Focusrite Red 8Pre — a 64-in/64-out audio interface combining eight Red Evolution preamps, dual Thunderbolt 2, direct Pro Tools|HD connectivity and built-in Dante networking in one rack unit.
16 analogue inputs and 18 analogue outputs, two ADAT ports for a further 16 channels, and up to 32 additional inputs/outputs over Dante give real scalability without swapping the interface — just add a RedNet or any other Dante device wherever there's an Ethernet jack. 24-bit/192 kHz conversion using a parallel path summing architecture holds 118 dB of dynamic range on the A-D side and 121 dB on the D-A side, with THD+N under 0.0009% and a flat response from 20 Hz to 35 kHz (±0.25 dB).
One box, three buses: Thunderbolt, Pro Tools|HD and Dante
Two Thunderbolt 2 ports deliver round-trip latency as low as 1.67 ms and let you daisy-chain drives or a display without taking up a second port on the computer, dual DigiLink connectors plug Red 8Pre straight into a Pro Tools|HD rig or Avid interface, and Host Mode in Focusrite Control switches the unit between Pro Tools|HD and a Thunderbolt-connected DAW without repatching. The result: one interface handles a Pro Tools HDX session in the morning and a quick Ableton or Logic setup in the afternoon, while Dante adds channels exactly where standard analogue cabling wouldn't reach.
Red Evolution preamps with Air mode for vocals and guitars
Eight digitally-controlled Red Evolution preamps deliver 63 dB of gain at -129 dBu EIN, keeping the noise floor well below quiet acoustic sources even at high gain settings. Air mode recreates the character of transformer-based preamps from the ISA range — it shifts input impedance to 2.1 kOhms and adds a subtle high-mid lift in the analogue path, ahead of A/D conversion, giving vocals and acoustic guitar more presence without reaching for EQ in the DAW. High-headroom instrument inputs on the front panel stay accessible even when the unit is rack-mounted.
KEY FEATURES
- 64 inputs/64 outputs, including 16 analogue inputs and 18 analogue outputs
- 8 Red Evolution preamps with Air mode
- 24-bit/192 kHz conversion, parallel path summing, up to 121 dB dynamic range
- Dual Thunderbolt 2 ports, 1.67 ms round-trip latency
- Dual DigiLink connectors for Pro Tools|HD and Avid interfaces
- Built-in Dante networking, up to 32 additional channels over Ethernet
- Two ADAT ports for a further 16 channels
- Host Mode to switch between Pro Tools|HD and a Thunderbolt DAW
- Colour LCD displays and front-panel instrument inputs
- Includes Focusrite Control, the Red plug-in suite, and the Softube Time and Tone bundle
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Channels: 64 inputs/64 outputs total
- Analogue I/O: 16 inputs, 18 outputs
- Preamps: 8x Red Evolution, 63 dB gain, -129 dBu EIN
- Conversion: 24-bit/192 kHz, 118 dB (A-D) / 121 dB (D-A)
- THD+N: below 0.0009%
- Frequency response: 20 Hz-35 kHz ±0.25 dB
- Computer connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 2, 2x DigiLink (Pro Tools|HD)
- Network: Dante, 2x RJ45 (Cat 5e or above), up to 32 channels
- Expansion: 2x ADAT (16 channels)
- Software: Focusrite Control, RedNet Control
