The most functional audio interface up to date of a Focusrite company is an Thunderbolt device Red 4 Pre with 58 inputs, 64 outputs, 2 Ethernet Dante connectors and 192 kHz and 24 bits. On frontal panel of device there are : 2 TRS 1/4″ jack instrumental Hi-Z inputs; channels selectors; volume control knob of chosen ones; 3 displays, showing device’s states ( volume levels and phantom power +48 V for channels, signal levels of 8 analogue inputs with clip indication, and volume levels of monitor headphones with Thunderbolt connection and time synchronization informers ); 2 TRS 1/4″ jack outputs of monitor headphones, their volume control knob with work parameters changing buttons; and power button. On back panel there are : power line input; 2 Ethernet Dante connections; 4 time synchronization connectors with other devices; 2 pairs of optical digital inputs and outputs; 2 Thunderbolt ports; digital coaxial S/PDIF RCA input and output; TRS 1/4″ jack left and right monitor outputs; 2 Primary Port connectors; 2 combined linear outputs connectors; and 4 XLR microphone inputs.
Dynamic range of microphone inputs of Focusrite Red 4 Pre is 118 dB, THD+N 0.0009 %, noise level -129 dB; linear inputs have the same dynamic range and differ only in THD+N, for inputs 1 – 4 it is equal to 0.0009 %, for inputs 5 – 8 – 0.0007 %; instrumental inputs have 117 dB dynamic range and THD+N 0.0015 %. Monitor outputs have dynamic range 120 dB, THD+N – 0.006 %; linear outputs have the same parameters equal to 121 dB and 0.0009 %, accordingly; monitor headphones outputs have 115 dB and 0.01 %, accordingly. Device can work in Mac OS X 10.9 and newer with support of Core Audio interface, via which it interacts with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others. For now Focusrite does not tell anything about Windows support for device. With it following programs are supplied : Focusrite Control ( mixer ), VST/AU effects set Softube Time and Tone Bundle ( Drawmer S73 Intelligent Master Processor, TSAR-1R Reverb, Tube Delay and Saturation Knob ) and Focusrite Red Plug-in Suite ( modelling real compressor and equalizer ).
Package with Focusrite Red 4 Pre audio interface contains : Thunderbolt cable, power line cable, warranty card and user’s guide. Device has very high functionality, components quality and excellent characteristics; it is oriented to large studios and is a great solution for them. If there is no need in such large amount of connectors, then there is ability to buy much cheaper entry-level and middle-level audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other companies production with the same components quality and technical characteristics.
