User Manual

CHAPTER
9
1
About the 8pre
OVERVIEW
The 8pre is and audio interface that can operate in
two general modes: as a FireWire audio interface or
as an analog-to-digital converter.
With a standard 19-inch, single-space, rack-
mountable I/O form factor, the 8pre connects
directly to a computer via a standard FireWire
cable or to another interface via an ADAT optical
cable.
As a FireWire audio interface, the 8pre is a
complete computer-based hard disk recording
system for Mac OS X and Windows that offers eight
high-quality mic inputs and at any standard
sample rate up to 96kHz, plus one bank of ADAT
optical digital I/O that provides 8 channels of
digital I/O at any sample rate up to 96 kHz. At 88.2
or 96 kHz, a second bank of dedicated ADAT
optical jacks provide input and output on
channels 5-8.
When the 8pre is not connected to a computer via
FireWire, it operates as an analog-to-digital
converter. By connecting the 8pre’s optical ports to
another audio interface, digital mixer or other
digital audio system that supports 8-channel ADAT
optical I/O, the 8pre becomes as an 8-channel
analog to optical expansion interface that adds
eight high-quality mic inputs to the system.
The 8pre offers the following features:
■ Eight 24-bit analog combo XLR/TRS mic/
instrument inputs with preamps, each equipped
with individually switchable 20 dB pad and 48V
phantom power
■ Two 24-bit analog TRS main outputs
■
Eight-channel ADAT optical digital I/O at
sample rates up to 96 kHz
■ MIDI I/O
■
On-board SMPTE synchronization
■
Headphone jack
■ Main volume knob (for headphone + main outs)
■ Front-panel 5-segment input meters
■ Front-panel mode and clock status LEDs
■ No-latency analog to digital conversion from the
eight analog inputs to the eight ADAT optical
digital outputs
With its XLR/TRS combo jack inputs, mic
preamps, no-latency monitoring of live input and
synchronization capabilities, the 8pre is a
complete, portable “studio in a box” when used
with a Macintosh or Windows computer. The 8pre
system includes AudioDesk™, full-featured audio
workstation software for Mac OS that supports
both 16-bit and 24-bit recording.
THE 8PRE I/O REAR PANEL
The 8pre rear panel has the following connectors:
■ Two gold-plated, balanced +4dB quarter-inch
(TRS) analog outputs (with 24-bit 96kHz
converters)
■ Eight 24-bit analog combo XLR/TRS mic/
instrument inputs with preamps, each equipped
with individually switchable 20 dB pad, 48V
phantom power and 24-bit 96kHz converters
■ Two sets of ADAT optical ‘light pipe’ connectors
(8 channels of ADAT optical I/O at all supported
sample rates)
■ MIDI IN and MIDI OUT
!8pre Manual/Mac Page 9 Tuesday, October 12, 2010 5:52 PM