RED-8LINE

For professional engineers who need a broad array of analog and digital I/O, top-of-the-line sonics, and instant DAW-to-DAW switching, the Focusrite Red 8Line rackmount 58x64 Dante/HDX/Thunderbolt 3 audio interface is the Red Series' ultimate single-box solution for studio, stage, and postproduction environments incorporating audio-over-IP networks.

Equipped with two ultraclean, remotely controllable Red Evolution mic preamps, the Red 8Line offers robust gain (up to 63 dB), phantom power, high-pass filtering, polarity switching, and the Focusrite Air mode, which recreates the sound of transformer-based mic pres from the ISA range. Two 1/4" Hi-Z inputs are positioned on the front panel for directly connecting electric instruments such as guitar and bass, no DI boxes needed.

Eight balanced line-level analog inputs are available via a DB25 connector should you want to hook up external mic preamps or direct outputs from a console. Plenty of analog outputs are provided, too. With eight line outputs, two monitor outputs, and two independent high-fidelity headphone outputs, the Red 8Line can easily accommodate your outboard gear, monitoring system, and headphone mixes for multiple artists.

Integrating and synchronizing digital equipment is no problem for the Red 8Line, thanks to ADAT and S/PDIF digital audio I/O, and BNC jacks for wordclock and Loop Sync inputs and outputs. Fluidly operate the interface using its straightforward front-panel controls and three-color LCD screens, or use RedNet Control software to configure monitoring and routing setups in a hurry.

The Red 8Line features a standard IEC inlet for powering through an AC outlet. A premium bonus supplied with the Red 8Line is the bundle of plug-ins, which include Focusrite's Red 2 equalizer and Red 3 compressor, and the Brainworx bx-console Focusrite channel strip plug-in, a stellar digital emulation of the legendary and rare Focusrite Studio Console. Only 10 of the consoles were ever produced, but you can access its famed sound directly in your DAW.