settings GUI Sync Indicator Sample rate Clock Source Host Mode S/PDIF Source Meter Source Channel Gain Channel Function Input Type Sync Indicator – will be illuminated if Red 8Pre is locked to a valid clock source Channel Gain – sets the input gain on analogue channels 1 – 8. 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.
Input Routing Because the number of channels available reduces when operating at higher sample rates, Input Routing allows the channel order to be re-arranged so that all input signals required can be accessed. Use each drop-down list in the table to move input channels in pairs. For example, in the image below, ADAT inputs 5-6 are being sent to DAW channels 1–2. This means that when selecting inputs 1–2 on a track in a DAW, ADAT inputs 5-6 on the Red 8Pre will be recorded.
Appendices Appendix 1 – Connector Pinouts DB25 (AES59) Connector Connector type: Applies to: DB25 Female Microphone Inputs Analogue Line Input / Line Output Pin 1 14 2 13 Signal 16 14 17 5 18 19 20 22 23 Channel 6 – 24 25 Channel 4 + Channel 4 – Channel 3 + Channel 3 – Channel 2 + Channel 2 – Channel 1 + Channel 1 – Ground 13 n/c 1/4” Jack Connectors Connector type: Applies to: Balanced socket Monitor Outputs Connector type: Applies to: Unbala
Appendix 1 – Connector Pinouts Continued...
Appendix 2 – Default Channel Allocation Sample Rate: 44.
Appendix 2 – Default Channel Allocation Continued... Sample Rate: 88.
Appendix 2 – Default Channel Allocation Continued... Sample Rate: 176.
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 0-8 to 63 dB in 1dB steps Maximum Input Level +19 dBu Input Impedance 6.2 kΩ, electronically balanced Dynamic Range 119 dB ‘A’-Weighted (typical), minimum gain Frequency Response 20 Hz – 35 kHz ±0.2dB THD + N 0.0009% @ -1 dBFS HPF -3 dB @ 80 Hz, 12 dB/octave EIN -129 dBu ‘A’-Weighted (typical) Air Mode: 2.2 kΩ Air Mode: 2dB boost at 10 kHz and -2 dB at 20 kHz (ref. 1 kHz) Line Inputs Maximum Input Level +27 dBu ±0.
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.
Dimensions Height 44 mm / 1.73” [1RU] Width 483 mm / 19” Depth 340 mm / 13.4” Weight Weight 5.14 kg / 11.
Focusrite Red 8Pre 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.
