Focusrite Red 4Pre

Focusrite Red 4Pre

Overview

The Focusrite Red 4Pre includes four of Focusrite’s digitally controlled, ‘Air’ enabled, Red Evolution mic preamps with Thunderbolt™ 2 connectivity and dual mini-DigiLink ports that brings you the very best of both Core Audio and Pro Tools | HD™ workflows and easy switching between Pro Tools | HD and any Thunderbolt-connected DAW. The Focusrite Red 4Pre is the perfect balance of form and function, featuring 'parallel path summing' conversion, professional sound quality that Focusrite has become renowned for, versatility for producers/engineers, all housed inside a beautiful yet robust design.

Versatile Connectivity

Focusrite's 58-in/64-out Red 4Pre includes Thunderbolt 2 connectivity for their lowest round-trip latency, in whatever DAW you chose to use, enabling you to track and overdub with your preferred plug-ins and effects in real time, thus simplifying and enhancing your workflow. And thanks to the Focusrite Red 4Pre’s twin DigiLink™ connectors you can simply drop it immediately, directly and seamlessly into any Pro Tools | HD system, or use it with existing Avid interfaces. Plus with the dual Thunderbolt 2 ports the Red 4Pre allows you to daisy-chain additional components such as hard drives and displays. Lastly, the Red 4Pre is network audio enabled straight out of the box, with dual Ethernet ports for Dante audio-over-IP networking, you can expand your recording capabilities over Ethernet for up to 64 additional channels anywhere on your network, with low latency - and lower cost. Additional Red or other Dante-compatible components can be connected to the Ethernet ports of the Red 4Pre to provide you additional channels irrespective of the interface used to drive the Red 4Pre.

Simple Switching Between DAWs

Easily switch between Pro Tools | HD and any DAW connected to the Thunderbolt interface using the Host Mode setting in the included RedNet Control software, just always keep both connected and make the switch whenever you need.

Lowest Round-Trip Latency

Focusrite’s specific design goal was to achieve low latency with the RED 4Pre. The Red 4Pre’s latency is so low that you’ll be able to track with any of your preferred/essential plug-ins and record virtual instruments in real time. This low latency environment simplifies and enhances your workflow by allowing you to run a single mix on your DAW for both overdubbing and mixing, with plug-ins in place at all times.

Red Evolution Air-Enabled Microphone Preamps

The Red Evolution mic pres in the Red 4Pre deliver a clear and honest audio performance with -129 dB EIN and 63dB of gain that allows plenty of room to bring your own sound to life with your choice of external processing. Additionally, the mic pres can be controlled digitally, for adjusting/recalling settings and stereo linking via RedNet Control software. They also include Focusrite’s unique ‘Air’ effect that recreates the sound of the transformer-based mic preamps in the ISA range, when ‘Air’ is enabled the microphone impedance is set to 2.1 kΩ with the frequency response curve being given a slight mid-high boost, all inside the analogue domain.

Focusrite’s Best Converter Performance

Focusrite have been building mastering-quality digital audio converters for decades and the converters you’ll find inside the Red 4Pre are of Focusrite best standards by employing a 'parallel path summing' configuration to lower the noise floor. Focusrite have selected high-performance, precision conversion chips and maximised sound quality through premium component selection, advanced design and optimised board layout so you get the very best experience when you purchase the Red 4Pre. The converter design strikes a precise balance between multiple factors - including dynamic range, distortion, noise floor and conversion latency - for the optimal overall sound. With 24-bit/192kHz sampling capability and 118dB(A-D)/121dB (D-A) dynamic range, it is ideal for high-resolution audio. The Red 4Pre delivers ≤0.0009% THD+Noise and a frequency response flat from 20Hz to 35kHz ±0.25 dB or better.

Expansion Done Correctly

Connect up to 64 additional channels to the Red 4Pre via Ethernet-based Dante networking. A simple, single connection carrying both audio and built-in clocking. Whether the Red 4Pre is connected to the computer via Thunderbolt, DigiLink or Dante, simply connect units such as two RedNet A16R (32 channels of analogue I/O), four RedNet MP8R (32 channels of RedNet mic pre), or other Dante-enabled products via Ethernet as desired. Place mic preamps where the music is, and outputs where the sound needs to go, wherever there's an Ethernet connection. Unlike daisy-chaining via Thunderbolt, Dante lets you run additional channels over a greater distance, with low latency and lower cost, without wasting money on technology or connectivity that will not be used.

The Focusrite studio console reborn inside your DAW

The Focusrite Studio Console defined countless hits of the 80s and 90s, thanks in large part to its ISA 110 Equaliser and ISA 130 Dynamics Modules. Brainworx's bx_console Focusrite plug-in brings you stunningly accurate emulations of both in a single plug-in, that perfectly capture the famous warm, open sound of two of the most revered pieces of studio hardware ever to be made.

Included Software

Red 4Pre includes the new RedNet Control software, providing you with a straightforward and intuitive way to set up mixes, monitoring and more. Control the mic pres, recall settings, assign stereo pairs, adjust gain and enable features such as high pass filtering and phantom power. Easily switch between Pro Tools | HD and any Thunderbolt-connected DAW with the Host Mode setting. In addition, Red 4Pre is packaged with Softube's Time and Tone Bundle, a unique plug-in pack including four of Softube's professional quality plug-ins: Drawmer S73 Intelligent Master Processor, TSAR-1R Reverb, Tube Delay and Saturation Knob. Also, in the box is the Focusrite Red Plug-in Suite, which accurately models Focusrite's classic Red range 2 and 3 equaliser and compressor hardware.