Professional Audio/Video

Offering ultrahigh-resolution conversion, four Class-A preamps, a host of outputs, and a powerful software package for vocalists, musicians, producers, and podcasters in home/project studios and mobile setups, the PreSonus Studio 1810c desktop 18x8 USB audio/MIDI interface blends studio-quality sonic performance, versatile and expandable I/O, and refreshing ease of use.

With selectable 48V phantom power and four XMAX Class-A mic preamps fed via XLR-1/4" combo inputs, the Studio 1810c can accommodate any source, from condenser microphones and active DI boxes to electric instruments and line-level mixer outputs, with clarity and natural tonality. Utilize the four rear-panel 1/4" inputs to plug in outboard mic preamps or extra line-level sources directly to the A/D converters. All inputs and outputs feature quality converters that let the interface operate at up to 24-bit / 48 kHz resolution without sacrificing channel count, or at a 192 kHz sample rate with 8x6 I/O functionality.

the Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre, a slim 1 RU rackmount device laden with eight Scarlett microphone preamps and onboard high-resolution AD converters—a perfect addition to any home/project studio, live sound mixing console, or mobile recording rig that has available ADAT digital inputs or unused analog line inputs.

All eight XLR-1/4" combo inputs can accept mic- or line-level signal, and the front-panel input jacks can also accommodate the 1/4" outputs of instruments, letting you plug a guitar or a bass straight into the Scarlett OctoPre. Pads on every channel allow you to capture the sound of high-level sound sources such as drums and cranked guitar amps, and 48V phantom power can be instantiated in two 4-channel banks to run condenser microphones and active DI boxes.

These features, combined with the wordclock sync I/O and 5-segment LED metering, render the unit quite suitable for use in the studio. But that's only one of its intended uses: the Scarlett OctoPre also operates well in live sound environments, providing eight additional preamps for the stage, all feeding their respective line outputs, so they can feed a multitude of mixers, consoles, and PAs. You can even route the line outputs to a console while simultaneously recording digitally via the ADAT outputs. As with other items in the Scarlett series, the OctoPre ships with included software, giving you access to the Focusrite Red 2 and Red 3 plug-ins, the Softube Time and Tone Bundle, and Focusrite's Plug-In Collective, which provides exclusive new downloads every couple of months.