Focusrite RedNet MP8R

Focusrite RedNet MP8R — an 8-channel remote-controlled microphone preamp and A/D converter for Dante networks, built for live sound and broadcast environments where equipment failure is not an option.

Developed from the RedNet 4 studio preamp with direct input from live sound engineers, the MP8R adds dual power supplies with fault detection, dual Ethernet ports with redundant, switched and daisy-chain modes, and a rugged all-metal 1U chassis with locking etherCON connectors and locking power inlets. The status of both power supplies and both network ports is shown locally on the front panel and remotely across the system.

Redundancy that holds up on the road

Two independent, fault-detecting power supplies and two etherCON ports give real protection against signal loss during a show or a live broadcast — a failure on one path doesn't drop channels out of the session. The front panel shows the state of each supply and each network port independently, so a problem is visible before it reaches the mix, and switching between redundant, switched and daisy-chain network modes doesn't interrupt the channels already running.

Sharing preamps between FOH and monitors

Each of the eight channels feeds two signals onto the network: a direct feed from the preamp and a second, DSP gain-compensated feed held at a constant level, which makes the unit appear as 16 channels on the Dante network. That lets one engineer ride the analogue gain while a second receives a level that stays constant regardless of those changes — a standard FOH/monitor split with no extra hardware and no compromise in signal quality. A maximum input level of 28 dBu, dual input impedance of 2.4 or 10 kOhms, and a 20 dB pad give enough headroom for both condenser and dynamic mics working close to high-SPL sources.

KEY FEATURES

• 8 remote-controlled Focusrite microphone preamps
• A/D conversion up to 24-bit/192 kHz with low latency
• Automatic gain compensation — unit appears as 16 channels on the network
• Dual power supplies with fault detection and status indication
• Dual etherCON Ethernet ports, redundant, switched and daisy-chain modes
• Remote control via RedNet Control, Pro Tools, MIDI and OCA
• Front panel with 6-segment LED metering and OLED display
• Dual input impedance, 20 dB pad, HPF, polarity inversion, phantom power
• Rugged all-metal 1U chassis, locking power connectors
• Includes the Brainworx bx_console Focusrite SC channel-strip plug-in

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Inputs: 8 mic/line channels, XLR
• A/D conversion: 24-bit, up to 192 kHz
• Maximum input level: 28-29 dBu
• Input impedance: switchable 2.4 kOhms or 10 kOhms
• Pad: 20 dB, high-pass filter, polarity inversion, 48V phantom power
• Network: Dante, dual etherCON ports, redundant/switched/daisy-chain modes
• Power: two independent, fault-detecting power supplies
• Remote control: RedNet Control, Pro Tools, MIDI, OCA
• Metering: 6-segment LED per channel, OLED display per channel
• Chassis: all-metal, 1U, rack-mountable