PRESONUS AUDIO, FireWire Interface w/8 Preamps, FIRESTUDIO, Reviews

highlights

MODEL- FIRESTUDIO         VENDOR- PRESONUS AUDIO

FEATURES- FireStudio
       26x26 24-bit/96k FireWire Recording System with Optical Lightpipe
       I/O, MIDI I/O, S/PDIF I/O, Mixer/Router software, and optional
       MSR remote.
       The PreSonus FireStudio is a complete 26x26 24-bit/96k professional
       recording system combining eight Class A PreSonus microphone
       preamplifiers, up to sixteen channels of optical ADAT input/output,
       S/PDIF and MIDI input/output, along with the Control Console - a
       36x36x18 zero latency mixer/router. The FireStudio also comes with
       award-winning recording and production software, virtual
       instruments, plug-ins, drum loops and samples to get you started
       making music immediately.
* PreSonus Preamplifiers
   The FireStudio starts with eight on-board custom-designed Class A
   microphone preamplifiers. Many other companies offering recording
   interfaces add the cheapest possible microphone preamplifier as an
   afterthought to the interface. PreSonus knows that every major component
   in the signal path from the audio source to the hard drive are extremely
   important and the preamplifier is a key component. The job of a
   microphone preamplifier is to boost microphone level signals to line
   level so that the signal can be converted from analog to digital. This
   mic to line boost is generally an preamplification of over 400 times the
   voltage of the original mic level signal. This preamplification stage is
   one of the most important stages that the signal will go through before
   converted to digital, and is why a high performance preamplifier is
   important to achieving great results. A cheap "off the shelf op-amp"
   type mic preamp that is found in most interfaces translates into thin,
   noisy and harsh results. A PreSonus preamplifier which operates in Class
   A mode and at higher voltage/current ratings than off the shelf op-amps,
   is designed for high headroom, low noise, wide dynamic range and wide
   frequency range, and most importantly, musicality and transparency -
   smooth highs, solid deep lows, and everything in between.
* Ins and Outs
   The FireStudio is loaded with I/O for an extremely flexible and
   expandable recording system. The FireStudio starts with eight Class A
   customer designed PreSonus microphone preamplifiers. You can add
   additional preamplifiers or analog inputs via the dual optical light
   pipe ports on the rear panel. You add up to two DigiMax FS, for a total
   of twenty-four microphone preamplifiers all in only three rack spaces!
   Additionally word/clock I/O for ultra tight synchronization, MIDI I/O
   and SPDIF I/O are on the FireStudio for further expandability.
* JetPLL
   The sycronization of the FireStudio is handled by patented JetPLL jitter
   reduction technology. JetPLLTM incorporates noise shaping to virtually
   remove all audio band jitter. JetPLLTM ensures the highest converter
   performance possible, resulting in better stereo separation and clearer
   more transparent audio. JetPLLTM delivers ultra-fast locking to any
   digital format, through a wide range of frequencies and is extremely
   robust, and tolerant of wide variations in clock frequencies. JetPLL
   ensures near perfect clock performance when networking audio devices
   thus creating the most stable and robust synchronization to the computer
   and all devices synchronization with the FireStudio.
* Control Console - Zero Latency DSP Mixing/Routing
   The FIRESTUDIO also includes the Control Console - a 36x36x18 DSP
   mixer/router for flexible mixing and direct routing any input to any
   output including the headphone output, with zero latency. The Control
   Console software application lives between your FireStudio interface and
   your DAW software enabling the mixing and routing of input streams
   coming into your FireStudio interface and playback stream coming from
   your DAW software. The Control Console is capable of creating up to nine
   stereo mixes and then routing to the outputs of your FireStudio for
   headphone mixes and various aux sends. This way everyone in the band and
   the recording engineer can have a custom mix.
* Optional Monitor Station Remote (MSR)
   The optional MSR (monitor station remote) for the FireStudio is a
   complete surround/stereo speaker manager, input switcher and
   communication system delivering a more efficient and flexible work flow.
   The MSR connects to the FireStudio via standard Cat 5 Ethernet cable to
   keep your work space as clean as possible. There are also two headphone
   outputs on the FireStudio for even further flexibility and convenience.
* ProPak Complete Software Suite
   The PreSonus FireStudio also comes with the new ProPak Complete Software
   Suite, which includes more than 20 real time plug-ins, a number of
   virtual instruments and over 2 GB of drum loops and samples including:
   Steinberg - Cubase LE; Propellerheads Reason Adapted PreSonus Edition;
   IK Multimedia - Amplitube LE; FXpansion - BFD lite; Drumagog LE; Sonoma
   Wire Works-Riffworks Jr.; Wave Arts -- TrackPlug LE, MasterVerb LE and
   more!

-- SPECIFICATIONs -----------------------------------
MICROPHONE PREAMP- (XLR Balanced)
         All measurements Microphone Input to Direct Output
         Frequency Response (+0,- 0.5dB): 20Hz to 50KHz
         Frequency Response (+0/-3.0 dB): 20Hz to 150KHz
         Input Impedance                : 1600 Ohm
         THD+N (unwtd, 1KHz @ +4dBu Output, Unity Gain): < 0.003%
         EIN (unwtd, 55dB Gain, 150 Ohm Input, 20Hz to 22KHz): -126dBu
         S/N Ratio (Unity Gain, unwtd, Ref. = +4dBu, 20Hz to 22KHz): >101dB
         Common Mode Rejection Ratio (1KHz, 55dB Gain): >55dB
         Gain Control Range (+/-1dB): -6dB to 55dB
         Maximum Input Level (Unity Gain, 1KHz @ 0.5% THD+N): +17dBu
         Phantom Power (+/- 2VDC): +48VDC
INSTRUMENT INPUT (1/4" TRS, Preamps 1 & 2)-
         Input Impedance: 1 Mega Ohm
LINE INPUTS- (1/4" TRS, Preamps 3 to 8)
         All measurements Line Input to Direct Output
         Frequency Response (+0,- 0.5dB): 20Hz to 50KHz
         Frequency Response (+0/-3.0 dB): 20Hz to 150KHz
         Input Impedance (Balanced): 10 KOhm
         THD+N (unwtd, 1KHz @ +4dBu Output, Unity Gain): < 0.003%
         S/N Ratio (Unity Gain, unwtd, Ref. = +4dBu, 20Hz to 22KHz): >101dB
         Gain Control Range (+/-1dB): -9dB to +12dB
         Maximum Input Level (Unity Gain, 1KHz @ 0.5% THD+N): +23dBu
INSERT JACKS- (1/4" TRS)
         Send Output Impedance (Unbalanced, Ring): 51 Ohm
         Return Input Impedance (Unbalanced, Tip): 10KOhm
DIRECT OUTPUT/DAC OUTPUTS- (1/4" TRS)
         Output Impedance (Impedance Balanced): 51Ohm
SIGNAL LEVEL LEDs-
         Clip (+/- 0.5dBu): +18dBu
DIGITAL AUDIO-
         ADC Dynamic Range (Awtd, 48KHz Sample Rate): 107dB
         DAC Dynamic Range (Awtd, 48KHz Sample Rate): 110dB
         Bit Depth: 24
         Reference Level for 0dBFS: +18dBu
         Digital Audio Output (2-Toslink Connectors, 8 channels): ADAT/SMUX
         Digital Audio Input (2-Toslink Connectors, 8 channels): ADAT/SMUX
         Internal Sample Frequency Selections (KHz): 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96
         External Sample Frequency Inputs: BNC, ADAT (SMUX),SPDIF
         BNC Word Clock Output Level (75 Ohm load): 4.5V
         BNC Word Clock Input Level Range: 3.0 to 5.5V
DIGITAL- Jitter Specification: < 300 pS
REQUIREMENTS-
         PC : Microsoft Windows XP SP1
             Windows compatible computer with FireWire port
             Pentium, Celeron with 1.6Ghz or higher CPU
             512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended)
         Mac: MacOS X 10.4.x or later
             Apple Macintosh series with on-board FireWire port
             PowerPC G4/Dual 1 GHZ or faster, all Intel-based Mac models.
             512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended)
POWER - Input Voltage Range: 18 to 30VDC
         Power Requirements (Continuous): 24W
         DC Input Connector Type= 5.5mm OD/2.1mm ID Barrel, Center Positive
         External Switching Power Supply: 90-230VAC/35W
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FireWire Interface w/8 Preamps

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